|
Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Smee

Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do
|
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:31 am Post subject: "An American Learning Life Lessons in a Korean Prison&q |
|
|
Not a very in-depth article, and I'd like to learn a little more about what he was up to after he got out of prison. Anyway, the Chosun Ilbo has an article about a guy who served 3.5 months in Korean prison for drug-smuggling:
Quote: |
For one 38-year-old American author, prison life in Korea taught him some greater lessons than the rest of his life. Cullen Thomas recalls the experience in "Brother One Cell: An American Coming of Age in South Korea's Prisons", his 2007 memoir which has attracted the attention of newspapers worldwide including the New York Times.
As a 23-year-old callow young man teaching English at a private tutoring institute in Seoul, Cullen was caught in May 1994 smuggling hashish from the Philippines and sentenced to three years and six months in prison. He served them at the Seoul Detention Center, and prisons in Uijeongbu and Daejeon. Now, as the book is published in Korea, Cullen, a freelance writer based in New York, spoke to the Chosun Ilbo through telephone and e-mail. |
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806020015.html
I know this point of view isn't popular among foreigners over here, but I don't have much patience for drug-smugglers and drug-users in Asian countries. For better or worse countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have taken a stance on a social ill and have chosen not to import all the problems that we've seen take over the US and other places. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Kimchi Cowboy

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
|
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
You wrote 3.5 months, but the article states "3 years and six months"...  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
BritishinSuwon
Joined: 17 May 2008 Location: No longer in Suwon! Now kicking it in Shanghai
|
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:39 am Post subject: Re: "An American Learning Life Lessons in a Korean Pris |
|
|
I finished reading this book a few months back. The title is "Brother one cell". Quite an interesting read I think.
Thomas' book is excellent, although at a few points he seems to contradict his feelings about Korea.
It's really interesting to read how confucionsim and the hierarchy is still really important and enforced in Korean prisons.
I'd say grab a copy next time you're out and about. You certainly won't be disapointed.
Smee wrote: |
Not a very in-depth article, and I'd like to learn a little more about what he was up to after he got out of prison. Anyway, the Chosun Ilbo has an article about a guy who served 3.5 months in Korean prison for drug-smuggling:
Quote: |
For one 38-year-old American author, prison life in Korea taught him some greater lessons than the rest of his life. Cullen Thomas recalls the experience in "Brother One Cell: An American Coming of Age in South Korea's Prisons", his 2007 memoir which has attracted the attention of newspapers worldwide including the New York Times.
As a 23-year-old callow young man teaching English at a private tutoring institute in Seoul, Cullen was caught in May 1994 smuggling hashish from the Philippines and sentenced to three years and six months in prison. He served them at the Seoul Detention Center, and prisons in Uijeongbu and Daejeon. Now, as the book is published in Korea, Cullen, a freelance writer based in New York, spoke to the Chosun Ilbo through telephone and e-mail. |
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806020015.html
I know this point of view isn't popular among foreigners over here, but I don't have much patience for drug-smugglers and drug-users in Asian countries. For better or worse countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have taken a stance on a social ill and have chosen not to import all the problems that we've seen take over the US and other places. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
|
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
I read the book, and it's quite interesting.
If you have no interest in Korea it could be a little boring though. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Smee

Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do
|
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Kimchi Cowboy wrote: |
You wrote 3.5 months, but the article states "3 years and six months"...  |
yeah, i made a typo. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
squexx
Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Location: Korea
|
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Kimchi Cowboy wrote: |
You wrote 3.5 months, but the article states "3 years and six months"...  |
How dare you make a mistake!!!  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Kwangjuchicken

Joined: 01 Sep 2003 Location: I was abducted by aliens on my way to Korea and forced to be an EFL teacher on this crazy planet.
|
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:30 am Post subject: Re: "An American Learning Life Lessons in a Korean Pris |
|
|
Smee wrote: |
Not a very in-depth article, and I'd like to learn a little more about what he was up to after he got out of prison. Anyway, the Chosun Ilbo has an article about a guy who served 3.5 months in Korean prison for drug-smuggling:
Quote: |
For one 38-year-old American author, prison life in Korea taught him some greater lessons than the rest of his life. Cullen Thomas recalls the experience in "Brother One Cell: An American Coming of Age in South Korea's Prisons", his 2007 memoir which has attracted the attention of newspapers worldwide including the New York Times.
As a 23-year-old callow young man teaching English at a private tutoring institute in Seoul, Cullen was caught in May 1994 smuggling hashish from the Philippines and sentenced to three years and six months in prison. He served them at the Seoul Detention Center, and prisons in Uijeongbu and Daejeon. Now, as the book is published in Korea, Cullen, a freelance writer based in New York, spoke to the Chosun Ilbo through telephone and e-mail. |
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806020015.html
I know this point of view isn't popular among foreigners over here, but I don't have much patience for drug-smugglers and drug-users in Asian countries. For better or worse countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have taken a stance on a social ill and have chosen not to import all the problems that we've seen take over the US and other places. |
I think all (illegal) drugs should be legal and sold in the same places that sell alcohol. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Kwangjuchicken

