Tuesday, June 30, 2009

A quiet force to be reckoned with

After riding the subways in Korea, I can confidently say that most Koreans have no problem pushing or shoving someone out of their way. While their demeanor at first seems quiet and low key, it doesn’t fully represent their other dominant abilities. Imagine standing on line waiting to place your order and having someone else jump in front of you right as you approach the counter. Or imagine trying to walk down the street but being blocked by couples or friends just holding hands. Walking down the streets in Korea is much hard then the busy streets of New York.

During class I learned that Korea was ranked number 14 in world nations. That’s surprisingly high for a country that should still be recovering from its battles with North Korea. From a ground level view, the economy in Korea looks good and the Korean businesses seem to be maintaining if not exceeding its growth and wealth. Many claim that the U.S. financial crisis has had an impact across the globe but I don’t see it here. Korea as well as many other nations may seem to be quietly or slowly growing. But with the current financial crisis in the U.S. , be assured they are moving faster than anticipated!

Quiet but a force to be reckoned with!

Karen Nazaire

Americans Abroad



Aren't lawyers supposed to obey rules?

Seriously, our group had a great time in Beijing, and we are enjoying our last week in Korea now--including a tour of the DMZ on Tuesday June 20. The weather and visibility were not so good for that, but it was still an electric experience to be right there at the border and to sense the tension.

Greg Bowman

Monday, June 29, 2009

The Wonderful World of China.......

What can I say about our trip to Beijing, China. Although we were only there for 3 1/2 days, it was the most exciting and exhilarating 3 1/2 days. Having always wanted to visit China, i was thrilled once we arrived at Beijing international airport. One thing i noticed which was different from Korea was, that in China our temperature was tested while we were on the plane, instead of when we got out. I am not sure if it's because China is just more cautions but that really took me off guard. Our first day in China we visited the Great Wall...all I can say is WOW! It was such a wonderful experience, even better than i ever imagined. Before visiting China, i had seen pictures of the Great Wall, however,nothing prepared me for how immense it really is. We climbed part of the wall and there was still miles and miles that i would never get to. First of all, when they say climbing the wall..it literally means climbing the wall. By the time me and me and my class mate got to one of the highest peaks, we were drenched in sweat and our legs were shaking. The steps not only are high but they are steep as well. I could only imagine this was the part of the wall that has been restored, i could never climb the parts which are not. That night we decided to visit Tienanmen square, we got there kinda late and ended up getting seperated from some of the group. However, maybe 30 mins later while trying to go towards Mao Zedong's tomb..we were told by the police to leave the square. It was kinda of weird but i was able to take some good pictures of the square which is huge and supposeldy can hold up to 1/2 a million people. The following day some of the groups seperated, me and my two other classmates decided to visit the Olympic stadium, Forbidden City and the temple of Heaven. The Olympic stadium was also located right next to the Cube which hosted the swimming events in the Olympics. It was surreal to be standing at the same place where the World's greatest athletes competed just a year ago. Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven were both very beautiful and majestic in their architectures. The Temple of Heaven especially was so beautiful and peaceful, the scenery near the temple was very breath taking. Overall, i had a great time in Beijing and would definitely visit again in a heartbeat. I heart Beijing!!!!

Cecilia A. Ndounda

My List of Things not to be “messed with” keeps getting longer . . .


Texas? Check. China? You better believe it.

We were told that trying to fully explore Beijing in only three full days would be nearly impossible. Turns out, “they” were right, but we tried hard anyways. If there is any one lesson to learn from China, it would be not to underestimate it in any way.

From the 100 degree heat we found on our arrival (at 8pm) to the intense smog and air pollution, and from the total lack of personal space the culture warmly embraces (pun intended) to the People’s Republic’s odd love of Chairman Mao Zedong—China is an “in your face,” pushy, and, after hours of climbing the Great Wall and trudging through ancient palaces, an exhausting nation. I loved every minute.

