Have you ever had a chit-chat with a talking bird?

I have had J

Last autumn we had been to Pyeongchang, the city famous for its ski-resorts, to attend the KSME- Autumn Conference. On our way back we stopped by a roadside eatery to have dinner. After dinner I was hanging around the place waiting for my colleagues, when I heard someone calling out "안녕하세요" (Anyang Haseyo) to me! I looked around in eagerness to find out who wanted to pick up a conversation with me in that strange place. But there were no one to be seen in the vicinity. A girl in a counter at a distance was spotting a naughty smile without looking at me. I heard the Korean equivalent of ‘Namasteji’ again and this time I was sure that it wasn’t the girl who was offering the salutation!

I had already noticed a bird, in a cage nearby but never believed that the birds could talk as fluently as humans. But I turned curious, as there were signs to suspect that the bird itself was attempting to start a conversation with me. I went near the cage and there was a photograph of the bird on display before the cage with some description about it in Hangukmal. As I was trying to decipher what it meant with my elementary knowledge of the Korean language, the bird repeated ‘Anyang Haseyo’ to me right in front of my eyes!!

I shouted for my friends in astonishment even as I was returning the salutation. They were not impressed and suspected me of trying to play a trick on them. But then the bird called out ‘Anyang’ to them. They came rushing towards the cage and read the information on the board and they told me that it was indeed a talking bird. But when we tried to make it talk again on the camera, it turned its back on us as it appeared to have got irritated with the actions of my colleagues who got a bit carried away by the excitement.

We succeeded in capturing it saying ‘Anyang’ on the cam though…

Take a look at the videos J

Korea Mourns Moo-hyun

In Korea we woke up to the news on the demise of ex-president Mr. Roh Moo-hyun (노무현) today. The former president had apparently plunged himself from about 20-30m down a mountain near his home while on a morning walk. The suicide, the first by a modern South Korean leader had shocked the nation.

He had left a suicide note for his family:

“I can't imagine the countless agonies down the road. The rest of my life would only be a burden for others. I can't do anything because I'm not healthy. I can't read books, nor can I write.

Don't be too sad. Isn't life and death all part of nature? Don't be sorry. Don't blame anybody. It's fate. Please cremate me. And please leave a small tombstone near home. I've long thought about that.”

Hailing from a poor farming family in Gimhae, Mr. Roh never went to college and studied law on his own, passing South Korea’s difficult bar exam. He was elected President in 2002 on a campaign theme of not to ‘kowtow’ to the United States, a pledge that resonated with young voters. During the Presidency he had continued his predecessor Kim Dae-jung's “sunshine policy” of offering North Korea aid as a way to facilitate reconciliation, holding a summit in Pyongyang with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2007, the second such meeting between leaders of the feuding nations.

The former President who had built a reputation as a lawyer defending students accused of sedition under past military rule, and once was arrested, with his law license suspended, for supporting an outlawed labor protest, was being prosecuted for alleged bribery charges.

“I have no face to show to the people. I feel ashamed before my fellow citizens I am sorry for disappointing you” an emotional-looking Mr. Roh had said on April 30 before undergoing questioning by prosecutors.

For a moment I thought about the rhino-skinned billionaire politicians of my own nation, who spend not a paisa from their pockets and had been living on tax payers' money for their entire life and at the same time grooming their progeny for taking over from them.

The prosecution is apparently winding up the case…

May his soul rest in peace.

I'll be getting married.....

Roses for you, on Rose Day :-)

During last week came the time for me to sign on to Facebook. First thing that caught my attention was of people trying to discover themselves on some ‘mirror’ and figure out how they compare with their friends in a variety of ways. I turned curious myself and tried my luck with some of them.

This is what the magic mirror told me, on my face;

You have an outgoing personality: Sure, I do have, good start

You tend to take risks: good guess, there’s fun in living on the edge

You feed on attention: well, take in whatever is delicious, nutrient or good for your health

You generally have no self control: ha ha ha….let me check the control system

You are kind hearted, self confident, loud and boisterous: that’s a good mix…..can't complain

You are VERY revengeful: ask my enemies, they’ll certify that, revengeful with the bold lettered ‘VERY’

You're easy to get along with and easy to talk to: that’s why I’m a teacher

You have an 'everything's peachy' attitude: really?!

You like talking and singing but you absolutely love music: I hope  :)

You're a daydreamer so you're easily distracted: what’s the fun in living without dreams and distractions?

You hate not being trusted: take my word….

You have a BIG imagination: Mirror, mirror, magic mirror; you have an imagination BIGGER than me.

You love to be loved: who wouldn’t? But I also want to be loved by the one I love…

You absolutely hate studying: don’t say it in public, yaar!!!! I’ll lose my job!!

You will always be in need of 'that someone': hmm….

