#Splendid Korea

[remyfire]

"Remy, is Some Things Are Evergreen just an excuse for you to write a wide variety of different sexual positions, kinks, and enormous emotions and healing in the midst of them?" .........no..........

[herpsandbirds]

Could I plz have a forg and a snek

YOUR GREED KNOWS NOT LIMITS!!!

Yes of course, here is one of each for you...

Splendid Leaf Frog (Cruziohyla calcarifer), family Hylidae, Costa Rica

photograph by Edwin Martinez

Tiger Keelback (Rhabdophis tigrinus), family Colubridae,  Cheongyang, South Korea

Mildly to moderately venomous.

Venom is excreted into the saliva, and enters the prey through the bite wound. Keelbacks do not have fangs.

This species is also poisonous! They sequester toxins from the toads they prey on.

photograph by Kim Hyun-tae

[lcvclywon]

what if when you're fully awake, i come to my senses

back to masterlist

synopsis ᯓ sunghoon had a picture perfect life planned out with you, but you didn't know how to tell him that wasn't the life you could ever be apart of

warnings ˎˊ˗ cursing, crying, kissing, mentions of family + motherhood, erm lowercase intended, ignore typos lawl, mentions of alcohol

genre ⭑.ᐟ angst

pairings: non-idol ex!sunghoon x female reader

wc ᵎᵎ 1.2k

thoughts frm yuya💭 what acc was this again

2 years. it had been two years since you had broken up with sunghoon and left korea without warning. since then you had started a new life, new friends, new place, new job, new you. but following a promotion in your job you now had to move all the way back to korea. 

to be honest, a small part of you still did care if you would end up seeing him in seoul again. you really shouldn’t be the one caring considering you were the one who ended things but, a small part of you hoped to bump into him. even if it was at work, a random cafe, a restaurant nearby your office, even a brush of shoulders whilst walking down the street would’ve been enough for you. just to see if he was alright, if he was doing better than you after the breakup. but alas, nothing. who were you to blame really, korea was a big country…stupid to think you guys could ever meet. and so eventually as years passed on, the small hope that lingered in your chest eventually faded and you forgot about sunghoon. and that was going great until- 

“YN?“ no way. 

as if fate would have it, there sunghoon stood before you years after you stopped caring. this wasn’t really the way you expected meeting him after all these years, but there you were standing  face to face with him at your local bar after a tough day at work. splendid, really. 

“Sunghoon!” quickly wiping away the dust of laver on your lips you turned around to face him, it was a relief to you that he didn’t look entirely dreadful after seeing you. but in all honesty it made you feel even worse about how things ended. 

“What are you doing back in korea?” he didn’t really bother for an invitation to sit down before grabbing a stool at the bar for himself and seating himself next to you

you finished off the last few sips of beer left in your cup before stuttering out “Oh my um- my job had me move here a couple years back. i think it’s been what- like two years since i’ve been here, yeah two years…” 

“that’s nice, that’s nice…” sunghoon mumbled out while nodding. then you two just sat there, in silence. god what the fuck were you two even doing….

just as you were about to say your goodbyes and rid yourself from this awkward tension he blurted out “why’d you do it?”

“what?” god why were you even playing dumb right now, your gut knew what he was talking about 

“the breakup, why’d you leave like that,” his voice was shaky as he spoke, glancing over you realised he didn’t even look up to your face whilst saying it. maybe he really wasn’t as fine as you thought “you just left really abruptly, i- i just wanna know why?” 

“i-“ mustering up the courage you finally stumbled out “i heard that day…”

“what?” please don’t make me hurt you by saying it sunghoon…

“that day with heeseung, i heard it.”

“i’m not quite understanding-“

“You were talking about wanting a family, wanting kids….with me-“ 

“oh…”

“i tried you know, i tried to want that too. i tried imagining myself with kids, our kids, and i tried feeling happy at the thought. but i was just scared..” you couldn’t help but laugh at your own pathetic behavior “i’m not fit to be a mother sunghoon, i wouldn’t be a good one.” 

“was that…” he paused to inhale a shaky breath “was that the reason?”

you could only nod in response. 

“yn, why didn’t you just tell me? i would’ve understood, we could’ve talked things through.”

“hoon,” the nickname still left your mouth with a smile “we were together for five years, five years you probably harbored that dream. and i didn’t wanna get in the way of that because i was scared…and god you just- you sounded so happy describing it”

“you could’ve just told me-“

“i didnt want you to change your hopes and dreams just because i didn’t fit it. i wanted you to have a life with a woman who could make you happy, a life where you could have those dreams, a life where you could be a father.”

“i don’t want any part of that life if it’s not with you…” what was meant to come out as an outburst only left his mouth was a defeated surrender. 

you didn’t really know what to say, so you just hugged him. you engulfed him between your arms letting his head rest on the crook of your neck, feeling how his tears stained your collarbones. 

“we shouldn’t do this…” you whispered out, as if speaking too loud would snap him out of whatever trance he was in 

“no, we shouldn’t…” he didn’t let go though “do you not want to at least try, it’s been years. i’ve changed” 

finally pulling away you cupped his tear stained cheeks with your hands before replying with “i get that you’ve changed hoon, probably for the better too. but i don’t think i have, and i still can’t give you that dream. i wouldn’t be giving you a life you deserved” 

“yn,” your name left his tongue like a plead before his hand reached up to meet yours “a life with you is all that i want.”

you wanted to believe this, but you knew deep down it wasn’t what he wanted. it was what he was settling for. 

“i cant take that life away from you hoon. i cant be selfish again.” you smiled weakly at him trying to cover up the fact that you could practically hear your own heart shattering “be with someone who can be enough. please” 

he didn’t respond. he only inched his face closer to yours to press a tender kiss on your lips, and you didn’t bother to stop him. you kissed him back but you both knew, it wasn’t a kiss to save whatever scraps of the relationship you had left, it was goodbye. perhaps that’s why you let his lips linger a little longer, perhaps that’s why you let him snake his arms around your waist and tangled them though your hair, perhaps that’s why you let yourself enjoy the kiss a little more, perhaps thats why you weren’t the one to pull away this time. 

facing his tear stained cheeks and hopeless expression once again, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of deja vu. but this time you let him be the one to walk away first. 

“goodbye yn, i love you”

“goodbye hoon.” you couldn’t really return the last sentiment 

it was sad, the whole situation. but you knew it was for the better. you knew you weren’t what sunghoon wanted, nor what he should settle for. somewhere down the line, even if it hurt you now, it would make sense. it wouldnt kill you everytime you thought of it, it wouldn’t break your heart or make you sob. over time it would get better.

perhaps that’s why, five years down the line, when you happened to cross by sunghoon walking happily down the street wtih his daughter on top of his shoulders as his wife laughed…you could only smile. 

perm taglist @floweryang @cupidhoons @msauthor @dimplewonie @cholexc @i2ycat @bunnbam @tobiosbbyghorl @jlheon @dioll @jwsdoll @junislqve @jeongonniiee @thatsoraya @antoncyng

[lovelyhan]

— again and again (a teaser) ⟢

pairing: mingyu x reader

summary: your mother calls one day, asking if you’re bringing mingyu along for chuseok this year. in your panic, you end up giving her an affirmative—never mind the fact that you and mingyu have stopped seeing each other over half a year ago.

word count: 1.7k words

tags: exes, fake dating, pining, idol!gyu, vet!reader, mild angst, fluff, smut (in later scenes; the teaser is completely sfw)

warnings: some medical jargon, mentions of shots (for pets)

notes: omg this is so long for a teaser, but it's fine LMAO i'll be away this weekend, so i thought i'd treat you guys to a little something i'm currently working on ^__^ i hope you like it!

