Bowing

Bow is crucial aspect  of Asian culture and etiquette. It's very important to know how to bow in different situation not to be considered rude and impolite.
I would like to share with you two Youtube videos explaining how to bow in a proper way.

 

  

Korean national flag

How to draw a Korean national flag in a proper way

Dating anniversary

 I got know about such a sweet modern Korean tradition to celebrate dating anniversary from my own experience.

Relationship celebration such as 30 days, 100 days, 300 days.... is  a very popular trend among youngsters in Korea.
100 Anniversary day is a very important event for couples, and it is customary to exchange" ring of friends ".
(like Se7en and Park Hanbyul in "I'm going crazy" music video:

Another trend to cherish relationship is to wear something match. Lots of products are available in the market to promote these trend. It may be with something sweet printed on t-shirt:

 

or the same colour/print: 

Another popular trend is to present each other key-chain for couples:

Or you can bake cookies or cake for your half~

But I wonder, are boys care  about this dates or they don't remember the day when they started dating with their girlfriend? Or this are girls who cherish this traditions and remind their half about dating anniversary?=)

헐 her

How often do you quarrel with your boy/girl friend? Sometimes it seems that he/she simply doesn't listened to you... 

Have you ever tried to think over why does it happen?

 I advice you to see  a small episodes of  헐 HER)) And I bet you'll recognize yourself at least in one epizode ᄏᄏᄏ

When I saw it, sometimes I thoudht " Oh, poor guys!! It's so difficult to understand what a lady want!~ If I were at his place, I'd rather give up her ᄏᄏᄏ"

A year ago my friend shared 헐 HER video to me, and since that time I regularly watch it on Youtube)  

 

I recommend to watch 헐her all guys! kkk 

And you'll understand how to behave with your girlfriend)

 But ladies also should do the same to get why guys so often can't get us or do it in a wrong way((

Look:

  

 

Have the same  happened with you?ᄏᄏᄏ

I hope you enjoy this videos) share it with your boo) 

Korean business culture

While preparing for my graduation exam I found very useful link for everyone interested in doing business with Korean companies.

Below I repost some tips for managers how to make your negotiations with Korean counterparts successful:

Tip 1
Companies tend to be strictly hierarchical with major decisions being taken at the top and delegated down for implementation.
Tip 2
Many of the large conglomerates (chaebols) are family run companies where much of the power and ownership resides with the founder's family.
Tip 3
Confucian ethics dominate Korean thought patterns and this translates in business terms into great respect for authority, age and seniority.
Tip 4
As well as formal functional hierarchy, many Korean companies have a strong informal hierarchy, which is based upon personal relationships and loyalties.
Tip 5
Confucian respect for authority dictates that managers will be respected simply because they are the manager.
Tip 6
Korean managers are expected to take a holistic interest in the well being of their staff - and this includes an interest in their personal life.
Tip 7
Initial contacts with Korea can amount to little more than preliminary, polite skirmishes, which are designed to commence the all-important process of relationship building.
Tip 8
The quality of relationship is of primary significance when working with Koreans. Do not jeopardise a relationship through impatience or making a key contact lose face.
Tip 9
Always show respect to senior people. Your trustworthiness and standing will, in part, be judged by your ability to create the right type of harmonious atmosphere.
Tip 10
Balance out the seniority of the two delegations. Senior people should be met by people of similar rank and standing.

Tip 11
Be sure to have all technical details and answers to hand. Do not be found lacking in preparation as this could also result in negative reactions.
Tip 12
Punctuality is of vital importance. Do not keep senior people waiting - it is extremely disrespectful.
Tip 13
If Koreans are to work effectively in a team, it is important to create an atmosphere of harmony and comfort. Making individuals within the team lose face will affect the morale of the whole team.
Tip 14
Although Koreans are restrained and reserved in most situations, they will occasionally show flashes of extreme emotion. If meetings begin to get heated it is probably best to retreat and try again later.
Tip 15
It is difficult to disagree openly and any disagreement will be very vaguely expressed. On the other hand, 'yes' may not mean definite agreement but merely acknowledgement of comprehension.
Tip 16
Try to avoid any form of disagreement or situations which can result in loss of face on the other side such as pushing for quick decisions or asking for favours that cannot be delivered.
Tip 17
Be smartly and conservatively dressed and maintain good, upright body posture at all times in formal situations.
Tip 18
Gifts are important. Always take a supply of small, suitable gifts to distribute to key contacts. Always wrap gifts.
Tip 19
It is unusual to meet women in senior roles in Korea (except when working for foreign firms).
Tip 20
Senior western women will be accepted but may not be given the respect they feel their position merits. Do not be visibly offended by any perceived lack of esteem given

Credits: http://www.worldbusinessculture.com

There are a lot of Korean companies operated in Russia (Hyundai in the center of Moscow on the picture below) ...

