Facebook is on fire!

I have been actively using Facebook for about 2-3 months now and I am amazed at how it is an excellent example of the effect of compounding.

This thing is alive and growing at an amazing rate! You can tell just be using it. I'm really surprised at some of the people that I am finding there. Some I haven't seen for years, others I would never even guess would use a computer!

Perhaps our own business will begin to see that kind of compounding effect, but on a much smaller scale, now that we have so many active clients.

I've noticed that happening too, and that's the best feeling! Nothing better than having someone apply and let us know that so-and-so recommended us to them. Big compliment!

So, if you are using Facebook, look me up and join our Access South Korea Now group. If you haven't tried it out yet, sign up! You'll have fun getting in touch with everyone. Trust me, they'll be there!

About saving face

In Korea, image is very important. That definitely includes personal image. What is interesting is learning about "saving face" which I've heard a lot about.

I've observed a very real, yet somewhat insignificant in the big scheme of things, example of this.

On a recent car trip with some Korean folks who may or may not be my in-laws, the person driving made a bit of a driving error because he wasn't paying attention. The driver of another car who was not impressed with this, gave a big ol' honk and surprised us all into realizing that perhaps we should have stopped for that red light!

Anyhow, a minute after, the female companion of the driver started talking about something and anything in order to distract us from the fact that a mistake had been made.

I noticed this on a couple of other similar occassions, and now I realize that it was just to "save face" and avoid the embarrassment of the situation. To be honest, I find the obvious and sudden change of subject to be more embarrassing than the initial offence.

I would not say that Westerners are immune to this type of thing, but it seemed a bit more glaring once I noticed it.

Just a good example of what is a priority for Koreans, and how we may differ, and yet are much the same.