COVID-19 has changed everything, but Stripes is still here for you · 2020. 10. 1. · We’re here for you and because of you. So, read on and learn about what your writing team

INSIDE INFO

COVID-19 has changed everything,but Stripes is still here for you

KIDS’ KORNERSTUDENTS SOUND OFF ON COVID-19

PAGE 2

CELEBRATING HANGUL IN

SOUTH KOREAPAGES 6-7

JEJU FULL OF FUN, BEAUTY IN THE FALL

PAGES 12-13

VISIT GEUMJEONG MOUNTAIN FORTRESS

PAGE 11

VOLUME 9 NO. 11 OCTOBER 1 – OCTOBER 14, 2020 FREESTRIPESKOREA.COM SUBMIT STORIES TO: [email protected] FACEBOOK.COM/STRIPESPACIFIC

T he Stripes community paper office has been empty since April. Yet, the designers who layout the ar-

ticles in the newspaper, the team who up-dates the websites, and your writing team are still as busy as ever.

Like you, our daily life and our daily work life have changed. Though our writ-ing team, spread out in Okinawa, Korea and in Japan, is used to working togeth-er, but apart, what we write about had to change quickly and drastically. Travel and restaurant reviews are our bread and

butter — but how do we write about plac-es we can no longer visit or are no longer safe to visit? It’s easy — we don’t.

Like you, we’re no longer dining out at restaurants. We’ve traded in our cubicles, travel assignments, and restaurant re-views for workstations at home, recipes in the kitchen with our families, and get-ting creative with bringing you a break from the hard news we’re constantly get-ting bombarded with.

We’re looking for ways to keep you (and ourselves, too) entertained. Some of us have taken our acting and camera skills

BY DENISSE RAUDA,STRIPES KOREA

SEE COVID-19 ON PAGE 8

Shoj i fromOkinawaHirofrom

Yokosuka

ChiHonfromKorea

OCTOBER 1 − OCTOBER 14, 20202 STRIPES KOREA A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC

For feedback and inquiries,contact [email protected]

To place an ad, call DSN 755-2255stripeskorea.com/contact

Max D. Lederer Jr.Publisher

Lt. Col. Richard E. McClinticCommander

Joshua M LashbrookChief of Staff

Chris VeriganEngagement Director

Marie WoodsPublishing and Media Design Director

Chris CarlsonPublishing and Media Design Manager

Eric LeeAdvertising and Circulation Manager

Enrique “Rick” W. Villanueva Jr.Korea Area Manager

Jinsun SongOperations Manager

Kentaro ShimuraProduction Manager

Rie MiyoshiEngagement Manager

Denisse RaudaPublishing and Media Design Editor

Publishing and Media Design WritersChiHon KimShoji Kudaka

Takahiro Takiguchi

Layout DesignersMamoru Inoue

Yukiyo OdaYuko Okazaki

Kayoko Shimoda

Multimedia Consultants Max Genao Doug Johnson Brian Jones Jason Lee Hans Simpson Chae Pang Yi Gianni Youn Robert Zuckerman

Graphic Designers Kenichi Ogasawara Yosuke Tsuji

Sales Support Kazumi Hasegawa Hiromi Isa Ichiro Katayanagi Yoko Noro Yusuke Sato Saori Tamanaha Toshie Yoshimizu Un Chong Yu

Living in the COVID-19 worldEditor’s Note: Here’s what some students at Humphreys Middle School have to say

about the world we live in. Thanks for sharing, kids!

I it is quite fun, but as time goes by, it feels like being caged in a zoo. I felt trapped, just like Rapunzel, and I only did it for 14 days! The only time I got fresh air was for 30 minutes each day. Just like zoo keepers, the doctors there watched me like a hawk. More people go into quarantine each day. Well school is starting, so I guess calling school “jail” is not an option anymore!

Jessica Christian, 7th grade

School during a pandemic is complicated, especially with a move across the ocean.

In-person school was anticipated, so online school was a bummer. It takes more time to set up and lacks social interaction. Even though we use Google Meet to have class it can be frustrating to connect. In-person school is enjoyable because you socialize with actual people, do group projects, and get help from fellow classmates. I hope we can transition back to in-person schooling soon.

Maisie Watson, 7th grade

Adjusting to things can be hard, for example, getting ready for a new school year. This is

especially true for kids in the military. Every now and then, we have to move to a new place, a new school, and we have to make new friends. It can get pretty tiring, and with the COVID-19 virus,

it has been even harder. I had to get used to remote learning, bringing my mask, and social

distancing. As a military kid we have to be able to adapt quickly to many things

and for this year, that is remote learning.

Tristhan Alaska, 7th Grade

When Coronavirus hit, the world panicked. It wasn’t a small

thing, it impacted many people and the economy. Same goes for me and people at our school. Coronavirus impacted me, and my family in all different ways. Which

included some family problems, stress and panic. With school, I have had a lot of stress because of how new I was to online learning. It was

last year with a pandemic on the loose. I believe that even with the problems I have faced and the impact of this pandemic, we will still make it safely through this school year.