When you hear the telltale ring as the call connects to its intended recipient, you wonder why you even considered this idea in the first place. Not to mention, you’re getting a nasty case of phone call anxiety—one that you haven’t felt in god knows how long. Maybe it’s because of the identity of the person you’re calling that your nerves are all over the place. 

In fact, you’re not sure if he’s even going to answer. There are a million and a half reasons why famous superstar Kim Mingyu won’t be able to pick up your call. He could be shooting for a music video or some fashion magazine. He could be in the middle of an interview. Or he could be out spending time with his members like tends to these days if his recent Instagram posts are anything to go by. 

But you try anyway because your mother sounded so hopeful in the phone call you just hung up on five minutes ago (The rice wine he got for us last Christmas was splendid! He’ll bring some again for Chuseok, won’t he?), that you just didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth.

So, because you can’t take back the pretty white lies you uttered (Uh, of course he will. Gyu told me he missed everyone back at home, too. Especially Namja), you’re attempting to rope Mingyu into the charade even if the odds are against you.

The first call doesn’t go through. Neither does the second. 

By your third try, you’re about to accept the fact that you’re going to have to make some due corrections to what you told your mother until you hear a groggy, “Hello?” on the other line. 

You nearly fall off your seat at the throaty sound of Mingyu’s voice, but you’d rather not get weird looks from your receptionist, so you breathe in as deeply (and quietly) as you can before mustering a smile that he won’t even be able to see.

“Hey, Mingyu, it’s me,” you begin, a bit proud of how your voice didn’t even falter. “It’s been a while. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

He doesn’t respond for a while, and the prolonged silence makes you bite the inside of your cheek. Did the call fall through? Did he not hear what you said? But just when you’re about to repeat the words—

“Kind of,” Mingyu grumbles, and you try not to think about how sexy his morning voice sounds despite it being two in the afternoon. “We finished taping a variety show today and I figured I’d get some sleep. It’s midnight right now.”

Well that’s news to you.

“Oh. You’re not in Korea?”

“Nah. We’re in New York for some brand collaborations,” he says, and you hear some rustling in the background, followed by a yawn. “Though I doubt you’ve been keeping tabs on us.” 

Okay, he doesn’t have to call you out like that.

Sure, you still catch posts from Mingyu, as well as the other twelve members of SEVENTEEN from time to time, but…after breaking up with him (on good terms, promise!), you thought it’s best if you didn’t see too much of them anymore. The block and mute buttons are your best friends, and while you didn’t use them on the members directly, gossip outlets were your regular targets.

So to speak, it’s been a peaceful six months since your break up with Mingyu. 

Until now.

“Do you need something?” he asks, and you realize you didn’t respond to what he said last. “Whatever it is, I might not be able to help you out right away. We’re holed up here until next month.”

Well…that’s all the confirmation you needed.

“I see,” you sigh, trying not to sound too disappointed. “It’s— It’s okay.”

“So you do need something,” Mingyu points out, voice much clearer now than it was two minutes ago. Like he was more awake. “What is it?”

“Nothing you should worry about, Gyu,” you reassure before making a face, not realizing how easily the old nickname just slipped out. “I’m sorry for waking you up. You should go back to—”

The sound of him whining at the other end sends another rush of vertigo through your entire being. “Come on, I’m awake anyways right? You know how hard it is for me to fall asleep again.”

“If I’d known we weren’t in the same continent, I wouldn’t have called altogether,” you say before quaintly adding, “Shit. This counts as an international call, doesn’t it?”

There’s someone else in the room with him, you think—a quiet drawl of Mingyu-hyung, what time is it? You immediately recognize it as Seungkwan. 

“Five minutes from midnight,” Mingyu says, and Seungkwan asks another question that you aren’t able to catch. “Who am I talking to? Bookkeu and Bobpul’s worst enemy.”

“Hey!” You scowl at him. “They never even whined when you and Seungkwan brought them to me for their shots!”

“Noona? Why are you calling this guy?” Seungkwan says a bit more loudly for you to hear. “Didn’t you dump him already? Good choice, by the way.” 

This time it’s Mingyu’s turn to utter out a semi-offended, “Hey! Mind your own business, Seungkwan-ah.”

A few minutes of bickering with his dongsaeng later, you figure that Mingyu must’ve gone outside of their hotel room for some privacy. You can vaguely hear the sound of the wind blowing on his end before he heaves a deep sigh.

“Sorry about that.” He coughs awkwardly. “Anyway, if you’re not going to tell me about what you needed help with, how are you? Is the clinic doing well? Did your receptionist finally ditch her shitty boyfriend? Does that one guy with a husky still hit on you?”

You’re a little overwhelmed by the sudden influx of questions. Last you checked, you haven’t spoken to Mingyu since you greeted him on his birthday over a quick text message. But then again, your ex does have a talent for completely ignoring the time that exists in between interactions. Mingyu’s always been amicable for conversation, idol or not, boyfriend or not. 

The mere thought that he hasn’t changed at all makes your heart ache in more ways than one.

You manage a quiet laugh. “I’m fine. The clinic’s fine. Chae has a new boyfriend now. He even helps us sort out new products on the shelves sometimes.”

At the mention of her name, your receptionist whips her head in your direction, one brow raised. You shake your head with a smile, gesturing that this is nothing she should even be remotely concerned about. 

It’s just Mingyu after all.

“Okay, how about the guy who—”

“I turned him down when he asked me out for lunch last week.”

He whistles. “Ouch. And he’s been trying to get with you all this time.”

“I don’t usually date my clients, you know.”

“Yeah? I must be special then.”

Then comes the silence—so thick, you can cut through it with a knife. 

“Uh, so I have a patient coming in an hour for a castration procedure,” you tell him a bit awkwardly. “Gotta prepare everything before the owner arrives.”

Mingyu sighs, and you can almost imagine him pouting. “You’re really not gonna tell me? I can still help you with whatever you need even when I’m out here. Unless it requires me to, you know, physically be there.”

You chuckle. “That’s the thing, Gyu. You can’t help me because I need you to actually be here.”

“Oh. Why? What for?”

You inhale sharp breath through your nose, closing your eyes as your face warms with embarrassment. Chae is definitely looking at you funnily from her station now, but you tell yourself not to give it too much thought.

“Mom asked if I was bringing you with me for Chuseok,” you admit. “I haven’t been home since Christmas, so… They kind of have no idea that we aren’t together anymore.”

Mingyu falls silent for a while yet again, and you realize that your anxiousness spikes whenever he isn’t talking like there’s no tomorrow. You wonder if he’s figured out what you’re trying to insinuate and is silently berating you for the lapse in judgment. But when Mingyu bursts out laughing on the other end, you suddenly don't mind being on the receiving end of his silence after all.

