CAJ: Doomsday Preppers 7

My personal opinion:

When I first chose the topic "The Doomsday Preppers" for my CAJ I had this thought that Americans really are special. Today, I am under the impression that preparation is necessary. I do not say that we should prepare ourselves like the people in the TV Show Doomsday Preppers do but I believe that preparedness up to a certain degree could be helpful. 

I hope that through my posts you were able to learn something new about this topic. Maybe you even share my opinion that it is reckless of countries such as the US to not prepare themselves for potential EMP attacks. 

If you have a different opinion or know some useful or interesting information I did nott include please feel free to comment and let me know. 

CAJ:Doomsday Preppers 6

    vs.     

After explaining how an EMP works and what its after effects are I decided to look at EMPs in a more philosophical and psychological way. EMPs are caused by nuclear bombs. Therefore, I will compare the psychological aspects behind the usage of both weapons.

The initial situation for the scenario I will be working with is that China attacks the US with 1) a nuclear bomb 2) an EMP.

1^st scenario: China attacks the US with a nuclear bomb

Reasons: In case of an attack with a nuclear bomb China definitely wanted to hurt the US in a physical way. A country or government can deal with the loss of goods or equipment such as an unmanned battleship. However, a nation and therefore it government gets truly insulted and hurt when people die. The death of innocent people is something the president of the United States would not be able to tolerate.

Effect: Humanity clearly knows what the effects of a nuclear attack are. Many countries experimented with nuclear bombs from the first attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki up until now. A nuclear bomb would not only injure/kill a tremendous amount of the population of the attacked state but also make a vast area of land uninhabitable.

Conclusion: The only reason why a state would attack another one with a nuclear bomb is to damage it. They are probably not interested in negotiating with them. On the contrary, they want to fully subdue their opponent.

2^nd scenario: China attacks the US with an EMP

Reasons: The reasons for an attack with an EMP can vary a lot more than those for an attack with a

nuclear bomb. Firstly, an EMP does not kill people or turns land into an uninhabitable area. It solely destroys the infrastructure of a country. In fact this can be even more dangerous than killing someone.

Effect: As I mentioned in my previous post, an EMP is a weapon used for psychological warfare. The attacked country will be toppled in chaos and the consequence will be far worse than what humanity can imagine. Violence will get out of hand, the population will start to threaten each other and a number of people will try to make themselves the new head of the state.

In case the US decides to launch a counter attack it will not be as easy as normally. Due to the damages of their gear (communication equipment, battleships, tanks and other weapons) the American armed forces will have trouble in planning and coordinating their attacks on China. It will be harder, maybe even impossible, to communicate with allies and ask for their support.

When we think on a global level, the question arises how the rest of the world will react if the US is enveloped in darkness. If the US cannot provide themselves with electricity and cannot plead help from other states, the US vanishes. North America will become an easy target for any country that wants to attack them. Furthermore, states like Russia and the Iraq will run wild since no one has the power to control or threaten them.

Conclusion: EMP attacks are an easy way to conduct a war. In my scenario, China does not even kill or hurt anybody. An EMP does not even damage the land or the cities it just destroys its infrastructure. China has to wait for several weeks while the Americans destroy themselves. If China passes of the right moment they will not even have to attack, they just have to be there and offer help to the US. Unlike many fanatic believers of EMPs, I am under the impression, that China will not attack the US. If they are intelligent enough, they will wait for the time to come and then offer their help to them liberally.

In the worst-case scenario, the current head of state will refuse the offer. However, that is the moment when China will attack because the US does not have the resources or strength to protect themselves.

Overall, neither of the two scenarios above provide the US with the chance to get off without being overpowered. Which weapon is used, only shows what they have planned/ how they will use the US after conquering it. 

Expository Text- How an instant photo works

To understand how instant photographs work, it is necessary to understand how a colour film works. A colour film consists of three layers that are sensitive to different colours. The top layer is sensitive to blue light, the next layer reacts with green light and the last layer is responsive to red. Each layer is coated with light- sensitive silver particles, which form into metallic silver after light is shone on them.

