The episode starts out with Sung Si Kyung's angelic singing. Everyone applauds.
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The MC's ask Sam what Santa Claus rides in Ghana since Ghana is hot year-round and Sam jokingly says that Santa takes the bus, ha. The MC's ask Takuya about his Christmas plans and Takuya replies that he has work in Japan.
Zhang Yuan says that Chinese people don't really know the meaning of Christmas. He almost says that Christmas is when couples have sex (which also happens in Korea) until he realizes that it may not be appropriate for broadcast. *It's okay, we all know*
Julian says that he's going to party with friends. Daniel reveals that he's going to Germany to visit his family. Sung Si Kyung is performing a Christmas concert.
It's time for the Global Cultural Conversation. Today's topic is Christmas around the world.
Daniel says that in Germany there are lots of Christmas parties and Christmas markets.When asked what Germans eat, Daniel says that reindeer is a popular holiday food.
Tyler says that most people think of the Rockefeller Center in New York City when they think of Christmas in America. The three is really big and specially picked for the Center. He also reveals that children write letters to Santa and leave cookies for Santa to eat. Children also leave carrots for Rudolph.
Alberto says that Italy has a beautifully decorated Christmas market called Alto Adigee. Also, children prepare food for Santa, such as wine. Haha, children ask their parents what happens to Santa since he drinks wine from every house.
Not a lot of Chinese people are Christian so Christmas isn't big in China. Many people don't know the meaning of Christmas. However, in some cities there are parties and decorations. There's also a tree labeled "Merry Kissmass," in which couples kiss in front of. This naturally leads to a whole conversation in kissing.
Takuya says that Japanese don't rest on Christmas unlike in other countries. He talks about the Akalenta, which is a beautifully decorated Christmas market. It's modeled after Germany's market so people can eat German food. When they ask what kind of German food, Takuya says lasagna. LOL. Alberto and Daniel are not pleased.
Guillaume says that in Canada there is a huge festival called the Adabra. Also, even people who are not religious go to church with their family.
France also has a beautifully decorated Christmas market.
Sam reveals that in Ghana there is an all-day Christmas celebration near the beach. The celebration mirrors a day at a club. The others say that they really want to go to Ghana for Christmas.
Julian says that in Belgium, there is a Christmas Village. It's beautifully decorated and has lots of food.
They agree that Christmas around the world mirrors Germany's Christmas celebration. Zhang ends the conversation with a hilarious "Merry Christmas" (He can't pronounce English words well.)
Today's Korean representatives are Yoon Minsoo and Ryu Jaehyun from Vibe, a singing group. Sam recognizes Minsoo as the dad from the popular program "Dad, Where Are You Going?" Minsoo is the father of Yoon Hoo, arguably the most popular child from the show. One asks what Hoo wants for Christmas. Minsoo says that his son believes if he finds seven dragonballs, his wish will be granted so Minsoo hid seven dragonballs around the house. The others think about how fun that would be and MC Hyun Moo tells him to hide at least two dragonballs in difficult-to-find places, ha.
The MC's announce that the Christmas Carol Concert will begin in a few minutes. Before that, they will go around the table and each person will ask their own agendas and wishes for Christmas.
- Robin: I am learning Korean again by taking lessons. I want to act well in Korean. Am I abnormal?
Four press their buttons to signify that they think Robin is abnormal. Sam says that he used to have the same concern. However, a director told him to act with feeling and correct his Korean little by little. The language is important, but expressing feelings when acting is also important.
Julian says Robin will probably get roles that don't require an extensive knowledge of Korean, such as the role of a foreigner. Robin's acting talent has to be greater than his Korean-speaking talent.
Tyler says that he doesn't know if Robin is able to act out different characters yet. The MC's ask Robin if he could show his acting skills. Robin agrees to show them a scene from the drama A Gentleman's Dignity. After Robin's acting, everyone else presses their buttons, haha. Then, Robin presses his own button lol.
Alberto tells Robin to have more confidence in his acting dream so he can make it come true. Yoo Se Yoon concludes Robin's agenda by saying although they all encourage him, Robin is abnormal.
2. Alberto: I have a happy relationship with my wife. Everything is going well for me. However, I want to quit everything and go on a world trip. Am I abnormal?
The MC's first ask if he means going on a trip alone or with his wife. Alberto clarifies that he wants to go on a world trip with his wife.
Three press their buttons. Robin, who is one of the three, fails to convince Alberto to not go due to his lack of Korean skills. Zhang, who is another one, says if Alberto goes on the trip, then it will be hard for him to find work again.
Sam disagrees and says he went on a trip for six months and was worried he wouldn't find work again, but new work became available. Zhang says that if Alberto wants to start work again, he would have to start from the beginning as a rookie. Julian disagrees and says it would be good for Alberto to take the trip.
Robin and Guillaume say that they need Alberto for the show and plead to him to not go. Alberto says that it is his dream to go on a world trip. Daniel says that he hopes Alberto will not go, but if he does then he will gain more experience and job skills.
Yoo Se Yoon concludes by saying although they wish Alberto won't go, they will encourage him. Alberto is normal.
3. Takuya: I'm always considerate of others and can't get angry due to my personality. (Everyone voices their disagreement.) I have a wish that I could become angry. Am I abnormal?
Two pressed their buttons. Zhang says that Takuya doesn't need to get angry because it's part of his character on the show not to be angry. However, Takuya says that it applies to his personal life. Even when he is angry, his anger doesn't show. Zhang says that people haven't seen Takuya angry for 20 years so it would be weird to start now.