“No way,” he gasps between chuckles. “You were going to ask me to pretend to be your boyfriend over the holidays, weren’t you?! One of the fans wrote a story about the exact same thing once, except it’s between me and Wonwoo-hyung. It was in English though, but Vernon translated it pretty well.”

…Kim Mingyu admitting to reading fanfiction about himself and Wonwoo aside, you groan. “What am I supposed to do? My family loves you. I’d rather not dampen the Chuseok spirit by saying their favorite son has unfortunately made his unannounced exit half a year ago.”

“So you’re willing to pretend we’re still together just to keep them happy?”

“Well, yeah. It’s not like you’re an ex I should be ashamed of, Gyu.”

“Because I’m an idol that millions are vying for?” 

You roll your eyes. “No. It’s because out of all my exes, you’re the only one that Namja actually likes. That’s pretty much the highest honor you can receive in your entire life.”

Your heart does a little flip when Mingyu barks out another light-hearted laugh. You tell yourself that you’re only reacting that way because…it has been a while since you talked to him. That, and Mingyu was always so smiley whenever you brought up your ten year-old retriever.

“Point taken,” he says. “I’d totally be down to help you out, but…yeah.”

“I knew you would be,” you reply, a sad smile ghosting your features. “That’s why I called.”

Silence settles over the line once again, but it’s, by no means, awkward. It’s more…sentimental. Like two old friends reminiscing about the good memories you shared. 

Huh. You’re friends with Mingyu…

“Anyway, thanks for catching up with me, Mingyu,” you tell him before you end up saying something you’re not supposed to. “I’ll get going now. Good night.”

“Hey—”

You end the call before he can have the chance to make you falter.

end notes: like the teaser so far? leave a reply if you haven't filled out my taglist form yet and would like to be tagged once the full story is up!

edit: the full fic is up here!

[bts-trans]

230923 Vogue Korea's Tweet

#VoguePictures #JungKook 화려한 막이 내리고, 1960년대 브릿락의 순간을 마주한 정국.

#VoguePictures #JungKook The splendid curtain falls, and Jungkook is faced with a Brit Rock moment from the 1960s.

Trans cr; Ali @ bts-trans © TAKE OUT WITH FULL CREDITS

[mariacallous]

When Richard Nixon defied expectations and went to China in 1972, Henry Kissinger, his national security advisor, packed the president’s briefcase. Among Nixon’s reading materials was The Chinese Looking Glass, a book by British journalist Dennis Bloodworth about understanding China on its own terms. In his opening pages, Bloodworth sets the stage by going back to the beginning: “The gaudy catalogue of China’s disasters and dynastic glories, whose monumental scale has given the Chinese much of their character … brings us to our true beginning.”

Kissinger, one of America’s most consequential foreign-policy leaders in recent memory, clearly internalized the centrality of China’s “true beginning.” In his 2011 tome On China, Kissinger marveled at China’s “singularity” and staying power. Indeed, even the hardest of hearts cannot help but be moved by the continuity of a civilization that predates the birth of Christ by hundreds, even thousands, of years.

Awe, however, is no substitute for knowledge. In the opening pages of On China, Kissinger writes of China’s “splendid isolation” that cultivated “a satisfied empire with limited territorial ambition.” The historical record, however, contradicts him. From the Qin dynasty’s founding in 221 B.C. to the Qing’s collapse in 1912 A.D., China’s sovereign territory expanded by a factor of four. What began as a small nation bound in the fertile crescent of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers morphed into an imperial wrecking ball. In the words of Bloodworth, the very author Kissinger recommended to Nixon in 1972, “It would be absurd to pretend that the Chinese had never been greedy for ground—they started life in the valley of the Yellow River and ended by possessing a gigantic empire.”

To be sure, China was not the aggressor in every war it fought. In antiquity, nomadic tribes regularly raided China’s proto-dynasties. During the infamous Opium Wars of the 19th century, Western imperialist powers victimized and preyed upon China at gunpoint. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regularly refers to China’s “Century of Humiliation,” when European empires brutalized China and killed or wounded tens of thousands of Chinese men, women, and children. Indeed, the party has memorialized these grievances in a permanent exhibit of the National Museum of China, just steps away from Tiananmen Square.

For all of Beijing’s legitimate and long-standing security concerns, however, the sheer scope of China’s expansion is undeniable. Western leaders often deny or ignore it, usually at the behest and prodding of Chinese leaders. When Nixon finally gained an audience with Mao Zedong, he reassured the chairman, “We know China doesn’t threaten the territory of the United States.” Mao quickly corrected him: “Neither do we threaten Japan or South Korea.” To which Nixon added, “Nor any country.” Within the decade, Beijing invaded Vietnam.

At the time, Nixon’s gambit was to split the Soviet bloc and drive a wedge between the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Nixon and Kissinger saw the Sino-Soviet split and took stock of the PRC’s trajectory: a growing population that, once harnessed, was poised to dominate the global economy. It was textbook realpolitik: cold, dispassionate tactics divorced from moralism. If Washington could turn the Soviet Union’s junior partner, the West could significantly hamper Moscow’s ability to project power into Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.

During the final years of Nixon’s life, his presidential speechwriter William Safire asked him about that fateful trip to Beijing in 1972. Had opening up to the PRC made Americans safer and China freer? According to Safire, “That old realist, who had played the China card to exploit the split in the Communist world, replied with some sadness that he was not as hopeful as he had once been: ‘We may have created a Frankenstein.’” Over time, many in the United States have come to realize this predicament. Unfortunately, articulating that problem well has proved difficult.

During her brief stint as director of policy planning at the State Department in 2019, Kiron Skinner previewed the shop’s keystone intellectual project: a strategy to counter China, in the spirit of George Kennan’s “containment” strategy. At a public event in April 2019, Skinner tipped her hand and revealed her philosophy of U.S.-China competition: “This is a fight with a really different civilization and a different ideology, and the United States hasn’t had that before.” She went on to add, incorrectly: “It’s the first time that we will have a great-power competitor that is not Caucasian.” Skinner received widespread criticism for these remarks and was soon after dismissed for unrelated issues.

Skinner’s mistake was twofold. First, she simply got the history wrong and ignored imperial Japan in World War II. Of deeper consequence was her failure to explain what strategic culture actually is, why it matters, and how China’s past shapes the CCP’s behavior today. In fairness, these errors aren’t unique to Skinner. Understanding Chinese history can be difficult for most Westerners. In some ways, it’s difficult to think of two more different nations. The United States is less than three hundred years old.

China was unified more than two hundred years before Christ was born. Immigrants founded America. Denizens established China. The United States was born out of revolution against a colonial power. China came into being from a regional conflict of gigantic proportions. Favorable geography allowed America to grow economically and territorially on its own terms and at its own pace. China came into being surrounded by rival kingdoms and tribes on every side.

