Remember Carson and Hyunho?
I wrote about them here and here.
I don’t follow infomercials on Youtube except for this one done by ODG, a clothing company. At first, I liked the concept because it featured two cute children getting to know each other. But I like this latest addition because it showed the funny cultural differences between school-aged children.
First, the expressions of ambivalence.
The translator, John Park who by the way is a Korean singer born and raised in Chicago, asked the children if the children had become close now that they’ve “filmed a lot” recently. The girl Carson answered, “Yeah…kind of” The boy Hyunho answered, “A little.”
To me, “kind of” and “sort of” — or “kinda” and “sorta” — are the polite way of saying “not really, no.” Carson was hedging; she was trying to avoid giving a direct answer that would hurt feelings.
For instance, if I was asked if I liked Movie X, and I answered “Sorta” that means there was something I didn’t like about the movie that was holding me back from unequivocally giving the movie two thumbs up. My frank response would have been a “no.” But since my approval was expected, I was cushioning my disapproval.
I thought Hyunho’s answer was more on point. He said, “A little.”
Second, their backpacks.
I was rolling my eyes when I read the translator’s shirt said, “look beyond pink and blue” because the kids came out dressed in coordinated pink and blue tie-dyed shirts.
But then I saw Carson’s backpack so I snickered. There goes gender neutrality….
Carson’s backpack was all girly. It was so sparkly and pink that I half-expected unicorns to come out. And I like the big letter “C” on it for Carson. It was distinctly her backpack.
In contrast, Hyunho’s backpack was plain black with two large front pockets for organization. I would say that his bag was typical of most boys here in the US. My sons’ bookbags were like that except I had their initials monogrammed on them for easy identification. The water bottle holders on the side were important features of the bag.
Third, the school supplies.
This was probably the most shocking for most viewers. Hyunho took out a pencil case while Carson took out two mechanical pencils, which she called “lead pencils.”
Now, I don’t know what school Carson goes to, but here in the US, students in Grades 1 to 3 do have their own pencil box.
It will contain crayons, colored pencils, washable markers (washable so they don’t leave a mark on uniforms and tables), pencils, a pencil sharpener, eraser, ballpoint pens (only in the upper grades), glue stick, and blunt-tipped scissors. A ruler is too long to include in a pencil box. Schools recommend a pencil box rather than a pencil pouch because the kids can see everything without having to fumble inside.
But it’s possible that Carson’s school provides all the school supplies needed so the teacher simple takes out and distributes the crayons, scissors, etc., for classwork. The student is only obligated to bring one mechanical pencil and a spare one.
This makes sense. The school can purchase in bulk and everybody can use the same kind of items.
I don’t think fidget spinners are allowed in schools here.
Then, the blue folder.
Carson has a blue folder. That’s where the sheets of homework (if there’s any) and school communications (e.g., permission slip for field trip) would go.
Fourth, the water bottle.
This one had me laughing, too. Hyunho had a water bottle which he kept in a plastic bag because it kept leaking. Duh. What didn’t his mother just buy him a new water bottle? Bad mommy!
As for Carson’s water bottle, it was as colorful as her bookbag. It’s colorful. The brand name of her water bottle, Camelbak, is the “in” thing nowadays.
And is this “Supreme” brand a famous one in Korea? I’ve never heard of it here.
Fifth, the books.
Yes, in American schools, the heavy books are left in school. Parents complain that the school bags are too heavy for little children, so the textbooks are left in school and only the workbooks with the assignment are brought home.
Personally, I believe 8 hours spent in school was enough, and after-school hours should be spent for non-school-related enrichment programs of the children’s choice. However, a little bit of homework each day is useful to instill “study habits” in the kids. Doing homework Mondays to Thursday (not on Fridays!) can teach young students to be responsible for work.
Carson: Also, I like my bag light so it’s much more easier.
Translator: She likes her bag light.
Hyunho: There’s nothing light these days.
Translator: Nothing is light nowadays.
Carson: (laughs)
I get why non-Americans have this general impression that American educational system emphasizes the “fun” aspect of learning. It shows with Carson’s bright outlook and light schoolbag.
Hyunho’s comment, on the other hand, shows the serious aspect of education. I was half-nodding to myself, “Yeah. Get ready for hagwon (or after-school cram school), kiddo!”
Sixth, the shoes.
My reaction was the same as Carson’s. “What? He brings extra shoes to school??!”
Actually, she called them “Crocs” because that’s what we call those plastick-y kind of shoes.
Here on gym days or PE days, elementary students wear their gym clothes with gym shoes. Other days, they wear uniform (if they go to private schools) or their regular clothes (if they go to public schools). There’s no need to bring extra shoes.
