I've been living in Korea for a little over 5 weeks and these are a few things I have observed.
Here are some general things I love about Korea: Konglish, matching couples, fake designer handbags, and the use of the word "awwww."
The Things I love: 1. The public transportation is great! Alex and I have been riding the bus since week one and we love it! The longest you have to wait for a bus is about 10-15 minutes. Usually, it's much shorter. I guess I really don't have anything to compare it to. The Met Bus system in
Billings, MT is a joke.
2. The food is amazing! I've had Korean food before, but its much different than the food here. Yes, there are some similarities. However, here they are well obsessed with "sides." Here are a few photos of a fairly traditional Korean meal.
Let's talk about no room to put anything...it was a bit overwhelming at first to get all this food put on the table.
3. There is so much to do here! Everything is fairly inexpensive. Well except for going out and drinking which Alex and I both have avoided so we can save some extra cash in our pockets. Alex and I have found going to the movies is a nice way to get some entertainment. Here a movie ticket is between 7,000 and 8,000 won (check out my currency converter at the bottom of the page and you do the math). Popcorn and 2 sodas is about 7,000 won. There are tons of places to go hiking and do outdoorsy types of things. Alex and I have yet to go on a Korean style hike. We've heard that there are no switchbacks and it's all uphill. So we'll see how that goes. Also, the shopping is great. I do have to say it's kind of hard finding the right kind of place to go shopping but once you find a place it's pretty cheap! You just have to have the patience to look for a good deal.
The Things I don't like so much:
1. The smell! Oh god sometimes I can barely stomach it...I must admit I have gotten used to it but let me tell you there are times when I could throw up. The worst smells are of fish, sewage, garbage, or a combination of all of the above.
2. Koreans have a very on-the-go/always busy life style. Hey more power to you but I like to take my time sometimes. I've found that Koreans are very pushy and don't really believe in a "personal bubble." Sometimes when you are shopping they just literally push you out of the way.
3. Last but not least, the pressure that is put on society to be "perfect." Here in Korea there is a tremendous amount of pressure put on children to be successful. I see it in my students everyday...Don't get me wrong I want them to be successful but I can't believe that from a young age they are expected to out do everyone. I heard the saddest thing the other day...A local 6th grader here in Daegu committed suicide...One of his public school teachers scolded him for whatever reason. Whatever it was the end result was he jumped off his apartment building. I don't know what else to say about this story...it's mind boggling.
I'd like to throw in a few other things:
1. People here are obsessed with self-image. Girls carry around little hand mirrors and are constantly checking what they look like. Also, the male populations is always doing there hair and fixing their clothes. I love to watch people, it think it's great. :)
2. Alex and have been trying to establish some local hangouts so we can get some hook-ups. Korean people love to gives gifts. It can be as small as a sticker from one of my students to a simple orange. Either way presents are always nice, right? So far we've been going to a place called Pizza Bingo. A pizza with 8 slices is 6, 000 won. Not to shabby. The last time we went the guy who works there (btw he speaks English pretty well) gave us some oranges for dessert.
3. You can't drink the water here. We don't know why but everywhere you go there are water machines so you can drink water with your meals. It's kind of annoying having to buy drinking water for at home, but so far so good, I haven't gone thirsty.