We started the trip at the Great Wall. Led by our fearless leader Professor Bowman (read: Greg “Thor” Bowman), we woke up early and quickly learned the three hours we allotted to explore at the site was not long enough to see the entire Wall. My touristy (it’s a word, look it up) American genes kicked in full-blast, and I was quickly taking pictures of every mountain top, wall fragment, oddly shaped rock, or attractive Bulgarian woman that came my way. Our group eventually split into smaller groups, and I ended up making most of the climb with Adrian “The Great Wall should sell cigarettes” Westbrook. We had a great time, although my ego took a huge hit when our many photo-ops started allowing people several times our age to pass us. But, hey, I took some great pictures and (eventually) completed the trek to the top.

Although we saw several traditional and ancient Chinese palaces, my other favorite site was Tiananmen Square. It is really an odd feeling to stand in a place where so many seeking a government reform to democracy have protested. Overlooking the entire square is Chairman Mao’s portrait—an enduring testament to communism and the government’s hard-line rule of all 1.3 billion Chinese citizens?). Twice daily his body is raised from a refrigerated coffin for a public viewing (can you imagine if we did that sort of thing with our presidents?). Seven of us tried to join the incredibly long line (the line for Space Mountain has nothing on this), but the guards found reasons to kick us out (wearing sandals, carrying bags, etc). Even the mood on the square feels tense—the many guards are constantly watching for signs of protest or unrest.

The giant Mao photo and overall spectacle (you better believe his image is all over plaques, watches, party platform books, etc for souvenir purchase) greatly impressed on me how much we Americans take for granted the peaceful transfer of government power in the United States. On January 20 George Bush quietly and gracefully boarded a helicopter and left D.C. for Texas. No riots, no drama, no unrest in the slightest. Despite the millions of voters who cast their ballots for another candidate, the entire nation warmly greeted a new leader. No one would suggest we post W’s portrait all over the National Mall as a nostalgic reminder of his command. The Chinese are not so lucky—this one man’s presence is everywhere. He and the modern day remains of his party are inescapable (the government even went so far as to block access to both Twitter and Facebook during the Tiananmen Square twentieth anniversary).

And now a word on (authentic) Chinese food. . .

Before I write a novel on the pitfalls of communism above, I’ll move along. I’m a huge fan of trying new foods. The more exotic the dish, the better (at least initially) in my book. Throughout Japan and Seoul, this mantra worked surprisingly well. One night we even played “food roulette” with a menu written only in Hangul with no corresponding pictures (I got the equivalent of a vegetable omelet, Keith got fried chicken liver, and Juan got the hottest chicken he had ever eaten).

So, my American appetite and I decide to take on China. Bad idea. The second night’s dinner consisted of an appetizer of jelly fish heads served cold, pork lung served extra spicy, and fried chicken with peppers as an entrĂ©e. Yes, I voluntarily chose those meals. Failure, failure, failure. The jelly fish head tasted like cold gristle in soy sauce while the fried chicken dish looked like the entire chicken was placed in a blender for chopping—different sized bone fragments made it intolerable (including one piece shaped like a beak, needless to say I psyched myself out).

Nothing, however, compares to the next day’s lunch. Following dinner (or lack thereof) from the night before, I decided to go the safe route for lunch and order pork. I’m thinking to myself, “Pork is a Chinese culinary staple—it has to be good, right?” Wrong. Although it had a few chunks of meat, it was mostly boiled skin. Think pork rind soup. Bleh. I’ll stick to my favorite Mississippi all-you-can-eat Chinese buffets in the future. Lesson learned.


Matt Harris

Blog Post 6.16.2009

Fresh off a visit from three U.S. Army attorneys, and in my attempt at a thematic approach to blogging, I thought a post about South Korea and its surging growth following the Cold War would be appropriate.