But I understand what Hyunho meant. After watching kdramas where slippers are worn everywhere (including the office), I understood why Korean students would have indoor shoes for schools, too.
Seventh, her lunchbox.
I’m surprised that Hyunho was surprised that she had a lunchbox. Why?? Don’t they bring lunchboxes in Korean schools?
My sons packed the same sort of food. They packed a sandwich. It could be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, ham sandwich, turkey sandwich or cheese sandwich with potato chips or Doritos. Milk was offered at school. I also included fruits like apple, banana, grapes, and strawberries, and sometimes veggies like carrots and celery.
I thought it was interesting that Hyunho didn’t like to eat cheese. Is he lactose intolerant?? And I laughed when he sniffed the sandwich before he bit it. Is that a cultural thing?
I always packed a treat or two. Even if the boys didn’t eat the candy themselves, they could use the candy to trade with their classmates for something they liked. I heard that was the fun of part of lunch: trading. The kids could become instantly popular if the parents knew the right snack or treat to pack in the lunch bags. lol.
Nerds are a popular candy here. And Sour Patch Kids, too.
The other thing I found cute here was when Carson asked Hyunho if he wanted some strawberry. She handed him a slice, and he accepted it with two hands and a bow.
So there you have it. My report on the continuing saga of Carson and Hyunho. Unlike others, I no longer have romantic aspirations for them. Let kids be kids. But I find this whole experiment of two children from two different cultures getting to know each other so intriguing…that I forget that this is an ad for a children’s clothing. lol.
What about you? What did you or your kids have in their schoolbags?
My daughters both went to state primary schools. Both served subsidised hot lunches, so packed lunches were only for school trips or out of term day care when I might be working.
Lunch bag had to be pretty or cool depending on age. Yes to sandwiches, a bottle of water, fruit and a sweet dessert. Plus some trade-able candies.
Both primary schools provided basic pencils and pens and art supplies. Parents were asked to provide rulers and coloured pencils. Those were kept in a soft zippered pencil case along with other optional/I-really-need-it bits like erasers that smell nice and sparkly writing pens with gloriously coloured inks.
Standard PE shoes were black with a Velcro strip available in all shoe stores and superstores for about $1.50. There would be P.E. shorts in a dark colour (similar price) and a T-shirt with school logo which was part of the uniform.
No hard-bound school books. There might be a relevant topic notebook or work sheets if there was homework. There would also be a book from the school library and whatever book was being studied in English. That’s all.
There were no lockers, but each child had a metal peg for bag and outerwear.
PE shoes for $1.50??!!
That’s not a typo, is it? Are you missing another zero there somewhere?? There’s no regulation gym shoes here. The kids can wear whatever athletic shoes the parents can afford. No velcro sneakers or slip-on sneakers, though. My boys had to learn to tie their shoes by kindergarten.
*I dislike those velcro sneakers! I ruined a number of hosiery on my way to work because of those velcros. I would kneel down to help a child with his shoes and schmmmmook, a velcro would snag on my stocking. Ugh!
My sons had “show-and-tell” days in kindergarten and Grade 1, if I remember correctly. That was a big thing, especially for the shy and quiet kids in class. They learned to deal with their stage fright when they were talking naturally about a favorite stuffed animal or toy.
I wasn’t so wild about those erasers with a nice smell (like strawberry and bubblegum). I was worried that my sons wouldn’t be able to resist them and bite on those erasers. Bleagh.
The only hot lunches my kids would purchase were pizza (Friday is pizza day) and chicken nuggets.
Ah, they’ve gone up in price, but can be found in many shops. This is from the local equivalent of Walmart:
https://direct.asda.com/george/kids/shoes/black-school-plimsolls/GEM700173,default,pd.html?cgid=D25M1G1C14
All state schools here require uniform, but, except for bits that require a logo, it can all be bought in supermarkets or department stores. It is very reasonably priced so it’s affordable for almost all. Anyone who still can’t afford it can speak discreetly to the school (at least where I work) and some uniform bits will be found so no one feels singled out. There is an emphasis on closing gaps between more and less privileged children here, both in material items and education and the government for (now) contributes to this aim.
Omo! Hyunho and Carson have grown and they look handsome and pretty. 🙂
My boys went to a Catholic primary school and they were provided with everything except lunches, oh they needed to give 6 glue sticks and 2 boxes of tissue per student at the start of the school year.
Their sports shoes had to be white and oh it just happened that their sport shirt was white too with maroon collar with the emblem. 🙄 Don’t know who decided that but it’s changed now.