... and in my native Novosibirsk:

Let's look at comparative analysis of Russia and S.Korea (based on G.Hofstede method)

Credits: http://www.geert-hofstede.com

was ist das?)

Recently I've surfed the net to e-shopping via my nate on.
Among another items I found this rather interesting one: 

Firstly I saw just a picture of "black lipstick" and. to be honest, had no idea what it was. It looks a bit Gothic if you don't know what is it used for)

Having googled it I was amused)
Very useful thing, I think) I wonder if any another colours available?))

 

떡볶이

I'm not in Korea now, and I miss Korean food a lot...((

Sure, there are a lot of Korean dish I can eat here, in Novosibirsk - gimbab, kimchi, Lotte products and so on. But that is my favourite - Tteokbokki - is not available here T.T

When I saw it for the first time, I didn't feel like eating it, because it seemed tooooo spicy and not really tasty.
How I was mistaking~~~~ Sure, it's spicy (it's Korean after all), but tteok has  so tender taste, that I felt in love with this dish))

I've got learn, that the receipt was a bit changed after the Korean war and became very popular.
On picture:gochujang, a hot paste made from chilli peppers, along with fish cakes.

As far as I know, sometimes  boiled eggs, pan-fried mandu, sausages, cheese, ramyeon are includes in dishes with tteokbokki.
If the dish consists of tteokbokki and ramyeon, it's called 라볶이))
These days, many kinds of tteokbokki are popular such as seafood tteokbokki(해물 떡볶이) or rice tteokbokki(쌀떡볶이). Flour tteokbokki was popular in early days, but rice tteokbokki is more popular these days.

As for cheese...
The most delicious noodle I ate was 치즈볶이 !!

I even bring several pack of this noodle to Russia for my friends and family)

I repost a receipt of tteokbokki below:

1 cup odeng broth
1 cup water
2 tablespoons gochujang (see note below)
1 tablespoon red pepper powder (optional)
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 large clove garlic minced
1/2 carrot julienned
1 daepa cut on bias (see note below)
25 garae tteok (see note below)
fishcake and eggs from oden
1 brick of instant ramyeon noodles (optional)

Gochujang is a spicy Korean condiment that’s made from fermented soy beans, glutinous rice flour and chili peppers. It’s a blood red paste that typically comes in jars or plastic tubs and has a unique flavour that you really can’t substitute with anything else. This should be widely available at almost any Asian grocery store.

Daepa are a type of scallion that are much longer and thicker than normal scallions, but they’re not quite as fat as leeks. You should be able to find them in Korean markets as well as Japanese groceries where they go by the name of Tokyo Negi. If you can’t find them, 3 regular scallions will work just fine.

Garae tteok are cylindrical rice cakes, similar to mochi, but they are much more dense and will retain their shape even after cooking for some length. Unfortunately there really isn’t a substitute (mochi will have a much softer texture), if you have an Asian or Korean grocery near you they carry it.  

credits: http://norecipes.com/

Inter-week

Every May Novosibirsk State University arranges "Inter-week" - a concert where students from different cities and countries can perform a song, dance, etc)

This university is located a bit far from city, in Academic town (Academgorodok) and famous for its squirrel=)

 

A lot of countries were  presented - Germany, Japan, China, etc.....

Superstars Gosang performed their dances ....

 ....and my favourite drums!!!

 and everyone could try on hanbok!!

Korean food in Russia

I haven't posted for a week... I was busy with preparing my graduation paper))

My today's post I devote to Korean dish that Koreans never try)) (as far as I know from my Korean friends). But if you ask any Russian about Korean dish they know, they'll definitely mention a carrot =)

Have you ever heard about this?))
I think, this is "Korean carrot" that comes into mind when asked about Korean food. Maybe, it's even more popular than kimchi)

You can buy it in every retail chain, and it cheap enough)

The taste is not so spicy, as Korean food, but you can put as much pepper as you want )
It's easy to make this dish at home, but you need a special appliance to slice a carrot))  All you need is carrot, oil, salt, pepper

All Koreans I know liked this dish very much))