As I sat on the bus one day, writing my quasi-monthly email to family and friends back home in the States, I very foolishly pushed the button to clear the draft emails from my email folder. When the pop-up menu asked me again, "Are you sure?" I once again, very foolishly pushed yes. It wasn't that I actually wanted to delete it, I just wanted to exit that email, and clearly things went wrong. Unfortunately, I had written quite a lot in that email, things that I cannot bring back to life. But it got me thinking, wouldn't it be more efficient if I used a blog format rather than an email? After all, people rarely directly respond to my emails, and this way I do not have to constantly bombard people (cause I write SO often) with emails. Plus, it might be kind of fun to write in the blog format, so here I am.
However, please allow me to clarify my purposes here. They are threefold. First, it is a method to keep friends and family updated to my status while away from home. Second, it offers a sounding board for social issues and ideas that I ponder from time to time. Thirdly, it is a bulletin board of things going on here in South Korea, whether it is a cultural clash, pop culture, food, etc.
Now, for those of you who don't know, I go by the name of Brett. Here in South Korea, I go by Go Brett (고브렛). The reason for the "Go" is also threefold. First, I needed a Korean surname in order for others to pronounce and write it easily (I have since discovered that they are only more confused by the fact that I would have a Korean surname, go figure). Thanks to my lovely wife, I've been here for five years now, and sorry Mom, its still looking like I'll be here longer than you'd like.
I hope that this blog can provide all with some entertainment, some perspective on various current topics, and some insight on life in South Korea. Of course, if you look hard enough there are plenty of blogs offering insight into life in South Korea as a foreigner. Most of the blogs tend to bash Korean culture before really making an effort to understand it, but there are a few, including my favorite, liminality.org, that not only offers enlightenment into Korean culture, but does so in an intellectual and yet playful way.
I may on occasion go off on tangents seemingly quite random, delving into architecture, cultural quirks, social issues, etc. Please indulge me in this, and if you cannot, well... you know what to do.
Lastly, I welcome comments, suggestions, discussion, and questions. All of which are not necessarily in their order of preference or importance. Let's learn and grow together!