Americans turn to one source more than any other to make sense of these differences: The Art of War, by Sun Tzu. One of his more recognizable dictums, “All warfare is based on deception,” has captured the imagination of many Western thinkers. Instead of investigating the history that informed Sun Tzu’s counsel, however, many policymakers take the easier path of Orientalizing China. “China thinks in centuries, and America thinks in decades” is a well-worn trope. Another well-meaning but vapid cliché is, “America plays chess, but China plays Go.”

These statements are often left untethered from history and offered as self-evident axioms. What’s left are useless clichés that offer no actual understanding of why Chinese strategists advised cunning and deception, or how China’s unique historical experiences informed military tactics. In the absence of curiosity, an impression easily forms of China as “the other,” a mysterious, inscrutable competitor. A shallow understanding of Beijing’s past leads to incomplete conclusions about its present behavior.

More often than not, policymakers find it easier to avoid China’s history entirely. In late 2020, the policy planning office finished the 72-page report. It was a commendable attempt to reprise Kennan’s strategic clarity, but China’s dynastic strategic culture received a single page of attention.

Reducing strategic culture to vague racial differences helps no one except Chinese President Xi Jinping and his party henchmen. The CCP works to enmesh itself with the Chinese people and regularly uses them as a rhetorical human shield. To criticize the CCP, according to the well-worn rhetorical trope of Beijing’s diplomats, is to “hurt the feelings of 1.4 billion people.” As a matter of course, Beijing uses this specious logic to construe anti-CCP policies as evidence of racism. Years before former U.S. President Donald Trump fell headlong into this trap with his careless rhetoric about the “Chinese virus” and “kung-flu,” a young generation of China hawks had vowed to evade this pitfall.

Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin wrote about this resolve in his 2021 bestseller, Chaos Under Heaven, which documented the collective decision of Washington, D.C.-based China hands to blunt Beijing’s attempts “to divide Americans by party or ethnicity, to divert attention from its actions.” I was a regular member of those meetings and still believe America’s leaders must differentiate the party from the Chinese people—not only out of respect for those who daily live under the CCP’s jackboot, but also for the safety of Chinese Americans, who faced a rise of race-based crime in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, in doing so, America must avoid a separate trap: equating the party with China.

China’s history did not begin in 1949 when Mao and the CCP established the PRC. Nor did it start with China’s “Century of Humiliation,” when European imperialist powers forcibly opened China in the mid-19th century. Chinese civilization predates America and the West by orders of millennia. That context gives meaning to the party’s contemporary behavior. The themes of greatness, fall, and restoration hidden in Xi’s remarks in 2013 constitute the essence of Chinese history.

They are the four-act play of China’s story, or “strategic culture”—without which it is impossible to understand the CCP’s strategy today. Strategic culture explains how a country’s unique experiences shape distinct national identities that translate into foreign policy. These three elements—story, identity, and policy—reinforce and shape one another. To be sure, the CCP has its own story, identity, and policies, but the party is one tributary in a long river. American leaders cannot prevail against the CCP without understanding the story and identity that belong to China.

From the start, China has been a civilizational juggernaut striving for political hegemony. China has often attempted to conceal this ambition with conciliatory diplomacy, but its neighbors know from experience the struggle to live—and survive—in the dragon’s shadow. CCP diplomats often bully China’s neighbors by claiming sovereignty over part or all of their territory “from time immemorial”—an inadvertent admission that the party is the latest crusader in a long line of imperialists. This struggle that was once relegated to the nations of East Asia is now a challenge for every country in the world.

Beijing is approaching the world not to embrace it, but to rule it. The Western world has no excuse for missing this reality, and American politicians have badly misjudged Beijing for decades. Washington’s China policy will continue to be a “two steps forward, one step back” affair until it reckons with the Middle Kingdom’s penchant for imperialism.

This reality calls into question the unspoken objective of American policymakers: seeking a democratic China. For all their differences, both hawks and doves in the United States have framed the “China problem” as an ideological challenge. Proponents of engagement believed that economic contacts would necessarily lead to political reform, a belief rooted in liberal internationalism. Advocates of confrontation couch the CCP regime as the problem, which implies an ideological solution.

The one unchanging constant in America’s China policy since Nixon’s meeting with Mao in 1972 is the steady commitment to regime change, either by commerce or competition. The underlying belief in the universal power of democracy has proved intoxicating. “If we can just make them like us,” the thinking goes, “we can turn an enemy into a friend.”

Perhaps this self-delusion is inevitable. America’s national identity is steeped in beliefs about liberty, equality, and opportunity. But the CCP’s heritage raises an uncomfortable question for the United States: Even if modern China were to become a democracy, would it cease to be the Middle Kingdom?

If the CCP collapsed and China followed Taiwan’s path of economic and political liberalization, would it suddenly lose its appetite for hegemony? Maybe. Then again, perhaps simplifying Beijing’s behavior to its current Communist Party overlords ignores thousands of years of China’s own history, as well as the strategic culture that informs those decisions.

[glassprism]

Hiii, the Busan POTO run has just ended. Do you have any thoughts/reviews on the Korean cast yet? How about the Chinese cast? Thanks your blog is amazing.

Sure, why not, I was saving these for something else, but I can give a quick review of the cast.

For Korea, I have not viewed Kim Ju-taek because I'm hoping for video of him somewhere down the line. Similarly, I have not seen Choi Jae-rim because he hadn't even started yet. Finally, most of the footage I saw was from some of the first performances by the cast, so just keep in mind that there's lots of room for them to grow and improve. All right, here we go.

Cho Seung-woo - Unique! His voice was a bit different from what I expected: a little harsher and rougher (thicker?) than what I'm used to, but still powerful. I also thought he was less of the commanding, seductive Phantom and more of a pathetic, unhinged one, and definitely came off as an older Phantom who had gone through a lot in his past experiences. For example, his 'Music of the Night' was a little more aloof than other actors, but he was very good at sounding weepy and pitiable when the scene called for it. He had a great moment too in the 'Final Lair' kiss where he gently removed Christine's hand from touching his face before slowly backing away. Finally, I don't know if he's short or his particular Christine was tall, but it was really interesting to see a Phantom and Christine that were basically the same height (I think she blocked his entire face during the "Floating, falling" blocking, ha).

Jeon Dong-seok - Incredible, possibly my favorite of the Korean Phantoms right now. He was definitely more conventional in his acting and vocals than Cho Seung-woo, but at the same time, it was a splendid performance. He really embodied the commanding, sensual, alluring air of the Phantom, helped by his powerful voice. His focus was always on Christine, even when he was being scary (and yeah, he definitely leans more towards being the angry, raging Phantom when things don't go his way). Had some neat touches already, like bowing to Christine before she starts vocalizing in the title song and wiping a tear off her face in the 'Final Lair'. It was also interesting for me to compare him to his performance in Yeston and Kopit's Phantom, where it's basically night and day: he's a hilariously awkward yet lovably dorky Phantom there, and an absolutely frightening (though still darkly attractive) Phantom in ALW.

Song Eun-hye - Of the Christines, she was the sweet and innocent one of the two, lots of big, scared eyes, pitying expressions, and tearful gazes. Her voice was lovely (I think all the Christines I'm going to review here had very pretty but also very similar voices, tending towards light and classical), and I think she played Christine with a sort of wistful, melancholy feeling, like she was perpetually grieving the loss of her father, and that she only feels real joy when she sings. Her relationship with the Phantom, accordingly, also feels more creative and spiritual than romantic. I saw her with Cho Seung-woo, who also comes off as an older Phantom anyway, so I think that accentuated that aspect of her performance.

