'The reason I quit Samsung that I love (내가 사랑하는 삼성을 떠나는 이유)'

It's the title of letter that a young Samsung man left on the group's online bulletin when he quit Samsung. The Korea Times mentioned it very briefly in an article, 'Sandwiched Korea, and Samsung'. (You can read the full text of letter here written in Korean.)

This morning, while reading stacked posts in my reader I found an interesting one. The author thinks that the letter was leaked by chance. So he titled the post 'Systematic Samsung(관리의 삼성) is becoming a thing of the past.

Was it leaked By Chance? No way.

As far as I know Samsung isn't the sort of the company that looks on with folded arms while an internal document is printed in the newspaper, even though it's trivial.

'A Frog in a Pot' is a good fable of restructuring. Now it's the correct timing for restructuring. Yes, I agree it's time to "change everything except for one's spouse and children" again. But a leaked letter from a young Samsung man? It's funny.

English, English, English, it frustated me!

1. When getting a speed ticket, I couldn't say a word to dispute it.
2. When disputing the unauthorized transactions on the wire, the officer asked me to speak through an interpreter.

I have breakdown.

(한국에서는 영어 미팅에서 하고 싶은 말 다 하고 업무하는데도 지장이 없다고 생각했는데 여기와서 두 달 만에 '영어 울렁증'에 걸렸습니다. 아예 내 말을 못 알아 듣겠다고 무시하는 상황을 몇 번 당하니 어디가도 입 열기가 두려워지네요. 미국에 있는 한국회사 다니면서 하루 종일 한국말만 써대니 영어는 언제 늘을련지. 그러나 좌절할 순 없당. 화이팅, 화이팅.

PS. WorkingUS.com에서 오늘 읽은 '영어와 자신감'이란 글입니다. )

Get my debit card information stolen!

Today morning I found that there were strange transactions in my account. I never made them! Someone spend $391.89 with my debit card at the Home Depot. I even never went there at the day. The thief filled up the car and bought groceries with my card!

I always have my debit card with me. I haven't lent it to anyone. I disputed those transactions to the bank and asked to block my card.

The officer in the bank said that it is sometimes happened! To my surprise I heard that some of my coworkers got same experiences. I haven't got my cards information stolen for 15 years in Korea. Never. I was surprised and disappointed the security is so weak.

Please be careful and check your transactions at least once a day.

추가. 6/7, 이틀 동안 연락이 없어서 오늘 확인 전화를 돌렸습니다. 지점에서 해주는 것은 없고 모두 커스터머 서비스 전홥니다. 세 번을 전화를 돌려서 (세 번이나 본인 확인을 위한 절차를 밟았습니다. ㅡ.ㅡ) 관련 부서와 통화 되었습니다만 이 아줌마 무쟈 빨리 얘기하고 내가 얘기한것도 못 알아듣겠다고 하는군요. 결국 한국 통역 연결 후 3자 통화. 경찰에 신고는 했느냐. 너 정말 거기 안 간 거 맞냐. 카드 누구한테 빌려준적 없냐. 결론은, 48시간 내에 서류를 보내줄 테니 기입해서 다시 보내라. 남의 나라 살아 서러운게 이런 거 군요.

Quit smoking

When I was alone, smoking a cigarette with deep coffee used to give me a rest. When I was with good buddies, smoking cigarettes with a bottle of beer used to give me comport and relaxation.

This is 2nd trial to quit smoking for my life. About 3 years ago I have stated smoking again since I quited it for 7 years. Now I quited it again.

I tried to erase memory with a cigarette. It was so sweet and faint but I tried to forget those feeling.

(미국에 들어와서 담배를 끊은지 이제 한달 남짓 되는 것 같습니다. 2년 남짓 다시 피우기 시작한 담배가 건강을 해치는 것 같아서요. 담배 피는 사람을 한명도 볼 수 없는 날이 많은 소도시에서 담배를 끊기란 비교적 쉬었습니다. 그래도 가끔 그 연기를 볼때면 참을 수 없는 충동이 소름이 쫘악 도는거 있죠.)

A Language Exchange Partner from Netherlands

Almost one month ago I read a post at Craigslist in which a lady was finding someone who can teach her Korean language. She wanted to learn Korean language. At that time I sent a mail to her. Finally at last Saturday we met at a Starbucks in Bellevue Square.

I introduced my wife to her. They will meet twice or 3rd time a week to teach each other. Even though she's from Netherlands her English is very fluent. The reason why she need to learn Korean is that she and her boy friend will meet his mother in Korea at this September. Her boy friend can hardly speak Korean because he was adopted in US when he was a baby.

To say hello to his real mother, her mother-in-law, she tries to learn Korean. She's wise and very thoughtful. I feel sad to hear real story of adopted Korean.

