Chuseok in Chunchon
Chunchon Missionaries, attired in their hanboks, in observance of Chuseok.
L-R: Elders Clarkson & Beck, Sisters Dangerfield & Lieshman, Elders Brown & Ellis, Moi.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Saturday, September 28, 2002
09.28.02 | korea | day 207 | saturday
My New Roommate
My New Roommate
I'm happy to report that after months of being lulled to sleep by the living, breathing thing that was my noisy, less-than-effective refrigerator, I now have a functional icebox which is whisper quiet and, comically enough, only four feet tall.
Of course this means I now lie awake, staring at the ceiling all night, feeling lonely as I ponder the solitary, hopeless, brain wracking, void-of-meaning, pitiful journey that is my life.
(Yes, yes, I know. You wonder why would I exaggerate my plight by using such superfluous language. It's probably more appropriate to substitute "tortuous, death-march" for the dramatic "journey." I was weak. It won't happen again.)
Friday, September 27, 2002
Wednesday, September 25, 2002
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Friday, September 20, 2002
Sunday, September 08, 2002
Saturday, September 07, 2002
09.07.02 | korea | day 186 | saturday
Big changes are in store at shylockorea. Soon the address will change to shylockutah.blogspot.com (you may visit the site now though it's incomplete), everything will be centralized, and I'll post my pictures in a photo gallery. Hooray!
Friday, September 06, 2002
Great Expectations Review
Great Expectations Memorable Quotes
David Copperfield Review
It's not often I've read a book of such scope and magnitude as Charles Dickens' David Copperfield. My only motivation in reading it is that it was the biggest, cheapest book I could find at Media Play before I left for Korea that was also a classic, an area I've wanted to concentrate on recently. I knew nothing about the book and I never anticipated it would take me over three months to read and become one of the most difficult books I would ever undertake. At over 800 pages and full of the language commonly used when it was published in 1850, be prepared for a challenge.
In the end, the undertaking was more than worth it. The story purports to be the autobiography of the fictional character David Copperfield. It was originally published in serial form in England and then later released in book form.
I have little worthwhile to report on the book other than how it affected me. I can't recall reading a secular book that had such a profound impact as to make me want to be a better person. Copperfield recounts the people and events of his life from birth through, I believe, his early thirties. Without preaching, he weaves a credible and vast cross-section of experiences that show the triumph of honesty and hard work, the consequences of deception, and the importance of character. The book contains, by my count, 44 significant characters, most of whom wind up reaping the consequences of their actions, good and bad. Just as Dickens expressed his fondness for Copperfield, I was sorry when the book came to an end.
In perhaps the same way I am enamored by Shakespeare, David Copperfield won me over through Dickens' insights into human nature. His observations are keen, succinct, and timeless. This book was a chore but I am a better person for reading it. I am conscious that may sound silly but it remains a statement of the truth.
Monday, September 02, 2002
David Copperfield Memorable Quotes
"Barkis is willin'." -Mr. Barkis, page 60.
"I feel as if it were not for me to record, even though this manuscript is intended for no eyes but mine, how hard I worked at that tremendous short-hand, and all improvement appertaining to it, in my sense of responsibility to Dora and her aunts. I will only add, to what I have already written on my perseverance at this time of my life, and of a patient and continuous energy which then began to be matured within me, and which I know to be the strong part of my character, if it have any strength at all that there, on looking back, I find the source of my success. I have been very fortunate in worldly matters; many men have worked much harder, and not succeeded half so well; but I never could have done what I have done, without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one object at a time, no matter how quickly its successor should come upon its heels, which I then formed. Heaven knows I write this, in no spirit of self-laudation. The man who reviews his own life, as I do mine, in going on here, from page to page, had need to have been a good man indeed, if he would be spared the sharp consciousness of many talents neglected, many opportunities wasted, many erratic and perverted feelings constantly at war within his breast, and defeating him. I do not hold one natural gift, I dare say, that I have not abused. My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest. I have never believed it possible that any natural or improved ability can claim immunity from the companionship of the steady, plain, hard-working qualities, and hope to gain its end. There is no such things as such fulfillment on this earth. Some happy talent, and some fortunate opportunity, may form the two sides of the ladder on which some men mount, but the rounds of that ladder must be made of stuff to stand wear and tear; and there is no substitute for thorough-going, ardent, and sincere earnestness. Never to put one hand to anything, on which I could throw my whole self; and never to affect depreciation of my work, whatever it was; I find, now, to have been my golden rules." -David Copperfield, page 559
"There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose." -Mrs. Strong, page 610
". . . I should be thankful to him for having saved me from the first mistaken impulse of my undisciplined heart." -Mrs. Strong, page 611
"It's very much to be wished that some mothers would leave their daughters alone after marriage, and not be so violently affectionate. They seem to think the only return that can be made them for bringing an unfortunate young woman into the world - God bless my soul, as if she asked to be brought, or wanted to come! - is full liberty to worry her out of it again." -Betsey Trotwood, page 613
"Of all my books I like this the best. It will be easily believed that I am a fond parent to every child of my fancy, and that no one can ever love that family as dearly as I love them. But, like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield." -Charles Dickens
Sunday, September 01, 2002
David Copperfield Cast of Characters
A nearly exhaustive list, probably of interest to not many but me.
