카라 - 미스터

Hello God,

We went to hit the clubs for the weekend. Everything seem a little boring until the DJ started playing Mister (미스터) by KaRa (카라). When it gets to the chorus, "la, la, la, la, la, la" everybody started shaking their bon bon like the KaRa girls. It was so funny! Lol.



Wiggle your bum bum and sing "la, la, la, la, la la...La, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la"

What a funny weekend!

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o

Life and death exam

Hello God,

Last Thursday, the nation came into a standstill. The whole country just went silent. No, the tsunami hasn’t arrive at Haeundae. If there was one, we would be screaming our heads off already. It’s the national college entrance exam day. The most stressful day in a young person’s life (besides a first date). It is so important that:

1. Airplanes are banned from flying near the exam locations. Flights either delayed or cancelled.

2. Workday starts an hour late, to prevent traffic jams that might make students late for exam.

3. Some students can request a police escort to make it on time for the exam if they might face traffic trouble on the way to exam.

4. No car horns.

5. Parents prayed for high scores on their children's college placement exams for many days at the temple.

6. No loud conversations.

7. Some stressed students commit suicide every year from the pressure, (a high school boy from Seoul jumped off the building this year).

8. Invigilators have to observe the rule of no coughing, gum-chewing, breathing heavily or even making eye contact with exam-taking students.

9. Girls are not allowed to put on excessive makeup or perfume that might give off a distracting scent. No high heels that could go clicketyclack on the floors.

10. The best rice cakes in the land were distributed to students, consumed, and most likely thrown up in anxiety.

11. Stock market opens an hour later

12. Aggressive farmers protesting the rice market opening agreed to stop for a day.

High school juniors chanting for senior's success!

I remember how I stressed I was when I took the exam. I think my eyebrows turned grey. The pressure is so immense to the extent that many of my friends don't want to raise a kid in this country. However, accidents do happen when they don’t use protection so they end with up children anyways.

I don’t want to talk about the suicides that occur every year because of the exam. It’s too sad. Education-related stress is deadly! There a student proverb says if you sleep for four hours a night, you'll get into the college of your choice, if you sleep for five hours, you fail.

I read in the newspaper, Kim Bo-yup, someone with the Ministry of Education, said South Corea's passion for education is the highest in the world. I thought our passion is for sad, weepy Corean dramas, Super Junior and Gee gee gee!

The exam took roughly 9 hours and by next spring, the high school boys and girls will know their fate and admission to college. In the eyes of many here, the exam results determine not only which university will accept them but will also confer social standing for a lifetime (and their salary for the next 30 years). The aim is to get into the “big three” Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University or SKY 스카이.

Only one test, only one day.

I saw the high school seniors running past me on the way to the exam. They seem very nervous. I was scared to move. This is the biggest day of their lives, so I have to stand perfectly still or I risk distracting them.

Good thing I passed my exams 2 years ago!

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o

Super Junior and Gee

Hello God!

What a relaxing Sunday and this is the song to cap the weekend!

Super Junior's Gee cover on Music Travel.



Soothing and relaxed.

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o

Pusan International Film Festival

Hello God!

It's the Pusan International Film Festival again.

소녀시대 performs at the opening ceremony. Gee gee gee SNSD!

Here's a short clip:



Great show.

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o

Gee

Hello God!

Gee, gee, gee, gee, gee!

I can't help but sing this song from Taeyon, Yuri, Sunny, Sooyoung, Yoona, Jessica, Seohyun, Tiffany and Hyoyeon. Haha. Many many names. Actually I meant to say the Girls' Generation! Sometimes I wonder why there are so many members in a Corean boy or girl group. It's so hard to remember everyone's names!

Girls' Generation (소녀시대) or SNSD if you're lazy to pronounce or So Nyeo Shi Dae (for sexy William from Malaysia). ;p This group is awesome!

Gee, gee, gee, gee, gee!

I sing it in the bus, on the street, when I shower, at the dinner table, everywhere I go!

Time for Wondergirls' "Nobody" to make some room for Gee!

Gee is something like "어머나! A cute song about a girl who has fallen in love for the first time. Girly song but cute!

Boys Generation did a cover of Gee! on stage. Boys' Generation comprises of boy group members from SHINee (샤이니,), Super Junior (슈퍼주니어), 2AM and 2PM. Even more names. Now I am getting even more frustrated. I don't even want to know their group members names anymore.

Like Wondergirls' Nobody, the dance for this song is very feminine. Imagine when a group of boys is doing it! Funny! But Girls Generation comes back and sing almost at the end of the song, to claim their rightful place on the throne for Gee! The girls are so pretty!

Now I have to go back to singing ...

Gee, gee, gee, gee, gee!

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o

Super blond

Hello God!

I dyed my hair blond!