Unfortunately, it seems like the Korean War is one of America’s least remembered war. While it symbolizes a proxy to the Cold War, much like the Vietnam War, its significance is seemingly less celebrated by Americans than the latter “proxy” war. Personally, I think it’s interesting to know the effects that these “proxy wars” had on the host nation, if you will. The South Koreans apparently lost 25 percent of their population in the affair, and likely much of its infrastructure, architecture and buildings were lost in the conflict. And since the war isn’t technically over, the South Koreans also stand to lose substantially more. However, this seems like the proper place to note that the South Koreans have “bounced back” with gusto.The amount you can do with a cell phone is amazing and South Korea seems to be firing the first shots continually in the “digital revolution.” This all done within miles of an outwardly-agressive communist regime. And with what I like to call the “World is Flat” phenomenon, in the future, if hostilities were to erupt, the world itself also stands to lose a strong – and stable - trading partner.

I think it’s also interesting to note the emblematic and stark economic prosperity that South Korea has benefited from after the end of the Cold War. It is not unlike that of Argentina (despite its economic collapse) or India, which both likely benefited from the end of this passive conflict, even though neither was near a warzone during the Cold War. Unlike Argentina or India, however, South Korea has already made the significant jump into the digital age and also seems to have a substantial industrial sector, which is something that should be mentioned when discussing the modern developing nations. In total, the stability proffered by trade relations and provided by the end of the Cold War was something that likely also benefited South Korea as well.

As a final point, it’s worth noting that South Korea seems to have benefited politically as well during this period, a juxtaposition that likely is more related than not. In 1987, they had what has been called their first Democratic election since 1971, and this ushered in what the modern world knows as South Korea.

On a personal note, one of our housemates has a grandfather who fought in the Korean War and said that only recently has he begun talking about it. In contrast, I’m sure my own grandfather had some salient and charged things to say about the war, being a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, but he despised talking about his time in the armed forces.

Later in the week we will be visiting the Korean War Memorial, so that will provide some nice fodder for future blog posts and I will reserve another day’s post for the influence of North Korea and its own aggressive-styled diplomacy.

Chris Gilfillan


Blog 6.21.2009.

After a hectic day that included rushing to planes, running up the quarter-mile hill of Sookmyung, we woke up to our first day on Jeju-do, the island furtherest south in South Korea and one which was billed as South Korea’s tropical paradise.

One of the main attractions of Jeju arethe domant volcanos located on the island. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site long ago, the largest of the volcanoes is Mt. Halla or Hallasan. And being a moderate hiker – and one which will not miss the opportunity when approached with it – I found myself at the foot of a 9.6 kilometer mountain with an elevation change of nearly 1000 kilomters. According to Frommer’s Guide to South Korea, Mt. Halla – not to be confused with Val Hala – rises 1,950 meters in the air, is the highest peak in South Korea and, because of the clouds, is like a woman, constantly hiding her face. Looking at the topography of the mountain, and hiking the Sonpanak Trail, it was like I went from a subtropical climate to an arctic climate, all in one day’s hike.

Not having much sleep, I was a bit delirious – and probably a lot forgetful – when I started the climb. I bought a raincoat (the cloud cover made it seem like it was raining) and some water for the trip. The plastic from the raincoat insulated the amount of heat from perspiration, and I’m sure by the time I got to the top I reaked of sweat and mud.

I suppose I should start with the Quentin Tarantino quote: “These are your mountain climbing days.” I think that’s relatively poignant. And climbing the mountain, it seemed highly appropriate. Secondarily, I found out that South Koreans are much faster going down than they are going up. While going up through the mountain – absent-mindedly forgetting my camera batteries – I passed people left and right. I wasn’t rushing, but I wanted to make good pace. However, by making such good pace, I scurried right by the food counter, and when I got to the top, I noticed everyone else was eating. Jealous, I looked around on top and found several bathrooms, but alas, no food.

Famished, I took a nap at the top. And the mountain lived up to its precocious and conservative nature – there was a cloud that continually covered the beautiful crater lake that was created by the remaining volcano. Feeling close to normal, but still very hungry, I stomped back down the mountain – making sure to cheer some of the other hikers on. I imagined myself, an hour ago, climbing there, tugging on the handrails to use my arms for climbing. There was a remarkable number of South Koreans climbing, but I also saw two Americans who were very close to the summit – they seemed relieved to know that they were very close, and I’m sure they planned better than I had and packed a lunch.