- David Copperfield - title character, also called "Trot " or "Trotwood" by his Aunt Betsey, Mr. Dick and some of his friends, "Daisy" by Steerforth, and "Doady" by his wife Dora.
- Clara Copperfield - David's young unfortunate mother.
- David Copperfield Sr. - David's father who died before he was born.
- Betsey Copperfield - David's fictional sister, kept alive by his Aunt Betsey.
- Pegotty - David's "nurse" or nanny from childhood.
- Betsey Trotwood - David's aunt and guardian.
- Mr. Chillip - David's childhood doctor.
- Mr. Murdstone - David's wicked stepfather.
- Miss Murdstone - Mr. Murdstone's cruel sister.
- Mr. Barkis - the town carrier and eventual husband to Pegotty.
- Mr. Dan Pegotty - Pegotty's brother, uncle/guardian to Ham and Emily.
- Ham Pegotty - Emily's noble, betrayed fiance.
- Emily Pegotty - Ham's cousin, David's first childhood crush.
- Mrs. Gummidge - Mr. Pegotty's "lone and lorn" housekeeper.
- Mr. Omer - the town undertaker in David's hometown.
- Mr. Joram - Mr. Omer's son.
- James Steerforth - David's popular but deceptive schoolmate.
- Mrs. Steerforth - Steerforth's wealthy mother.
- Rosa Dartle - Mrs. Steerforth's tenant, victim of Steerforth's cruelty.
- Littimer - Steerforth's butler.
- Traddles - David's childhood schoolmate and adult friend.
- Sophy Traddles - Traddles' wife.
- Mr. Wilkins Micawber - David's inept but well-meaning friend.
- Mrs. Emma Micawber - Mr. Wilkins' wife.
- Mr. Wickfield - town attorney, provided room/board for David.
- Agnes Wickfield - Mr. Wickfield's daughter and David's best friend.
- Uriah Heep - Mr. Wickfield's 'umble employee/business partner.
- Mrs. Heep - Uriah's equally spineless mother.
- Mrs. Crupp - David's London landlord.
- Mr. Francis Spenlow - David's employer at court and Dora's father.
- Dora Spenlow - David's "child-wife" bride.
- Jip - Dora's annoying little dog.
- Julia Mills - Dora's bosom friend.
- Mr. Jorkins - Mr. Spenlow's silent business partner.
- Miss Clarissa Spenlow - Mr. Spenlow's sister, Dora's guardian.
- Miss Lavina Spenlow - Mr. Spenlow's sister, Dora's guardian.
- Old Creakle - Traddles' tormenting schoolmaster.
- Miss Mowcher - a wise dwarf, introduced to David by Steerforth.
- Mr. Dick - Betsey Trotwood's mentally-challenged but insightful tenant.
- Doctor Strong - David's schoolmaster, would-be author of the Dictionary.
- Mrs. Strong - Doctor Strong's young wife.
- Mrs. Markleham - Mrs. Strong's overbearing mother.
- Jack Maldon - Mrs. Strong's cousin and would-be suitor.
- Martha - a servant girl who helps Emily run away with Steerforth
Saturday, August 31, 2002
Friday, August 30, 2002
Oliver Twist Memorable Quotes
- "The fact is, that there was considerable difficulty in inducing Oliver to take upon himself the office of respiration, -- a troublesome practice, but one which custom has rendered necessary to our easy existence." -page 1
- "But, none of these taunts producing the desired effect of making Oliver cry, Noah attempted to be more facetious still; and in this attempt, did what many small wits, with far greater reputations than Noah, sometimes do to this day, when they want to be funny. He got rather personal." -page 51
- "'Oh, you know, Mr. Bumble, he [Oliver] must be mad,' said Mrs. Sowerberry. 'No boy in half his senses could venture to speak so to you.'
