tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post8329846550067899276..comments2023-11-12T00:30:15.262+09:00Comments on Monster Island (actually a peninsula)*: Oh, wow! Did you know Korea has four seasons?kushibohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-48375291051509127522009-10-19T10:44:56.511+09:002009-10-19T10:44:56.511+09:00Maybe with some, I suppose, but I'm sorry, not...Maybe with some, I suppose, but I'm sorry, not with all. "Canada has four season?" "Yes, it does." "Spring?" "Yes." "Summer?" "Yes." "But Canada is cold." "Yes, it is certainly cold. In the winter." "Fall, too, with all the different colour leaves?" "Yes, fall, too." "I know you have winter. Canada is very cold." "Yes, you're right. It is cold. Right up until spring." I remember that conversation well. He even confirmed with some Korean, just to make sure that he understood correctly.<br /><br />And again, to be fair, it is not only Koreans with whom I have had such conversations. However, I was a tad surprised when a Montanan seemed unable to comprehend that Canada actually had rain and flowers and warm temperatures.Wandering Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17385607861520620261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-497989366454483392009-10-18T20:28:30.929+09:002009-10-18T20:28:30.929+09:00I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest...I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest the possibility that the "surprise and disbelief" you are inferring from their response may not be actual surprise and disbelief, but something more along the lines of <a href="http://kushibo.blogspot.com/2005/10/do-you-know-chusok.html" rel="nofollow">a "Do you know Chusok?" moment</a> of some kind involving ideas and words in Korean that seem to take on a different and unintended meaning when an L1 transfer is made into English.kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-13613055524343610162009-10-18T19:54:36.201+09:002009-10-18T19:54:36.201+09:00Yeah, it's not so much that Koreans have told ...Yeah, it's not so much that Koreans have told me their country is the only one with 4 seasons, it's just that they express disbelief that countries in North America and Europe also have different seasons. <br /><br />But, I do have to say Korea has taught me to notice the seasons more. What I mean is, back home I never thought four seasons were something to be proud of. I just thought it was natural. However, now I can say that, yeah, it's great to have four seasons. In fact I think Pittsburgh's seasons are <em>more</em> distinct, and <em>more</em> four than Korea's.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07149708954524602455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-54429339464022751572009-10-18T01:07:05.088+09:002009-10-18T01:07:05.088+09:00Nope, straw huts and tepees.Nope, straw huts and tepees.Wandering Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17385607861520620261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-57942124942309073442009-10-17T18:51:35.150+09:002009-10-17T18:51:35.150+09:00Well, do you live in igloos?Well, <i>do you</i> live in igloos?kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-27500030906847298802009-10-17T18:49:29.494+09:002009-10-17T18:49:29.494+09:00I, too, am often met with some amazement when I an...I, too, am often met with some amazement when I answer the often asked question of whether Canada has four seasons with a yes. What is it with the amazement of somewhere having four seasons? Of course I have also been asked (but not by Koreans), in all seriousness, whether we all live in igloos, so I am not overly stunned or aghast at the ignorance (and I use the word in its literal meaning, not in any derogatory way) of the people of any country about the way of life or climate or anything to do with the people of another.Wandering Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17385607861520620261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-38991769360538014722009-10-17T07:15:52.479+09:002009-10-17T07:15:52.479+09:00I assume you meant to write: "Korea has four ...I assume you meant to write: "Korea has four <i>distinct</i> seasons" (insert winky winky emoticon here).<br />I have not heard Koreans say their country is the only one that has four seasons, but I have been met with surprise and disbelief when I tell Koreans my hometown has four seasons too.<br />I am now preparing to post about the fall colors at my house...White Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10569465643169646878noreply@blogger.com