Fan Death, Sashes and Whiteness

[I'm not quite feeling the Christmas post that should be written by now, so instead here are a few new Koreanisms that surprise even me.]

#153.  In Korea there is such thing as "fan death."  Koreans actually believe that if someone is sleeping with an electric fan turned on in a sealed room, they will die.  Not "could die" but will die.  Here are just a few of the many ways a fan can prematurely end the life of someone risky enough to tempt fate with a fan.  It can cause the temperature of the room to cool down enough to cause hypothermia.  Another study suggests (yes there have been actual studies done of this) that the fans use up oxygen and create fatal levels of carbon dioxide.  My personal favorite is the notion that a fan can actually suffocate you by creating a vacuum around your face.  Clearly they have never stuck their heads out of a moving car.  Yes, this idea of "fan death" seems to be one of the most far-fetched isms i've posted thus far, but it's true.  If you don't trust me do a quick google search for yourself and find out about the "death by electric fan" phenomena that has swept Korea.

Death by fan

#154.  Koreans wear sashes for important events such as business openings, political campaigning or merely as a marketing tool for a new product.  Think of the sashes that Miss America wears only with Korean lettering and worn by men and women of all ages and for various reasons.  When I asked my coteacher about this she informed me that it is to make a person "look nice."  When she asked what we wear I told her that when we are attempting to look nice we wear a nice outfit paired with some classy jewelry.  She didn't understand.  She says this about the sash,"it helps us look to important."  Sure sure.

#155.  If you see a pregnant Korean woman drinking milk in mass quantities, she is most likely trying to lighten and brighten the skin of her unborn child.  Such a nifty trick.