Cathleen Kelley, 7th grade

Remember when we used to be able to go out into Korea and eat at all different types

of restaurants? Well not anymore because of the Coronavirus. I used to go out to eat almost every week, but now all I get is the P.X food court. I’m not complaining, but it does get pretty old eating the same food court food over and over. Restaurants are going out of business because of this Pandemic. Make sure when the

Coronavirus ends, you go out for a “victory eat.” I will!

Matthew Stellfox, 6th grade

School during the Coronavirus is “strange” (to put it in one word). Finishing elementary

school and going to middle school was a let-down. As a 5th grader last year, I didn’t get to stay in elementary “school” for the whole year and experience being the oldest in the school. This year I had to start fresh, moving to the middle school and being the youngest. On top of that, my family moved to a whole new base with education online again. This doesn’t exactly give me a good feeling about how my year is going to go. I feel like I’ve missed out!

Ellee Yoo, 6th grade

Being a student during Coronavirus is hard. Being a military student during

coronavirus is harder. Here in South Korea, our American school on base has to follow Korea’s Coronavirus standards. We must stay in remote learning until we have minimal cases off and on post. I would like to see my friends, but I cannot because school is not in session at the school; and I must be careful when and where I take off my mask. At home I can be safe while doing school (I can also do school in my pajamas). I’d rather be safe than sorry (and super comfy). Be safe.

Julianna Mader, 8th gradeJulianna Mader, 8th grade

See more Kids’ Korner on page 4

OCTOBER 1 − OCTOBER 14, 2020 STRIPES KOREA 3A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC


My family and I went to California to visit relatives, because we were moving to Korea. The day we got on the plane

we were so excited. Then we had to quarantine, and we were bored out of our minds. When we got to our new house we were excited again. We played outside, and it was awesome! We

Then my mom told me we were doing remote school and I wanted to cry...

Jayven Carrion, 6th grade

I was on my way to see my friends on August 15th, nine days before school started. With everything that has been going on

I really hoped it would be good to go back to school. Everything

the coronavirus was getting worse in our country so we could not go back to school. I was mad at the news because I did not really like online school. The more I thought about it I did not really mind. Then I remembered that I would not see my friends unless I went outside, but I am too lazy to go outside.

I was so excited for my birthday because i was turning 13. That is all I was looking forward to but I was still worried about school. It started 4 days ago, and I was already behind on some assignments. I asked my friends if they liked online school and most of them said no. The only people who said yes are the ones that do not like hanging out with people. I missed hanging out with all of my friends, so I went out that weekend.

Liam Fasano, 8th grade

Life during COVID from a kid’s perspective is not something people really talk about normally. It seems that the media

is more focused on the cases or what is going on in the states, but never about the lifestyle and how it changes. Yes, we get some insight from an adult’s point of view but not really a kid all too often. From my eyes and in my opinion, this new

we persevered and overcame those, and they became a part of our lifestyle with a vaccine and treatments. Now we’re still

things, like with Google classroom and Google me ets. It has also forced us to think about what is going on in our four walls of our houses and how that affects us. But with everything going on with and switching from Health Protection Levels, it

to get all of it under control, this will be our lifestyle.Cayman Williams, 8th Grade

During Covid-19, I can’t really do much since we are stuck at home. I know that I need to make the best of it. We have

to stay inside most of the time, so I would spend time with my family. Our original plans were to go out and see Korea, but because the Coronavirus got worse, we stayed inside. Every weekend now, we watch a movie. I really want to explore Korea. One good thing about this experience, is that it made me a lot closer to my family.

Trinah Samson, 6th Grade

I dislike remote school. It’s very hard and sometimes my screen

going to the school building over remote school. I don’t do that well in remote school. I can hear and learn things better in the classroom than I can in a Google Meet. Sometimes my browser doesn’t work well and it takes a while to get onto the websites I need. I wish that we could go to school, so I can see and meet my new teachers and classmates and forget about technology.

Adeliz Walker-Gonzalez, 6th Grade

Since Covid-19 we have been in remote school. There are good and bad things about remote school. One of the

good things is that we can stay at home. Staying home is fun because you can take a break whenever you want. I also like that I do not have to wake up early. The downside about remote school is the bad computer connection and looking at the computer screen too much. We also cannot meet new friends

prefer going to school, I hope it opens soon.Ansley Godfrey, 6th Grade

Cwith no treatment for it. Obedient- We have to obey the new rules such as wearing

a mask, washing your hands daily, and social distancing from other people.

Virus: The virus spreads due to an infected person coughs or sneezes or exhales, spreading the germs onto surfaces.

Illness: Some symptoms are shortness of breath, hacking cough, no taste, and no smell.

Dreadful: Quarantine is when you stay inside your house all day. I don’t like it. It forces us to do online school and prevents us from playing sports.

Deborah Colburn, 6th grade

Covid-19 is really an issueFrom masks to sanitizer to a big fat “Achoo”!We go into quarantine where there’s boredom supremePlaces close down, places like schoolAnd virtual school’s a thing so uncoolI and many others would love to go to real schoolPeople would love to open the poolOr just go out and see something new We are all aware that it is out there,Coronavirus is not backing down,Not yet, but someday...

