Issue 34: 2021. 1. 8. – “2021 Opens In Strange Fashion”

Dear all,

Greetings from PACOM, and a belated Happy New Year! While I think many of us will be glad to leave behind the incredibly ridiculous year that was 2020, I also think it would do us a lot of good to reflect upon what sorts of innovative changes those unforeseen circumstances drove forward. As an example, the forced use of remote work solutions signaled a potential for change in how all of us work at our jobs, and laid to rest the notion that physical proximity is an absolute necessity for education at any level (obviously not quite as effective, but I think technological solutions will be developed to mitigate the gap that certainly exists at current time). Years from now, we may be looking back and saying to ourselves, "how/why did we not do ______ sooner?"

Unfortunately, with the reports and images coming out of Washington DC as of yesterday, we could be in for a year that might be just as fraught with unforeseen twists and turns as 2020. I thought I was watching a scene out of Call of Duty when I saw the news yesterday; one can only hope that this is a situation akin to that quote from the Dark Knight: "The night is darkest just before the dawn."

This past week, virtually all of Korea was hit with a blizzard of huge proportions, starting from Wednesday night. With about 7cm (approx. 2.7 inches) of snowfall in one hour, traffic lines were rendered invisible, automotive crashes were all over the news, and people were pushing buses up the hills caked with snow. Combined with the frigid weather (approx. -13 Celsius, or 8.6 Fahrenheit), it made for some tortuous conditions for those of us commuting to work the next day. I want to blame it on 2020, but I don't think that is an option.

On the plus side, I did make a snowman with my son for the first time, so that was nice......although it caused some consternation when he headbutted the snowman afterward. He's OK--and so is PACOM. Nobody was hurt, and things are said to get warmer next week. The PACOM staff are revving up for 2021, and we are looking to not only fulfill the projects given, but work on new and innovative ways to do so--we'll keep all of you updated!

Coupled with a reduction in novel COVID-19 cases, and I would like to say we're over the first hump of 2021 in Korea. No doubt there will be much more to follow.

Spotlight: Andre Michaux in North America

PACOM's client portfolio is very wide, but I think that amongst a number of us, there's a certain element of pride that PACOM handles projects from several U.S. universities--projects aimed at introducing new concepts and pieces of history to people. One such project was Andre Michaux in North America: Journals and Letters, 1785-1797, a project which was requisitioned to us from the fine folks at the University of Alabama. The book covers the life of Andre Michaux, a French botanist who explored North America post-Revolutionary War and is forever associated with the study of flora in North America.

In addition to being an excellent book that brings to life a figure whose work is known only secondhand at best (I, personally, had no idea who Andre Michaux was before the project), the authors and staff were gracious enough to provide feedback regarding the printed version created by PACOM. While I would love to share the entirety of the e-mail expressing their gratitude and joy at how the project turned out, I think sharing one paragraph is enough to convey the emotions felt by the authors when they were able to get their hands on the finished product:

"Everyone at the press involved in the editing, design, and production of our book is due a tremendously heartfelt thank you. Eliane, Walter, and I are absolutely thrilled that your staff so imaginatively and skillfully turned our large, complex manuscript into this wonderful book. The very first purchaser to write to me said that in her family it will become a family heirloom passed down to succeeding generations. It was a compliment I will always treasure." - Mr. Charlie Williams, one of the co-authors of the book

Creating such a product is a job, but hearing the compliments of clients who are deeply satisfied with the finished products is a sensation that never gets old and spurs PACOM on.

That is all for the first PACOM Update of 2021; there will be plenty more, chock-full of content and news. I will leave you with a quote from the talented and temperamental Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, which he used as a motivating cry for the college football season that is just about to be completed:

"Stay positive, test negative."

Until next time!

Best regards,
Yu Bum Kim