How’s your nunchi?
You just walked out of your first business meeting in Seoul and you have no idea what just happened. You have to report back to your boss in Canada and you can’t even say if your proposal was received...
View ArticleCulture Shock and the Critical Incident, or How I Learned to Put Out the Trash
As an intercultural consultant, part of my work involves helping people prepare for life and work overseas. As such, my programs often include a little lesson about culture shock. I do this because...
View ArticleNotes from Busan – a quick and quirky visit
Well, it’s been six years since I was last in Korea and I’m in Busan for a short time to promote my new ESL summer camp in Montreal. I lived in Busan from 2005 to 2007 working as a teacher in an...
View ArticleThe Montreal Korean Language and Culture Centre: Bringing Korean culture to...
When Shinae Yi arrived in Canada from Seoul, Korea as young adult 20 odd years ago, she probably didn’t envision becoming Montreal’s main go-to person for bringing Canadians and Koreans together...
View ArticleAdventures in Cross-Cultural Maternity Part I: The Sample
Sterile plastic cup in hand, I opened the bathroom door and blankly stared at the sparkling clean, disinfected squat-style toilet. I normally would have no problem with one of these. I had had many...
View ArticleInterview with a (“Korean”) butcher
This place had been a bit of an enigma to me until recently. Before last week, I had only heard of the “Korean butcher” through friends. At the time, my information was limited and I had heard that he...
View ArticleDo you Kakao?
The first time I heard about KakaoTalk was from a friend who had just returned from teaching English in Korea. He mentioned being “Kakaoed” and “Kakaoing” people. I had absolutely no idea what he was...
View ArticleWhat is your favourite book about Korea?
In preparing for an upcoming workshop on Korean culture, I grabbed my go-to guide for all things Korean: Korea Unmasked: In Search of the Country, the Society and the People by Won-bok RHIE. I think...
View ArticleFresh socks, anyone?
Have you ever given socks a thought? Socks are actually an important part of the Korean wardrobe. Much in the same way the tuque is an important and meaningful article of clothing in Canada, one could...
View ArticleA Thanksgiving weekend welcome: South Korean Navy vessels dock at the Old...
Last weekend was Canadian Thanksgiving, and it was a fitting couple of days to commemorate 60 years since the Korean War as well as 50 years of diplomatic ties between Canada and Korea. This was done...
View ArticleAdventures in Cross-Cultural Maternity: Part II
All the pregnant wayguks I knew went to Dr. Kim (not his real name) at Jeil Lady’s hospital in Haeundae, Busan. He was a very mild-mannered, soft-spoken slim man, who was always there, whether I showed...
View ArticlePart III (final): Adventures in Cross-Cultural Maternity
Well we didn’t get to go home for supper immediately after having our baby. However, about an hour after giving birth at the hospital, back in my private room, I was presented with an amazing meal,...
View Article9 awesome things about Korea that I wish we had in Canada
When I think back to my time living in Korea, I miss many things, but often it’s the little things that are unique to Korea, that I remember most fondly. I find that the memory of a place can last...
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