Kai Malaga, 7th grade

What people don’t understand is that student voices

matter, and we are ready to go back to school. Many students will fall behind in a digital learning environment. Not all students have Internet access, computers or adults that can help with online learning. We are the next generation, a proper education is important for us as future leaders. A healthy and safe learning environment is necessary for students and teachers to return to school. While many of us are excited to go back to school, our leaders have a responsibility to plan and prevent events like Covid-19 in the future.

Nathaniel Bourke, 6th Grade

COVID-19. So many things have not happened that should have happened,

graduation. I was excited about having a locker for

line. About having my own desk instead of being crunched up at a table with six people! It’s hard learning online, and when you’re a new kid like me, you have to catch up on assignments. It’s really stressful and it was easier in school. I know that many more children like me are having the same problems. Please hear our voices.

Elizabeth Edgerton Diaz, 6th Grade

In light of the troubles, we have todayThere’s just a few things I’d like to sayAlthough the days of this feel longWe hold our ground and we stand strong

Share kindness and your love No time to be mean and push and shove hold on to your loved ones and hold them tight listen to the rules and do what’s right spend precious times with your family reading, doing puzzles, playing games, and be silly watch movies and snuggle up on the sofa

Take time on little thingsIn light of the troubles, we have today

Eva Degrave, 6th grade

Everything was over, Coronavirus was gone, school was out,

overall, happy with my achievements! I had people I could trust and rely on!When the Coronavirus ended, a couple months ago, I did everything I thought I couldn’t do! That was such a fun summer,It felt like I’ve been there for years!Then I awoke, Oh, it’s just a dream,I always wonder if I’ll ever be like that though,Proud of what I do

Nataley Demapan, 6th grade

Going to school in this pandemic is pretty frustrating and hard. However, when you’re at home, school life becomes

way easier. Nowadays masks and sanitizers are essentials. A mask is like a piece of clothing that you need to put on, kind of like wearing shoes, when you go out. Learning at school can be fun, but also hard for students. At school, you might have to wear a mask all the time and keep social distance. But if we keep doing that, the virus cannot spread.

Chloe Lee, 6th Grade

The Coronavirus has been going on for a while now. It has kept families from seeing each other and friends from

playing with each other, and more. The Coronavirus, known as Covid-19, has been spreading rapidly throughout the world. Sadly, because that’s happening, schools have been getting shut down and we have been having to do online school. Some students have been having a hard time doing their school work online. It’s very stressful and Covid-19 isn’t helping! So I want Covid-19 to be gone, and I want everything to be better in our “home.”

Mateo Pareze McCoy, 6th Grade

Being a kid at a time like this is

Coronavirus, I thought it would be fun to stay home and not get out of my pjs. But that soon became boring. Going on my tablet too, soon became boring, and made me wish we didn’t have online school. I wish I didn’t have to talk to my friends from behind a screen, because it only reminds me of how the pandemic has affected us, and the circumstances we are in. I am eager to get news about going back to school soon!

Joelys Medina , 6th Grade

I was only 11 years old when the world changed. Masks were handed out, and social distancing

was introduced. Schools were closed and children were forced to adapt to a whole new

learning environment. Along with my

the screen of a computer. Despite many restrictions being lifted this summer, I began sixth grade

behind my keyboard. Although I wish I could go back to school and

see my friends, I think the restrictions we are having at the moment are reasonable, and should remain in place until the threat of the spread is reduced.

Rylee Northam, 6th Grade

The one thing you’ll miss most is your friends. Sometimes it will feel like you will never see them again. Even if you see

them for two hours on the computer. It won’t feel like the time when you were next to them for seven hours. Virtual school sometimes might be a good thing, or a bad thing. But it’s really your choice. So whether you’re just beginning, or it’s your last day of school, make the best of it. You never know when a new virus will just POP up out of nowhere and start knocking on your door.

Eres Park, 6th Grade

Covid-19 has changed us, our society, and our lives. In case you need something fun to do, I will list the things I do for

fun at home.

we actually attend school. Reading is fun and it will help with your education. •Writing - Write fun stories on the computer, and improve

your skills!•Craft-making - You can make anything from ants to

buildings! If you have some leftover craft supplies, try making something creative!

•Cooking - Try making delicacies that your family will enjoy. Maybe take an order from a family member!

Joann Park, 6th Grade

It feels like a second ago, I was in my classroom, staring at the clock, waiting to hear the bell. I was so excited to leave

school! To have my freedom. But the only thing I want to do right now, is go back to school. I miss the old times, when I could travel, and go places with my family, and there weren’t any restrictions. The good thing about all of this, is that I get to spend more time with my family. Living in the time of Coronavirus has taught me to appreciate the small things in life.

