flags

It is a National Holiday in Korea tomorrow. My students tell me that it is Independence Day- to mark Korea's independence from Japanese rule in 1945. As for every holiday since I arrived here back in December 2001. the National flag is flying in bounteous quantities on all the main streets in town. The big difference this time is that I am not eyeing them up as potential adornments for my humble abode. This is purely because I bought one during the World Cup and not because my morals have got the better of me in any way! Having lived through 3 years at university in London, living in various flats and houses which were almost exclusively decorated in stolen street signs and flashing workman’s lights (how do you turn those damn things off anyway?) and drinking out of pint glasses that had made their way into the house from the local pub down the road, Korea is a real test on my non-pilfering willpower.

I have to admit to possessing one Korean bar glass at this present time but the rest of the contents of my place were properly paid for (or taken out of the trash late at night) There is so much stuff on the streets of your average Korean town that would have 'walked' long ago back home- tables, chairs, brooms, flowerpots and, of course, the Korean flags sitting unfettered in their holders placed at a height where the average Korean municipal worker (not famous for their height) can reach without too much strain. But that is certainly one of the things that I love about Korea- the safety on the streets- whether it be for a six foot yucca plant or a lone female at night. And if my nerve should go there are always plenty of taxis to take me home after dark- a far cry from the hour long queue (line) in Dublin city centre.

Asking my Korean students about Independence Day here led onto other things such as comparisons between celebrations here and in the US. In common with pretty much every other Korean celebration Independence Day is a very subdued affair- especially compared to the firework frenzy in America. Usually a day is marked by a visit to the grandparents- either in their homes or in the grave plots in the mountains. The World Cup was the first time that I had seen mass National celebrations here. And then my student asked me a tricky question- 'Do you have Independence Day in England?' and 'why not?' I explained that it had been a very long time since England was ever part of any Empire but the British. Then we moved onto easier questions about whether or not I had ever met the Royal Family and how handsome Prince William is (makes a change from discussing the aesthetic qualities of English football stars- 'Beckham very handsome!' and 'Owen very handsome' somehow the conversation never got boring!)

While England and Korea are very different in many ways there is one way in which they are the same- the kids are full of questions. The big difference here is that they have to learn a foreign language to get some of the answers. But more on that another time!
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