My boy’s brought lunches pretty much everyday and I can count the number of times they’ve bought from the canteen. The school is very strict in the lunches as a lot of kids have allergies. 🙁
Ah! I know those. Plimsolls! lol.
Biting on erasers is an important part of childhood. Smelly ones are just a bonus. 😛
Off topic, Hosiery, aka skin coloured pantyhose, is nearly non-existent here. It was hard to get used to. In the warm weather most women go out in bare legs, even with suits. In the winter they wear opaques or tights if it’s really cold. Bonus is no problem with velcro.
I remember Catholic schools. lol. If the nuns said you needed to bring 6 glue sticks. you MUST, absolutely must, bring 6 glue sticks. Not 5. Not 7. Or you don’t get reward stickers.
hehehe they are very strict aren’t they? 🙂
That’s interesting @Fern about the hosiery, it’s still popular here in Oz but personally I haven’t worn them in years too.
Really? Even Princess Kate??
I always wear pantyhose/sheer tights. Nude, yes. But mostly off-black. Never white. lol. I don’t feel like I’m working without hosiery.
But when I’m staying in a country where it’s sweltering hot, then yes, I do as the Romans do.
The royals are an exception, of course. So I have a drawer full of now-vintage nude pantyhose. From my experience, pantyhose is worn by older ladies here, although many of them also opt for quite long skirts in the summer. By older ladies, I mean the sort who might use a shopping trolley to carry groceries home here. My daughters say they wouldn’t let me out in public if I tried it. 😂
Benefit: bank robbers have to wear balaclavas over their faces instead. 😂
In primary school, we had canteens to buy our snack/lunches from, usually at subsidised prices like $1-$2 for a plate of chicken rice or noodles. Nowadays, parents would pack lunch boxes for their kids if there were allergies, but that is if your parent had the time to, most parents work. Also because school starts at 730am and ends around 1pm+ most kids go home for lunch.
Stationery is the delight of school (for me at least) when we will go to the school bookshop to look at nice stationery and save our pocket money for it….or use our pocket money to buy the stationery because we lost them.
The concept behind this ODG advertising campaign is “You were a kid once.” The videos of Hyun-ho and Carson are fun to watch and heartwarming. Other videos on the ODG YouTube channel are also interesting because of the way the featured children are encouraged to express their thoughts and feelings.
Back in your December 31, 2019 post, @packmule3, you wrote: Now, if I were a kdrama writer “inspired” from this childish interaction, I’d write a scene where the two kids meet each other again after 20 years and one of them is a famous patissier and the other one is the CEO of a conglomerate like ConAgra. (ConAgra manufactures and sells food products.)
This brings up a thought I’ve been mulling over for a couple weeks since CLoY wrapped up, about fated meetings and how in Kdrama that often means a One True Pairing. The idea of finding one’s soul mate in the whole world is not only a trope in Kdrama, but shows up in literature, music, and theater across place and time. But I have a question to pose to other Bitches. For the sake of argument, let’s say everyone has a soul mate somewhere out there in the world. What I want to know is, could that soul mate be someone who doesn’t speak your language? To bring it closer to home for us Bitches, could there be a believable Kdrama with one who speaks Korean falling in love with another who speaks English? How would that play out over 12-16 episodes? Mime? Communication by Papago or Google Translate?
I do know from personal experience that cross-culture relationships can grow and thrive. My husband and I come from different ethnicities, cultures, and grew up halfway around the world from each other. We celebrated our 40th anniversary last year. But we both speak English as our first language. (My husband communicated with his parents in Cantonese, but was educated in English and spoke English with his siblings at home.) If, when we met, he and I didn’t have mastery of the same language, could we have discovered that we shared values and were well suited for each other?
If it seems possible that two can been drawn together beyond a superficial level without sharing a language, I’d like to see their struggles and victories in a Kdrama!
@Welmaris, what a great idea for another thread!💕I would believe that you and your husband are a good example for the answer to be YES most likely.
I too would like to know how the relationship might start for two people who didn’t speak any or little of the other’s language. I travelled a lot when I was a young adult and often some person would flirt with me but I had NO idea what they were saying. I was mostly too shy or disinterested to venture there, so just said that I didn’t speak their language. (in all the languages I knew, so at least I gave it a little chance for friendly communication.) Sometimes, they just carried on nonetheless, sometimes we had a 3rd language in common. 🙂
I think some language in common is a necessity or else I would question ‘true love’ or soul mates; that said, my mother’s second husband was Danish and he spoke very little English. He and I could barely communicate but he and my mom seemed to do very well despite her non-Danish. She picked a good one, you hardly needed him to say much to know he was a wonderful person!