The component that starts the developing process is the reagent. The reagent is a mix of opacifiers, which make an object opaque, and alkali pigments. The reagent can be found between the image layer, which is on top of the reagent, and the three light-sensitive layers. Before you take the picture, which starts the chain-reaction, the reagent is collected in a blob separated from the light-sensitive material. This prevents the film from developing before it has been exposed.

To sum up the information so far;  the polaroid picture is a film which consists of a number of layers. Each layer contains different chemicals, which makes the developing process a step by step process.  The first step is to take the photograph. The film sheet is pressed out of the camera through rollers, which sets the reagent in the second layer free. The reagent starts the reaction with the other chemicals in the different layers. At the same time the opacifier prevents light from filtering to the layers below, so that the film is not exposed before it is developed. The chemicals are now moving down through the layers and turn the silver grains into metallic silver. Simultaneously, the chemicals dissolve the developer dye and the dye from the undissolved layers moves up to the image layer. For example, if the magenta layer was exposed than no green dye will wander up to the image layer.

While the chemicals work through the layers that contain the dye, the reagent and the alkali make the opacifier become clear. That way an image can be seen. This means that when the image appears, the last chemical reaction can be seen. Since the photo is already developed underneath. The last thing that happens is the opacifier clearing up, making the image visible. 

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CAJ: Doomsday Preppers 5

In the last post I talked about since when the potential threat of an EMP has been known and how an EMP works. My explanation so far was rather physical. Therefore, I will now explain exactly how an EMP induced by a nuclear bomb works and which consequences it may have.

As I have stated before, an EMP is an electromagnetic Pulse, which means, in case of an attack with EMP, everything that has a microchip or is powered with electricity will be useless. The reason for this is that too much power/electricity flows through electrical appliances and wiring in a really short amount of time. This causes a short circuit. Therefore everything that uses electricity is damaged. To illustrate the malfunction of our modern infrastructure I will show you a list of equipment that will not work anymore.

• household appliances
• computers, mobile phones
• cars
• all kind of factories
• public institutions could become jails
• water supply, gas stations
• heating/ cooling systems
• backup generating sets would not work either
• processed food 

This list includes just a small number of aspects without which our infrastructure will not work. However, it would be impossible to live on the same way the population of an attacked country used to.

Although many gadgets we are used to since they make life more comfortable would not function we can still live a peaceful live, right?

No, eventually this would not be possible. Humanities greatest and most feared opponent are humans themselves. The situation after an EMP attack would be similar to numerous disaster movie. Humans driven by fear caused by a lack of knowledge are the greatest weapon another state has.

Many of the people who were featured in the TV Show Doomsday Preppers are afraid of getting attacked by China. If China really attacked the US with an EMP they are clearly use a military tactic that works on the basis of psychology. An EMP attack would topple every country on this planet into chaos.

I will give you an example to illustrate how an EMP could look like/feel like:

Elisabeth, an 18-year-old student, spends a nice evening at the mall with her best friends. They just bought some ice cream and are now sitting at a little fountain in the middle of the second floor of the building. While they are eating their ice and chatting with each other the lights go black. At first, that did not really bother anyone, however, a few minutes later they realize that the escalators and elevators do not work. They decide to leave the mall and drive back home since they felt rather uncomfortable. When they reach the automatic doors they cannot exit the mall because the doors will not open. Some of the people around them start freaking out and scream that they are claustrophobic while one woman is even hyperventilating.

Suddenly, a man smashes the glass doors with a baseball bat from the store beside the entrance. They run out of the shopping centre to their car, however the car will not open because it is operated with a microchip, which was destroyed by the EMP.

Elisabeth and her friends decide to run home. On their way to Elisabeth’s house they come by a group of people vandalizing and robbing shops. They get really scared and start running faster….

The situation we will have to face is nothing compared to the outbreaks of violence and riots humanity witnessed throughout history. With the damage an EMP causes it is only a matter of time until a population weakens itself so much that another country can easily overpower them.

Source: 

http://lyle.smu.edu/emis/design/?p=1751 

Zombie abstract

WHEN ZOMBIES ATTACK!:!

MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF AN OUTBREAK OF

ZOMBIE INFECTION! !

This paper demonstrates the adaptability of mathematical formulae. To illustrate the usage and usefulness of various mathematical formulae the scenario of an outbreak of zombie infection was chosen. Although the scenarios presented are not realistic this example shows how flexible mathematical modelling is and that it can respond to various biological challenges. To make the starting situation clear, the Basic model is explained which describes the different types of Zombies used for the scenarios. Afterwards the different models are solved with the according formulae. The formulae used are being altered according to the type of zombie that is being discussed  throughout the paper. Within the models, chances of the infection of humans with “zombie-ism”, eventual treatment and eradication of zombies are calculated. For each individual model the components of the formulae are altered. Thus, the mathematical result of the formula changes from model to model. This paper concludes that mathematical formulae can come in useful in a variety of mathematical and biological challenges since they can be altered to solve a number of situations and problems.

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CAJ: Doomsday Preppers 4

The extent of an EMP

The effects of an EMP occur within line of site of the burst. The higher in the atmosphere the atomic bomb explodes the larger the area covered by the EMP is. To calculate the extent of the effect of the EMP the following formula can be used. 

R(tangent)=R(earth) cos-1 ( R(earth) / (R(earth) + HOB))

where R(earth) equals approximately 6371 km

Here you can see the approximate effects radius according to the height of the burst:

 40 km (height of burst) =>  712 km

 50 km (height of burst) => 796 km

100 km (height of burst) =>1,121 km

200 km (height of burst) =>1,576 km

300 km  (height of burst) => 1,918 km

400 km (height of burst) => 2,201 km*

If an EMP hit a large part of the United States it would not cause just a temporary power outage. It could take months or even years to get power back to most of the United States. Electronic equipment and power generating equipment in power plants themselves would be damaged and there will be no way of easily replacing this equipment. Even if the blackout were only for weeks, the disruption to the United States would be immense.

A major EMP over a large part of the United States would cause all major transportation systems to break down. Most means of communication would not be possible.

http://www.thepropheticyears.com/comments/Imminent%20danger%201%20-%20Electromagnetic%20Pulse%20explosion%20(EMP)%20over%20the%20United%20States.htm 

http://www.google.at/search?hl=de&q=EMP+expansion&tbm=isch&ei=oh6rU_mxFI2M7AbVt4DoBQ#hl=de&q=electromagnetic+pulse&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=c0DwPfbbDDh4nM%253A%3Bp8F_q9gZmFCZIM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.shtfplan.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2011%252F06%252Femp_map_graphic.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.shtfplan.com%252Femergency-preparedness%252Fsuper-emp-capable-of-disabling-power-grid-across-lower-48-states_06202011%3B700%3B497 

Instructional text: How to make a camera lucida

The instructional text How To Make a Camera Lucida by Tim Hunkin does not provide the reader with useful instructions. Even though the author complies with a number of rules for instructional texts, such as making use of the imperative as well as writing short and simple sentences, the way the instructions are presented is neither clear nor logical. Looking at the sentences, it is extremely confusing for the reader to figure out the order of the steps since they are not numbered. Most of the steps are not written down explicitly but need to be figured out with the help of the images. This, however, is not the purpose of illustrations in instructional texts, instead they should be used to support the individual steps rather than to do the explaining. Moreover, there is no list of the materials needed to build the camera, there are no warnings or helpful tips, nor does the text say anything about the estimated time required. The usage of the camera lucida for drawing is mentioned within the instructions. However, it would have been helpful to know more about the camera from the start and an introduction should have been provided at the beginning. To put it in a nutshell, this piece of instruction clearly lacks organisation and logic.

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CAJ: Doomsday Preppers 3

What is EMP?

EMP is the abbreviation for Electromagnetic Pulse which is a high-intensity burst of electromagnetic energy. EMPs occur after any kind of explosions of conventional high explosives. Therefore EMPs became a feared after-effect of nuclear detentions.

In the 1950s a first rise in awareness towards this consequence of explosions could be recorded. After several atmospheric nuclear tests in the US, EMP became known as the cause for malfunction of electronic equipment. After these tests scientists warned that EMP could also be a potential weapon. Therefore around 1962 the first simulators were developed which produced representative pulses for response studies.

