When I'm in Hawaii, I can continue an indulgence I developed in Seattle - watching Korean Dramas with English subtitles. (Don't seem to be any in Tulsa - I, myself was shocked.) In Hawaii, the station KBFD (that's really their call letters) runs a couple a day. I am out in the sun during the day, but watch one in the evening. I like how clearly defined every one's role in the Drama society is. I don't know if this is true of actually Korean life. For example, on several occassions, it has been said that a man can get another wife, but only has one mother. If the wife can't win over the mother, she is in real trouble - often she just has to leave. Newlyweds don't need to look for a new home after the wedding - they will just move in with the groom's family, where the new wife needs to take over many of the chores previously performed by the groom's mother. You're not losing a son, you're gaining a maid.
I once had a sister-in-law who was engaged to some poor Korean guy trying to have an American life where he was born and raised (CA), but as the only son needing to keep his parents (esp. the mom) happy. Wendy, an ultra-independent woman who became an aerospace engineer, gave him up as a hopelessly frustrating job with no future. I can't bear soaps, then again I adored Dark Shadows as a kid and I'm completely addicted to Downton Abbey. Oh, right, I'm told 'Its not a soap opera, it's a period drama!' (Love the caption 'Here you're').
ReplyDeleteLOL Oh NO! Makes me glad I'm not Korean! I've never heard of Korean soap operas, but the whole thing reminds me of the Mexican Novellas....sooooooo dramatic and over the top! Glad you're having fun in Hawaii! Hugs and safe travels! ~Serene
ReplyDeleteHi Shelley! You know it's high quality translating when they want to say "There you are" and think the contraction is always appropriate. I also watched Dark Shadows and don't see how they could classify it as a Soap. I had to order Downton Abbey from Netflix after reading about it on Faux Fushia's blog. She's right about so much other stuff, that I knew I could trust her on this. But period piece or not, that one is a Soap. As is the large balance of respected Russian literature, and plenty of other classic stuff. Heck, what is Romeo and Juliette but a Soap. A Soap by any other name..... to paraphrase.
ReplyDeleteHi Serene! If I can find Mexican Novellas with English subtitles, I'll probably get hooked on them too. I am having a blast in Hawaii! I want that Aqua leather skirt of yours. When you sell it on Ebay, I am going to buy it and cover one of my legs with it.
It had never occurred to me that watching soap operas might be a great way to learn cultural norms.
ReplyDeleteWell Terri, I think what we learn from TV is often what a culture wishes its "norms" were. That's why so many other cultures think all Americans are rich. Which, of course, we both are. Ha!
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