Korenglish

Come on, you know you miss my Korenglish posts....

For those of you who are more recent readers, we lived in Korea for a year, and I did frequent posts about the "not quite right" English translations that were EVERYWHERE!  Seriously, if you haven't done so before, click on "Korenglish" in my sidebar or under my labels and prepare to pee your pants.

On my way home from work a few months ago, I stopped at a "non brand name" grocery store.  It turned out to be a sort of international grocery store....with some CHEAP produce.  There were about 30 fruits/vegetables/herbs that I have NEVER heard of in my life.  I like to cook, and my husband and kids will eat any genre of food.  I'm telling you, this place is a WHOLE new experience.  There are the Korean, Thai, Mexican, and Chinese aisles (several of which have zero English on their products), the "American milk" aisle, and a huge seafood counter (since many of these cultures cook with a lot of seafood).  Just to make it more authentically "international" (or at least qualify it as a notquiteright Korenglish establishment), there are small stores in the back and front of the market, kinda like in an airport.  The computer repair shop is next to the wig store (I kid you not).  

My favorite sign was this one...

"PERSON HYEGENE"

"TOILT TISSUE"

Also, you gotta love that those things are in the same aisle as BBQ Supply, Pest Control, and light bulbs.  

Oh, and did I mention that I got a free roll of paper towels at the check out?  I thought they added them to my order by mistake.  They said, "No, they free."  nice....

Flashback Friday

This is a random picture I found when looking through pictures from Korea.  This is in the middle of nowhere....

Korenglish #5

I just realized I never posted this!  Here's the Korenglish post I promised a LONG time ago....just in case you are in withdrawal.  I still have more thoughts coming to bring closure to my time in Korea.  Stay tuned.

I found this sign on base as I walked with some other moms around the flight line.

We saw this animal at the zoo.

Okay, this just cracks me up! This is a sign on the side of a van advertising English lessons. I haven't gone to the website yet, but just that fact that THIS is their advertisement speaks volumes about how things get lost in translation here. If you need to speak "butter English" though, give them a call.

Korenglish #4

This may be my favorite Korenglish sign to date.  

This was one of the stores in the ritzy hotel we stayed in in Thailand.  mmm hmmm....

"Frozen treats that fit your taste and your healthy lifestyle."  I just KNEW ice cream was healthy for me!  ;o)

It's a small world...Germany!

In this post I told you about the not so politically correct Germany exhibit in the It's a Small World ride.....and you thought I was exaggerating.....

THREE CHEERS FOR GERMANY!

In case you need something formal...

The first time I found this store, I didn't have my camera.  Now, friends, you get a glimpse into some of the most entertaining formal wear I have seen in some time.

Okay, the green one is actually quite nice.

This one is my personal favorite...do you get it?  It took me a while.

Do you see the spider head, body, legs, and web?  mmm hmm....sexy!!!

Korenglish #3

A few more Korenglish finds for your enjoyment...

I think Patrick needs to get at least one Korenglish t-shirt before we leave here, but I'm not sure the humor will translate when in the US.

ummm...Don't you wanna just run out and grab a bottle of this?!?  I have no idea what it tastes like, but we see this brand all over Korea.

Korenglish #2

So what does one do with a piece of equipment like this? 

I don't know either....let's read the directions....

Here's the important part...

"Hold the circle and circumvolve by body wrestling."

Good!  Now I know EXACTLY what to do?!?!  The funny part is, Patrick did!

Korenglish

One running form of entertainment here, the Americans call "Korenglish."  It is where the Koreans want to translate something, but they don't quite get the intention correct or the words correct at all.  I finally started taking pictures of some of them so you would get an idea of what I am talking about.  Enjoy!

This is the first time I saw this type of penguin at the zoo...

this was in a store window advertising some shoes...

"The glamour and be your own brain"

This is some stationary..."You know where you belong and you remember the place. I told you it won't go wrong.  This was the sole reason."

Huh?!?! 

more stationary..."You've got lucky"

At the ice cream stand..."We would like to eat various BlueBunny ice creams."

This elevator was pretty clearly NOT in operation.

"Water drop sprite Sh!  Listen to sound of sea, come into hearing."

at the hair salon...

this sign was outside of the upscale (like $85 a plate) restaurant in the Seoul Tower.  

For more Korenglish examples, go here, here, here, or here.

Spring Fashion...Korean style

I have mentioned before that the Korean people are quite stylish, but sometimes their style (and especially their color choices for men) are different than ours.  Well, I found such fun examples that I couldn't help sharing them with you.

Another fashion trend here is to dress like your mate, especially if you are newlyweds.  You can only imagine how much fun we have watching couples dressed like this....

and my favorite example...

Anyone have a husband that would like to sign up for this fashion statement?  I would be happy to shop for you.  :o)

Happy Spring Shopping Everyone!!!