'It's not Madness, ma'am,' replied Mr. Bumble, after a few moments of deep meditation. 'It's Meat.'
'What?' exclaimed Mrs. Sowerberry.
'Meat, ma'am, meat,' replied Bumble, with stern emphasis. 'You've over-fed him, ma'am. You've raised a artificial soul and spirit in him, ma'am, unbecoming a person of his condition: as the board, Mrs. Sowerberry, who are practical philosophers, will tell you. What have paupers to do with soul or spirit? It's quite enough that we let 'em have live bodies. If you had kept the boy on gruel, ma'am, this would never have happened.'
'Dear, dear!' ejaculated Mrs. Sowerberry, piously raising her eyes to the kitchen ceiling: 'this comes of being liberal!'
The liberality of Mrs. Sowerberry to Oliver, had consisted in a profuse bestowal upon him of all the dirty odds and ends which nobody else would eat; so there was a great deal of meekness and self-devotion in her voluntarily remaining under Mr. Bumble's heavy accusation. Of which, to do her justice, she was wholly innocent, in thought, word, or deed." -page 58 - "There is a drowsy state, between sleeping and waking, when you dream more in five minutes with your eyes half open, and yourself half conscious of everything that is passing around you, than you would in five nights with your eyes fast closed, and your senses wrapt in perfect unconsciousness. At such times, a mortal knows just enough of what his mind is doing, to form some glimmering conception of its might powers, its bounding from earth and spurning time and space, when freed from the restraint of its corporeal associate." -page 72
- "If he [Mr. Fang, a police magistrate] were really not in the habit of drinking rather more than was exactly good for him, he might have brought an action against his countenance for libel, and have recovered heavy damages." -page 88
- "Thus, to do a great right, you may do a little wrong; and you may take any means which the end to be attained will justify; the amount of the right, or the amount of the wrong, or indeed the distinction between the two, being left entirely to the philosopher concerrned, to be settled and determined by his clear, comprehensive, and impartial view of this own particular case." -page 103, written as a sarcastic commentary on the behavior of Jack Dawkins and Charley Bates.
- "The persons on whom I [Mr. Brownlow] have bestowed my dearest love, lie deep in their graves; but, although the happiness and delight of my life lie buried there too, I have not made a coffin of my heart, and sealed it up, for ever, on my best affection. Deep affliction has but strengthened and refined them." -page 119
- "There must always be two parties to a quarrel, says the old adage. Mr. Sikes, being desappointed of the dog's participation, at once transferred his hsare in the quarrel to the new-comer [Fagin]." -page 129
- "There is something about a roused woman: especially if she add to all her other strong passions, the fierce impulses and recklessness and despair: which few men like to provoke." -page 143
- "'He's [Bull's Eye, Bill Sikes' dog] an out-and-out Christian,' said Charley [Bates].
This was merely intended as a tribute to the animal's abilities, but it was an appropriate remark in another sense, if Master Bates had only known; for there are a good many ladies and gentlemen, claiming to be out-and-out Christians, between whom, and Mr. Sikes's dog, there exist strong and singular points of resemblance." -page 162 - "In short, the wily old Jew [Fagin] had the boy [Oliver] in his toils. Having prepared his mind, by solitude and gloom, to prefer any society to the companionship of his own sad thoughts in such a dreary place, he was now slowly intilling into his soul the poison which he hoped would blacken it, and change its hue for ever." -page 167
- "'That's it!" observed Mr. Sikes, approvingly; 'women can always put things in fewest words. --Except when it's blowing up' and then they lenghtens it out.'" -page 186
- "The younger lady was in the lovely bloom and springtime of womanhood; at that age, when, if ever angels be for God's good purposes entrhoned in mortal forms, they may be, without impiety, supposed to abide in such as hers." -speaking of Rose Maylie, page 260.