Various scenarios exist which could cause an EMP that is strong enough to bring countries and even whole continents to a halt. The most probable situation would either be a high-altitude nuclear explosion or an underground nuclear explosion. The duration of the EMP and the area covered vary strongly. The higher in the atmosphere the bomb detonates the larger the expanse of the pulse.

How an EMP works:

After the detonation of the nuclear explosive device gamma rays emit from the deposition region. Due to the gamma rays a separation of charges occur which means that the area nearer to the deposition region is charged solely positive, whereas the area farther from the explosion is charged negatively. The outcome of this separation is an electric field.

 The strength of this electric field falls off as soon as it appears which is the reason why this pulse carries a considerable amount of energy. This energy is picked up by metallic and other conductors which suffer severe damages from the pulse. Concluding it can be said that an EMP destroys everything with a microchip in it.

Due to the rising usage of electronic devices our vulnerability increases. Only one nuclear bomb could decimate a continent's electrical and technological infrastructure back to the 19th century.

Migrant Mother- Group Description

The photo of the Migrant Mother is a back and white photograph, taken in 1936, during the Great Depression, by Dorothea Lange. It depicts a woman in her 30s with her three children, one baby and two toddlers. Taking a closer look at her face, you notice that her hair is umkempt and her brows are knit together. Her wrinkled, suntanned face looks careworn and sombre and her her hunched posture expresses her wish to protect her children. The children lean against their mother's shoulder, facing away from the camera. Their dishevelled pageboy hairstyles and their slight bodies exacerbate the already present melancholic atmosphere. The family is poor as can be seen by their dirty and threadbare clothes. The overall impression is one of desperation and the quiet determination to carry on living. 

Narrative: The history of photography

1^st Version:

Dear Diary,

Today my mother and I decided to clean up the attic. While rummaging through the dusty old boxes I found a photograph of my great-great-grandfather. The photo was in its own case which surprised me. My mother told me that back then taking photographs were something only well-off people could afford. I then asked her to tell me more about photography at that time.

She started telling me about a photographer called Dagueree. Daguerree accomplished a technique which uses ionised silver plates to take photos. Since they weren’t sensitive to light they had a long exposure time and couldn’t be copied. Due to the exposure time the photographer Hill took his photographs on a cemetery. Both the cemetery as background as well as the unpopulated area benefitted the process of photo taking.

In the first half of the 18^th century, photography was seen as blasphemous because humans were said to be made from God’s image and God’s image can’t be captured by a machine. This seems like superstition but many people, were afraid to look at the first photos because it seemed as if the person in the picture was staring at them. Therefore the sentence “Don’t look at the camera” became popular.

In the 1840s photography took over the portrait scene. Over the years people liked photography more and more up to the point where studio photography became popular, in 1860. For studio photography props were used for the people to lean on, however the good taste suffered a lot.

Although the technology improved gradually through techniques such as mezzotint, the society wanted the halo back. The halo originates from the Daguerreotype and symbolised prestige and wealth. While halo was on vogue for portraits a new style was developed through the improved techniques. This style is called Surreal photography. Textures and tissues could be seen more clearly which enabled photographers to concentrate on certain parts of objects.

During the time of industrialisation however, photography became functional and didn’t show reality but how life should look like.  Unemployment and underpayment weren’t shown; instead photos of promising companies were taken.

My mother then said we should stop talking and go back to work. Although I did what she said, I’ll make sure to talk with her about it more since I’m really interested in photography.

Yours,

Miranda

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Feedback:

My classmates told me that my narrative contains mainly of facts which isn’t what a narrative is supposed to be. They tried to help me by telling that I should try to write the text in a more personal way. Therefore I tried to establish a personal connection to the story. They also pointed out some typos which I didn’t find myself while reading through the text.  In the re-written version I only included the information that suited the setting of my narrative. I included more feelings and thoughts so that the narrative focuses more on the main character.

