Clever Turtles

Apparently there was recently a conference on issues of transgendered individuals in prisons.

I don't have much more information on the conference aside from the Yonhap article, but it looks to be more focused on transgender issues than other queer issues. Nothing wrong with that, exactly, but it seems that in Korea, there is a tendency to be more comfortable with issues of gender reassignment than gender non-normative behavior.

Really, Jose, are you disappointed?

So apparently the lesbian experience in college is more a product of popular imagination than actual cultural experience, according to a CDC study carried in the NYTimes.

Of course, this provoked me to think about the Korean case, as everything I ever read does. It's on the brain, man. Like kuru.

From the NY Times, an article on drag racing in Saudi Arabia. Of particular interest;

This was a "Farly Tale".

Title: The Teddy Bear's Travel

Contents:
Boomi is the teddy bear's name.
Boomi find the friend.

Boomi: Where is my friend? Do you know my friend?

Bee: Yes, I know. He went to the hospital.

Boomi: Um . . . I don't know. How can I go to the hospital?

Rabbit: I know! I know!

Boomi: Really? How can I go to the hospital?

Rabbit: Hmm. Go street, and turn right at the flower bank. But minutely I don't know.

Boomi: Oh, thank you very much!

Rabbit: I'm sorry. Good-bye.

Dog: Hey! Hey! I know, I know.

These were speaking tests for one class. Rather than give them the usual rote memorization assignment, I had them write fairy tales and give puppet shows.

Outcast Diary

Beautiful elementary school has one outcast.
Her name is Silly.
She is so ugly, and dirty, so everyone hate her.
Also, many teacher hate her, too.

One day Silly have new classmate.

Silly: Hi~ Friend!

Classmate: What? What are you talking about! I'm not your friend! Please shut up your mouse. [mouth?]

After that, Silly is so sad and she determined [to] correction of deformities face lifting.

5th, 6th, 7th graders

Title: Snow Black
Where: Palace, Flowerbed
When: Once upon a time
Who: Snow Black, Snow Black's mother, retainer, King, Fairy, One Pople [?]

Explanation: Once upon a time in palace, Queen bears Snow Black and died.

Retainer: Wow! Princess! Princess! I'm happy!

King: Her name is Snow Black! Ha Ha Ha! But queen is died. It's very sad news.

Explanation: Snow Black grew up, so she is 15 years old.

King: I give for new mother, Snow Black. You must listen, new mother's language.

Snow Black: Okay, father.

I had a few of the older students make dating/personal-type ads for some of the teachers that they liked, Jin and Matthew. The results were as follows. Hi! My name is Matthew. I look like Arabian Prince. I'm 28 years old. I have beard and mustache. My hobby is playing soccer with children. I like drinking alcohol with my friends. I find girl who is cute and friendly. Please contact me. '_'* I'm Jin. I look like arbitrarily. My smells funny all days. My hobby is making a noise. I think I'm cute guy but other person think I give bad impression. I'm not strange person

Name: Every free day
When: Jan 1 ~ Dec 31
Why: Because all of students very tired every day
What do you do: I play computer, soccer . . .
. . . eat: big animal (tiger, lion, elephant, anaconda)
. . . wear: anything
. . . play: anything

Name: Money Day
When: Every Monday
Why: I love it!!!
What do you do:
. . . eat: MONEY
. . . wear: CLOTHES (clothes made of something)
. . . play: Talk Play Love
(나는 돈을 좋아하지 않은다!!
돈이 필요할 뿐이다!!)

Name: Mickey Mouse Day
When: October 10th
Why: I love Mickey Mouse
What do you do: Draw Mickey Mouse