Little Seoulster

Exploring Korean-American Heritage & Interculturalism

A Story From a Korean-American Childhood – Lunch on the train

A Story from a Korean-American Childhood - Lunch on the Train

A Story from a Korean-American Childhood - Lunch on the TrainA Story From a Korean-American Childhood – Lunch on the train

I think I was 14 when one of my aunts and her husband came to visit for a family trip up the east coast. She was my mom’s older sister, so this made her my Eemo (이모).

The plan was to get on a train in DC up to New York City where the official tour began. Being someone who enjoys travel, I was excited about riding the train almost as much as touring NYC!

At least I was until something happened about 20 minutes into the train ride.

My family had settled in to our seats. Being a normal restless teenager, I decided to explore the snack car I had spotted on the way to boarding. I bought a soda and made a mental note to return for the plastic wrapped sandwich later when I got bored and hungry. Then I headed back to our car.

I was a couple of rows away from my family when it hit me…a waft of kimchi! And there were mutterings of “What’s that smell?” [Read more…]

January 14th is Diary Day in South Korea

January 14th is Diary Day in South Korea

January 14th is Diary Day in South KoreaJanuary 14th is Diary Day in South Korea

Yup, it’s the 14th of the month which means it’s another “love” holiday in South Korea.

What are “love” holidays? Glad you asked!

Every 14th of each month is an unofficial holiday for people to express their affection in some romantic way. That’s why they’re called “love” holidays.

But they’re not holidays in the sense that anyone is excused from work or anything. Although I’m sure they would love that! Who wouldn’t? [Read more…]

Traveler Beware: Electronics in South Korea are more expensive

Traveler Beware_ Electronics in South Korea are MORE expensive

Traveler Beware_ Electronics in South Korea are MORE expensiveTraveler Beware: Electronics in South Korea are more expensive

If you’re planning a trip to South Korea, be sure you have every electronic you may need, and all the back up batteries and memory cards for them. Because you will seriously go broke buying any of that in South Korea.

It seems like electronics should be cheaper there because it’s such a wired country (they’re one of the world’s most wired countries for internet, if not the most) and it is home to big brands such as Samsung and LG. But not so. Electronics can be twice as expensive there! [Read more…]

Learn Korean Slang – “No Jam”

Learn Korean Slang - _No Jam_Learn Korean Slang – “No Jams”

Isn’t it funny that the first thing people often learn when learning a new language are curse words? That’s something that surprised me as a child when a couple of my cousins came to the States from South Korea. I was shocked at how much they knew.

But you know what? It’s kind of important to the those curse words and slang so that (1) they know if someone is insulting them and (2) they can use it themselves and not sound robotic.

Although you won’t find Korean curse words here…unless I have a particular bad day….I do like to explore slang. And this is one of the cuter ones. Although it may only be because of how it was presented. [Read more…]