2^nd Version:

Dear Diary,

Today my mother and I decided to clean up the attic. While rummaging through the dusty old boxes I found a photograph of my great-great-grandfather. The photo was in its own case which surprised me. My mother told me that back then; taking photographs was something only well-off people could afford. I then asked her to tell me more about photography at that time.

She started telling me about a photographer called Dagueree. Daguerree accomplished a technique which uses ionised silver plates to take photos. Since they weren’t sensitive to light they had a long exposure time and couldn’t be copied. It must have been really cool to have this “one of a kind” portrait of yourself which nobody could ever copy but I wouldn’t have liked to stay still for such a long time. The longest I ever had to wait for a photo was when I used the old Polaroid camera my mom once had.

Mom also mentioned a very well-known photographer. His name was Hill and he took his photographs on a cemetery because there weren’t many people passing by. He reminds me of my friends Annette, she has always been weird and lately she started posting photos of cemeteries on Tumblr. 

While I am on the topic of weird photographs; the picture I found looked really creepy as if the person in it was staring at me. When my mom saw me looking at the photo she assured me that many people back then were afraid of photos because they believed that the photographed person could see them. That’s why they sentence “Don’t look at the camera” became popular.

When I asked how the photography’s development progressed we came to talk about studio photography. After an explanation of what studio photography was, namely shooting photos in a studio with many props, I was reminded of my pictures when I was still a child. In these photos a lot of props were used too, like cushions or colourful backgrounds. My mom only said, “That was when the good taste suffered a lot”. After that time photography became really functional and played a big role during the industrialisation.

My mother then said we should stop talking and go back to work. Although I did what she said, I’ll make sure to talk with her about it more since I’m really interested in photography.

Yours,

Miranda

[400 Words]

CAJ: Doomsday Preppers 2

"Doomsday Preppers" are part of the category "Survivalism" and will go to whatever lengths they can to make sure they are prepared for the end of civilization as we know it. They develop extreme Aramgeddon defense systems such as survival machines, high-tech shelters and specialised escape routes. 

The term "Doomsday Prepper" is a relative young expression to categorise this rather new form of survivalism.  The expression "Doomsday Preppers" was especially defined for the eponymous US- TV Show. The Show "Doomsday Preppers" is a reality television series that airs on National Geographic Channel and so far consists of three seasons. In each episode three to four Doomsday Preppers are interviewed about their survival plans and in which kind of Armageddon they believe. To give an insight on situations feared by preppers I will list a few of the most common believed scenarios.

• economic collapse
• societal collapse
• terrorist acts 
• nuclear incidents
• fuel shortages
• war
• pandemics
• Electro Magentic Pulse (EMP)

The following blog posts will mostly, if not solely, focus on EMPs. What an EMP is, how big the possibility of an EMP related doomsday is and how EMP works. 


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_Preppers
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/doomsday-preppers/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivalism
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Survivalism

Rhetoric in: “Whoa, Dude, Are We Inside a Computer Right Now?

  

The article “Whoa, Dude, Are We Inside a Computer Right Now?” by Ben Makuch, published on September 11, 2012 on “vice.com”, discusses the question of  our world being a simulation. The author explains how far research has gotten up to now and introduces Rich Terrile as an important scientist in this field. For the explanation of the theory he uses both Logos and Ethos and uses them alternating. However, he also establishes a personal level with the reader through the usage of Pathos. By using Pathos he makes the topic easier understandable and at the same time expresses his own opinion in a sarcastic way. In the second half of the article Makuch’s sarcasm subsides and the reader gets the feeling that he himself believes more and more in Terrile’s theories. All in all you could say that the author takes his readers on a journey. In the beginning he influences the audience with his doubts, which leads the readers to scrutinize the whole theory of a simulated world. However, as the article goes on he chooses the right words to convince the readers of the actual possibility of this theory being truth.  

Narrative Journalism Article

"Suicide Forest- where death is a daily occurrence"

We meet a middle-aged Japanese man, Mr. Hayano, at the foot of Mount Fuji. We agree to follow him on his daily tour through the "Suicide Forest". This is the place where over hundred people a year choose to draw their last breath.