Sucking up the hunger, I felt my legs beginning to waver in strength around one kilomter down the mountain, I started paying attention to the emergency location signs – never a good sign. By Emergency Sign 38 (there were 43) I wanted to rest again, and found a grassy knoll off the beaten path. So I jumped off the trail, rested my head on a soft patch of a grass and passed out for about an hour.

When I woke up around 1 p.m. I knew I needed to eat. Luckily – like a prayer answered – there was an UNESCO tourist information booth that sold Cup of Noodles and Moon Pies. One cup and four moon pies later, I was back on my way – feeling kind of satisfied, and not nearly as war-torn. On ordering my fourth moon pie, though, I did receive it with a raised eyebrow and a furrowed brow from the salesman – like he was silently laughing at the future that lay in store for me.

I made it back down the mountain at a much slower pace than the well-packed Koreans, though. I happened to be wearing a pair of Sperry’s for the climb, which would be like bringing a samurai sword to a gunfight or like repeling K2 with a string of dental floss – things that were possible but only with some help from Maguyver.

With about one kilometer to go down the mountain, I finally knew what that Moon Pie salesman was laughing at – I had the worst case of heartburn in my life. But I trudged through, and saw a few deer grazing prior to leaving the jungle portion of my journey.

To say the least, after that long climb, I could die without seeing another stone staircase. But, like Tarantino said, these are my mountain climbing days – and really, the only way up is to climb.

-Christopher L. Gilfillan

China

With a passive whir the escalators in the Seoul Airport welcomed us back. After five days in China, I think it should be noted the differences we all noted between the Chinese and the Korean people – and as noted earlier, one of the starkest examples is the noise. China was loud, vibrant and piercing. South Korea is quiet, colorful and sympathetic. So, it is relatively nice to be back in Seoul, so that your ears aren’t so full.

Dealing with the salesman at the Pearl Market also presented another change. The Chinese there, like in many markets, were pushy and moderately obnoxious. The Koreans, even the ones attempting to sell something to a trapped tourist on Jeju Island or at a Korean Folk Village, were accepting and polite about the haggling and bargaining process. Enjoying the bargaining process myself, I better understood what the Chinese were after, but I felt better about my purchases in Korea. The adjective most used on this trip to describe the Chinese has been aggressive, and the salespeople were no different.

Finally, with a wink and a nod to Cecilia, Beijing is quite dirty and the air cannot possibly be healthy. In fact, as this blogger notes : http://www.pyongyangsquare.com/beijingair/, the air quality in Beijing is in fact the worst in the world – by a landslide. We experienced the poor air and physically we could tell the difference in our lungs when we arrived back in Seoul. There was also a real grit to everything in China, which was moderately disconcerting. On the other hand, the Koreans seem to be very clean – despite never being able to find a trash can, the streets are free from litter and on the whole highly pleasant to walk on.

Chris Gilfillan

6.29.2009

A Chinese Superstar

During our stay in China I noticed numerous Chinese citizens taking my picture. Some would run over laughing and giggling begging for a picture. Others would try and take my picture without my noticing. At first I felt like a superstar, I felt like Oprah! But then it started to get overwhelming and sometimes I felt annoyed. I then wondered how Oprah gets through an amusement park without being harassed for photos and autographs. I’m not sure what she does but all I could do is Run, Run, Run!

Finally towards the end of our trip, I was able to ask a young Chinese male why everyone wanted to take my picture. His answer was simple and what I had hoped for: We seldom see Blacks in China. I never stopped to think about it and then realized that not all parts of the World are like America or other nations that have American troops. There last interaction with the many flavors of the World was probably the Olympics?

So, I went to China and I was a Superstar!! An ordinary American girl became extraordinary, at least for four days!!!


Karen Nazaire

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Where are the Parents of the Little Korean Children?

Since I have been in South Korea, I have noticed that the children run free. This really disturbed me. I first noticed it when we were traveling to the Traditional Folk Village. As we were on the bus going through a town I saw a little around the age of 8 running down the street with a cell phone in hand. I thought to myself, where are the parents? That day, I hoped to that I would not have to witness this again. However, since this day, I have noticed this several times in various places.

