19 Million (+2) Kims in Korea: August 2011

Back to real life and regularly scheduled programming after two weeks of body armor and 15-hour work days during our recent exercise. North Korea wasn't too happy about our games, turns out. And let me run with a tangent here--it's particularly ironic to read in North Korea press about NK doubting the U.S./South Korean side's sincerety when it comes to dialogue. And particularly funny to read such colorful language as "vitiating the atmosphere of dialogue" (I had to look that one up in the dictionary) and "deterrent by a brigandish method" and "merciless counteraction of Korean-style" (dictionary was no help with this one). Have you read the official North Korean news? It's definitely worth a few minutes of your time.

Back to the exercise. I have to say, minus the heavy gear and the hour's drive through traffic there and back and not having A/C for two days in our "office," it was actually a little bit fun. I got to work with a bunch of people that I don't normally work with, including Korean military personnel. I mean, we're always working together--the command slogan being "kachi kapshida" or "we go together"--but I don't normally work in the same office side-by-side. I enjoyed it. I got quite a bit of Korean practice, because not only were all of our briefs were translated, but sitting next to the Korean officers I got quite a few questions about my last name. There were at least four Major Kims in the office, one Colonel Kim and one Lieutenant Colonel Kim, and three First Lieutenant Kims, including myself. Which, incidentally, was a good conversation-starter. One of the Korean LT Kims was a female Air Force officer--I especially enjoyed chatting with her. And I think the Korean officers enjoyed talking too, since most of them wanted an opportunity to practice their English.

Now it's back to work in my U.S.-only office. I'm going hiking with some of the Koreans tomorrow though--a "victory hike" of sorts. I'm told the event involves soju. I'll let you know how it goes.