Elizabeth Rodriguez, 6th Grade

Humphreys Middle School



Stripes Korea is A Stars and Stripes Community Publication. This newspaper is authorized for publication by the Department of Defense for members of the military services overseas. However, the contents of Stripes Korea are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense or the U.S. Pacific Command. As a DOD newspaper, Stripes Korea may be distributed through official channels and use appropriated funds for distribution

to remote and isolated locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of those products by the Department of Defense or Stars and Stripes. Products or services advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.

Oct. 9 is a South Korean national holiday in honor of the invention of the

Korean alphabet, Hangul. A day celebrating the alphabet may seem strange, but for Koreans, the simple and effective native writing system is a source of national pride.

Created by King Sejong in 1443, the alphabet took three years of testing and perfect-ing before it was made public in 1446. Before Hangul was invented, the Korean language

was written with old Chinese characters with grammatical structures distinct from Ko-rean. Learning complicated Chinese characters required years of education and train-ing, meaning only wealthy, up-per class Koreans could learn to read and write. That left the rest of the population illiterate.

Seeking to eradicate illitera-cy amongst common Koreans, King Sejong launched his ambi-tious project. Hangul’s original name was “Hunminjeonge-um,” which translates to “a set of proper sounds for the education of the

BY CHIHON KIM,STRIPES KOREA

Hangul, a Democratic alphabet created for

the commoner

OCT. 9

English Pure-Korean Hangul Sino-Korean Hangul

1 Hana 하나 il 일

2 Tul 둘 ee 이

3 Set 셋 sam 삼

4 Net 넷 sa 사

5 Tasot 다섯 oh 오

6 Yosot 여섯 yuk 육

7 Ilgop 일곱 ch’il 칠

8 Yodol(p) 여덟 p’al 팔

9 Ahop 아홉 gu 구

10 Yol 열 ship 십

20 Sumul 스물 ee-ship 이십

30 Sorun 서른 sam-ship 삼십

40 Mahun 마흔 sa-ship 사십

50 Shween 쉰 oh-ship 오십

60 Yessun 예순 yuk-ship 육십

70 Irhun 일흔 ch’il-ship 칠십

80 Yeodun 여든 p’al-ship 팔십

90 Ahun 아흔 gu-ship 구십

100 Baek 백 baek 백

1,000 Ch’eon 천

10,000 Man 만

100,000 Ship-man 십만

1,000,000 Baek-man 백만


entire nation.”Despite his good intentions,

King Sejong’s Hangul faced strong opposi-tion with subjects and scholars fiercely de-bating its creation.

The simple writing system, they feared, would lead to the loss of aristocratic privi-lege and power. It was considered a dan-ger by the noble class and dismissed as the letters of women and children. The opposition by the aristocracy against the new writing system continued after King Sejong’s death, which hindered the widespread use of the alphabet for a long time.

It was not until 450 years after its creation that Hangul was finally designated as the official writing system of Korea. However, hangul

would suffer another obstacle during colonial rule when Japanese would become the official language on the peninsula. In the 1940s, learning hangul and media in hangul was banned, which even led to the incarceration of Korean linguists.

Like the darkest hour is just before the dawn, Hangul Day was designated an of-ficial holiday in 1949 following liberation from Japanese rule after the end of the World War ll. [email protected]

Celebrating Hangul Day There are no large

celebrations during Hangul Day, instead many Koreans usually enjoy the day off. Some people may also go on a short outing with friends and family. When Hangul Day approaches, news reporters crank out many stories on the corruption of Hangul by the rise in use of foreign words.

The concern is the overuse of English and often its use mixed improperly with Korean. You’ll find examples of this everywhere in the country, from schools to

government offices. I’ve seen many Hangul slogans

and festival names aimed at locals written, unnecessarily, in the way English sounds.

In this era of globalization, linguistic purism should be avoided, but for elderly locals unfamiliar with English, the slogans and festival names are difficult to understand.

Hangul Day is a day to remind Koreans of the misuse of foreign words and of the humble beginnings of Hangul to encourage literacy among the masses.

Day government offiI’ve seen many Hangul slog

Adorning the 10,000-won bill in Korea is King Sejong’s portrait. File photo

The 14 consonants in Hangul are made to represent how your oral cavity is shaped as you voice them.

know?

Did you

I f asked about how I feel about my work-from-home days, I would have a hard time finding something posi-

tive to say because I like going to work. However, looking back at my life during the last five months, there were things I would not have done unless I had stayed at home.

Before the pandemic, I hardly cooked at home. I’d had enough of instant noodles, and that moved me to make something on my own. It was in early May and with Mother’s Day com-ing up, I chose Andagi, an Okinawan donut, for my first attempt at cooking a recipe in quarantine. As a child, my mother would make this snack for me often and making it for her around this special day was fitting.

Whether American or Okinawan style, a donut is a donut and the recipe seemed easy enough. Once I started rolling the dough into donut holes like Dunkin’ Donuts’ Munchkins, however, is where I ran

into difficulties. As I struggled with the sticky dough

that refused to budge from its amorphous state, my mother who had been watching me curiously, started to laugh. Her laugh became even louder when I struggled with frying the dough. Although my slap-stick cooking hardly failed to provide

comical relief, the doughnuts themselves turned out much better than expected. Taking a bite, my mother just said, “Wow, this is good.”