The reason that this disturbs me a lot is that I am an aunt of a 7 year old little girl. I know that if she was to run down the street or runs away from me in a store, I would fret that something might have happened to her.

Another day I observed this again when I was reading one morning before class at the local Starbucks. I was just glancing at all the Koreans on their morning routines. Then all of a sudden I see several little children running around by themselves. This time, even more disturbing than the first occasion was that these two children could not have been more than 5.

Then again, one day I noticed a mother around a child, but the mother did not seem to care about what her child was doing – the little girl of about 3 was just wondering around while the mother shopped.

After these few occasions and several others not mentioned, I wondered if this was a cultural thing. In the states this just does not happen. I don’t think that a single parent could let their child under the age of 10 run around busy, crowded streets alone. In the states all you have to do is go to Wal-Mart and observe what happens to a child if he/she were to run off. You would see the child get a spanking or told not to go off again.

Here in Korea its just away of life I am guessing. But to me I just don’t get it – it makes no sense to me. In Korea, a lot of the population walks, so maybe this is the reasoning behind letting little children roam the streets by themselves with only a cell phone in hand. I mean, other than going to school (which is what I assume or hope that they are doing) what else could these children be doing out? Are they shopping for themselves, feeding themselves? What is the reasoning behind this crazy way of teaching children to be independent? Or should we American’s be asking the Korean’s what they are doing to trust their children like this, because clearly we may be doing something wrong in the states. Or is our country more corrupt then Korea, so that the Koreans can trust their children in the public without supervision? These questions I hope to have figured out before I leave. However, no matter if it is that their way of teaching their children a way of life by letting children under 10 run around alone will continue to disturb me.

Adrian Westbrook

Communication is key

I was taken back by how accommodating Seoul is as a whole to foreigners. This is my first time traveling abroad I found it strange that signs outside of the city were in English. It was expected to me that the airport would have information because of tourist, but as I travel the streets of Seoul I am able to read street signs and buildings although majority of the population does not know English and cannot assist you. I never understood what it was like to be able to function at a minimal level because there is a communication barrier. I find myself having a difficult time to order food because I can’t read the menu or ask a question because there is no picture. I am unable to ask for directions because I can’t communicate where I am going. It was scary but rewarding at the same time to see how I am able adjusts to situation that I am faced with at that time. Now I am more sympathetic and appreciative to foreigners and the issues they face in America.

Niecey Napier

Healthy living


How hard is it to live a healthy lifestyle? In American we may think it is difficult but I think the Koreans would have a different perspective. Since I have been here I have notice the food has more portions of vegetables then meat; they serve unsweetened tea or water with every meal, if soda is ordered there are no refills; the use of seasoning is modest; and the sweets have very modest sugar in them. Additionally, you are able to get your daily workout from all of the walking you do. The terrain is very mountainous so my walks have been a rollercoaster literally. There are lots of stairs to climb when going or coming from anywhere, I have seen very few places on ground level. Furthermore, I have observed it is much faster to walk then it would be to drive or catch a cab. I have also seen leaner individuals here and I know why. Just think about what we are asked and advised to do by nutritionist and health care providers. Eat better and exercise the two things I think Koreans have embraced since childhood and should I say do well.

Niecey Napier

Stepping into the Legal system Korean style


Prior to this year the process for becoming an attorney in Korea was vastly different then what is required in the US. Individuals interest in a legal degree were required to register for a standardized examination in which only the top 1000 tester would receive a legal degree and be able to practice as either a lawyer or judge immediately. Surprisingly, to take the exam you did not have to have what we consider an undergraduate degree. The examination was open to any individual that desired to test; however, some setbacks to that system they discovered were the number of people that were admitted to practice against the population of the city. Additionally, many individuals would take the exam for years before they would above that 1,000 mark and some still have not got there although they had been trying for years. It was not until this year they have changed the process of how one can obtain a law degree. The Koreans have now adopted the American style of legal education. All candidates will now be required to get there undergraduate degree and then attend law school for an additional three years. Interesting problems that may arise is will this new system benefit the wealthy only. There is speculation that poor and middle class citizens will not be able to afford the extra three years of education especially when law school is around $58,000 a semester. It is interesting to see what will become of the new system in how it will affect the job market and individual who are planning to purse a legal career.