Son Ji-soo - I liked both Korean Christines, but if I had to pick, I enjoyed Son Ji-soo slightly more; I think she showed a lot more growth and was also much more reactive towards her co-actors (one thing about Song Eun-hye is I started to feel like she only had one or two facial expressions the whole time). She definitely leans more towards the feisty Christine type, but still with a lighthearted, youthful spirit; similarly (and maybe it's because I watched her with Jeon Dong-seok, who comes off as a younger Phantom), I did think she was more "into" the Phantom as a romantic option.

Lastly, for Song Won-geun and Hwang Gun-ha, I thought they were both very nice Raouls (they had a sweet moment where they rested a hand on Christine's cheek during 'All I Ask of You') but didn't entirely stand out to me. (Which is going to be a theme with the Raouls in this quickie review.) They weren't bad, they were just... decent. Hopefully some more time in the show will make them more memorable!

All right, that's most of the trio for Korea done. (Also, so nice to see the original back, with stuff like the Golden Angel, the doubles, and the non-stupid version of 'Point of No Return'.) Now then...

So before I get to China, some more caveats. First, no thoughts on Ma Jia because he just got added to the production. Second, most of the videos I have were a bit distantly shot, so I was relying more on vocals than acting for a lot of it, which is why I'm just going to clump the roles together; I don't really have enough to say to justify a whole paragraph for each. Third, this was the first stop of what's going to be a pretty long tour, so again, lots of room to improve. Having said all that, here's some quick thoughts.

Starting from the people I have the least to say about: the Raouls. Yeah, I don't remember much of any of them, heh. Similar to the Korean Raouls, they were fine! They did the role. I think I slightly preferred Li Chenxi, he seemed the most passionate, and I remember Ma Tianlong standing out a bit because his voice seemed a bit deeper? And nothing for Zhao Chaofan, but with all of them, hopefully that's just something that will improve with time.

My favorite of the Chinese Phantoms was definitely Ayanga; he just did the most in terms of emoting with the role and throwing his energy into the character, and sang 'Music of the Night' quite interestingly (like, he put some really long inflections or drawn out noises on them). Unfortunately, neither He Liangchen nor Liu Lingfei stood out much, and I honestly thought they were both pretty boring up until the 'Final Lair', where they were able to bring more emotion. I think He Liangchen came off a little angrier while Liu Lingfei came off a little more insane, but I might be getting that switched, ha.

Finally, the Christines were all nice, sweet, clear voices, and there was some variety in their performances. For Yang Chenxiuyi, she felt more like an "Act I" Christine in that she was more emotive in Act I, and sold the innocent, naive aspect of her character, whereas in Act II, I thought she was less interesting. Pan Hangwei was the complete opposite, I thought she was pretty dull in Act I, but in Act II she really showed the fear, the passion, and the strength to Christine (vocally, at any rate). Also, she threw her score in 'Notes II' so hard it flew under the managers' table, so kudos to her for that. And finally, Lin Shao (my favorite) was just great in both acts, consistently emotional and bringing forth the sweetness of Christine in Act I, her fascination with the Phantom, then later her desperation, her growth, and her maturity as she faces him in the 'Final Lair'.

So there you have it. Also, can I say that it's so weird to hear Phantom in a language other than English and be able to understand parts of it? Like, I am not used to this. Is this what other people have? How do y'all deal with it...

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINTS OF THE DAY (September 20)

Pope John Paul II said this of the Catholic Church in Korea:

"The Korean Church is unique because it was founded entirely by laypeople. This fledgling Church, so young and yet so strong in faith, withstood wave after wave of fierce persecution.

Thus, in less than a century, it could boast 10,000 martyrs. The years 1791, 1801, 1827, 1839, 1846, and 1866 are forever signed with the holy blood of your martyrs and engraved in your hearts.

The death of these many martyrs became the leaven of the Church and led to today's splendid flowering of the Church in Korea.

Even today, their undying spirit sustains the Christians of the Church of Silence in the north of this tragically divided land."

Christianity came to Korea through Christian books, which had been brought across the border from China.

In 1784, the small community of Koreans who had been converted through what they read in the books sent one of their own to Beijing to receive baptism.

In the next half century, the rapidly growing Christian community of Korea was sustained in the Sacraments by only two priests from China until 1836 when, after years of pleading, a group of French missionary priests were sent to Korea.

These priests all numbered among the martyrs.

At the end of the 18th century and throughout the next, there were six great waves of persecution in which 10,000 martyrs shed their blood for the faith.

Saints Andrew Kim Taegon and Paul Chong Hasañg were leaders of the Catholic Church in Korea.

Andrew Kim Taegon was born on 21 August 1821 to Korean nobility. His parents converted when he was 15-years old.

He traveled over 1,000 miles to study in a seminary and became the first native Korean priest.

He was tortured and beheaded on 16 September 1846 near Seoul on the Han River. 

He was beatified on 11 September 1925.

Paul Choñg Hasang was born in 1795 in Mahyon, Kyonggi Province, Korea.

He came from a family of noble scholars that were dedicated to the Catholic faith and its growth in Korea.

He was a Catholic lay leader who defended the faith before the government of Korea and reunited the Christians in the midst of the persecutions, encouraging them to stay strong in the faith.

In response to his direct appeals, Pope Gregory X confirmed the validity of the Korean Church and sent more priests to Korea.

Paul was martyred on 22 September 1839.

He was beatified by Pope Pius XI on 6 June 1925.

The Korean Martyrs are commemorated by the Roman Catholic Church with a memorial on September 20.

103 of them, including Taegon and Hasang, were canonized by Pope John Paul II on 6 May 1984.

[pix4japan]

Ferns during Rainy Season

Location: Shimoda Park, Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan Timestamp: 13:30 June 6, 2023

During the arrival of Commodore Perry's squadron of nine steam-powered U.S. Navy warships, known as the "black ships" (黒船/kurofune), in Shimoda Harbor between 1853 and 1854, an interesting discovery was made. Among the crew members was a botanist who embarked on one of the ships. During their time in Shimoda, the botanist collected an impressive array of plant specimens. In total, they gathered 106 species of plants, 69 species of trees, and 16 species of ferns. Notably, among these were 23 previously unknown species, including fascinating finds like the tachitsubo violet and kaji strawberry.

One particular sight that caught my attention during the Ajisai Matsuri (Hydrangea Festival) in Shimoda Park was the enchanting pattern created by a fern along the pathway. Although my knowledge of botany is limited, I believe this fern could be a Japanese tassel fern (Polystichum polyblepharum, also known as 猪手・inode). This beautiful fern is native to Japan and South Korea, and it thrives in moist, well-drained soil under the dappled shade of evergreen trees.

As you explore the park further, you will encounter a diverse array of plant species. From majestic pine and cedar trees to delicate cherry blossoms, vibrant azalea bushes, and, of course, the numerous hydrangea bushes that give the festival its name. All in all, the park offers a splendid display of natural beauty.