The donuts were just the start of try-ing new recipes. Since then, I’ve cooked at least once a week, trying my hand at Okinawan recipes like rafute, hirayachi, brown sugar crepes, and even an Italian restaurant classic — Pasta pomodoro.

For me, it’s been a learning experi-ence. And while it’s been the source of

laughter for my mom, it’s also seemed to make her happy. Cooking has also become a topic I can turn to when I struggle with my writing assignments or finding something to share with the audience. As I tried different recipes, it started feeling like a fun

hobby for me. Now I say to myself “Why not continue cooking beyond COVID-19?”

Although my feelings to-ward work from home stays the same, cooking showed me there’s always a way to have fun. And it would be great if the audience feels the same.

These days, I often think about tour-ing big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, taking photos of skyscrapers and streets lined with Izakaya. Most likely, it will be a while before that becomes possible. However, it seems to be fun at least to wait for the time to come while cooking oden or takoyaki. [email protected]

View video!Okinawan doughnuts

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a stroll arUeno Parphotos angorgeous bloom in

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Telewotwice-daitrains froBeing outworkers aTokyo, hochallengetine and ideas.

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STORY AND PHOTOS BYSHOJI KUDAKA

PatCooking brings humor, happiness


seriously and started creating fun vid-eos to teach you Japanese and Korean phrases. We’ve found online activities for you to try and used our Netflix time wisely to figure out what recommenda-tions you might have missed on Korea or Japan’s streaming services.

For a while, our paper stopped print-ing and relied on our four community sites to make sure you never missed a beat and there was always something interesting for you to read or watch.

Every day, as the situation is changing in the Pacific both on base and off, you can trust that we’re looking out for what infor-mation you need. Every day, we’re monitoring what the parameters are and how we can get out and enjoy the nice weather, all while doing it safely and within the regula-tions set forth by leadership.

D e s p i t e the chang-es, know that our mis-sion remains the same, CO-VID-19 or not. This is your pa-per you’re hold-ing, (or your web-site, if you’re reading online) and all of our publications, including our Welcome to the Pacific, Best of Pa-cific and Destination Paradise maga-zines, are yours. Have a story you want to see in the paper? Send it to us! That hasn’t changed. We’re here for you and because of you.

So, read on and learn about what your writing team is doing to make sure these pages are filled and you’re still getting the information you want. And, if you have a story idea or want to write something, drop us a note! We’re in this [email protected]

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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COVID-19: Looking for w

T hough there are only a few months left in 2020, I can still say this will probably the year that started with

a virus and will end with one. What started as a faraway virus over in China that we all thought wouldn’t be a big deal, quick-ly spread to South Korea, then onto other countries and, well, you know the rest of the story.

Despite how COVID-19 came into in-trude on all of our daily lives, my fellow writers and I remained focused on con-tinuing to provide the stories you want to read. From disaster, we drew inspiration and from all the things we wished we could do — like travel and go out to eat at res-taurants — we figured out ways to not let go of that feeling. Our team had to work in a new way, and we had to get creative.

A new project we started was our Virtual Vacation se-ries, which allowed me to take you on my previous trips and through some of my travel photos. We also started shar-ing some easy phrases in our native languages. I started and continue to share use-ful phrases on our Facebook page in my Speakin’ Korean videos.

For a short while in the summer, while South Korea seemed to have a grasp on coronavirus cases thanks to lessons learned from previous SARS and MERS outbreaks, I was able to write travel stories again. Mil-itary families could travel again, while tak-ing necessary precautions and I was happy

to return to some form of normal. But my happiness was short-lived when, in July, the numbers started to go up and bases around the peninsula retightened restric-tions. Once again, I’m experiencing deja vu in March due to mass infection in Seoul.

On a personal level, my life has changed as I turned towards my fitness and started cycling in my apartment. Originally, this was supposed to get me ready to cycle around Korea for some stories I wanted to write, but as staying at home was looking like a longer-term necessity, indoor cycling on my home setup has become a way to keep social distance and a stress relief.

I also started cooking at home more. I tried recipes of foods that I like to eat when I go to restaurants or even ramdon, a rec-ipe from the award-winning film Parasite. These were challenging but the results

were delicious, and I used these to write stories for the audience who, like me, were stuck at home trying new recipes.

And also, like many of you, when I was bored, I turned to Netflix. In May and June, I wrote a few lists of Korean films and dramas you should check out. I recommend tak-ing a look at these lists, espe-cially if you’re over re-watch-ing The Office or Friends.

Truth is, I am trying to overcome this situation with joy by looking at the bright side of being safe and still being able to write with a different goal in mind. I don’t know when this will end, but don’t forget that Stars and Stripes is always with [email protected]

View video!Speakin’ Japanese

Let’s try on-nomi

View video!Free fallin’

Let’s jump out ofa perfectly fine airplane!

