난 경치에 흥미가 없다. 뛰어나게 아름다운 산기슭, 협곡, 건물 앞에서는 난 십 분후 성급하게 시계를 보고 다음 어디로갈까 생각하는 편이다. 경치보다 박물관, 연국장, 축제, 전시회와 같은 좌뇌를 자극하는 걸 좋아한다. 개념, 착상, 발상이 나한테 중요해서 그런가 가만히 앉아서 감상할 인내력이 없는가 나도 모른다. 어쨌든 좌뇌를 활성하게 하는 서양식 문학 나한테 큰 매력이 있다.
동양식 문학이 완전 다르다. 高行健,村上 春樹, 등과 같은 동양 작가의 작품을 읽었을 때도 이런 생각이 든다: 나무를 보고 숲을 보지 못했네. 동양 책을 읽을 때 또는 동양 영화를 볼 때 의미를 찾느라 감상을 못하곤 한다.
그래서 이 요즘 인기와 칭송을 많이 받아온 책을 원어로 읽는 게 다행이다. 같은 단어를 두번 사용하기 싫어하는 작가의 어희 나니도가 한국어 원어민한테도 어려울 것 같다. 심지어 들어본 적이없는 음절도 있는 책이다. 좌뇌가 미칠듯이 다룰 수 없었던 것이다. 이렇게 좌뇌에 단어가 넘쳐나는 책을 읽는 것에 좌뇌를 꺼버리고 사전을 닫고 우뇌를 켜기밖에 없었다.
이책은 무슨 의미를 갖고 있는지에 할말이 없다. 그러나 기억에서 지울 수 없을 장면, 느낌, 흥분, 감상에 대한 말이 입에서 물구나무 자라있다.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Monday, September 19, 2016
Nicholas Kralev: America's Other Army
After teaching for 10+ years, I find myself considering a career shift. This is not at all surprising, to those who know me. What is surprising is that I have stuck with it for this long. I am a great teacher, I find it stimulating and rewarding, and I suppose I could picture myself doing this until I retire.
But I have what is called in Korean 역말살 (station horse flesh), or in English "hot feet". I have never been able to stay in the same place for more than three years. I'm fortunate that the nature of teaching in general, and of teaching English in particular, is such that I have been able to indulge this side of myself without having to actually change fields. All that's been required has been to change my location, friends, coworkers, curriculum, living arrangements . . . everything else. I simply require the stimulation of starting over in a new environment and finding my way.
The down side of this, of course, is that of always being the new guy. Starting over every three or so years doesn't exactly lend itself to career advancement, and my resume is an admitted casserole. If only there were a career where my particular idiosyncrasy was not such a hindrance to my general welfare. Perhaps, even, one in which ability and eagerness to start over every three years was a virtue, rather than a land mine.
Which is where the idea of the foreign service comes in. Originally turned on to the idea by my friend Karen, who has been serving now for some years and is thriving, I have been doing some due diligence on the subject, rather than jumping in and hoping for the best. The general consensus among those who know me best is that it would be a marvelous fit, so I picked up this book to dig further.
Anything further I would have to say on the topic would likely be on the Foreign Service itself, rather than on the book, so I will limit myself to observing that Kralev's unflinching and thorough treatment of the subject has reinforced my perception: that many of what he views as drawbacks of a Foreign Service career are to me seductive, and many of the things that one might view as drawbacks about me as a person actually would be virtues in that environment. And so it is that I'm scheduled to take the first exam in a few weeks. One could expect to see more books of this type here in the future, I suppose.
But I have what is called in Korean 역말살 (station horse flesh), or in English "hot feet". I have never been able to stay in the same place for more than three years. I'm fortunate that the nature of teaching in general, and of teaching English in particular, is such that I have been able to indulge this side of myself without having to actually change fields. All that's been required has been to change my location, friends, coworkers, curriculum, living arrangements . . . everything else. I simply require the stimulation of starting over in a new environment and finding my way.
The down side of this, of course, is that of always being the new guy. Starting over every three or so years doesn't exactly lend itself to career advancement, and my resume is an admitted casserole. If only there were a career where my particular idiosyncrasy was not such a hindrance to my general welfare. Perhaps, even, one in which ability and eagerness to start over every three years was a virtue, rather than a land mine.
Which is where the idea of the foreign service comes in. Originally turned on to the idea by my friend Karen, who has been serving now for some years and is thriving, I have been doing some due diligence on the subject, rather than jumping in and hoping for the best. The general consensus among those who know me best is that it would be a marvelous fit, so I picked up this book to dig further.
Anything further I would have to say on the topic would likely be on the Foreign Service itself, rather than on the book, so I will limit myself to observing that Kralev's unflinching and thorough treatment of the subject has reinforced my perception: that many of what he views as drawbacks of a Foreign Service career are to me seductive, and many of the things that one might view as drawbacks about me as a person actually would be virtues in that environment. And so it is that I'm scheduled to take the first exam in a few weeks. One could expect to see more books of this type here in the future, I suppose.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)