Fujifilm X100V (23 mm) with 5% diffusion filter ISO 160 for 1/300 sec. at ƒ/2.0 Provia/Standard film simulation

Checkout the Pix4Japan blog for historical references, further details, and geotagged locations. (Link in Bio.)

[seokgyuu]

MENU - TODAY'S SPECIAL

Lee Sangyeon...........................................................………. $27 With his origins in the Korea of 1996, Lee Sangyeon is a real classic best enjoyed with a glass of sweet Chardonnay. His strong taste can be overwhelming but you will soon learn to appreciate it.

Jacob Bae........................................................................... $26 Canadian supreme, the sweet taste of this special will melt right on your tongue and longing for more. With it's hints of maple and strawberry it fits perfectly with freshly brewed coffee.

currently in the works: lord, have mercy! ✧ being a priest's son, jacob is anything but experienced when it comes to intimacy. when you meet him at a wedding, you make it your goal to change that. ✧ jacob x gn!reader / strangers to fwb to lovers, religious guilt, smut. (18+)

Kim Younghoon.....................................................………. $26 A hearty meal originating in the Seoul of 1997, Kim Younghoon is perfect for a filling lunch or dinner. Some people even swear by him as a splendid experience for breakfast. Served with a sunny side up and an iced americano this might even be true.

Lee Jaehyun.........................................................………….. $26 Easy to enjoy, Lee Jaehyun (also known as Hyunjae) comes with many health benefits. He is rich in vitamins and sweet at the same time. Enjoy it with a soft drink of your choice on a hot summer day for full effect.

Lee Juyeon..........................................................…………... $25 A spicy dish that could easily burn you if you don't watch out. Best served with a glass of milk or yakult.

Kevin Moon...........................................................………….. $25 Recently revamped, this small meal has become a bigger one. We added a new side dish of honey glazed cottage cheese, this in 1998 first served dish is something to enjoy with a glass of our best Merlot.

Choi Chanhee.........................................................………... $25 The sweetest treat on this menu! With style and an artistic twist, this sweet treat will make you crave for more. Pair it with our signature hot chocolate for the full experience!

Ji Changmin............................................................……….. $25 What might look like straight out of a horror movie is actually just our very own Ji Changmin dish containing a very medium rare steak and beetroot drenched fries. It tastes especially good with a glass of our Malbec.

Ju Haknyeon..........................................................………... $24 With his exceptional taste, Ju Haknyeon has everyone who tastes him asking for more. As one of our most beloved dishes, the slightly sour but addictive taste of lemon mixed with the sweetness of plum, it has revolutionized our menu.

Kim Sunwoo............................................................……….. $23 Kim Sunwoo is famous for luring our fine dining guests into his colourful and appealing appearance. Filled with fruits, our Kim Sunwoo is one of the sweetest treats on the menu, but if you feel up for it you could also try his spicy version spiked with ginger.

Sohn Youngjae........................................................……..... $23 A wild mix of vegetables and beef, Sohn Youngjae has an exquisit taste that is almost for everyone. The rich spices of Korea mixed with the welcome and basic American style kitchen make this dish well rounded.

[seoulmatez]

hie m darling ໒꒰ྀི´ ˘ ` ꒱ྀིა wntd to stop by n check in — i hope ur travels are going splendid n that u’re having the time of ur life ! ♡ what hv u been up to in korea ?? are there any souvenirs u’ll be bring back for ur rinnies :3 ?

hello dearest coco ᡣ𐭩 wah it’s been lots of fun! we went to lotte world and omg i even went bungee jumping?? it was terrifying but exhilarating at the same time haha i’m glad i built up the courage to try it! of course there has been a ton of shopping and tons of good food to eat — here’s a pic of some croissants from tous les jours in a rush at the register lol they were super yummy!

i’m here for a couple more days but the itinerary is fairly loose so we’ll probably just roam around looking for stuff to do :3 as for the rins, they are all getting a bunch of snacks and keychains personally picked out for them! there’s such cute clothing here, i’ll probably fold and bring them back a couple items for their closets too ><

[iris-sistibly]

Is Kill Boksoon worth the hype?

Unpopular opinion: NO. Here's why:

1. The Storyline was unsatisfying

I do like the whole idea of the main character living a double life: as a mother and as an A-rank assassin. However, the whole film felt like a multi-chaptered novel/manga/manhwa that was "compressed" into a two-hour film. To be honest, there were so many parts in the movie which could have been expounded better, like the first meeting of Chairman Cha and Boksoon, how did he find out about the then seventeen-year-old girl's case? Did Boksoon heard or contacted MK and the company then assigned someone to stage her father's suicide? How come the director of MK despises Boksoon so much? Surely there was something deeper than just her being the chairman's favorite knife, what about the backstory of how MK was established and became such a powerful company? What about Jae-young's dad? Was she ever curious about who he was? The main plot had so much potential, but there are loose threads and unexplored side stories would have made it so much better.

2. There were interesting characters whose backstories could have added up to the excitement

Han Hee-sung, Cha Min-kyu, Cha Min-hee, Kim Yeong-ji, are among those characters who I'd like to get to know of. Sadly, because this is a film, the focus was definitely towards the main character. I'm not mad, and I think Jeon Do-yeon gave off a splendid performance as Gil Boksoon. But the four I've mentioned above have so much more to offer. Especially the Cha siblings, I wish they had given these characters a solid backstory so the viewers could have a better understanding towards these characters.

3. The climax didn't provide the climax

The other fight scenes were good, but the final fight scene between Boksoon and Min-kyu which by the way was supposedly a badass and exhilarating part of the show was rather underwhelming. Those two have known each other for so long that they could already predict what the other would do, but it was so hard to keep my eyes glued on the screen as the film goes on. It wasn't bad, but it was lackluster. And in all honesty, it would have been better if they really fought to the death than staring into each other's souls or predicting what the other was going to do. It's kind of common in many action films but hey, it works most of the time.

4. The ending was so-so

There are two things I have in mind: one was Min-kyu never intended to harm Jae-young, the film gave hints about his relationship with Boksoon which led to the suspicion that he could be the real dad of Jae-young (but it was never confirmed), and his #1 rule was that kids were off-limits so he was just really messing with Boksoon's head. OR Jae-young did watch the live but pretended that she didn't for some reason idk, and I kinda have the feeling that she could be following her mother's footsteps in the future but that was just me. Anyway, after Boksoon killed Min-kyu there wasn't really left to tell though I would have liked to know whether the remaining employees would...perhaps kill for the position as the new CEO or something but yeah, it was just an okay ending.

Some good things about the show:

1. Amazing cast ensemble

Hands down, they were all amazing ❤️ Like I've said, Jeon Do-yeon delivered her character so well! I love how she shifts from a badass assassin to a mom who's just trying to reconnect with her only daughter. Also, a huge shout out to Lee Jae-wok for his cameo performance.

2. The relationship of Gil Boksoon and Gil Jae-young throughout the film

I know South Korea is a conservative country and they're not as open towards the LGBT community, so I like that the character of Jae-young wasn't the usual kdrama or kmovie rebellious, bratty, girl. She was hiding something and was scared of what other people might say about her especially her mom and it sucked because she couldn't really be herself. But the moment she finally came out to her mother, their relationship has gotten better. Boksoon's initial reaction was understandable but in the end, she never forced Jae-young to be someone that she's not and even encouraged her to be true to herself.