COVID-19 rapidly spread roughout the country, I began eworking just after I had taken round Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, rk and other sites seeking out nd material for a story on the

cherry blossoms then at full late March.erry blossom story would have ntil next year, as I was working

me and all of our readers were ed on leaving their bases or off-

mes. orking has saved me from my ly 2.5-hour commute on packed m Yokosuka to Tokyo and back.

t of the office, away from my co-and the hustle and bustle from owever, has been a e on my daily rou-

in finding story

tate of emergency this year meant ular annual spring ere canceled, while nts and attractions sed or had limited

My focus (and my had to shift to other , so I turned to Japanese cul-traditional crafts, seasonal top-pending time with my wife and

ril, as face masks began to sell res, I observed as my wife used

ons she found online to hand-asks for our family. So, I wrote at. I also turned the camera on

myself and began, along with my fellow writers, to film short videos to teach Japanese phrases for our Speakin’ Japanese arti-cles online. I began to sort through travel photos and, using my iPhone, began producing travel videos for

our Virtual Vacation series.With the help of my family, I wrote

about the crafts we were making to-gether, like origami and tanabata deco-rations. My daughter, whose hobby is photography, helped illustrate some of my stories and videos with great images.

STORY AND PHOTOS BYCHIHON KIM

STORY AND PHOTOS BY TAKAHIRO TAKIGUCHI

Looking at the bright side of lifetience, family and technology


SEE FAMILY ON PAGE 10

ChiHonfromKorea

HirofromYokosuka

ays to keep you entertained


CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

My work quickly became a family affair. I also noticed how, despite being far apart, technol-

ogy was helping us stay together. Besides our weekly Skype work meetings to discuss what the staff is working on; I have connected with my coworkers for on-nomi (online drinking party) after hours several times throughout this work-from-home period.

Other events moved online for us, too. Like Moth-er’s Day. My wife sat down in front of her computer and celebrated the special day with her 100-year-old mom and two sisters in the Philippines, as well as her two other sisters on Guam and in the States. Cakes were eaten, wine was tasted and laughs were

plentiful. They weren’t physically together, but it was a wonderful celebration. Now, online chatting with her mother and sisters in the morning has be-come a part my wife’s daily routine. These events inspired me a lot and gave me some nice story ideas.

The past five months where COVID-19 upended our lives were definitely a struggle for me, but it also gave me the great opportunity to rediscover the importance of warm hearts, love, affection and con-sideration amongst family and friends. Among them and by far the most, I feel it was my family that kept me alive, enabled me to work at home and have kept me in good shape, both mentally and [email protected]

View page!Monsters, gangsters,

karate fighters, oh my!Top 5 Okinawa-related

flicks to stream now

View video!Virtual vacation: Hawaii

View video!Try Hirayachi, Okinawa’s

take on okonomiyaki

View video!Virtual vacation: Seoul

View page!5 Korean snacks you have to try

View video!Speakin’ Korean

Finding a mask and hand sanitizer

View video!Speakin’ Japanese

Be typhoon-ready!

View page!Getting crafty with the family

View page!Japan’s favorite poop museum

goes online

View page!Speakin’ Japanese/Korean

COVID -19 useful phrases

(printable sheets)

Japanese Korean

FAMILY: A team effort at home

by Takahiro Takiguch iby Shoj i Kudaka by ChiHon Kim


Completed in the 29th year (1702) of the reign of King Sukjong the for-tress is 17,377m long, and 1.5m~3m

high; it is the largest fortress in Korea. The inner and outer walls were mainly built of natural stones. Where there were weaker portions, the Koreans reinforced the struc-ture with large hand-carved stone blocks. The walls were about 17 kilometers in length and from 1.5 meters to 3 meters in height. The area surrounded by the fortress is about 8.2 square kilometers.

The construction of the fortress be-gan in 1701 at the recommendation of

Jo Tae-dong, the Governor of Gyeongsang-do province, of which Busan was and is a part, and was completed a year later. In 1707, the walls were built around the main structure of the

fortress. It eventually fell to disuse due to the difficulty of maintaining such a large perimeter. After lying empty for a cen-tury, it was repaired in 1807, the seventh year of the reign of King Sunjo.

HAPS KOREA MAGAZINE

Visit Geumjeong Mountain Fortress

hapskorea.com

ADDRESS: Cheongnyong-dong, Geumjeong-gu, BusanTEL: 051-519-4081WEB: geumjeong.go.krOPENING HOURS: 08:30 ~ 17:30


Visitors to Jeju in fall are treated to beauti-ful landscapes decorated with the colors of silver grass, buckwheat flowers, and pink

muhly. Here are some great places to see these plants.

FINDING BLISS IN NATURE

Where to See the Subtle Shades of Jeju’s Fall FlowersThe passing of seasons on Jeju is told not only

by the differences in temperature, but also by the changes in the color of the island. Spring features the bright pinks and yellows of cherry blossom and canola flowers; summer is known for bushes of blue hydrangea; while fall brings the subtle shades of silver grass, white buckwheat flowers, and pink muhly. Here are some of the best spots to see each of these fall plants.