Joined: 01 Sep 2003 Location: I was abducted by aliens on my way to Korea and forced to be an EFL teacher on this crazy planet.
|
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:33 am Post subject: Re: "An American Learning Life Lessons in a Korean Pris |
|
|
Kwangjuchicken wrote: |
Smee wrote: |
Not a very in-depth article, and I'd like to learn a little more about what he was up to after he got out of prison. Anyway, the Chosun Ilbo has an article about a guy who served 3.5 months in Korean prison for drug-smuggling:
Quote: |
For one 38-year-old American author, prison life in Korea taught him some greater lessons than the rest of his life. Cullen Thomas recalls the experience in "Brother One Cell: An American Coming of Age in South Korea's Prisons", his 2007 memoir which has attracted the attention of newspapers worldwide including the New York Times.
As a 23-year-old callow young man teaching English at a private tutoring institute in Seoul, Cullen was caught in May 1994 smuggling hashish from the Philippines and sentenced to three years and six months in prison. He served them at the Seoul Detention Center, and prisons in Uijeongbu and Daejeon. Now, as the book is published in Korea, Cullen, a freelance writer based in New York, spoke to the Chosun Ilbo through telephone and e-mail. |
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806020015.html
I know this point of view isn't popular among foreigners over here, but I don't have much patience for drug-smugglers and drug-users in Asian countries. For better or worse countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have taken a stance on a social ill and have chosen not to import all the problems that we've seen take over the US and other places. |
I think all (illegal) drugs should be legal and sold in the same places that sell alcohol. |
Soju, Vodka, and all that kind of alcohol is much worse in every way than pot. If pot is illegal, then there should be no question that alcohol should be illegal too. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
djsmnc

Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
|
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:54 am Post subject: Re: "An American Learning Life Lessons in a Korean Pris |
|
|
Kwangjuchicken wrote: |
Kwangjuchicken wrote: |
Smee wrote: |
Not a very in-depth article, and I'd like to learn a little more about what he was up to after he got out of prison. Anyway, the Chosun Ilbo has an article about a guy who served 3.5 months in Korean prison for drug-smuggling:
Quote: |
For one 38-year-old American author, prison life in Korea taught him some greater lessons than the rest of his life. Cullen Thomas recalls the experience in "Brother One Cell: An American Coming of Age in South Korea's Prisons", his 2007 memoir which has attracted the attention of newspapers worldwide including the New York Times.
As a 23-year-old callow young man teaching English at a private tutoring institute in Seoul, Cullen was caught in May 1994 smuggling hashish from the Philippines and sentenced to three years and six months in prison. He served them at the Seoul Detention Center, and prisons in Uijeongbu and Daejeon. Now, as the book is published in Korea, Cullen, a freelance writer based in New York, spoke to the Chosun Ilbo through telephone and e-mail. |
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806020015.html
I know this point of view isn't popular among foreigners over here, but I don't have much patience for drug-smugglers and drug-users in Asian countries. For better or worse countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have taken a stance on a social ill and have chosen not to import all the problems that we've seen take over the US and other places. |
I think all (illegal) drugs should be legal and sold in the same places that sell alcohol. |
Soju, Vodka, and all that kind of alcohol is much worse in every way than pot. If pot is illegal, then there should be no question that alcohol should be illegal too. |
Alcohol makes people act stupid. All other drugs turn people into paranoid subversives with no respect for authority. People who assemble en masse with only alcohol are having a party. People who gather en masse with only drugs are protesting and may want to take down the government! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Countrygirl
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Location: in the classroom
|
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:10 am Post subject: Re: "An American Learning Life Lessons in a Korean Pris |
|
|
Kwangjuchicken wrote: |
Kwangjuchicken wrote: |
Smee wrote: |
Not a very in-depth article, and I'd like to learn a little more about what he was up to after he got out of prison. Anyway, the Chosun Ilbo has an article about a guy who served 3.5 months in Korean prison for drug-smuggling:
Quote: |
For one 38-year-old American author, prison life in Korea taught him some greater lessons than the rest of his life. Cullen Thomas recalls the experience in "Brother One Cell: An American Coming of Age in South Korea's Prisons", his 2007 memoir which has attracted the attention of newspapers worldwide including the New York Times.
As a 23-year-old callow young man teaching English at a private tutoring institute in Seoul, Cullen was caught in May 1994 smuggling hashish from the Philippines and sentenced to three years and six months in prison. He served them at the Seoul Detention Center, and prisons in Uijeongbu and Daejeon. Now, as the book is published in Korea, Cullen, a freelance writer based in New York, spoke to the Chosun Ilbo through telephone and e-mail. |
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806020015.html
I know this point of view isn't popular among foreigners over here, but I don't have much patience for drug-smugglers and drug-users in Asian countries. For better or worse countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have taken a stance on a social ill and have chosen not to import all the problems that we've seen take over the US and other places. |
I think all (illegal) drugs should be legal and sold in the same places that sell alcohol. |
Soju, Vodka, and all that kind of alcohol is much worse in every way than pot. If pot is illegal, then there should be no question that alcohol should be illegal too. |
Except that marijuana smells very bad and that's a problem for me. Especially when someone is smoking it around my kids. If you smoke where I can't smell you, I have no issues. Well, that's not true. My second issue is that drivers can't be tested like they can for alcohol.
On a sidenote, I just love when long-time pot users try to argue that marijuana doesn't affect the brain...it takes forever for them to get a sentence out. But they do look mellow. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Julius

Joined: 27 Jul 2006
|
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
Anyone notice the resemblance?
 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
dutchschultz
Joined: 01 Feb 2004
|
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
This book is old news.
It was released over a year ago.
And Korea/Koreans just found out about it! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
genezorm

Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Location: Mokpo
|
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
There is an organization called the Korea Society, I think they are based out of New York. Anyways, a few months or so on their podcast they had this guy as a guest speaker at one of their events. I haven't read the book, but it was pretty interesting.
http://www.koreasociety.org/external/podcast.html |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
|
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Started it last night, good stuff! www.whatthebook.com has it in stock in country. Quick del to the boonies. Sounds like an advert but it's not. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|