Comments on: Italians of Asia? http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/ Korea... in Blog Format Sun, 7 Sep 2008 04:41:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Sperwer http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-137634 Sperwer Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:47:17 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-137634 bbundaegi has a point; several actually, but one that reminds me of the infuriating insularity of most Koreans. Over the years I have heard from Koreans too munerous to count in all walks of life about the superiority of Korea life founded on the emphasis on family, along with an oft-stated observation that as an American I wouldn't understand that. Like bbundaegi, though, I grew up in an extended Italian-American household. Even after my family and all my aunts and uncles moved away from my grandfather's house, every Sunday - every Sunday - the entire family returned there to attend Mass and then spend the rest of the day eating and socializing. Three times a year, everyone made the trips to the various cemeteries around the city where previous generations were interred. Hell, even my paternal Anglo-German family did that, and it involved hundreds of miles of travel across Eastern Canada three times a year. The one positive aspect of the Korean tradition that I have experienced is the adoption into my wife's family, which befitting their history, they have extended to me in the manner of the Goryo dynasty times, when it was as common for husbands to become members of the wifes' families as vice versa. The suffocating patriarchy of Neo-Confucianism was only imposed over several centuries after the Joseon usurpation, and even then - judging by the number of royal rescripts condemning and penalizing the practice, the old Korean matrlineal traditions remained alive and well, especially in the south and among the older aristocratic strata who were on the wrong side of the Joseon revolution and/or otherwise opted out of the Seoul vortex for the countryside. bbundaegi has a point; several actually, but one that reminds me of the infuriating insularity of most Koreans. Over the years I have heard from Koreans too munerous to count in all walks of life about the superiority of Korea life founded on the emphasis on family, along with an oft-stated observation that as an American I wouldn’t understand that. Like bbundaegi, though, I grew up in an extended Italian-American household. Even after my family and all my aunts and uncles moved away from my grandfather’s house, every Sunday - every Sunday - the entire family returned there to attend Mass and then spend the rest of the day eating and socializing. Three times a year, everyone made the trips to the various cemeteries around the city where previous generations were interred. Hell, even my paternal Anglo-German family did that, and it involved hundreds of miles of travel across Eastern Canada three times a year. The one positive aspect of the Korean tradition that I have experienced is the adoption into my wife’s family, which befitting their history, they have extended to me in the manner of the Goryo dynasty times, when it was as common for husbands to become members of the wifes’ families as vice versa. The suffocating patriarchy of Neo-Confucianism was only imposed over several centuries after the Joseon usurpation, and even then - judging by the number of royal rescripts condemning and penalizing the practice, the old Korean matrlineal traditions remained alive and well, especially in the south and among the older aristocratic strata who were on the wrong side of the Joseon revolution and/or otherwise opted out of the Seoul vortex for the countryside.

]]> By: bbundaegi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-137621 bbundaegi Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:40:22 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-137621 Speaking as a true paysano, I would say that the similartity between Koreans and Italians is the emphasis on family and eating. Koreans and Italians love to gather around dinner and family although being Italian, I have to say that no cuisine comes close to beating ours.:) However, I would say besides that, the similarties stop. To Italians or any other southern European, high stress and fast paced nations in East Asia are more like American than anything in Europe. There is more emphasis on living to work and being rushed (pali pali) which is more similar to the American mentality than the slower pace of life you find in Italy. Speaking as a true paysano, I would say that the similartity between Koreans and Italians is the emphasis on family and eating. Koreans and Italians love to gather around dinner and family although being Italian, I have to say that no cuisine comes close to beating ours.:)

However, I would say besides that, the similarties stop. To Italians or any other southern European, high stress and fast paced nations in East Asia are more like American than anything in Europe. There is more emphasis on living to work and being rushed (pali pali) which is more similar to the American mentality than the slower pace of life you find in Italy.