(한국어를 배우고 싶다는 네덜란드 처자를 연락해서 지난 토요일 만났습니다. 아내의 언어 교환 파트너로 연결 시켜 주었죠. 영어 솜씨는 막힘이 없는 정도로 아내의 버벅임을 고쳐줄 충분한 실력이 되더군요. 남자 친구의 친어머니를 올 9월에 한국에 들어가서 만나기로 했고 거기서 한동안 있고 싶어 한국어를 배우고 싶다네요. 남자친구는 어릴 때 미국으로 입양되어서 한국어를 못하고. TV에서만 보던 이야기네요. 일본어, 중국어도 할 줄 안다는 23살 처자, 참 이쁘고 똑떨어지더군요.)

How to order at Starbucks - 스타벅스에서 커피 주문하기

Seattle is famous for a Starbucks as well as rain. At the Seattle downtown there is 1st Starbuks. Ordering a cup of coffee at Starbucks is as confused much as memorizing street numbers near office, for me.

1. Decide if you'd like to drink a hot or cold.
   찬(Cold) 음료와 뜨거운(Hot)음료를 결정한다.
   
   
2. Choose size.
   다음 중에서 컵의 크기를 결정한다.
   
   1)Short(8oz), 2)Tall(12oz), 3)Grande(16oz), 4)Venti(20oz)
   
   *여기 사람들은 Tall 사이즈를 주로 마시는 듯, Short은 메뉴판에는 없지만 Order하면 준다.
   
   
3. 모든 라떼(Lattes) 종류와 카푸치노(Cappuccinos) 그리고 마끼야또(macchiatos)에는 에스프레소(espresso)가 들어간다.
   
   1 in short and tall
   2 in grande and venti
   
   Americanos와 Mocha Valencias에는 이보다 1잔 정도 많은 에스프레소가 들어간다.
   
   
4. How to order. - for example
   실제 주문하는 예
   
   Tall Americano with room please. 또는 Can I get tall Americano with room?
   (room란 크림을 넣기 위해 비워두는 공간을 얘기한다.)
   Short no room Americano.
   
   Tall Green Tea Frappuccino Blended Cream.
   (프라프치노는 얼음에 커피,물,우유 기타 시럽등을 갈아만든 것인데 여름에 마시면 꽤 시원하고 괜찮다. 그러나 발음을 잘 해야 된다는 거ㅡ.ㅡ)
   
   A double tall non-fat extra-dry cappuccino.
   (해석하자면 non-fat milk넣고 거품(foam) 추가해서(extra-dry) tall 크기 카푸치노 주세요. 어렵다. ㅡ.ㅡ)
   
   * 이외 extra-dray나 non-fat 자리에 쓸 수 있는 말:
   extra-dry(거품 많이), wet(거품 적게) , extra hot(더 뜨겁게), soy(콩 우유)
   

I couldn't understand language in Starbucks, a cuple of days ago.
그저께 스타벅스가서 아메리카노를 주문하는데 벌어진 일.

1.I(나): "Can I get Tall Americano?"
2.clerk(점원): "room for cream?"
3.I(나):
...
(I'm wondering whether there is 'room' for cream??? Finally I said.
멀뚱멀뚱, 무슨 크림에 방이 있나? 내가 잘못 알아들었나? 망설이다.)
No thank you...

There are a lot things to know to just order a cup of coffee. To know those things is to know their culture that is totally different from ours. They may think that how can we don't know kinds of simple things. But it's just because we're not familiar with theirs, we have lived in different culture.

Anyway, to live here WELL ENOUGH, I have millions of things to know and learn.

The last working day in Korea

Today is the last day for work before leaving. I'm suffering from a hangover because I boozed with my coworkers until 2am. I must missed such a warm Korean-style party, boozing bottles of SoJu to the death with close buddies.

(새벽까지 술 먹다. 여비 마련하느라 여기저기서 쌈짓돈 끌어 모으고 있는 중 어제 한방으로 큰 타격 입다.)

Korean calligraphy and antique: A photographer's Blog

At last week I met a high school colleague. It's been 3 years since I met him. He majored in German literature and Philosophy. Comparing that almost all of my colleagues are salaried workers, he who is interested in translation of Nietzsche's literary works is unusual man.

He may be in Finland at this week to attend a exhibition featuring the photographs taken by himself. Gosinga.Net is his blog where you can read essays about Korean antique and see photos. (What does it mean, Gosinga?)

(신학교를 지망하던 친구가 이제 불교에 관심을. 내 좁은 인간관계에서 엔지니어와 셀러리맨과는 다른 길을 가는 친구를 가끔 만난다는 것도 행운이다.)