韓国の女性アラビストがレバノンUNIFIL部隊勤務
S. Korean UNIFIL women fall for Lebanon, its language
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/Jul-19/South-Korean-UNIFIL-contingents-women-fall-for-Lebanon-and-its-language.ashx?searchText=syria
July 19, 2011 01:23 AM (Last updated: July 19, 2011 05:55 PM)
By Mohammed Zaatari
The Daily Star
SIDON, Lebanon: Among the 364 soldiers and officers in UNIFIL's South Korea's contingent are five women.
Lim, 27, who is one of two translators in the contingent, said she was encouraged to learn Arabic by her family who thought it would improve her chances of finding employment.
Lim joined the Korean Army 18 months ago and has six months of service left. She studied modern standard Arabic at a university in Korea for four years, then studied at an institute in Syria and later moved to Jordan where she worked at the Korean Embassy.
One of the main difficulties that Lim faces in her work as a translator is the difference between the formal language she learned in school and the colloquial Lebanese dialect.
"When I talk to the locals in standard Arabic, they reply in colloquial and sometimes I can't understand it," Lim said, adding that the locals joke that she is speaking the language of Mexican soap operas, which are dubbed in formal Arabic.
Lim's work with the contingent is mainly focused on translation and Arabic culture.
According to Lim, there's a world of difference between the Arabic and Korean languages. "I always make mistakes with the singular and plural forms, and instead of saying 'We love you all,' I say, 'I love you all.'"
Lim also says she makes mistakes when nervously interpreting for the contingent's commander, Col. Kim Tae-Up, but she finds great joy in talking to the local women and children who are always surprised to hear her speak their language.
She also enjoys listening to Arabic songs and loves Lebanese pop singers Nancy Ajram and Majida al-Roumi. She mentioned, laughing, that she watches Arabic TV stations which broadcast programs for children in standard Arabic.
Lim also has a soft spot for local cuisine. "I love Lebanese food, especially tabbouleh and rice with chicken."
Lim aspires to work as more than a translator and dreams of becoming a diplomat, representing her country in Arab embassies.
Capt. Byun Hye-kyuin, another of the contingent's female members, is one of two nurses.
Byun, who had just returned from treating patients, studied at the College of Nursing in the Korean Army.
When asked how she and her four female colleagues felt amid a sea of men, Byun said she felt alienated when she first decided to join the army but after 10 years, she now feels she's part of the team.
Byun, who is working outside her native country for the first time, will be leaving Lebanon at the end of July. "We received the U.N. peacekeeping medal, and this is a great honor for me as it means I've worked for the U.N. and have given my services," Byun said.
Byun's medical services include caring for the health of the peacekeeping soldiers and officers, as well as that of the local residents of five southern villages. The services include blood pressure and blood sugar testing as well as treating wounds and preparing patients before being examined by a doctor.
"Before I came here to serve in the Korean contingent, I was instructed that a nurse should care especially for women and listen to their complaints, but when I treat people here, there is no difference between men and women. People love to come to me and I listen to all their complaints," Byun said.
But Byun added that she was especially attentive to veiled women who refuse to be examined by male doctors. "This is the nature of the country, and I respect it."
"The country is gorgeous; it has trees and diverse fruits as well as a sea and beautiful children," Byun said. "I dream of coming back to Lebanon and I hope to return as a tourist next time."
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/Jul-19/South-Korean-UNIFIL-contingents-women-fall-for-Lebanon-and-its-language.ashx?searchText=syria
July 19, 2011 01:23 AM (Last updated: July 19, 2011 05:55 PM)
By Mohammed Zaatari
The Daily Star
SIDON, Lebanon: Among the 364 soldiers and officers in UNIFIL's South Korea's contingent are five women.
Lim, 27, who is one of two translators in the contingent, said she was encouraged to learn Arabic by her family who thought it would improve her chances of finding employment.
Lim joined the Korean Army 18 months ago and has six months of service left. She studied modern standard Arabic at a university in Korea for four years, then studied at an institute in Syria and later moved to Jordan where she worked at the Korean Embassy.
One of the main difficulties that Lim faces in her work as a translator is the difference between the formal language she learned in school and the colloquial Lebanese dialect.
"When I talk to the locals in standard Arabic, they reply in colloquial and sometimes I can't understand it," Lim said, adding that the locals joke that she is speaking the language of Mexican soap operas, which are dubbed in formal Arabic.
Lim's work with the contingent is mainly focused on translation and Arabic culture.
According to Lim, there's a world of difference between the Arabic and Korean languages. "I always make mistakes with the singular and plural forms, and instead of saying 'We love you all,' I say, 'I love you all.'"
Lim also says she makes mistakes when nervously interpreting for the contingent's commander, Col. Kim Tae-Up, but she finds great joy in talking to the local women and children who are always surprised to hear her speak their language.
She also enjoys listening to Arabic songs and loves Lebanese pop singers Nancy Ajram and Majida al-Roumi. She mentioned, laughing, that she watches Arabic TV stations which broadcast programs for children in standard Arabic.
Lim also has a soft spot for local cuisine. "I love Lebanese food, especially tabbouleh and rice with chicken."
Lim aspires to work as more than a translator and dreams of becoming a diplomat, representing her country in Arab embassies.
Capt. Byun Hye-kyuin, another of the contingent's female members, is one of two nurses.
Byun, who had just returned from treating patients, studied at the College of Nursing in the Korean Army.
When asked how she and her four female colleagues felt amid a sea of men, Byun said she felt alienated when she first decided to join the army but after 10 years, she now feels she's part of the team.
Byun, who is working outside her native country for the first time, will be leaving Lebanon at the end of July. "We received the U.N. peacekeeping medal, and this is a great honor for me as it means I've worked for the U.N. and have given my services," Byun said.
Byun's medical services include caring for the health of the peacekeeping soldiers and officers, as well as that of the local residents of five southern villages. The services include blood pressure and blood sugar testing as well as treating wounds and preparing patients before being examined by a doctor.
"Before I came here to serve in the Korean contingent, I was instructed that a nurse should care especially for women and listen to their complaints, but when I treat people here, there is no difference between men and women. People love to come to me and I listen to all their complaints," Byun said.
But Byun added that she was especially attentive to veiled women who refuse to be examined by male doctors. "This is the nature of the country, and I respect it."
"The country is gorgeous; it has trees and diverse fruits as well as a sea and beautiful children," Byun said. "I dream of coming back to Lebanon and I hope to return as a tourist next time."
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