- "Thus, a strain of gentle music, or the rippling of water in a silent place, or the ordour of a flower, or the mention of a familiar word, will sometimes call up sudden dim remembrances of scenes that never were, in this life; which vanish like a breath; which some brief memory of a happier existence, long gone by, would seem to have awakened; which no voluntary exertion of the mind can ever recall." -page 264
- "Oh! if when we oppress and grind our fellow-creatures, we bestowed but one thought on the dark evidences of human error, which, like dense and heavy coulds, were rising, slowly it is true, but not less surely, to Heaven, to pour their after-vengeance on our heads; if we heard but one instant in imagination, the deep testimony of dead men's voices, which no power can stifle, and no pride shut out; where would the the inujry and injustice, the suffereing, misery, curelty, and wrong, that each day's life brings with it!" -page 268
- "We need to be careful how we deal wth those about us, when every death carries to some small circle of survivors, thoughts of so much omitted, and so little done - of so many things forgotten, and so many more which might have been repaired! There is no remorse so deep as that which is unavailing; if we would be spared its tortures, let us remember this, in time." -page 303
- "But, tears were not the things to find their way to Mr. Bumble's soul; his heart was waterproof. Like washable beaver hats that improve with rain, his nerves were rendered stouter and more vigorous, by showeres of tears, which, being tokens of weakness, and so far tacit admissions of his own power, pleased and exalted him." -page 331
- "He [Mr. Bumble] had a decided propensity for bullying; derived no inconsiderable pleasure from the exercise of petty cruelty; and, consequently, was (it is needless to say) a coward. This is by no means a disparagement to his character; for many official personages, who are held in hight respect and admiration, are the victims of similar infirmities. The remark is made, indeed, rather in his favour than otherwise, and with a view of impressing the reader with a just sense of his qualifications for office." -page 333
- "Mr Sikes [lacked] the niceties of discrimination, and [was] troubled with no more subtle misgivings than those which resolve themselves into a dogged roughness of behaviour towards everybody." -page 364
- "'When ladies as young, and good, and beautiful as you are,' replied the girl [Nancy] steadily, 'give away your hearts, love will carry you all lengths - even such as you, who have home, friends, other admirers, everything, to fill them. When such as I, who have no certain roof but the coffin-lid, and no friend in sickness or death but the hospital nurse, set our rotten hearts on any man, and let him fill the place that has been a blank through all our wretched lives, who can hope to cure us? Pity us, lady - pity us for having only one feeling of the woman left, and for having that turned, by heavy judgment, from a comfort and a pride, into a new means of violence and suffering.'" -spoken to Rose Maylie, page 376.
- "'Do not heed my friend, Miss Maylie,' said Mr. Brownlow; 'he [Mr. Grimwig] does not mean what he says.'
'Yes, he does,' growled Mr. Grimwig.
'No, he does not,' said Mr. Brownlow, obviously rising in wrath as he spoke.
'He'll eat his head, if he doesn't,' growled Mr. Grimwig.
'He would deserve to have it knocked off, if he does,' said Mr. Brownlow.
'And he'd uncommonly like to see any man offer to do it,' responded Mr. Grimwig, knocking his stick upon the floor.
Having gone thus far, the two old gentlemen severally took snuff, and afterwards shook hands, according to their invariable custom." -page 382 - "'Then what the devil is to be done?' said the impetuous doctor [Mr. Losberne], when they had rejoined the two ladies. 'Are we to pass a vote of thanks to all these vagabonds, male and female, and beg them to accept a hundred pounds, or so apiece, as a trifiling mark of our esteem, and some slight acknowledgement of their kindness to Oliver?'" -please don't miss the saracasm, page 385.
- "I [Mr. Brownlow] make this request with good reason, for I might otherwise excite hopes destined never teo be realised, and only increase difficulties and disappointments already quite numerous enough." -page 388
- "The heavy bell of St. Paul's tolled for the death of another day. Midnight had come upon the crowded city. The palace, the night-cellar, the jail, the madhouse: the chambers of birth and death, of health and sickness, the rigid face of the corpse and the calm sleep of the child: midnight was upon them all." -page 427
- "The sun - the bright sun, that brings back, not light alone, but new life, and hope, and freshness to man - burst upon the crowded city in clear and radiant glory. Through costly-coloured glass and paper-mended window, through cathedral dome and rotten crevice, it shed its equal ray." -page 445
- "It is a world of disappointment; often to the hopes we most cherish, and hopes that do our nature the greatest honour." -page 496
- "How the two orphans, tried by adversity, remembered its lessons in mercy to others, and mutual love, and fervent thanks to Him who had protected and preserved them - these are all matters which need not to be told. I [the narrator] have said that they were truly happy; and without strong affection and humanity of heart, and gratitude to that Being whose code is Mercy, and whose great attribute is Benevolence to all things that breathe, happiness can never be attained." -page 511
08.30.2002 | korea | day 178 | friday
Weight loss. What a great thing. The latest visit to the scale shows a loss of 2 kilos (4.4 lbs.) in just two weeks! I have expended considerable energy trying to understand just how did and does it continue to happen? I think it's the culmination of a hundred daily decisions, made consistently over a period of time. But specifically what about the areas people tend to focus on in the whole weight management equation?