Conclusion:

Kill Boksoon isn't the best film I've seen this year, but I wouldn't say that it's one of the worst. In fact, I think that this has so much potential and so much more to offer, and it could have been executed better. It was just lacking, I personally think that this could have been one of the best if this movie was turned into a series instead.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5

[jiinjiinjarra]

BTS // 2019 Summer Package in Korea // Drawing Diary // 2019 // Pt.1

Jin & Jungkook 2019 Summer Package Drawing Diaries (Random: 2/7)

date: 2019-07-22 ~ 2019-07-25 (4 days)

Scan Cr. jiinjiinjarra (me)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Diary

2019-07-22 (Day 1: in Wanju)

🐹: Today I'm at Wanju with BTS. I joked with JK, that maybe we should run the whole course (wanju) in Wanju. I also dyed my hair. After the shooting in a hot place, I enjoyed my meal. It was a fun day. Tomorrow will be another rewarding day, hopefully! -Sounds fun-I am glad you had fun, Seokjin. From Jin

🐰: To Wanju, to finish the run (wanju)!! For the photo shoot, I went to Wanju for the first time in my life. It was way hotter than I expected so I got surprised but I fell in love with Hanok Village, and I had my power nap as soon as I arrived. After I got up, we had a shooting in front of a café whose name I don't know. I couldn't open my eyes due to blazing sunlight. But I have my faith in the photographer. Also! We had a shooting in a slightly retro theme park, and I pushed the Viking with my own hands. I was able to push it, so everyone had run riding it for a while. Plus! The dinner was delicious~~

2019-07-23 (Day 2: Paragliding)

🐹: Together with the members I did paragliding. I even made a sudden stop which other's probably can't. In the end, I got to fly and the landscape seen from the sky was really beautiful. It was splendid and a gift from god. I was afraid but I think it was a valuable experience in life. I loved the pork belly I had with the members. I wish every day was like today.

🐰: Is this what it feels like to be a bird??? Until this morning, I did not expect to fly in the sky. The weather was so fine, we randomly decided to go on paragliding! I mean I love sky diving but I also really wanted to do this, so suddenly I was fully awake! When it was my turn and I started, the wind wasn't in my favor so I had to wait for a long time! It was boring. But when the timing was right and I leaped to fly, all the stress vanished! It suddenly hit me. I think I just found a new hobby! When I was little, I wanted to be a bird. Today, I knew what it feels like to be a bird!!

2019-07-24 (Day 3: Games)

🐹: Today BTS wrote poetry. Everyone was full of emotions. Today my brain didn't work well so I couldn't write a decent poetry. But I didn't want to go down alone. So I gave Jimin 3 points. What a rewarding day.

🐰: Still... One more day...♡ When I woke up, everyone was busy getting ready! I hurried up and got ready, and headed to 'Wibongsanseong Fortress' for the shooting. It seemed like a set from the movies. The butterfly fluttering made it perfect. During breaks, I listened to music and became full of emotions. Then we went to our Hanok house to play a game for the shooting. We had 3 activities; writing poetry, dialect game and charades. They were all successful. I got such a beautiful gift! It felt so great. One more day! I should make more memories here tomorrow! (Sad to see it's the last day!!!)

2019-07-25 (Day 4: Hwachae)

🐹: Hwachae Today I made Hwachae with the members. Honestly, it wasn't good. It was because Jungkook put in strawberry milk. And because I put in little soda. Still, it was a fun activity to do with members. I wish I can go on another vacation with the members. Goodbye, summer

🐰: Same as always, I got up, got ready and began shooting. Also did shooting for the Summer Package teaser~ And made Hwachae~ And looked backed on Summer Packages. First, today's main wardrobe was pretty so I was happy during the shooting. Also, the shooting at the reservoir and it was so beautiful there I regretted not bringing my camera with me. I am excited to see how the pictures will turn out, since they must be so pretty. Hwachae was delicious so I felt awesome. But when we were looking back on our Summer Packages, I felt a bit sad. I wish winter would come soon. I'm already excited to make new memories! Winter, come soon! Goodbye, summer!

Poetry

🐹: Wanju 

«I can see the end.  My records for the last 5 years I can see the end.  I've been running hard. At the finish line will I feel empty? 5 years of my running  would end here in Wanju.»

🐰: Still

«You are the hottest among the four seasons. I see you once a year.  But you are so strong that you stay in my memory the longest.  All the moments I spent with you  still come swimming vividly.  And even if you and I break up,  you are still left inside me.  And it is still hot.»

Scoreboard for the 1st Summer Package Poetry Writing Contest:

🐹 Scoreboard:

RM: 8/10 🐨: «Wanju, good! But the ending could have been better..»

Suga: 5/10 🐱: «Wishing for more in Wanju….»

J-Hope: 6/10 🐿: «I think you can do better…»

Jimin: 6/10 🐥: «I thought there was something, but there wasn’t.»

V: 7/10 🐻: «Unique thinking.»

Jungkook: 9/10 🐰: «Fun.»

🐰 Scoreboard:

RM: 8/10 🐨: «Such great pictures.»

Suga: 8/10 🐱: «Impressive picture»

Jin: 8/10 🐹: «Great pictures»

J-Hope: 7/10 🐿: «The word 'Still' touches me. Also the picture»

Jimin: 7/10 🐥: «Nice pictures»

V: 8/10 🐻: «There are warmth in your words.»

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

[world-literatures]

project read around the world

40/198

a project in which I attempt to read one book per country in the world. my favourite book from each country (so far) will be recorded here and swapped out as necessary.

africa

equatorial guinea - la bastarda by trifonia melibea obono

nigeria - things fall apart by chinua achebe

somalia - the last nomad by shugri said salh

south africa - black bull, ancestors and me by Nkunzi Zandile Nkabinde

sudan - season of migration to the north by tayeb salih

asia

afghanistan - a thousand splendid suns by khaled housseini

china - strange beasts of china by yan ge

india - interpreter of maladies by jhumpa lahiri

indonesia - beauty is a wound by eka kurniawan

iran - darius the great is not okay by adib khorram

iraq - frankenstein in baghdad by ahmed saadawi

japan - idol, burning by rin usami

north korea - princess bari by hwang sok-yong

south korea - love in the big city by sang young park

malaysia - queen of the tiles by hanna alkaf

palestine - mornings in jenin by susan abulhawa

saudi arabia - a girl like that by tanaz bhathena

singapore - crazy rich asians by kevin kwan

taiwan - want by cindy pon

vietnam - we'll meet again in san francisco by duong thuy

europe

denmark - the copenhagen trilogy by tove ditlevsen

france - giovanni's room by james baldwin

greece - the iliad by homer

ireland - normal people by sally rooney

italy - my brilliant friend by elena ferrente

kosovo - bolla by pajtim statovci

poland - once by morris gleitzman

spain - the spanish love deception by elena armas

sweden - beartown by frederik backman

united kingdom - pride and prejudice by jane austen

north america

canada - station elevent by emily st john mandel

dominican republic - clap when you land by elizabeth acevedo

jamaica - wide sargasso sea by jean rhys

mexico - amulet by roberto bolano

united states - the city we became by n.k jemisin

oceania

australia - taboo by kim scott

papua new guinea - a faraway familiar place by michael french smith

south america

argentina - things we lost in the fire by Mariana Enríquez

brazil - the alchemist by paulo coelho

colombia - one hundred years of solitude by gabriel garbia marquez

venezuela - it would be night in caracas by karina sainz borgo

[dalgona-korean]

