30 Things I learned while in Korea - for 535 days.

In early May of 2009 I wrote a list of the 100 things that I had learned in Korea.  At that time, I had only been in Korea for a week.  Now my time in Korea is winding down, and it was suggested that I should make an updated list.  The following is a new list of 30 things that I learned in Korea.... From April 27th - October 14th (535 days).  It's a bit shorter, but each item has more explanation!

*If you want to see the original list, look at the previous post*

1.  Korea is the country of a million smells.  You can walk past decomposing garbage, a bakery, a fried chicken restaurant, and rotting kimchi in less than a block. I'd love to say that eventually you get used to it.... but that isn't true.  Every time a particularly gross smell hits you, you are extremely aware.

2.  This is what I'd look like if I was an anime character:  (according to the student who drew it and gave it to me.)

3.  "Konglish" is the Korean bastardization of English.  It includes words or phrases such as 'Air-Con' (Air Conditioning), 'Hand Phone' (Cellphone), and 'Finishee' (Finished).  These words sound silly the first few times you hear them... and then you start to use them, all the time.  You won't be able to stop.  It's addicting, and habit forming.  Trust me.

4.  Unlike the smells, you will eventually get used to seeing people drying their laundry on racks outside their homes.

5.  You will also grow accustomed to seeing the Koreans drying Gochu (spicy red peppers) on the sidewalk, or even on the street.  However, watching cars drive down the street swerving to avoid them without a second thought will probably always make you giggle inside.

6.  Korean taxi drivers are some of the most defensive drivers I've ever seen.  ALSO, Korean taxi drivers are some of the most offensive drivers I've ever seen.  In the beginning, driving with them is a bit scary.  This does improve over time.  After 535 days you find yourself thinking things like: "Run the red light already, you can see no one is coming!" and "Why aren't we going 130 km down the freeway?  There isn't anyone in front of you!"

7.  Skype remains a wonderful invention.  It has made being so far away much, much easier.

8.  Living in more than one Korean city reinforces how similar each city is ~ and how hard the Koreans try to explain the differences.

9.  Koreans love to advertise a new opening of a store... they'll draw your attention and get your business by any means necessary.

  (A fire breathing clown outside a new clothing store.)

10.  I will never again take for granted the Canadian prices for the following:  cream cheese, potatoes, carrots, apples, grapes, chicken, or (and especially) beef.

11.  I will never again take for granted my ability to obtain the following: Oatmeal, Cheerios, limes, cheddar cheese, dill pickles, or iceberg lettuce.

12.  Korea in general doesn't have a lot of green.  However, they do go to a great effort to create their own green spaces.  I live about a 20 minute walk from Eunpa Park.  It is definitely not a natural green space, but in the Korean way they have groomed it into a beautiful walking area.

                                                                   (Photo by Kim Doerr)

13.  The two weeks in spring when all the cherry blossoms come out is possibly one of the most beautiful and amazing times to be in Korea.

14.  Buses are cheaper, and run more often than trains.  They also travel to more locations.  Never underestimate the trouble you'll go to just so you can ride in comfort on a train instead of taking a bus.

15.  All of the buses look the same, when you are traveling on one, and you get off at a rest stop - memorize the license number!  Otherwise, you'll have no idea what bus you are suppose to get back on.

16.  If they run out of seats on the bus, they will add more in the form of lawn chairs...

17.  There is a swimming "season".  Koreans follow this to the letter.  Beach season ends August 31st.  If August 31st was a Saturday, and September 1st was a Sunday and the entire weekend was suppose to be gorgeous weather, go to the beach on Sunday!!!  Saturday the beach will make you feel like a sardine in a can.  Sunday you won't be able to see another person on the beach in either direction (unless they are another foreigner).  It really does seem like the biggest waste of a nice day.

18.  Unbelievably, you do eventually get used to the constant car honking.  Usually the honking is just an empty cab wanting to pick you up as its next fare.  Ignore it, and it'll go away.

19.  Because of the space limitations, many Koreans live in small homes.  This is why PC rooms, DVD rooms, and Noreybongs are so prevalent as well as popular.  PC rooms are exactly what they sound like - a big room where you can rent a computer by the hour to play a game (Starcraft II anyone?) or just surf the internet.  It is usually 1,000 won an hour.  (about 0.90 cents).  In a DVD room you get to rent a small room with a couch and a big screen tv as well as a movie.  Noreybongs are singing rooms.  You can rent a small room for yourself and your friends to sing your Karaoke dreams away.

20.  Though friends will never replace family, they make living in such a strange and foreign land a lot of fun!

21.  Korea is actually fairly centralized within Asia.  It is quite easy to travel to many different countries during your school vacation cheaply.  Often the part that takes the longest is getting to the Incheon airport.  (From Gunsan it is a 4 hour bus ride.  From Iksan it was a 2 hour train, and 1 hour on the subway.)

22.  The Philippines are gorgeous - even the 'not so touristy' parts.

                                                                 (Not so touristy)   

                                                                    (very touristy)

23.  China has the worst pollution.  It wins the award for the worst air I've ever had to breathe.  However, the Great Wall of China made it worth it.

24.  Japan was beautiful, and I can't wait to see more than just Fukuoka

25.  You can live fairly comfortably in one little room.  However, every so often you unexpectedly get the biggest craving to be able to sit on a couch to watch tv.

26.  Kids are amazing.  Teaching them is always an adventure.  Sometimes you win, sometimes they do - but someone always learns something!

27.  NEVER (ever) underestimate the power of finding a letter in your mailbox.

28.  The summer in Korea is so hot, and soooooo humid that when fall starts you actually get excited.  I never would have thought I would excitedly anticipate the summers end.

29.  The Korean adjummas (little old ladies) have some of the more entertaining clothes/outfits ever, and I will never ever be able to see one without doing a double-take... it might be the hats.

                                                        (photo does not belong to me)

30.  Some American Military folk are pretty great... (hey, I learned it in Korea!)

lookie there.... you got pictures!