dongchimee pen

item#:083
materials: plastic, ink
date acquired: 11/2005
status: taken (2.13.08)

I documented the acquisition of this item on miss koco does korea a couple of years ago:

I went to the store and found a pen, so I bought it. It has a pile of poo on the end where you click it. There is a picture on the body of the pen of the ddong man and a squatty toilet. I found some notebooks, so I bought them too. They have strange scenes of Dongchimee experimenting with poo. It seems that Dongchimee’s side kicks are a creepy looking fly and a bunch of flying laxatives. Who’s job is it to come up with this stuff? Who are you?

Since then I’ve learned quite a lot about the Korean attitude towards ddong and the dongchim phenomenon. It’s still all very strange but I really learned to embrace the whole thing; so much so that when the little brother on one of my students giggled “dongchim” as he poked his three-year-old little finger into the flesh of my tush, I thought it was kinda sweet that he felt so familiar with me and I was really impressed with the fact that I knew what he was talking about.

In this video two girls are hanging out in a bedroom, one gets the ddongchim.

Recently I came across a study on Korean folklore done at UCLA where they archived “ddong chim” stories of young Koreans. Most of them say this was a prank or something you did with people you were really close with, it shows a close relationship. They also talked a lot about how it seems to be perceived by people in America as invasive and totally disgusting.

I also found this really strange but funny game.

[update] The dongchimee pen was taken at the First Person Arts Salon on 2.13.2008

Photo: @2008 Talman Koots All Rights Reserved

I wrote a lot of interesting thoughts with that pen. It was taken by a very talented and inspiring person, so I’m thrilled about what things it may be used to create next. What an exciting future!

spider ring

item#:084
materials: plastic
date acquired: 1994ish
status: available

happy poo phone charm

item#:082
date acquired: 2007
country of origin: South Korea
status: taken (2.13.08)

I bought this phone charm from a street vendor in Hyehwa. They were set up right next to the rainbow mosaic poop sculptures near the subway station. I never used it on my phone, I thought it was far too large, but I bought it and kept it around because it was so Korea to me. A happy blue poop! How funny is that?!

handmade suede hackiesacks

item#:081
status: available

old school style v.day cards

item#:080
materials: paper
status: available

French Verbs

item#:079
materials: paper
date acquired: 1994
status: taken (2.13.2008)

I studied French in high school for two years and again in college for another two years. My freshman French teacher never remembered my name and would call me either Natalie or Michelle. Ridiculous. My teacher sophomore year looked like a frog, really it was something about her lips. Regardless, I loved studying French. I liked verb conjugation exercises. I loved watching French films. One of the things I adored about DVD technology was the ability to change the language or add subtitles.

I think one of the most disappointing parts of my French education was being misunderstood in Paris. A waiter said to me, “Just speak in English!” I gave up after that.

These study cards represent the hours I spent learning French. I had them around to remind myself that I once knew a lot more French than I do now, and that if I just put forth a bit of effort I could again. I thought that I might pick it up someday, but I haven’t.

Worry Dolls

item#:070
materials: wood, fabric, paint
status: taken (2.13.08)

This box holds a few very small dolls. You take one out at night, tell it what your are worried about, and then put it under your pillow. By morning the doll is supposed to take away your worry.

Somehow I acquired 3 boxes of worry dolls. The first was given to me by Julia Zagar, of the Eye’s Gallery on South Street in Philadelphia. The second two I’m sure I got from my mother, who was worried that I was worried about stuff so she gave me worry dolls. Oy vey. I recently gave a box of worry dolls back to my mother.

I only thought these were a South American thing, from Guatemala, but on my most recent trip to Thailand I found some in Chiang Mai. Thai worry dolls don’t come in a box and they were much larger (about the size of a clothes pin), but have the same exact function and ritual.

I can’t say that they actually worked for me, but maybe it’s because I never completely believed that they could.

multipurpose case from Korea

item#:069
materials: plastic
date acquired: 2007
status: taken (2.13.08)

I became addicted to super cute things while living in Korea. I had a weakness when it came to anything that was adorable and had Konglish (bad grammar, spelling mistakes, or an overly happy and positive saying). Before I could stop myself I had bought two, one in pink and one that was bubble gum flavored with hearts and had smiling dogs on it.

item#: 067 & 068
materials: plastic
status: taken (2.01.08)

These two are quite the pair.  I can’t recall when or how Giraffe lost a leg.  The monkey, however, is the perfect height and is more than willing to lend a hand (leg?) to his dear friend.  They go everywhere together–art openings, fancy dinners, the occasional opera or show–and they truly enjoy each other’s company.

Over the years I’ve grown quite fond of this couple, and I look forward to seeing what life brings them next.

spiderman wallet

item#: 066
materials: fabric, plasticy stuff, lotsa Zaza love
date acquired: Sept. 2007
status: taken

When I lost my wallet in Seoul, which was a story in itself, Zaza gave me this Spiderman wallet as a replacement. LOVE HER!

It got me some cool points with somewhat geeky boys, but I had a flashback to the late 80’s/early 90’s every time I took it out. The velcro makes SO MUCH NOISE. I’d try to open it in my bag or leave it open in a pocket, to avoid turning beet red at the register. It was a blaring call for everyone in the store to turn their attention to me. But it was cute and a much appreciated gift. Now I think someone else could enjoy it, maybe a cute somewhat geeky guy.