FIELDS SWAYING IN THE WINDSilver Grass

Silver grass, also known as eulalia, is a tall, reed-like plant with a head consisting of thin silver leaves and flowers. The grass grows throughout Jeju in fall, including on many of the island’s vol-canic hills. Here the plants line the slopes, swaying in the wind as you climb. Two great places to see silver grass are Saebyeol Oreum and Sangumburi Crater.

VIEWS OUT OVER JEJUSaebyeol Oreum

Saebyeol Oreum is situated on the west of Jeju. During fall, silver grass completely covers the sides of the hill. The oreum itself is 119 meters

high, and there is a path that goes all the way to the top. It is not a long walk, although it is quite steep, which could make it difficult for some. The effort is worth it as on bright days the panorama from the top stretches out past the surrounding countryside to the sea. For a particularly special view, visit Sae-byeol Oreum during sunset, when the silver grass catches the golden light, creating a sight that is unique to Jeju.ADDRESS: Bongseong-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-doCONTACT: 064-728-2752WEBSITE: https://www.visitjeju.net/u/4S6

NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER 263

Sangumburi CraterSangumburi Crater is a large volcanic crater

situated in the mid-mountain region of the island, a 40-minute drive from the airport. Unlike Baengnok-dam—the crater at the top of Hallasan Mountain which re-quires a hike to the top of the mountain

to see—it is easy to reach Sangumburi Crater via a short walk from the car park. At the top, you are treated to a view of the crater which, at its deep-est point, is over 100 meters below you. While you cannot enter the crater, you can walk around part of its rim, and there is an observation deck so you can see inside. There is also a short trail that goes through the silver grass fields. It is not a long walk but is perfect for a short stroll on a cool day in fall.ADDRESS: 768 Bijarim-ro, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-doCONTACT: 064-783-9900BUSINESS HOURS: 9 a.m. till 6:40 p.m. (9 a.m. till 5:40

p.m. between November and February)ADMISSION: Adults KRW 6,000 / Youth KRW 4,000 /

Children Under 4 KRW 3,000WEBSITE: https://www.visitjeju.net/u/4S5

MORE THAN A DELICIOUS INGREDIENT

Buckwheat FieldsJeju is famous in Korea as a producer of buck-

wheat. While the plant used to be best known as an ingredient in traditional fare such as bingtteok, the fields are fast becoming a popular tourist attrac-tion. The best time to see buckwheat is during fall when the plant produces white flowers. Here are two places where buckwheat grows on Jeju.

AWESOME VIEWS AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

Ora-dong Buckwheat FieldsThe Ora-dong buckwheat fields are situated in

the mid-mountain area above Jeju City. A visit here reveals large expanses covered in the nutritious plant. Look south and you will see the Jeju coun-tryside and the looming shape of Hallasan Moun-tain. Look to the north and you will see views out

JEJU TOURISM ORGANIZATION

Jeju full of fun, beauty in the fall

onto the College Acceptance


over Jeju City and the sea. The plants typi-cally flower from mid-September to early-

October, and during this time the area holds the Ora-dong Buck-wheat Field Fes-tival. At the festi-val you can walk through the fields and take pictures of the spectacular scenery.ADDRESS: San 76, Ora2dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-doBUSINESS HOURS: 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.ADMISSION: Adults KRW 3,000 / Children KRW 1,000WEBSITE: https://www.visitjeju.net/u/4SP

WIND BLOWN BUCKWHEAT

BoromwatBoromwat is a buckwheat field on the south-east-

ern side of the island. The name Boromwat means wind-blown field. Visitors to Boromwat can walk

through the ar-eas where buck-wheat grows and take pictures of the unique land-scape. During the fall, Borom-wat is also home to red cocks-comb and yellow

chrysanthemum. Once you have finished taking in the scenery, there is a café and a shop where you can buy refreshments and souvenirs.ADDRESS: 2350-104 Beonyeong-ro, Pyoseon-myeon,

Seogwipo-si, Jeju-doCONTACT: 064-742-8181BUSINESS HOURS: 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.ADMISSION: Adults KRW 4,000 / Children under 36

months and seniors KRW 2,000

WEBSITE: https://www.visitjeju.net/u/4S4 https://www.instagram.com/boromwat_/ (Korean Language Only)

COTTON CANDY-COLORED FIELDS

Pink Muhly Grass

Pink muhly is a type of grass with a distinct cot-ton candy-like appearance. It is a popular plant to seek out among both tourists and locals alike as fields of the plant make a striking place to take romantic photos. Pink muhly blooms from mid-September to November, making fall the perfect season to see it. Pink muhly isn’t as common as buckwheat or silver grass on Jeju, but you can see it at the two locations below.