Um-ma did not even bat an eyelid when she saw me entering the house. She just said, "Trying to be Super Junior?"

"Yes," I happily answered her and then skipped up to my room.

Super Junior

I love my new hair. I love my hairstylist!

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o

Haeundae 해운대

Hello God!

Finally, a movie about my favorite beach in Busan! Haeundae (for William from beautiful Malaysia: Hae-woon-dae). Many expatriates choose to live here. Quite an expensive place to stay I would say. I always visit Haeundae beach in the summer besides my other favorite, Seogwipo beach. It’s like the first ever disaster movie for Corea. The director Yoon Je-Kyoon's usual films are comedy so the Haeundae movie is kind of funny too. The film is about a tsunami hitting Busan, South Corea. The first half of the movie focuses more on the characters and it's comedic portrayal of romance and life belies the calamity that is going to appear at the last 45 minutes of the movie. The scenes showing the tsunami keeps the heart pumping with adrenaline.

Haeundae is a long, beautiful beach of fine sand and turquoise water. In the summer, the beach becomes packed with tourists. There can be up to 800,000 to over a million sunbathers and swimmers producing another type of sea, a sea of people. However, going to Haeundae during the other seasons will result in a relaxing afternoon of walks on the beach and maybe some delicious raw fish in the evening.

In this movie, a tsunami that is fast approaching the south coast of Corea and it is not just any tsunami this is a mega-tsunami more than 100 meters in height. The people frolicking on the beach are unaware of their impending doom until an earthquake rocks the shore. From then they have only ten minutes to get to safety as a mountain of water rushes forward to engulf them. Only ten minutes to run from a giant tsunami. Imagine that!

Such a good movie. Must watch.

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o

RIP 김대중

RIP former President Kim Dae-jung. (1925-2009)
President of South Korea 1998-2003.
2000 Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
"Nelson Mandela" of South Korea.
Champion of peace and democracy.

I saw his state funeral live on television. Sad. Farewell former President Kim.

About my blog

Hello readers,

Today, I am going to tell you more about myself. I’ve noticed visitors from outside Corea who read my blog and leave kind comments. Thank you for dropping by my blog. I am embarrassed with my English as it is at beginner level and I know people from Malaysia or Singapore have excellent English. Please excuse my poor English if you spot mistakes on my blog. I want to thank Microsoft Word Spelling Check for correcting the 80 words spelling mistakes for every 100 words I write. Such a useful tool for non-native English speakers like me.

My blog is called 안녕하세요 하느님! (An-nyeong-ha-se-yo Ha-neu-nim!) and it means Hello God in English. Doesn't it feel wonderful to wake up to a sunny day of blue skies, white fluffy clouds and say a big Hello to God? And I will end it with kamsahamnida haneunim which means thank you God in English.

My name is 하루 or you can just call me Day. I am a simple boy, full of energy and loves English. I am a bit eccentric at times but I can't help it. My family thinks I am kind of strange sometimes but they have already gotten used to it. Like when I sing 원더걸스, Wonder Girls's Nobody But You, in the car, house, inside the lift, at the park, everywhere, all day long. I give my mother heart attack from time to time with my naughty surprises. I wish to travel around the world. That's all about me!

For my non-Corean readers, this is how you pronounce the name of my blog:

Kamsahamnida dear readers! o(∩_∩)o

Rolling on the grass

Hello God!

It's a blindingly beautiful day, and the sky is crystal clear blue. Clad in my tank top and shorts, I am fully recovered from my fever and I feel like ten million won. It’s the early morning sun and I’m standing at the backyard. The morning air feels fresh with the morning breeze blowing gently across my face. It was a quiet and peaceful morning with no one in sight. I saw the soft green carpet grass and couldn’t help myself but ran into the yard. I am completely well and I feel extremely happy. I skipped along the stone tiles and laugh to myself loudly. I jumped, hopped and did cartwheels all over the backyard. I threw myself to the ground and rolled on the grass. Exhausted with all the jumping, I stretch out on the grass and giggled like a happy litte schoolgirl. And for split second, I am the happiest boy in the world. Then I saw my neighbour staring at me wide-eyed from over the fence.

Well, at least the fever’s gone.

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o

I like to mop

Hello God!

I was sick last weekend. I want to tell you what happened to me. I think falling sick made me realized how blessed I am in life.

My parents were not really mad at me despite the report card incident. They thought I was a weird but funny boy. Haha! When they found out I was feeling ill, they were so concerned.

Last Friday, I started feeling feverish and weak all over. My parents were out of town for a short holiday. Mom called me but I did not pick up her call as I was asleep and sick. Later in the evening, Mom called home again and sister picked up the phone.

Mom: Young Hee, where’s Day? He didn't pick up my call. (mom must be thinking I 'ran away' from home again)

Sister Young Hee: 하루(Day) is at home. He said he is unwell.

