March 4 Third Week at Work

I spent much of my third week in Korea editing and rewriting economic development documents—a booklet, a presentation to be delivered in Seattle, a welcoming speech to a delegation of investors from Finland (in English, fortunately.) I also found time to work on my own presentation to Daejeon city employees, which is scheduled for March 21. I’m told that every Korean who visits Seattle wants to see the original Starbucks, so I have included a slide of that in my presentation.

For dinner on Monday, I went to a Japanese restaurant down the street from my apartment. I didn’t feel like having sushi, so I pointed to a plate of tempura that was pictured on the menu. In case there might be a misunderstanding, I said in my most polished Japanese Korean, “Tempura.” The waiter looked at me and asked, “One?” His English was about as limited as my Korean (yes, I can say “one” in Korean) and I wasn’t sure if he was asking whether I was ordering only for one person (I was after all sitting alone, the only person at the counter) or if he wanted to know whether I wanted only one shrimp. The menu page that showed the picture of the tempura had quite a list of options, all in Korean, with a variety of prices. I decided to spin the wheel and take a chance, so I nodded and said “Ye.” That means yes. It was a good thing I didn’t say “I”. That means two (in Korean, not Roman numerals.) I got a salad, a bowl of miso soup, and a huge plate of tempura shrimp, fish, and vegetables. One large dinner.

This place, by the way, is not to be confused with the other Japanese restaurant, the one in the alley behind my building. I haven’t gone in there yet--I've been kind of afraid to.

On Wednesday Mr. Cho Jung Jae (aka J.J Cho) and I had lunch with Mr. Sung Gi-Moon, the manager of the International Relations Team working on staging the 60th International Astronautical Congress. This conference of up to 3,000 space and space technology specialists will be held in Daejeon for the first time, and it is a big deal. The city government and many universities and research institutes have loaned staff to work together to design and run the conference. They are well funded. Our lunch consisted of about 20 different dishes, many of which were delicious. Afterwards we went to the conference offices where one of Mr. Sung’s assistants spent a considerable amount of time providing me with every possible detail regarding the Congress.

On the way back to the office, Mr. Cho took a long detour so he could show me several of the universities and research institutes which are involved in the Congress, and also the Daejeon World Cup Stadium, which is not involved.

Respect for age is very big in Korea. It is a key concept, a cultural foundation. Age before beauty is not just a saying, it is a way of life. I had read that before coming here, so I was expecting it. I found out today that the mandatory retirement age in Daejeon city government is 60. That means that wherever I happen to go in City Hall, whatever group I’m working with or meeting I am attending, I am the oldest person. (It’s kind of like going to work every day to a Miley Cyrus concert.) (If Miley Cyrus only sang in Korean.) I always get to be the first person through the door, the first person on the elevator, the first person offered a chair or tea or a walker. At first I thought it was done in awe of my wisdom, style, and dashing good looks. Now I realize that it’s just because I’m regarded as one of the ancients.

If you were wondering about some things that might be set on your table that you can put on your rice, here is a typical selection.