Smudger

LATEST ARTICLES ( 123 )

• The Korean In-Laws in Australia!

  

  So, my Korean in-laws finally stepped-out of Korea. For the first time in their lives they made it to another country. And I missed it!I was actually really... Read more

  Posted on 03 August 2017 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Do Koreans Integrate into Australian Society? And Does It Matter?

  

  Hi everyone, it's been a long time. I keep meaning to post more, but Korea is less relevant to me these days. I still blog, but now it is usually only about... Read more

  Posted on 28 January 2017 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• The Rules of the Road

  

  Something that always fascinated me about living in Korea was the strict adherence to cultural rules and laws while at the same time a very loose following of... Read more

  Posted on 12 March 2016 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• International Students Beware - Part 2

  

  So, as promised, the plot thickens when it comes to my now ex-housemate. First a bit of background.After joining my wife in Melbourne, we decided we needed to b... Read more

  Posted on 19 February 2016 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• International Students Beware: Sneaky Sneaky Universities - Part 1

  

  My wife has now finished her nursing course in Australia. This was a huge achievement; I can't imagine how hard it must be to complete a degree in another... Read more

  Posted on 03 February 2016 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Returning to Korea? Why Not?

  

  Let's get stuck in with the first real post back. Now I have to admit to entertaining the thought of returning to Korea on a number of occasions, my reasons... Read more

  Posted on 26 January 2016 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• A Different Perspective

  

  Well, I know I said I'd be back over a year ago and haven't posted since. However, new year and a new start. I am well and truly settled in to living in... Read more

  Posted on 21 January 2016 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• The Reasons I Left Korea

  

  Faisal Akram (https://www.flickr.com/people/72847119@N00)I'm back!! It's been nearly 4 months without a single post, but I have been busy trying to settle into... Read more

  Posted on 07 December 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Confucianism Doesn't Explain Everything, but It Can Explain Quite a Lot

  

  Since the Sewol disaster and some rather simplistic reporting of Confucianism being in the reason for so many student deaths, using the C-word has become a bit... Read more

  Posted on 15 August 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• What's So Wrong with Eating Dog?

  

  Image by Gael Chardon With less than 2 months until I leave, I thought I'd give my perspective on the old chestnut of eating dog in Korea. Read more

  Posted on 03 July 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• From England but Dislike Football? Liar!

  

  The fact that I am not into football is a cause of regular disbelief to most Korean people I know or meet, even to the point that I get accused of lying about i... Read more

  Posted on 20 June 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Hiking Brings the Best out of Korea

  

  It is certainly possible that lately I have mainly been focused on the negative aspects of living in Korea. Before you accuse me of being a grumbling old... Read more

  Posted on 12 June 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• The Accidents Just Keep on Coming

  

  A couple of weeks ago I wasted my time arguing a point on TheKorean's blog comment's section regarding accidents in Korea. My point was that we are under no... Read more

  Posted on 01 June 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Discriminationism

  

  Firstly, I know the title of this piece is crap, but I guess that is part of the point. Perhaps there is actually a real word for this, but I don't know it, so ... Read more

  Posted on 18 May 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Safety in Korea: Forming Good Habits

  

  I was recently invited onto a panel discussion on tbs eFM Primetime - an English speaking radio station in Seoul - to talk about safety in Korea. Read more

  Posted on 10 May 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Is Everyone Deeply Moved by the Sewol Tragedy?

  

  I have been contemplating the possibility that I am one seriously heartless bastard lately. This may surprise some of the people who know me best because I thin... Read more

  Posted on 05 May 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Lessons from the Buddha and the Sewol Disaster About Living in the Moment

  

  I thought I'd focus on a theme that bears some relation to topics I have written about recently as well as a little more regarding the Sewol disaster, and that... Read more

  Posted on 26 April 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• The Sewol Ferry Disaster: Why We Must Question Some Aspects of Korean Culture

  

  jinjoo2713 (Naver User)In the aftermath of great tragedies, one must be thorough in drawing conclusions about the causes and the way people respond in times of... Read more

  Posted on 23 April 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Korean Teenagers and Well-Being

  

  Over the past two years or so I have written frequently about what a stressful and depressing life Korean teenagers are having in Korea, so it was to my surpris... Read more

  Posted on 10 April 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Korea's Contempt for Sleep

  

  Recent research suggests that a lack of quality sleep can kill brain cells, and this comes on the back of a great deal of research suggesting a range of... Read more

  Posted on 29 March 2014 CURRENT, SOCIETY