HAPPY HALLOWE'EN !!!
We are on the eve of Hallowe'en. Pardon the redundancy but last year I missed my favourite of holidays, just as I am missing it now. A couple of my classes-- the first and last out of the five I had today (the Alpha and Omega?)-- opted to hear me tell ghost stories from home instead of working at their lessons.
With the aid of a Zippo lighter, I was able to convey the story of the Phantom Ship of Baie Du Chaleur.
I illustrated the story of the Headless Nun of French Fort Cove with a quick cartoon sketch of a nun on the white board and an even quicker slash off the top with the board eraser. (Sister Marie is now a tourist attraction back home, by the way).
My only setback was when after five classes, a dry throat (not to mention a shred of modesty) handicapped me while whooping out the story of the Dungarven Whooper.
... A Local Korean Legend...
The Korean Nine-Tailed Fox !!!
This unadulterated photo recently discovered!
In return, one of my elder students told me a story about the mysterious and mystical Nine-Tailed Fox. Once upon a time, this fox wandered around Korea (and apparently quite a bit of the rest Asia too). Its dream was to become human. To achieve this purpose, it stalked humans at night, with a single grisly intent. Using its razor sharp claws, it would pounce on its victim, rip open their chest, and feast upon their liver. Still on the prowl at night today, I was told that once this ferocious sub-canine has devoured one thousand human livers, it would be granted its desire-- to join humanity. How's that for ironic?! (If I frightened you, go here.)
Of course, my student is still learning English so he didn't quite use all those 형용사 (hyung-yohng-sa or adjectives). But importantly, it reminded me of a report that I had read about a somewhat easterly population of Bigfoot who, it was claimed, were resorting to abandoning their strict vegetarianism in favour of consuming deer livers in the winter. Although we are a bit north of the general phenomenon, I am wondering if the fox legend, or this Bigfoot story, may have some link with that of the Yiren of South East Asia and China. How philosophically different is an animal that wishes to be human, from a human that struggles to remain an animal?
...Synchronicity...
Just as I feared I was venturing too far into the realm of cryptozoology, and straying from the truely spooky spirit of Hallowe'en-- coincidence set in. Lo and behold, I come home to find a story in my email box reporting that British researchers had claimed to find DNA evidence of the Orang Pendek of Western Sumatra.
...More Synchronicity...
This is also coinciding with rumours of a South East Asian war on terrorism, starting in Indonesia. In fact, a thousand 'goodwill ambassador' U.S. Marine's landed in East Timor today, to supplement those that arrived on another auspicious day.
U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopters were buzzing like flies over 창원 (Changwon) today. Note that there is no military base here, so I can only suspect what was happening in other parts of Korea or Japan. (Sure, they could be hunting for Bigfoot.) The potential start of this new theatre of the War on Terror is just some info that I got second-hand from someone who was watching CNN during one of those rare times that I wasn't. Indonesia and Malaysia are being accused of harbouring vast numbers of Moslems. While none of these people have actually been accused of terrorism (human rights violations-- yes, but not terrorism), it seems important that they be closely watched and patrolled, in their own countries (where they make up the majority), for the sake of freedom. Mind you, I have a pet theory that with the heavy amount of tourism advertising that Malaysia has been pitching on CNN - Asia Pacific, some general may have just decided he needed an excuse to go on a vacation at taxpayers' expense.
Trick or Treat? You be the judge. I suspect that a lot more ghosts will be around for next Hallowe'en.
Happy Hallowe'en.
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