Niecey Napier

A day at the Constitutional Court of Korea

Today we visited the Constitutional Court of Korea and it was such a great experience. Once we arrived at the Constitutional Court we were greeted by one of the law clerks. We then watched a short movie on the history and creation of the constitutional court in Korea. It was amazing to see that having been created only a short while ago, 21 years to be exact..the court has accomplished so much in such a short time. Before the creation of the constitutional court in 1988, the idea of a law being unconstitutional was unheard of in Korea.


The constitutional court's main role is to protect the constitution, and the basic human rights of the people. We then had a short presentation from Sunjin Kim, who was a clerk to Justice Goldstone at the Constitutional Court in South Africa and now a clerk at the Korean Constitutional Court for Justice. Mr. Kim explained the difference between court here and in the United States.














One interesting fact is that the Constitutional court of Korea has the ability to dissolve a political party. I thought that was pretty interesting, considering that in the United States, people would be in uproar if the government had the ability to dissolve either the GOP or Democratic party.














The tour then ended with a visit of the Constitutional Court library, which included eastern and western influenced textbook. They even had my civil procedure book and an Emmanual civil procedure supplement. Overall, it was an amazing experience and was very informative.
















Cecilia A. Ndounda

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

One week down

Our group just finished its first week in Seoul. Can't believe how fast the time is going! It has really been a lot of fun. The students seem
to be acclimating well, and many of them took a trip this weekend to Jeju Island, a volcanic island off South Korea's south coast. They are on an island with lovely beaches, and I am sitting in my room in Seoul, blogging. Says something about my priorities, I suppose . . . .
Anyway, here are some of the highlights from our trip so far, as well as a few pictures.
1. NANTA Performance. "NANTA" is a popular theater show here in Seoul. Sort of like Blue Map Group, but with knives. Very funny, and very cool.














2. Korean Folk Village. This is an outdoor cultural center near Seoul on about 240 acres of land with recreated traditional villages, as well as crafts and shrines. Really beautiful, and a good way to start the trip.














3. The Korean War Memorial. As I note on Facebook, the war memorial might be more appropriately called the "Korean Peace Memorial." It memorializes the conflict itself, but even more so it expresses a deep desire for reunification and reconciliation with the North.


















4. Korean Food. Different and completely superb. A little sense of adventure yields some surprisingly delicious discoveries. Food and water in Seoul, by the way, are completely safe.
5. Korean Tea Ceremony. Our host university had a traditional tea ceremony for us, where we learned about the nuances of making and serving tea. (Upshot: I have been doing it ALL wrong for years now.) Most of us got to dress up in traditional Korean garb for the occasion.


















6. Visit to Kim & Chang. This is Korea's largest law firm, and they were gracious enough to host a visit by our group. We learned a lot from some excellent attorneys there, and had the best vegetarian Korean lunch I have ever had.














This next week is chock-full of activities too. On Monday 6/22 we visit the Korean Constitutional Court. On Tuesday we have a briefing at the U.S. Embassy. And on Wednesday we all fly to Beijing, China for a 4-day visit. All that, plus classes too! Guess I will sleep when I get home . . . .
If you want, you can see more of my photos and commentary on my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/gregorybowman?ref=profile. Lots of stuff there, so send me a friend request. No Twitter feeds though--have to draw the line somewhere!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Tipping the scale not a major Issue in South Korea


Ever wondered why most Korean’s are small and petite? Ever wonder how they can consume so much food and not gain any weight well the answer is simple. They walk, walk and walk some more. When we first arrived in Korea, we walked ten blocks to the shuttle bus, and then walked up two flights of stairs to the elevator before arriving at our dorm located at Sookmyung Women's University in downtown Seoul.