]]> By: WangKon936 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-137618 WangKon936 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:27:01 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-137618 NK, that was hilarious... I'd have to say that we are a bit more organized then Italians on a macro basis, but on a micro basis, we are almost as chaotic as they are... NK, that was hilarious…

I’d have to say that we are a bit more organized then Italians on a macro basis, but on a micro basis, we are almost as chaotic as they are…

]]> By: Netizen Kim http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-137589 Netizen Kim Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:02:54 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-137589 Maybe this "Italians of Asia" stuff has some merit after all http://tcc.itc.it/people/rocchi/fun/europe.html I admit that oftentimes Koreans do seem unable to grasp the concept of an organized queue. Anyone kyopo who denies that obviously hasn't had the common experience of being around the coffee and snacks table in the chin-gyo-shil of a crowded Korean church after a service. But I'll never forget one wise-ass kid who cut in front of me on a queue for guk and bap. He quoted Luke 13:30, "And Behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." Maybe this “Italians of Asia” stuff has some merit after all

http://tcc.itc.it/people/rocchi/fun/europe.html

I admit that oftentimes Koreans do seem unable to grasp the concept of an organized queue. Anyone kyopo who denies that obviously hasn’t had the common experience of being around the coffee and snacks table in the chin-gyo-shil of a crowded Korean church after a service.

But I’ll never forget one wise-ass kid who cut in front of me on a queue for guk and bap. He quoted Luke 13:30, “And Behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”

]]> By: Arghaeri http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74461 Arghaeri Sat, 17 Mar 2007 12:10:12 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74461 A comparison thats definately unfair on the the italians... A comparison thats definately unfair on the the italians…

]]> By: babarian http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74199 babarian Thu, 15 Mar 2007 05:43:15 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74199 "People unfailingly said things like “you first”, “go ahead”, “excuse me” and held doors open and asked if we needed help------ this sort of public civility, even courtesy, is unseen and unheard of in Korea." So why bother with such uncivilised land then? “People unfailingly said things like “you first”, “go ahead”, “excuse me” and held doors open and asked if we needed help—— this sort of public civility, even courtesy, is unseen and unheard of in Korea.”

So why bother with such uncivilised land then?

]]> By: dogbertt http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74172 dogbertt Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:23:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74172 As I wrote, people in several equivalently crowded societies somehow manage to maintain at least a veneer of public civility. As I wrote, people in several equivalently crowded societies somehow manage to maintain at least a veneer of public civility.

]]> By: slim http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74157 slim Wed, 14 Mar 2007 20:18:26 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74157 Laugh, but "Netizen Kim" expressed the sentiment I almost always had walking the sidewalks or riding in the streets of Seoul: Koreans are simply in too much of a hurry to bother with manners. That was not a vibe I got in Italy. Laugh, but “Netizen Kim” expressed the sentiment I almost always had walking the sidewalks or riding in the streets of Seoul: Koreans are simply in too much of a hurry to bother with manners. That was not a vibe I got in Italy.

]]> By: Sonagi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74142 Sonagi Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:34:43 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74142 [<a href="http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/07/comment-moderation-policy-update-1/" rel="nofollow">DELETED. Reason: Inappropriate, Off Topic, & Inappropriate Comments Should Be Ignored.</a>] <strike>Dogbert wrote: <i>'“XXXXXXX” must be "XXXXXX", right?"</i> Yes. He initially forgot to change his gravatar when he changed his username. Maybe he wants a fresh start.</strike> [DELETED. Reason: Inappropriate, Off Topic, & Inappropriate Comments Should Be Ignored.]

Dogbert wrote:

‘“XXXXXXX” must be “XXXXXX”, right?”

Yes. He initially forgot to change his gravatar when he changed his username. Maybe he wants a fresh start.

]]> By: MrChips http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74140 MrChips Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:10:51 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/03/13/italians-of-asia/#comment-74140 How about the Peruvians of Asia, or the Ugandans of Asia, or maybe even the Americans of Asia? Pick a nationality, ny nationality...Or, how about the Koreans of Asia. How about the Peruvians of Asia, or the Ugandans of Asia, or maybe even the Americans of Asia? Pick a nationality, ny nationality…Or, how about the Koreans of Asia.

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