Korean ajummas- their proud indiscretion

Not sure if you have ever heard the term Ajumma before. Lo'behold, these days I am scared to run into a stranger ajumma at work or any social gathering. First question to me will be " are you married?". Now ajummas ask this question once a Korean gal reaches age 24 and upwards. Sooooo drives me nuts.

I need to escape the ajummas. 

Korean Dating

• Sogheting ( 소개팅) : Blind date. While in English the term hints that the party being introduced never met online, in Korean, Soghe ( 소개) means introduction and Ting ( 팅) is an abbrevation of the English word meeting. This is usually set up by a common friend that knows both of the parties. Coffee shops are usually the preferred location for thsese ( no wonder Korean coffee shops do so well! )
  
• Meeting ( 미팅) : this term refers to a group blind date. It might be anywhere from two girls, two guys up to 5 girls and 5 guys and up ( although personally I haven't attended a meeting that went beyond this number since it gets too crowded and complicated).  Coffee shops that are not too crowded are chosen for the meeting location ( avoid places like Starbucks! although in my times there weren't any Starbuckes haha).
  
• BungheTing ( 번개팅): Bunghe means lighting ( referring to its speed) and ting once again is an abbreviation of the word meeting. Although I never tried this, this term was created after the internet dating began taking shape in the late 90s. Parties who would be chatting might decide to meet on the fly so if a friend asks " where are you going?" the response would be " Bungheting Ga" or " I am going to a Bungheting".
• Matsun ( 맞선) : this is an 'official' date set by either a professional matchmaker or a parent ( usually the Mother) but it could be set by any trusted elderly family figure. This is strictly business so the location for these types of dates are set at expensive hotel restaurants and conversation revolves around checking out each others' so called specs ( specifications/ ala criteria). It is not totally uncommon for a guy to ask a girl ( if she works) in a Matsun how much she makes: this is to gauge whether he is making enough ( so as not be looked down upon). There are many other factors that are fairly intricate in this meeting but this is a brief overview.

 With the rise of the internet, there are various event sites coordinating dating events. A more word-of-mouth oriented online dating site with high percentage of Korean Ivy League grads( the so called SKY grads: S= Seoul National University, K= Korea University, Y= Yonsei University) and females ( 50%) focuses on the female psychology: every day around lunch time an avatar psychic God character delivers a potential male match to the female member with matching criteria.

Books, Auditory or Techie methods of learning Korean

 Books (Intro Level): 

1. Korean in a Hurry, by Samuel E.Martin, Charles E. Tuttle Company   : Now this title alone should give you the first clue about Korea's national motto:Ppalli Ppalli ( aka Hurry Hurry). Even if you never read the book, you will at least remember that Koreans like to do things in a hurry. 
2. Making Out in Korean, by Peter Constantine : At first glance I thought it was a love guru book but as it turns out it's a fun filled beginner's book for speaking in Korean.
3. Korean in Plain English, by Boye De Mente: Not a catchy title but still delivers.

CD( Do you want to get more serious about learning Korean)?

Mastering Korean, by B.Nam Park: Go on. Give it a try. You don't even have to exercise your eyes while listening to Korean words.
 Korean I, Comprehensive: Learn to Speak and Understand Korean with Pimsleur Language Programs : OK so you will shell out some dough for this product since it's over $200 ( yikes)

Korean II, Comprehensive: Learn to Speak and Understand Korean with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster's Pimsleur)  : you thought over $200 was bad, this one is over $300

 Software: 

• Declan Software:They have a variety of products free for download to test 
• Rosetta Stone V3: Korean Level 1-3 Set with Audio Companion [OLD VERSION] : k so if you are in the States, you will most likely run into a Rosetta kiosk at a major mall to test out the waters of the software. Not bad for beginners.

Human:

• Best way to learn Korean is to befriend a Korean!

Awesome Korean Food ( Shinchon's Kong Bul) - 5000won

Close up of Kongbul:Bulgoghi over Beansprout (KongNamul)

Kongbul ( 콩불/콩나물 불고기): Bulgoghi over Bean sprout

Menu: Kongbul ( 5000won/person no min), Osamkongbul ( 7000won/person)

Kong Bul ( 콩불) in Shinchon- It's an abbreviation for Bean sprout Bulgoghi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't believe I could have all this for Man Won ( 10000won/ c.a. 10$) for two people!