You long for freedom and you're rebellious when withheld or restricted: ask my ex-bosses, who had a taste of the same

You live by 'no pain no gain' caring: that’s the way everyone should live

You're playful, mysterious and 'charming' or 'beautiful' to everyone: I didn't promise you that I’ll buy you ice creams, did I?  :)

You tend to be stubborn, curious, independent, and strong willed: that’s the way I was brought up

You will always be a fighter: Thank you for reminding me

Your dominant attitude is that of an idealist: a good way of putting that you've no tomorrow?!

I was also told that I’ll be getting married,

............................................................................................

at the age of 45!!

Orini Nal

The Children's Day in Korea

"In old days there were angels who came and took men by the hand and led them away from the city of destruction. We see no white-winged angels now. But yet men are led away from threatening destruction: a hand is put into theirs, which leads them forth gently towards a calm and bright land, so that they look no more backward; and the hand may be a little child's. "

George Eliot; Silas Marner, Chapter XIV

Today was Orini Nal, a national holiday in Korea. Koreans celebrate the Orini Nal (the Children’s Day) on the 5^th of May every year. In a country with perhaps the least number of holidays and the longest working hours in the world, it came as a pleasant surprise to me. For once, the Korean parents are free to spend time with their children taking them to amusement parks, movies, children's parks, zoos, and other places. The day highlights the dignity of children and their need for education, care, and respect. It is also a day to honor adults who have contributed to improving the lives of children.

Children’s day in Korea traces its origins to the famous children’s writer Pang Jeong-Hwan. He had written “An Open Letter to Adults” on the 1^st of May, 1923. It went something like this;

“Children are the future of our nation. Let's show respect for children. Children who grow up with ridicule and contempt from others will become people who disrespect others, while children who grow up with respect from others will become people who respect others in turn.”

He argued that children and particularly babies had a purity and goodness to them representative of their link to the nature of heaven. “Because of this, not only should children be treated as equal to adults but they had qualities from which adults could learn: children can teach adults.”

Children of all ages are honored on Children's Day and the entire community is involved in the celebrations. Many cities in Korea have parades, pageantries and public activities. Museums, zoos, amusement parks, and movie theaters offer free admission to children. Traditional games are played and gifts are given to children from their parents and from the stores those they frequent.

The Andong National University campus with its picturesque gardens and lawns is a favorite picnic spot for the families around Andong.

In the morning itself families had begun to arrive

We went out to have lunch with the day being a holiday for the university restaurant. And the children's park near the campus was already crowded to capacity.

It was built on an old agricultural field. But they had retained the paddy fields and vegetable gardens to convey the importance of agriculture to children. There was even an apple tree yard.

the Dinos welcomed me into the park in their customary style

for once Korean fathers found time to be innovative for their little ones

the crowd was growing

when the flowers were laid out for the nation's flowers

the excitement was very much in the air

the lucky ones had a royal ride

the pool had almost over flowed

Gramdmas were there too

they had a walk through a farm

some came with antennae to communicate with their types

and some had a difficult climb

the traditional Korean candyman was quite popular

so were the Andong farmer and his wife

some had a drive on the agri machines

and also had a look at the past

what's this? let me read J

the importance of recycling of waste

haai!!

ok! let's go

let me show you how it works

see even I can do it J

the domestic animals and birds, a cock had scared some of them with it's cry!

but this is not it's effect

we had met a smart photographer who took some great snaps for us!!

My tour guides, Ms. Jo and Ms. Shin,

2nd year students of Tourism Studies at ANU did a wonderful job for sure

As I was searching information for this post I had come across an article on the TIME describing the Korean Children’s day of 1951. It went thus;

“.......Last week battered Seoul celebrated Children's Day with a parade by the police, who marched 600 strong behind a brass band and a huge placard:

‘Children Are the Nation’s Flower.’

“The nation’s flowers emerged from caves and broken buildings. Beside the budding, shrapnel-scarred elms along the streets, they watched. Now & then a youngster clapped or smiled, but mostly they stood with wooden faces, like tired old people who have found life very hard and who take little joy in parades.”

The article mentioned that the band avoided the South Gate and the bombed Seoul Station where “the abandoned, the homeless, and the orphans prowled restlessly, begging, stealing, conniving to stay alive.” It ended by noting that the police handed out small packets of candy and food to the children, and those with parents then went on long happy walks, while those who were orphaned by the war and “had no parents to take them home melted back into their caves and cellars.”

Excuse me for telling the tragic side of the story. I thought the story will remain incomplete without telling the ‘other side’, especially at a time when useless wars fought on behalf of self serving adults destroy the innocent childhoods across the world. Hope they will learn a lesson or two from the little ones as Mr. Pang Jeong-Hwan had dreamt of.