The Korean national entrance exam.

Wow this test is feared!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsto0SuLgmY&feature=youtube_gdata

Sent from my iPhonerwa

Videos and articles

First here are a couple of videos from the weekend in the mountains and of funeral rite conducted by Buddhist monks.

Buddhist Funeral

This article below is huge and difficult but it is extremely insightful. The first two students who read it and submit a paragraph that either summerizes or asks questions to mrcoachsteph@gmail.com gets a prize from Korea. Ask Molly M. I really do this!!!

Link to article below

http://www.brookings.edu/articles/2010/0317_korea_park.aspx

Here is an easier article from Upfront magazine. The first to write a one paragraph summary and submit it to me at mrcoachsteph@gmail.com gets a prize.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/upfront/features/index.asp?article=f1113a

Me in the mountains, the view was tremendous!!!!

Health Care in Korea

I am impressed. First off let me state that there is no perfect health care system. Each system that exists in the world has its strengths and weaknesses. From socialized to entirely privatize. This post has comments on the hospitals that I have seen thus far in Korea. I teach World History, so I am not an expert nor will I ever claim to be. Welcome to the 21st century political atmosphere.

One of the most impressive people I have ever met

His inspiration

The two hospitals that we visited so far are the Woosuk University Hospital that is associated with Woosuk University, in Iksan, which is associated with Won Buddhism and Jesus Hospital in Jeonju. All hospitals are non-profit, by law. In both cases the people that led us around were doctors who had excellent English which was invaluable in the questions and answer parts of the tour. At Woosuk University Hospital two young doctors toured us around their facility. At Jesus Hospital, founded by Presbyterian Missionaries in the late 1800’s, the head doctor and administrator of the hospital led us around.

They each answered questions openly and honestly. Both were extremely proud of their country’s health care system, their profession, and their respective hospitals. They both were shocked at the cost of health care and seemed baffled by the lack of uniform policy and insurance. Let me be clear here. I am in no way an expert. Two people, technically three people from our GSE team work in the health care industry. They work in the areas of marketing, an artificial joint manufacturer, and health insurance auditor. I defer to them completely in matters of health care policy and the inner workings of hospitals.

I watched in amazement at the ease of the Q and Q between my team members and their “counterparts” in Korea.

Here is what this World History teacher thought of the two hospital visits. I was impressed. The coasts seemed ridiculously lower. The mere fact that you knew costs on the front end was impressive. The paying of the bill was so streamlined that patients could go to electronic kiosks (money machine looking things) in the lobby and pays their bill via cash, credit, or debit card. Korea is joining countries like Singapore, India, and Malaysia in the area of “medical tourism”. That means that it is cheaper for an American to travel to Korea first class, stay in five star hotels, receive treatment, and pay cash than it would be to receive health care in the United States. Now both Doctors foresee a shift to for profit hospitals.

On a non public policy note, the head doctor at Jesus Hospital was easily one of the most impressive people I have ever met. He is a dedicated professional who has spent many years overseas on long term medical missionary work. He worked on the Rwandan boarder during the height of the civil war in the country (Think the real life story of the Hotel Rwanda). He worked with hundreds of thousands of children who suffered from Cholera due to unsanitary caused by the brutal violence I the country. He stated that his hospital is committed to medical mission work because so many countries helped Korea when it was one of poorest countries in the world after its own civil war in the 1950’s.

Last observation. The progress made in this country in the last 60 years is amazing. It has gone from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the leading economic powers in the world.

Interesting link to an editorial story about Korea's rise

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/oct/04/south-koreas-transformation-awe-inspiring-wonder/

Catching up: Photos and some video

I have about an hour at a coffee shop this weekend so I am catching up on some old blog posts and with photos and video. They will be a bunch of random thoughts, photos, and video so do not try to make sense of it. There is no general theme. Snow in Korea. Yes, on April 14th it snowed in Korea for about 6 hours. It was cold and beautiful. The next day it was sunny and @50 degrees so it lasted only one day, thankfully.

Here are some random photos from some of city visits.

Largest Buddha in Korea

Buddhist Monk after finishing his prayers

Dragons in Gimje, Korea

Stupa in Gimje

Gloden shoes from the Emperor

(They look like very expensive track shoes to me)

This is an actual report card

Making paper, old school way

Beautiful Buddhist temple

Above and below

Hanging at Mt. Muju

Today we are hanging in the at the Mt. Muju resort area in the
northern part of the Jeollanbuk-Do province.

We went both to the top of theountain to visit another Buddhist Shrine
then we were able to tour the inside of the mountain were there is an
hydroelectric plant.

You could still see snow om te aki slopes in the distance. Korea is
hopefull to put tobether a bid for the 2018 Winter Games. Very cool.

A walk in the mountains

We had a great hike in the mountains this afternoon. It was a bit cool
but that was quite welcome because of the exercise. The view was
awesome!!!!!

Current Event Assignments and Paper Making

Hey Girls!

I recieved the Current Event assignments from 8-1. They look great. I
would emailed each of you but didn't have time.

We visited a really neat Hospital and a paper making factory that had
a museum for the history of papermaking. It was very interesting. I
even made a piece of paper the old time way. It was nice because my
family has had four generations of people working in the paper making
industry.