So I thought that was pretty bad! But I was wrong….Later that night we would hike it down four flights of stairs plus one hill and then walk about half a mile to eat dinner. After a very filling dinner we would once again walk half a mile, climb a hill and walk up four flights of stairs back to the dorm…only to realize I was hungry again. What happened to the Meat Skewers I just ate? By the time I had made it home half the calories in my meal had been walked off!

As an American, I must say turning 18 and getting my first car didn’t help; especially when it concerns my physical health. Now when I’m hungry I hop in my car and drive to dinner. When we get to the restaurant or mall we try to park as close as possible to the door. We eat heavy meals and most of us don’t burn the amount of calories we need to stay in shape.

So, the lesson I have learned so far is to put my keys down and walk… While I probably won’t walk up too many hills when I get back to Jackson, Ms; I will make an effort to burn less gas and walk!

Karen Nazaire

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Pure Quiet Bliss


Having lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for the past fourteen years, I have had the chance to travel to San Diego, Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York City. However, Seoul although the 11th largest city in the world is somewhat different, for example; one night upon arriving in Seoul…I was standing on our balcony around 1 am and to my surprise it was quiet.


Now if any of you have traveled to any of the cities I have mentioned above especially NYC, around 1am you are likely to hear the sounds of; 1.)Ambulance 2.) Police sirens 3.) Cars honking or just loud people. I was surprised that a city of about 24.2 million people could be this quiet. I believe it’s a cultural thing because even on the subway no one really spoke to each other. If they did speak to each other or talk on the phone they whispered, so as to be respectful to the people near them.


Now where I come from on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). There are times when you can hear people’s loud ipods or someone singing LOUDLY lol. It was refreshing and peaceful to stand on that balcony in pure quiet bliss in the middle of one of the largest city’s.


Cecilia Ndounda

Where is the trash?

I asked myself this question as I wondered the streets of Seoul. This is a city with a population of over 25 million and I have yet to see neither trash nor debris along the streets or any trash cans. Where does the waste go? I was irritated by the fact as I walked the streets I could not throw my bottle in the trash nor was I comfortable throwing my gum wrapper on the floor. I observed that trash cans in local eateries had individual containers labeled for certain types of trash, but even those trash cans were small. I began to ponder is it a cultural thing.

Maybe it is.

Think about the trash that is along the freeway and the parking lots of our favorite stores that we shop. Consider the trash that we individually throw out of our car windows or just leave behind when we are finished with the use of that item. The overflowing trash cans at almost every bin. Jackson’s population of less than a half-million people produce more trash then I have see all of Seoul.

Niecey Napier

Monday, June 15, 2009

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Blog Post by MCSOL's Professor Bowman in Seoul


Greetings from Seoul!

From June 11 to July 5 eleven Mississippi College School of Law students and I are in Seoul, Korea for the school's annual summer study abroad program. During the program, which is hosted by Sookmyung Women's University in downtown Seoul, the students take (and I teach) courses in International Business Transactions and Global Issues in Corporate Law. It's a lot of fun, and there are few countries in the world as important to the United States as South Korea: it's one of the United States' biggest trading partners; the two countries are trying to implement a free trade agreement; and there's always the issue of North Korea and national security.

Over the next several weeks the students and I are going to blog about our experiences here. We hope you enjoy our posts and follow along with us as we learn about international business-something all lawyers need to know something about these days-and about this beautiful land, Korea.

One final point: North Korea is in the news a lot lately, and with good reason. On the ground here in Seoul, however, things remain very much "business as usual." South Koreans are used to North Korean threats, and they see much of it, quite rightly, as strategic, political maneuvering. It's interesting to compare the reactions here with news coverage elsewhere.

Stay tuned for more posts soon!

Gregory W. Bowman
Associate Professor &Director, International Law Center
Mississippi College School of Law
151 East Griffith Street
Jackson, MS 39201
phone: (601) 906-4422
e-mail: bowman@mc.edu
ssrn: http://ssrn.com/author=400520