ACNH Korean: Talking with Wisp

Welcome to my first 'Learning with ACNH" blog post! Through this short conversation with Wisp upon returning him all 5 spirit pieces, learn lots of vocabulary and 3 grammar patterns along with me 😊

Vocabulary

영혼: Spirits

전부: All

모으다: To gather

어서: Immediately

돌려주다: To give back

확실히: Certainly, definitely

맞다: To be correct

도와주다: To help

원래: Original

모습: Appearance

돌아오다: To return to

덕분에: Thanks to you

다행: Relief

참으로: Truly, really, indeed

훌륭하다: Splendid, excellent

약속: Promise

데: Provide, pay

드리다: Give, provide

사례: Reward, compensation

어디 보자: “Let’s see”

가구: Furniture

고르다: To choose

알겠습니다: “Understood”

사실: Actually

안목: Discernment

특별히: Especially

뛰어나다: Excellent

아닌지는: “Whether it is”

잘 모르지만: “I don’t know, but”

주머니: Pocket

넣어주다: To put in for someone

혹시: If by any chance

이연: Fate, destiny

닿다: Be in touch, be in contact with

이만: Now

물러가다: To leave

Grammar 1: 군요

-군요/는군요 is used to express surprise or wonder upon learning something new. It roughly means “I see!”, “indeed”, or even just an exclamation. The informal form you might have heard frequently is -구나/군.

Forms:

Verb + 는군요

Adj + 군요

Noun + (이)군요

Past Tense Verb + 았/었군요

Sample Sentences:

재현 씨 완전 잘생기군요! > (Wow,) Jaehyun is super handsome!

정말 비가 오는 군요. 어떻게 하죠? > It’s really raining. What do I do?

어머 사장님이군요. 오늘 회사에 왜 왔어? > Oh my, it’s the company president. Why did he come to the office today?

아, 민우 씨의 여동생이구나. > Oh, so that’s Minwoo’s younger sister.

Grammar 2: -아/어야겠다

아/어야겠다 is actually a commonly used combination of two grammars:

V/A+ 아/어야되다 > “Have to do something”

V/A + 겠다 > “Looks like”, “sounds like”, “appears”, supposing something

It joins together to convey the phrase - “(looks like I) should do something”

Sample Sentences:

와~ 이 토너 이렇게 좋으면 나도 사야겠다. > Wow, if that toner is so good, I should buy it too.

내일 시험이 있으니까 공부 해야겠는데 지금 엄청 졸려요. > I have an exam tomorrow so I should study, but I’m so sleepy right now.

너는 한국에서 일 하고싶으면 한국어가 잘 해야겠다. > If you want to work in Korea, you should/have to be good at Korean.

Grammar 3: -습/ㅂ니다만

습/ㅂ니다만 is used when the opposite meaning from the preceding clause follows in the later clause. Because there is 습니다, this often signifies a formal expression.

*Note: This grammar is NOT a negation of the verb it is attached to, but rather a negation of the general first clause’s content

Sample Sentences:

도와드리 고싶습니다만 오늘은 바빠서 도와드릴 수없습니다. > I want to help but I’m busy today so I can’t.

죄송합니다만 일이 있어서 저는 먼저 가겠습니다. > I have work so I’m sorry but I’ll have to leave first.

초대해 주셔서 감사합니다만 선약이 있어서 갈수 없습니다. > Thanks for inviting me but as I have an appointment I won’t be able to go.

Here, the negation is not on the exact verb ‘Thank you’ that the grammar is attached to, but on the general invitation (which is the content of the first clause)

And that's the end! Leave any comments below if you find this to be an engaging and useful method for learning Korean (:

[opal-enby]

Seoul - Idiom of Tradition and Trend

Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, is located in the northwest region of the country, at the bank of Han River. Seoul offers various enticing destinations to tourists to experience its glory in different aspects. It has a world of its own that possesses amazing temples, palaces, museums, gardens, and parks. The tourists are greatly fascinated by some of its unique attractions. To make their journey comfortable and convenient there is an availability of nice transport amenities as well as good options of hotels in Seoul.

Seoul has rich architectural and cultural heritage that is well displayed in the form of temples, palaces museums as well as art and crafts and many colorful festivals. The four palaces are among the greatest draw for the tourists. The Gyeongbokgung Palace is a stunning spot which is regarded as Seoul's most spectacular tourist attraction. The architecture is marvelous and spacious gardens are seen all around it. The Kyongbokkung Palace is a splendid symbol of the ancient era that is known as the most beautiful palace in terms of architectural styles. Changdokkung, constructed as a secondary palace to The Kyongbokkung Palace is another one that is worth to be mentioned. It is best known for its Secret Garden which comprises of 78 acres of gardens beautifully harmonized with pavilions, ponds, and wooded areas. Apart from these, the Toksugung, regarded as a royal palace, is today famous with an identity of Royal Museum, which exhibits items once used by the royal court. Other major tourist attractions in Seoul include Lotte world, Namsangol Hanok Village, Insa-dong, Mount Namsan and Myeong-dong.

Along with the hidden history and depicture of ancient architecture of centuries-old temples, palaces, pagodas and pleasure gardens, the city is also over shadowed by high-rises modern skyscrapers that very well justifies its contemporary outlook. With ancient temples, palaces and parks along side, the city also offers various state-of-the art shopping malls, specialized markets for flowers, furniture and electronics to shopping lovers to buy standard products. Over here the travelers can experience the best sample of shopping, eating and night life of South Korea. Each street of this dynamic city portrays the color and shade of traditional heritage and modern outlook side-by-side in perfect harmony. Hence it is truly considered as an idiom of tradition and trend that showcases the Korean culture as well as fashion and latest lifestyle to the fullest.

Besides exploring the sites and venues the visitors will find adequate activities related to recreation and fitness that include variety of water sports along the southern coast and islands. Numerous involvements like swimming, scuba diving, paragliding and white-water rafting can be enjoyed here. Good facilities for windsurfing, waterskiing and boating are widely available in all coastal resorts. Meanwhile, good facilities for golf and skiing are also available in and around Seoul.

There are even standard transport facilities to move in and around the city. Taxi, subway, city & express buses are available as an easy means of conveyance from one part to the other. And above all, the availability of wide range of hotels in Seoul further makes the travel of the guests convenient. Thus, the tourists can choose the hotel suiting to their budget and needs from the huge selection of Seoul hotels. Apart from high profile luxurious beach facing resorts and other five star hotels, the city also features low costs options even in and around favorable spots of the city. Hence, all categories of tourists can enjoy the visit with full convenience.