춘곤증 - CHUNGONJEUNG - SPRING FEVER

Today, one of my students, James, a business man, did some extra homework. Seeing how tired I felt and looked this week, he decided to explain to me the Korean concept Chungonjeung - Spring Fever. I had heard of this before, but thought it was more a superstition (or excuse for laziness) than something with a scientific background. Looks like I was wrong.

Below I have written out James' homework. For authenticity I have left it unedited. It's very interesting.



This is not a specific term. It's a temporary symptom when beginning of spring season. The main reasons are as following.

Chungonjeung 춘곤증

1. When the spring season comes our body needs at least 2-3 weeks for it as the temperature degree increase. We easily feel fatigue this period because of our body's unbalance state.

2. Our body requires vitamin B, C, etc for regeneration. It we can't supply these we might feel tired and sleepy.

3. Many environments of our life change in this season. For example graduate school, enter the new school & company, new class, new classmates. All of these cause stresses.

4. As the day time is longer sleeping time is shorter.

ROAD FC

Yesterday some friends and I went to Road FC, Korea's MMA league. It's very similar to UFC and almost all the same rules except that there were no elbows and kneeing a downed opponent WAS allowed. Interesting. The venue was the Jangchung Gymnasium where Judo and Taekwondo were hosted at the '88 Olympics. There was a decent attendance, though not a full house, and many of the spectators including the noisiest, were westerners (Americans I guess). Overall it was a pretty good show. An amateur section first, seven fights. And then the pros later, seven more fights, stretching out over five hours. They had octagon girls and famous Korean comedians to entertain us between fights.
Most of the fighters were in the lower weight classes as can be expected. So there weren't many knockouts, but there was plenty of heart and technical skill. Even one substitute fighter who took his fight on two days notice against an opponent fifteen kilos heavier. He lost, of course.
There was some international competition; two Japanese, a Brazilian and a Canadian, but mostly Koreans.
One of the cool thing about events like this in Korea is that you can bring in your own food and beer. My friends stocked up on convenience store Cass before the fights and I a bottle of Gatorade.
The other cool thing about this event was the Korean audience. Most of my western friends and I have the opinion that Korean guys are a bit feminine and quite vain. Many of them seem to spend an awful long time looking in the mirror and fixing their hair. Not to mention the masses of young to old men that are fashion-conscious, trend-following, hair-dying and cleanse-tone-and-moisturize-three-times-a-day-ing. So, to see guys with cauliflower ears, misshapen noses and not sporting skinny jeans with New Balance sneakers was a breath of fresh air.
The atmosphere was pleasant enough, even when Japanese fighters were competing. However, I guess there might be trouble occasionally as there were half a dozen police buses lined up outside.
I would definitely go back and hope the next event is soon. Our 25,000 won tickets (cheapest seats) were perfectly adequate as the stadium is small.

PAINT THE WORLD RED

This morning I read an article about an Indian man who traveled all 196 countries. It took almost seven years and a whole lot of money. Pretty awesome I think. Below is a map highlighting places I've been. I'd love to paint the whole world red.

HOW TILL SPAKE NORN IRON

Every Saturday morning I teach a businessman called JC. We have a one to one class in a study room in my neighbourhood. He's a great guy, a successful entrepreneur and someone I learn a lot from.
Despite it being useless to his future business plans, JC is always keen to learn Northern Irish expressions and slang. In our last class, I spent the full two hours teaching him "how till spake Norn Iron". It was hilarious! JC's English is pretty good and he doesn't have a very noticeable Korean accent. But to look this Asian man in the eye as he greeted me with "Bout ye big lad', was very unusual. And even more strange and funny as he assaulted me with a barrage of insults - minger, melter, munter. He told me stories of firing stones at the peelers and getting lamped by his ma when he was wee.
I can't wait for the next class when he has learned all these expressions. His homework is to tell me about his childhood using Norn Iron. It should be interesting.

HAIKU

Scent of damp spring buds
Killed by fumes and acid rain.
Trees are all we need

HAIR CUT BY AN ANGEL

I've just returned home from the hairdressers. I tried another new place today. Three and a half years here and still I haven't found a salon that I want to return to.
Anyway, my hairdresser TODAY was a guy called Toko, or something to that effect. He was pretty cool. Just jabbered away in Korean, content with a minimal grunt or smile from me. And, as is usually the case in Korea, someone other than your stylist washed my hair.
My hairwasher TODAY was a tall, slim, attractive girl with a perfectly built, and probably expensive, nose. As I reclined in the hairwash chair I asked her if she spoke English. She loudly and confidently answered no. A little, I asked. Again, a very confident no.
Then I asked what her name was (in English). Heejin she answered. Then changed her mind. No, no, no. Angel, she said with a big proud smile.

HAIKU

Weathered yellow rose
Endured fall and winter storms
Disappeared in spring