F2F Class Notes (Nemo)
Reading
Three Chinese women were left stranded at a South Korean airport after immigration officials said their passport photos did not match their faces. The women had just had cosmetic surgery to change their looks. The surgery had transformed their faces to such an extent that passport control officials in South Korea could not confirm their identity. Photos of the women went viral on the Internet. Their faces were swollen from the surgery and were heavily bandaged. The Shanghaiist.com website reported that the women were not allowed to take their return flight back to China, and were instead held for questioning by the airport authorities. It is still unclear if the women have been able to return to China.
South Korea has become the cosmetic surgery capital of the world. Cosmetic surgery tourism from China is now booming business. More than 500,000 Chinese residents a year flock to clinics in South Korea to reshape their faces and bodies. Many of them go to clinics that specialize in making clients look more “Western”. Cosmetic surgery is also hugely popular with South Koreans. Around half of women under 30 in the capital Seoul are estimated to have had surgery. Many parents encourage their children to undergo surgery in efforts to gain a “competitive edge” in the job market. There are even hugely popular prime time TV shows that feature before and after transformations.
Vocabulary
taboo (n): 1-an action or word that is avoided for religious or social reasons:
E.g.: In this society there is a taboo on/against any sort of public display of affection.
stranded (adj): 1- unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money:
E.g.: He left me stranded in town with no car and no money for a bus.
E.g.: If the tide comes in, we’ll be stranded on these rocks.
flock (n): 1– a group of sheep, goats, or birds: 2– a large group of people, usually people of a particular type:
E.g.1: The shepherd is bringing his flock down from the hills.
E.g.2: A noisy flock of tourists came into the building.
E.g.2: The priest invited all the members of his flock (= all the people who go to his church) to attend the special service.
flock (v): 1- to move or come together in large numbers:
E.g.: Hundreds of people flocked to the football match.
E.g.: Crowds of people flocked to see the Picasso exhibition.
prime (adj): 1- main or most important: 2-of the best quality:
E.g.1:This is a prime example of 1930s architecture.
E.g.1: the prime suspect in a murder investigation.
E.g.2: prime beef
E.g.2: The hotel is in a prime location in the city center.
prime (n): 1-the period in your life when you are most active or successful:
E.g.: This is a dancer in her prime.
E.g.: Middle age can be the prime of life if you have the right attitude.
E.g.: I suspect this cheese is past its prime.
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