As we follow Mr. Hayano into the dense evergreens  the beauty of nature awes us and it becomes unthinkable to commit suicide. However, Mr. Hayano becomes restless because he is afraid of what is to come. He alone has found over 100 dead bodies over the last 20 years. At first it occurs as if he is doing this work due to some morbid fascination, however after wandering through the still forest, it becomes clear that he wants to understand the people committing suicide, in order to prevent suicides.

Hayano defines a "point of no return" for those committing suicide, since they cannot return alive from the forest because the forest seems like a labyrinth. When we reach this certain point, Hayano suddenly stops in his tracks as he sees...

CAJ: Doomsday Preppers- Introduction

The day many people fear but only a small percentage of mankind believes in the possibility of it happening- Doomsday. According to Oxford Dictionary, Doomsday is "The last day of the world’s existence". A great number of people are sure that this certain day or event will happen in the near future. This event can for example be of natural, technological, biological or nuclear nature.  

Throughout history, humanity always feared the day called Doomsday. Over the last centuries however, people did not fear being attacked by a nuclear weapon or being killed by some kind of virus. Doomsday back in the time was also called "the day of judgement". On this day God will come to separate the believers from the sinners. God would send those who lived a proper life to heaven and those who sinned to hell and the world would cease to exist.

This poem by Sylvia Plath shows that mankind no matter at which point in time  believes that God will come to judge upon them.

Doomsday
The idiot bird leaps out and drunken leans
Atop the broken universal clock:

The hour is crowed in lunatic thirteens.
Out painted stages fall apart by scenes
While all the actors halt in mortal shock:
The idiot bird leaps out and drunken leans.

Streets crack through in havoc-split ravines
As the doomstruck city crumbles block by block:
The hour is crowed in lunatic thirteens.
Fractured glass flies down in smithereens;
Our lucky relics have been put in hock:
The idiot bird leaps out and drunken leans.
The monkey’s wrench has blasted all machines;
We never thought to hear the holy clock:
The hour is crowed in lunatic thirteens.
Too late to ask if end was worth the means,
Too late to calculate the toppling stock:
The idiot bird leaps out and drunken leans,
The hour is crowed in lunatic thirteens.
By Silvia Plath (1932-1963)
http://www.artvilla.com/doomsday-poem-by-sylvia-plath/


"The poet describes a world where all normalcy is blighted. The world is now insane and time is marked by an insane cuckoo clock which heralds the 13th hour...the end of the world. It is a poem written by one plagued by depression and dread."

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100513121931AACYORr


From what I heard and read so far I would define a "Doomsday Prepper" as follows: A person/ groups of people who fear that the world as we know it, will cease to exist. Therefore they are trying their best to prepare for this case. They do everything possible to protect themselves from whatever will happen on Doomsday.  

Over the next two to three months I will post a series of texts concerning this topic. I will take a detailed look at the phenomenon of an Electro Magnetic Pulses (EMP) and the possibility of various feared events happening in reality. I hope you are prepared to dive into a completely different world with me.

Do dreams come true?

Every one of us has a dream. Some people however, are too insecure to say them out loud.. I personally, was too afraid too tell my family or my friends about my dreams because I didn't think that I would ever be able to fulfil my wishes. Over the last six months I talked too my old friends and even gained some new friends. While talking to them about my insecurities and my wishes I decided that it doesn't matter whether my wishes come true or not. I at least have to try to reach my goals.

I know that's creepy but just imagine that you will die in the next year, wouldn't you want to be sure that you tried everything to make your wish come true? Otherwise, I am sure that I would always regret not having tried my best.

One of my dreams is one most of you know about. Unfortunately,  my first attempt at reaching this goal failed and I was really depressed because of it. After a month of grieving I decided to do everything possible to succeed and since it took quite a lot to convince myself I wanted to show all of you out there that you aren't alone. Life doesn't always work out the way went it to but we have to try our best because life's too short to just sit around and let it fly by.

That's why I want to finish with a quotation to support you and all of your dreams. You should never be afraid or ashamed of your dreams.

It's a very big dream, but dreams are supposed to be big, right?
- Mblaq Thunder

Immortality... does not exist!