Mom: What is Day doing now?

Sister Young Hee: Day is mopping the floor.

Mom: Oh??!!!

Sister Young Hee: Yes, you heard it right. Day is mopping the floor. I think he is well.

Mom: Okay. Annyong-hi kashipshio.

After moping the floor, I went back to bed after taking some porridge. Throat feels painful. No kim-chee for me that night.

My fever got worse over the weekend. My parents were worried it was H1N1 flu. But then, fever began to subside.

On Monday afternoon, while she was at work, Mom called home, and sister picked up the phone again.

Mom: Young Hee, how’s하루(Day)?

Sister Young Hee: He is mopping the floor. I guess he recovered from his sickness.

Mom: Again? Oh, Day is still sick. Your brother will mop the floor when he is sick. That strange little brother of yours. He should be in bed.

That night, Mom sat me down for a talk. She thinks I have an obsession for mopping the floor when I am sick.

Mom: 하루(Day), don’t mop the floor again okay? It’s a maid’s job. The floor is too clean already.

Me: What can’t I mop the floor um-ma?

Mom: It’s so clean, shiny and smooth now. Mop any more and I might slip and break my hip!

Therefore, I’ll stop mopping the floor for now (maybe for a day!). Hehehehe.

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o

Have some chocolate

Hello God!

You made men and women to live on the earth. I think females are very complicated and complex creatures. How do we talk to our mom or female friends? They are moody especially at that one time of the month. I was thinking if I can use this as a guide:

DANGEROUS: What's for dinner?
SAFER: Can I help you with dinner?
SAFEST: Where would you like to go for dinner?
ULTRASAFE: Here, have some chocolate.

DANGEROUS: Are you wearing that?
SAFER: You look good in brown.
SAFEST: WOW! Look at you!
ULTRASAFE: Here, have some chocolate.

DANGEROUS: What are you so worked up about?
SAFER: Could we be overreacting?
SAFEST: Here's fifty thousand won.
ULTRASAFE: Here, have some chocolate.

DANGEROUS: Should you be eating that?
SAFER: You know, there are a lot of apples left.
SAFEST: Can I get you a glass of wine with that?
ULTRASAFE: Here, have some chocolate.

DANGEROUS: What did you do all day?
SAFER: I hope you didn't overdo it today.
SAFEST: I've always loved you in that dress!
ULTRASAFE: Here, have some more chocolate.

So, here have some chocolate.

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o

Letter to mom

Hello God!

I would like to tell you a story about mom and me. Today, I wrote a letter to my mother left it on the centre of the pillow on my bed. Before she woke up, I made her nice breakfast and made sure everything in my bedroom was neat and tidy. Then, I took my bag and quickly left the house.

Well, when mother got up, she was surprised with the breakfast prepared in the kitchen. However, she called my name but couldn't find me at home. As she walked past by my bedroom she had another surprise seeing that the bed was nicely made and everything was neat and tidy. Then, she saw the envelope on my pillow.

It was addressed “엄마” (mom). With the worst premonition, she opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:-

Dear um ma,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you, but I'm leaving home. I had to elope with my new girlfriend Yoo Kyung because I wanted to avoid a scene with Dad and you.

I've been finding real passion with Yoo Kyung and she is so nice to me. I know when you meet her you'll like her too - even with all her makeup, tattoos and minidress. But it's not only the passion Mom, she is pregnant and Yoo Kyung said that she wants to have the child and that we can be very happy together.

Even though Yoo Kyung is much older than me (anyway, 39 isn't so old these days is it?), and has no money, really these things shouldn't stand in the way of our relationship, don't you agree?

Yoo Kyung has a great CD collection; she does not have a place to stay and we will look for a place to rent together. It's true she has other boys(or men) as well but I know she'll be faithful to me in her own way. She wants to have many more children with me(before her menopause) and that's now one of my dreams too.

Yoo Kyung taught me that weed doesn't really hurt anyone and she'll be growing it for us and we'll trade it with our friends for all the ketamine and ecstasy we want. In the meantime, we'll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Yoo Kyung can get better; she sure deserves it!!

Don't worry Mom, I'm 20 years old now and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure we'll be back to visit so you can get to know your grandchildren.

Your loving son,

Day

At the bottom of the page were the letters " PTO".

Hands still trembling, my mother turned the sheet, and read:

PS:

um ma, none of the above is true. I'm over at the neighbour's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than my report card that's on my study desk. Please sign it and call when it is safe for me to come home. Don’t be angry, okay?

I love you!

Your loving son,

Day

Dear God, I am a naughty boy sometimes but I am changing! I promise to work harder and get better results in my next exam. Mom was angry for a while but she calmed down when I fed her the breakfast and showed her my hush puppy eyes.

Kamsahamnida haneunim! o(∩_∩)o