Julian disagrees and says instead of stacking up anger, Takuya needs to let out his anger once in a while so he doesn't explode. Tyler thinks that Takuya needs to learn to be angry for his social life so people can tell when he's angry.
They all ask Takuya who he's most angry towards among the show members. Takuya answers he was angry at Zhang a long time ago, among the show's first episodes. As a joke, Takuya confessed to Zhang, but Zhang rejected him by saying he can't accept due to their countries' differences. Takuya wants to redo the confession.
- Take #1: Zhang accepts Takuya's confession in a heartbeat, but with no feeling at all.
- Take #2, Takuya gets angry when Zhang starts to refuse. He gets angry! Everyone applauds.
Se Yoon says that Takuya got his wish today. Takuya is normal.
It's time for the Christmas carols. The members were split into two teams.
- The first team consists of the younger members: Sam, Robin, Julian, Tyler, and Takuya. They put on a performance of a Christmas medley. Wow, they're good.
- The second team consists of the older members: Guillaume, Alberto, Zhang and Daniel. They put on a performance of "Let it Snow." Each member's singing is really good... until we get to Guillaume, who is noticeably off-pitch.
4. Guillaume: I want to hear Zhang call me "hyung." Am I abnormal?
Guillaume says that even though he is older by two years, Zhang doesn't use honorifics to address him. Zhang says that it's hard for some reason because they are close. Alberto agrees with Zhang. He is on the same boat and agrees it's strangely hard to call Guillaume "hyung." Tyler says that since they speak Korean to each other, don't they have to follow the Korean tradition of using honorifics?
Alberto says that it's okay to not use honorifics among Europeans because honorifics don't exist in their native languages so it feels weird to use them to each other. However, Zhang is Asian so he feels that using honorifics is right between them. Tyler thinks that as long as there is an agreement between the two parties, it's okay to drop honorifics.
However, Julian says that he feels bad when people don't use honorifics to him just because he's not Korean. Sung Si Kyung agrees that using Korean without honorifics sounds bad. Zhang says that if he starts to call Guillaume "hyung," then there will be a wall between them, but Guillaume says to not worry. In the end, Zhang says he's sorry and will start calling him "hyung."
Se Yoon concludes by saying Guillaume is normal.
5. Sam: I used to take care of my health a lot, but since I got busier, I can't take care of my health like I used to. I don't want to lose my job or my health. Am I abnormal?
They vote. No one presses their buttons. Everyone thinks Sam is normal. Solved, lol.
6. Daniel: I want to make people laugh like Se Yoon does. Am I abnormal?
Ha, Daniel is known to not be funny. Sam asks if that's really his wish and Daniel responds by imitating Sam's unique way of speaking Korean. They agree that Daniel was the funniest just then.
Eight press their buttons. Si Kyung asks if Daniel is funny in German. Daniel says no, he's not a funny person.
Se Yoon shows his skill of imitating a monkey that gets sprayed with water. Daniel has to imitate him.
The staff actually put a mosaic on Daniel's face to save his image. Everyone laughs because it's so NOT funny, haha.
By now, everyone has pressed their buttons. Everyone agrees that Daniel is abnormal.
7 Zhang Yuan: Since I'm so busy I don't have time for a girlfriend. However, instead of meeting just anyone, I want to meet the right one and marry her. Am I abnormal?
Eight press their buttons. The MC's ask Zhang about his conditions for his future wife. Zhang says that he has three conditions.
1. A woman who can wash my mother's feet (everyone else immediately presses their buttons, except Zhang)
2. A woman who can take care of his parents well.
3. A woman who is good at housework.
Takuya says that Zhang needs to lesson his conditions. Zhang asks how many conditions and everyone says to erase all three conditions. Takuya thinks that if Zhang says his wife must do all three things, then his future wife would be burdened. Zhang says he prefers a wife who would stay at home.
Ryu Jaehyun says that Zhang was born in the wrong generation. Minsoo agrees and says life doesn't work the way you want it to. if Zhang puts in as much effort as he wants his future wife to, then he will meet a good wife. Both of them have to do the same work for each other's families. It cannot be one-sided for Zhang's advantage so Zhang must also put in a lot of effort.
They all agree that having a condition of taking care of the other side's family is not good. The future wife should do it because she wants to, not because she has to. Zhang is hesitant on erasing his conditions. Alberto says that love has no conditions and everyone except Zhang immediately agrees. Alberto says that Zhang has to find a woman he loves before setting conditions, instead of the other way around.
It's time for Vibe's performance. They are superb at singing. Everyone applauds.
Jaehyun says that he was surprised that people of all over the world had similar concerns. Minsoo agrees and says that despite there being so many countries, cultures and languages, there really is just one world.
The episode ends once more with Jun Hyun Moo's singing of an abridged version of Soyu X Jungigo's "Some." You seem, are not normal, are normal.
My Comments:
My Comments:
I agree with Vibe's Jaehyun and Minsoo's statements that although each member of the summit is from a different country, they all seem to have similar thoughts and similar feelings. It's what I feel during every episode of Abnormal Summit. When I first heard of the program, I didn't think the program would succeed because of friction between several members, especially members of countries that don't get along. I'm very happy that the Abnormal Summit members have grown close and comfortable with each other. The bromance in each episode between all the members is heartwarming. Even though they fight and argue during debates, in the end they are all one. It sounds cheesy, I know, but I can't express my gratitude enough for the show for widening my knowledge of countries around the world. There were a lot of things I learned by watching the show that I probably couldn't learn unless I actually traveled to those countries. The show is almost like a free trip around the world with amazing and knowledgeable tour guides.
What do you think? How do you spend Christmas? Do you have any concerns like the G11 members?
