Why do expats hang out with Koreans? BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME.

Photo op with cast members of Oneri, a Korean play 
put on in Daejeon starring 작은 누나 in the title role.

Are you living and working in another country? Why not make friends with the locals?

        Foreign English teachers have told me that Koreans only want to practice English with their foreign friends. First off, that's not entirely true. Whenever Koreans have wanted to have conversation practice with me, they have made it very clear that was their intent. When my Korean friends just want to hang out, it's been obvious they wanted friendship. Also, what's wrong with having a conversation partner? I've done it before, and they are happy to speak Korean with you if you are interested.

Koon Hyeung and I scuba dive in Cebu

Our school's samulnori team. Samulnori is a sitting 
percussive orchestra that uses four instruments:
꽹과리(kkwaenggwari), 징 (jing), and the drum section, 
북 (buk) and 장구(janggu), 

         I've had the privilege to meet many fascinating, creative, intelligent, and fun people in this country. I was the first foreigner to befriend the family I now visit often. Since I've known them, we have gone traveling, camping, kayaking, scuba diving, and snowboarding together, as well as having many other adventures. They have showed me Korean customs and culture the way they are practiced today, and we've shared many laughs and good times even though most of the family doesn't speak English often.



        I can't remember how many times my Nunim has invited me to play volleyball, eat samgyeopsal, play janggu, or come to Seocheon to visit her mentor's calligraphy studio to roast chestnuts, sing at noraebang and play billiards. The experiences I've had here will live with me to my grave. 

Family and friends

A great subject to speak about with your new Korean friends is your family back home. Here are some useful words on the topic of family and friends. The first person possessive pronouns are 제 (formal), pronounced chae and 내 (informal), pronounced neh. Use one of these possessive pronouns before the following words to describe your foreign or Korean friends and family. ex: "Chae gajok Canada issuh wassayo. Vancouver ariyo? Nae, Chae gajok haggo chae chingu Vancouver issuh wassayo." Or something like that.

제 가족

가족 gajok (family)

누님 nunim (sister with children)

작은 누나 chak-eun nuna (second oldest sister)

형님 hyeong nim (older brother)

큰형 keun hyeong (elder brother)

작은형 chak-eun hyeong (second oldest brother)

막내 mag-neh (youngest one)

여동생 yeo dongseng (younger sister)

남동생 nam dongseng (younger brother) 

오빠 oppa (woman's older brother) 

시누이 shinu-i (sister-in-law)

올케 olgeh (brother's wife) 

아버지abeoji (father)

어머니oemoeni (mother)

할아버지 haraboeji (grandfather)

할머니 halmoni (grandmother)

아줌마 ajumma (middle-aged woman)

아저씨 ajeoshi (middle-aged man)

애기 eh-gi (baby)

조카 joka (niece/nephew) 

사촌 sa-chone (cousin)

삼촌 sam-chone (uncle)

이모 emo (mother'sister) 

고모 komo (father's sister)  

친구 chingu (friend) 

친한친구 chinhan chingu (best friend 

여자 친구 yeoja chingu (girlfriend)

남자 친구 namja chingu (boyfriend)