Such as...
- Coke. I still drink it though only about a third of what I used to. (Koreans call it cola. If you ask for cola - more accurately pronounced "coh-la" - it's universally assumed you mean Coke, not Pepsi, even though Pepsi is nearly as available as Coke - to the chagrin of free thinking people everywhere.)
- Carbs. I eat much less bread than I used to. Most food markets almost treat bread as an afterthought when it comes to stocking a wide variety and it's rarely if ever served with meals. But any benefit from eating less bread seems in my mind outweighed by all the rice I eat.
- Fats like sweets, desserts, and butter. I eat much less of everything though I still often indulge when the urge, which is quite real, hits. (You know, like indulging in a nice stick of room temperature margarine, drizzled with hot fudge, for dessert.)
- Deep fried foods. Almost non-existent, though potato chips are still available, especially Pringles, and who can resist Pringles? Not me. Nor can I resist (no joke) deep-fried octopus tentacles. Tasty!
- Fruits. As if!
- Vegetables. Of course I eat truckloads more than I used to but it's not like Korean cooking is totally virtuous when it comes to serving veggies that aren't fried, sauteed, or swimming in some other evil substance.
- Multi-vitamins. I took them faithfully when I first got here but haven't bothered with them for about three months. (Doug, what do you call a multiple ingeston of multi-vitamins?)
- Exercise. One can't excuse the voluminous walking and biking I do though it's not anything to write home about (So, Richard wonders to himself, exactly what am I doing right now?). I'm not doing anything structured besides moving around from place to place, though that will soon change.
Since the usual suspects don't explain it, here's my revolutionary thought as to what might be one if not THE biggest variable contributing to my plummeting body mass and the ruination of my extensive Big & Tall wardrobe: milk.
Yes, milk. That wonderful milky fluid, milk. For as long as I can remember, wait, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah, my new physique. Actually I was talking about milk. For as long as I can remember, I've managed to guzzle 2-3 gallons of skim milk a week. Consistently.
Then I came to Korea where, unfortunately, it's not available in large containers and, though I've seen ads promoting civic responsibility in supporting Korea's two dairy farmers, I've managed to skate through the last six months (SIX MONTHS!) by drinking probably less than two gallons! This wasn't a conscious choice, just happenstance. I've always loved milk and I thought ,since I was drinking skim, that quantity wasn't an issue but now I wonder, because of all the variables I've considered, this represents perhaps the most dramatic departure from my previous habits.
Is it possible this radical drop in my dairy intake could be responsible for my dramatic weight loss?
Thursday, August 29, 2002
Oliver Twist Cast of Characters
- Oliver Twist, Work'us, Nolly, Ned, Tom White
- Mrs. Mann
- Mr. Bumble
- Mr. Limbkins
- Mr. Gamfield
- Mr. Sowerberry
- Charlotte, Mrs. Bolter
- Noah Claypole, Morris Bolter
- Trip
- Jack Dawkins, The Artful Dodger
- Dick
- Fagin, The Merry Old Gentleman
- Charley Bates
- Bet
- Nancy
- Mr. Losberne
- Mr. Brittles
- Mr. Giles
- Jack Ketch
- Mr. Monks, Edward Leeford
- Phil Barker
- Mr. Lively
- Old Sally Thingummy
- Mr. Grannett
- Mrs. Corney
- Mr. Toby Crackit
- Tom Chitling
- Bull's Eye
- Barney
- Mr. Grinwig
- Bill Sikes
- Mrs. Bedwin
- Mr. Brownlow
- Mr. Fang
- Rose Maylie
- Mrs. Maylie
- Harry Maylie
- Mr. Conkey Chickweed
- Jem Spyer
- Mr. Duff
- Mr. Blathers
- Kags
- Agnes Fleming
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