On my mind: K-drama addiction

Ever feel like staying in and taking things easy on a free night? Here is a suggestion: Korean dramas. Korean dramas (K-dramas) are basically Korean-versions of soap operas that last for about 20 episodes. They are extremely popular all throughout Asia, despite the fact that they all basically share the same storyline, with only slight variation from each other.

List of typical plotlines that show up in all K-dramas:
-Rich boy falls in love with a poor girl
-Rich mother-in-law does not approve, so she physically/mentally abuses the poor girl
-A new character (rival, friend) shows up out of nowhere, creates a love triangle
-Car accident, which usually leads to amnesia
-Cancer or any other incurable disease
-Birth secrets revealed, lovers turn out to be long-lost brother and sister
-Happy ending (everyone resolves their problems and become one big happy family)
-Sad ending (someone commits suicide or everyone dies)

Although Korean people know just how ridiculous these Korean dramas are, we somehow end up watching them anyway. So, word of advice - beware, and watch at your own risk. If you are not careful, you can easily become addicted.

On my mind: Language barrier

For Korean-Americans, learning the Korean language is not a choice, but an absolute necessity. It all comes down to the huge language barrier that exists between Korean-Americans and their Korean-speaking parents.

After first-generation Korean parents immigrate to the United States, they work really hard to make a living – averaging around 10 hours a day. And most Korean parents only choose to work with other Koreans, who speak the same language and share the same culture. Even after coming home from work, Korean parents spend the rest of their night watching Korean television shows and dramas; they rarely watch any English programming. This is why Korean parents, no matter how long they have been living in America, struggle to learn English. Also, because Korean parents hate asking for any kind of help or favor (due to pride issues), they shy away from asking their children to teach them English. So in the end, it just has to be the other way around – with second-generation Korean-Americans learning Korean to communicate with their parents, even though they live in America.

Does this sound unfair? Fortunately, second-generation Korean-Americans hold no grudge against this matter. Korean culture teaches children to respect and obey their parents. And in this case, Korean-Americans are willing to accommodate to their parents' ways by learning an extra language other than English. For Korean-Americans, it is a natural way of showing love to their parents.

On my mind: April Fools

Due to the faster time zone, it is officially April Fools Day in Korea right now! April Fools is a pretty big deal for Koreans, especially among young students in middle/high school. This is the one day of the year when their teachers cannot get mad at them for anything. So these students are willing to go above & beyond to cause maximum confusion and chaos.

Here are some of the funniest pranks pulled off by students in Korea:
- Rearranging signs, desks and chairs
- Switching uniforms with the opposite gender
- Dressing up backwards (literally, so your back becomes your front)
- Holding someone's legs as the he/she hangs upside down from the window
- Moving the entire classroom outdoor

Oh, those crazy Korean kids. 

If you ever plan on celebrating April Fools Korean style, make sure to take all the precautions possible to stay safe and unhurt! As you can see, some of those pranks are pretty hardcore.

On my mind: One-piece dresses

Spring is finally here! You can finally put away those thick jackets and sweaters that hide your figure, and restock your closet with some fresh spring fashion to keep up with the romantic mood of the new season.

During spring time in Korea, there is one fashion trend that always comes back in style as a spring must-have: one-piece dresses. Ladies in Korean know that one-piece dresses are absolutely perfect for spring. These flowy dresses can make you look slimmer, while upgrading your overall feminine appeal.

So do you want to look like a spring goddess? Invest in a one-piece dress. You won't be disappointed, especially with all the varieties to choose from.

On my mind: Electric cigarettes

South Korea has one of the highest rate of smokers in the world. In fact, according to statistics done by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2007, one in two Korean adult men smoke. Eight million smokers. That's big number, for such a small country.

Not only is the number of smokers increasing in Korea, but the way Korean people smoke is evolving as well. It's the year 2011, when almost everything is practically done electronically - say hello to e-cigarettes:

At first glance, you would assume the man in this video is simply chewing on his pen. But look closely - that's no pen, it's an electric cigarette! Wikipedia defines this as:
"An electronic cigarette, e-cigarette or vapor cigarette is a battery-powered device that provides inhaled doses of nicotine or non-nicotine vaporized solution."

More and more men in Korea are catching on to the trend of e-smoking, instead of lighting up regular cigarettes or pipes. With rising cigarette prices, will this rechargeable device make its way over to the United States soon? Well, although I hate smoking - if I had to choose - I would advise Americans to stick to traditional cigarettes. If smoking is supposed to make you look cool, e-smoking is certainly not the way to go.