Looking back on some posts, I feel like I've been a bit Debbie Downer about this fine country I live it and I'd like to rectify that. This is the first in a many-part series about things I love in/about Korea.
On Sunday, my friend Tony and I went to the jjim jil bang because I am convinced jjim jil bangs have special healing powers and I was getting over the last of my bronchitis.
(Side note: jjim jil bangs are like saunas but oh so much more. They've got karaoke rooms, a gym, sleeping rooms, sweating rooms and you hang out in it wearing special pajamas. I LOVE jjim jil bangs and they are, without a doubt, what I will miss most about Korea when I finally leave.)
Towards the end of our night, we were in this oxygen room chilling out and these two little kids came in with their mother. The older boy was about 7 and his brother was probably 3 or so and they were both super adorable. We waved hello to them and made silly faces at the 3 year old and they took that as invitation to come over. 7 year old started showing us his collection of trading cards and Chinese study cards and the 3 year was joking around with cushions and in general, being super cute. We ended up spending about 20 minutes playing with them and it was such a nice time. I adore kids at that age, there's nothing sarcastic or surly about them, they're just happy and sweet.
After, when we were in the taxi back home, Tony and I were talking about how that could never happen in the US or Australia. As soon as the 3 year old started climbing all over us, the mother would have grabbed them away or something but it's so normal to take care of/play with other people's children. I noticed that at my school's sports day. Kids are totally at ease with other adults and parents took care of the kids around them, regardless of who's child they actually were.
I really love that about this country and I told my adult students about Sunday. They said its because of what Koreans call 정. It's pronounced "jeong" and it's difficult to put into English but basically means the friend-love that binds everyone and everything. My student James said he and his pen have 정 because he has used that pen for over a week and now they have a relationship. It's kinda like the opposite of 한, which is the collective sorrow/shame Koreans share because of how many times their country has been invaded/colonized.
So that is one of the things I love about this country, the trust and shared love that they have for one another. Most of the time, us foreigners are excluded from it but when we are included, it's the best.
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4 comments:
that is really beautiful. thank you for sharing.
I'm surprised that part one of things you love about SK did not include an ode to the adjumma.
P.S. Jjim jil bangs sound like the most awesome places ever! Special pajamas, healing powers and lounging--what more could a person want in this world?
I'm sorry, but I will never write an ode to adjumas. While I do have a theory that they are the reason there is still a distinct Korean culture, they represent the absolute worst of the collective Korean culture.
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