After-death avatars are a doubtful new invention which allows people to talk/chat with beloved deceased person. Since, according to me, they can fuck people's minds up I decided to create a PSA against death-avatars. 

Setting: A couple is sitting on the sofa watching a soccer match. The wife is talking about her day; however the husband doesn’t listen to her and is instead watching the match on TV.

Wife: Robert, you never listen when I try to tell you about my day. What would you do if I told you someone tried to kill me today?

Husband (completely concentrated on the match): Of course sweetie, sounds like you had an interesting day. What’s for dinner?

Wife: I hate you! Maybe I’ll get run over by a bus tomorrow. (starts screaming) Could you at least listen for 5 minutes?!

Husband: Honey, even if you or I die tomorrow, we can still keep in touch. That’s why they invented after-death avatars. You will have even better conversations with my avatar than you have with me now. It will be as if I am still here.  So now let me watch the game.

At the end a public figure/ celebrity says: Don’t get fooled, when a beloved person dies we can’t get her back through some software. There’s only one reality and that’s the one you live in!

Your home country vs. your home

Hey guys,

yesterday my friend Shirin read my latest post, in which I wrote that I feel more at home in South Korea than I do in Austria, and she asked why I feel like that. Actually I only stayed there for three weeks however, these three weeks were more than enough for me to decide that I want to spend a longer period of my lifetime living there. 

My answer to her question was "You know that feeling that one country is your home country, whereas another is your home?". She then told me "no", she said that she can't understand me since I didn't spend long time there. 

For me staying in Korea felt like coming home. This was probably the case because I know more about the Korean culture than about the Austrian culture. For most European or American people, coming to an Asian country, leads to some sort of a culture shock. Everything is different beginning with how people treat you and look at you. Of course you travel to get to know new cultures to be able to draw yourself your own picture about a country or a culture, however, a great number of people is overwhelmed with the impressions they get. 

 

I, on the other side, was really looking forward to see how Korean people react to foreigners and how well I can fit in everyday life in Korea. All my expectations were fulfilled and the city, the people and the culture matched better with me than I would have thought. 

After thinking about the real reason why I felt completely at home in Korea I came to a quite surprising answer. I suppose that Korea and its culture combines all the things in life that I'm missing in Austria. Such as the tight relationship within a family, caring deeply for others and people helping strangers on their own accord. I liked how the lady who cooked at the food stall tried to converse with me in English and how the doorman at my dormitory greeted me with a smile every time I went out or came back. 

After the three weeks I was happy to have returned home but at the same time I wished to be able to go back to Korea.  I hope to be able to visit Korea soon and I want to stay longer than before. There are so many things I haven't yet experienced and seen. 

That is why I would say that Austria is my home country, whereas South Korea is, at least, one of my future homes. 

One day in the life of......

During my stay in South Korea my newly found German friend Martina and I decided to make a trip to Seoul to explore the fashionable and modernised city. On our way to grab breakfast we came across two older ladies, in Korean they are called “Ahjummas”, which were exercising in a park while listening to old fashioned music. Immediately, we took some pictures of them since this wasn’t only a rare sight for us but also amusing.  After a nutritious and absolutely non-Korean breakfast, namely sandwiches, we found ourselves waiting for the subway when suddenly one of the Ahjummas from before started talking to us. Due to my poor Korean I could only tell her that we are from Austria and Germany, respectively. She started babbling uncontrollably about Angela Merkel and Germany, however I didn’t understand much. After 45 minutes she left us utterly confused and completely mind-blown, in a negative way, alone in the subway. Shortly after, a Korean girl came over and explained what the Ahjumma said and that it was her right, maybe even her privilege, to say whatever she wants to whoever she wants. Although I was completely out of it after the ride I suppose that Ahjummas are also a reason why I feel more at home in Korea than I do in Austria. 

                                   

     (The Ahjummas sitting on the bench after some gymnastics)

       
                                        (The ominous station where old ladies are waiting to lure you into their traps ^^ )

(My friend Martina; upon arriving in Seoul we went for some tea in a traditional tea house to calm our nerves)