MUHLY GRASS, FALL FLOWERS, AND MINI-GOLF

Herb DongsanHerb Dongsan is

a park that showcas-es different species of plants throughout the year. It also has a small tangerine farm and a mini-golf course. In the eve-nings, there is a light

show which you can walk through. The highlight of the park in fall is the pink muhly grass, which grows on a 10-meter-high hill within the park. As well as pink muhly, at Herb Dongsan, you can see other flowers that bloom during the season such as marigolds, lantana flowers, and tarragon flowers.ADDRESS: Don Oreum-ro 170, Pyoseon-myeon,

Seongwipo-si, Jeju-doCONTACT: 064-787-7362BUSINESS HOURS: 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.ADMISSION: Adults KRW 12,000 / Seniors and youths

KRW 10,000 / Children under 36 months KRW 9,000. Discounts are available for groups of over

30 people.WEBSITE: Find out more at https://www.visitjeju.

net/u/4S2 or the http://www.herbdongsan.com/ (Korean language only)

PINK MUHLY GRASS IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING

Hueree Natural ParkHueree Natural Park is a private park and gar-

den. It showcases different plants and flowers de-pending on the time of year. Fall is when pink muh-ly grass takes center stage, and at the park, you can take photos with a traditional Jeju thatched roof house as the background. The pink muhly is typically in bloom from the middle of September through October. ADDRESS: Sinryedong-ro 256, Namwon-eup,

Seogwipo-si, Jeju-DoCONTACT: 064-732-2114BUSINESS HOURS: 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Last entry at 5:30

p.m. from April to October, and 4:30 p.m. from November till March.

ADMISSION: Adult KRW 13,000 / Youth KRW 11,000 / Child KRW 10,000

WEBSITE: Find out more at https://www.visitjeju.net/u/4S3 or the http://www.hueree.com/index.php# (Korean language only)

#jejutravel, silvergrass, sangumburi, saebyeoloreum,

buckwheatfields


Answers to Previous Sudoku:

ACROSS1 Sailor's stop5 Take for a ride9 Strong suit

14 Bryce Canyon locale

15 Meal in a shell16 Trim, as an

alpaca17 Wreath adorn-

ments19 Cowboy's com-

panion20 Backward, on a

boat21 Trim, as a tree23 "Are we there

___?"25 Database

command26 Oscar-winning

Emma31 Navy clerk35 Metal fastener36 Retirees' org.38 Fix up DOWN 29 Unwritten 50 Thrills39 Pizzeria appli- 1 Insect stage reminder 52 Mitchell mansion

ance 2 Elevator man 30 Aquatic nymph 53 Alien crafts40 It may be bid 3 Carry on 32 Kind of raise 54 Defeat 41 "Fiddlesticks!" 4 What you used 33 Words of decisively42 Flippant to be wisdom 55 Strike site43 Tom Clancy hero 5 Lapidary's 34 Well-known 57 Combines

Jack wares 37 Extend, as a 58 Meadowlands 44 Hose hue 6 Preserve, in a lease pace45 Heir's concern way 40 Circus site 59 Alleviate47 No longer with 7 Got a perfect 44 Scout's award 60 Great deal

us score 46 Nervous giggle 63 Tetley product49 Chain segment 8 Exodus leader 48 Female fowl51 Tie the knot 9 On dry land52 Skedaddle 10 Like some cooks56 Playing marbles 11 Medical fluids61 In progress 12 Vane direction62 Notre Dame, for 13 Grove growth

one 18 HBO series, 64 GPS suggestion "Tales from the 65 Kind of socks ____"66 One teaspoon, 22 Orange-toothed

maybe rodent67 September 24 Bootlicker

bloom 26 Figure of speech68 John and Yoko's 27 Homes for

son drones69 Hearty dish 28 Blatant

Crossword by Margie E. Burke

Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate

Answers to Previous Crossword:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19

20 21 22

23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

35 36 37 38

39 40 41

42 43 44

45 46 47 48

49 50 51

52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63

64 65 66

67 68 69

S E W S A C M E S A L S AO R E O Y O U R A D I E UD O L L E N T R A P M E N TA D L I B F E A R I N T OS E E A C I D T E S T

A L L A N I N K A G OE N R O U T E C A I S S O NM I N U S N A S A LI C E D T E A F I D G E T YT E D E R R A T E A M

P R E T E N S E B A DG O G O C L E F P O L A RU N I L A T E R A L P A R ES C R I P S I R I A G O GH E L O T S E E P L E N S

Stripes Sports Trivia

Answer

DID YOUKNOW?

Approximately 90% of the world’s seaweed used for consumption comes from

South Korea. Although most associate seaweed with sushi, many folks enjoy just eating it by itself. In South Korea, a traditional birthday dish is seaweed soup.

Language Lesson

Hangul of the week

The weather is really nice!

Nalssi cham jonneyo!

jwa-jeol (frustration)

The UConn women’s basketball team doesn’t do much losing on the court. The Geno Auriemma-led Huskies hold countless NCAA records among the all the National Championships they’ve won. In 2017, an overtime loss in the Final Four ended the Huskies 111-game winning streak – a record, of course. What team beat them?

Mississippi State



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COVID-19 has changed everything, but Stripes is still here for you · 2020. 10. 1. · We’re here for you and because of you. So, read on and learn about what your writing team