Foreign or Familiar?

First and foremost to start off this blog I have a small but necessary confession. Before moving to Korea I had intended on keeping up a very up-to-date blog informing people of my new life in SK. However...I suck at writing a blog apparently! Which is odd because I actually do LOVE to speak and LOVE to write. 
I think tho that the main reason why I have not been documenting my life here is because I  see my time here as just another chapter in my life. Altho I have seen and continue to see new sights and experiences every week, I also don't have noteworthy events happening 24/7. During the weeks I work 9-6 everyday and then may go out for a drink one night a week and spend the other nights relaxing at home. Then on the weekends if I am not on a travel type adventure I usually spend at least one night out in Seoul in either Hongdae or Itaewon (the two most hip places in Seoul), a day just hopping on the subway with a  friend and venturing to new spot in the city, Hiking a new mountain peak with a group, or having a nice me day which I need every now and then. So basically, I feel as if I am just LIVING a normal life here..which is why I find it less appealing to write so often. But, I do plan on starting at LEAST 2 posts a month :) 


Well, springing off my last thought of 'living a normal life', I realize now that I have reached my 4 month point here in Korea. Time really has flown by and I feel as if I haven't even experienced half of what Korea can offer. Throughout my weekend getaways, day/nights exploring Seoul, cultural festivals, teaching experiences, and days spent lounging around my suburb I have come to realize how incredibly different yet how familiar my new home is. So I have decided to make this a short list of similarities and differences between my home in the states and my home in South Korea. 
Now keeping in mind that I grew up on a farm in the midwest....this mega metropolis city of Seoul and the suburban life  was initially VERY different. however, from what I have experienced in US cities and come to know from friends of mine, this is what I have gathered thus far....or what I can think of off the top of my head :) 

* Public Transportation – Maybe it is because I grew up with NO NEED for public transport, but the Seoul metro and bus system rocks! I have one card called a T Money Card and it is super convenient. It works for all trains, buses, taxis, and even can be used at convenient shops for small purchases. It is reload-able and works like a debit card. I put about $50 on it a month and I can travel anywhere and everywhere I like!

* Cheap Dining – Dining out in Korea is super affordable.  Of course there are cheap restaurants and splurge restaurants, but as a whole, Korea is cheaper.  Tax is included in the  price of items and their is no tipping. I personally only eat out at actual sit down restaurants when I am with friends and cook at home on weeknights, but when I do go out for dinner I never think twice about my funds. Whether it is traditional korean dining or foreign food such as Italian, American, Pizza, or Indian it is always fairly priced.  

* Individuality – Compared to the US where everyone wants to be an individual and unique, Korea’s group culture can be a bit of a shock. In Korea everyone conforms and sticks together. Most people from the same generations will listen to the same type of music, dress alike, use the same slang/vocabulary, and take part in the same activities. Yes this can be said about the US....but not so easily. In the US generations do have the same experiences which shape their views, but they also may have very different takes on music, movies, sports, and fashion. In Korea...literally everyone within one generation LOOKS, ACTS, and INTERESTS are the same. Maybe this is due to the lower level of outside influences on Korea...or maybe it is because they are a small country so it is hard to differentiate. I do know one thing tho...I miss the variety of people that I would come across in the US and I often wonder if these Korean teens who all look the same really 'want' the be the same, or if they are just succumbing to the norm. 

* Crime Rates – Crime rate here seems to be significantly lower than in USA. I follow both the US news and the Korean news and it is amazing how much more small, average, and vicous crimes are reported in just one day on CNN. In comparison, when I read the Korean news they all speak about new parks being built, the school systems, and community festivals. I have come to understand how much the Korean culture values family and their family name, which is why I believe people here are more honest, kind, and less tempted to commit a crime. they are raised to act more appropriately and respectfully towards others and all in all most Koreans I have become friends with have very good morals and family values.  Crime certainly exists here, but I feel quite a bit more comfortable leaving my bicycle outside unattended while I go into a convenience store than I would in USA.  In fact, I have a friend here who lost her purse, cell phone, and wallet in a bar only to have returned by a total stranger a week later :)

 * Scenery – Coming from the Midwest, mountain are a rare thing to see.  In Korea, everything is a mountain!  As soon as I step outside my apartment building I see rolling hills everywhere.  There are some really beautiful areas of Korea and I’ve enjoyed the mountainous terrain. 

* More real life – One of the things that bugged the hell out of me in USA is the constant barraging of celebrity gossip, political atrocities, and annoying advertisements.  Sure it is entertaining, but really? Maybe it is just because I am still learning the Korean language and I don't fully understand every story I watch/read but so far their OBSESSION with celebrities is far lower than in the US.

*Old School Markets – You know, big year round markets filed with fresh fish, meats, veggies, fruits, and all sorts of hand made crafts, furniture, and clothing. At the traditional markets you can get double the amount of fresher produce than you would in the store and for about 1/2 the price you would in the Superstores. think these still exist in the bigger cities of the US, but where I grew up they were known as Farmers Markets and usually are small and only 1 day a week for about 3 months of the year. 

*Grocery Stores - Speaking of Markets, Grocery shopping here is very similar and also different. I can get on a bus and go about 20 minutes away to either and E-Mart or HomePlus store (the Korean versions of Walmart and Target). At these stores you can find all your dried foods, cooking ingredients, meats, seafoods, produce, ect....every food item you would at a Walmart. You also will find all your housewares, leisure stuff, car stuff...again everything Walmart offers. However, I still am having trouble adjusting the the prices. Foods that I was use to being cheap/fairly priced in the states are ridiculously expensive here. For instance, apples which are always cheap in the states usually cost more than 1 dollar per apple here. And that is cheap compared to most fruits. Grapes, about $9 (9,000 Korean Won) for a bag. Keeping in mind the price differences here are skewed due to me making about 2 million Korean Won a month. So even tho prices seem high...when I spend 80,000 Won every week at the grocery store...it really isn't that expensive in relation to how much I am making.

Side note tho- what you ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT FIND is over the counter medications such as Tylenol, Cold Medicines, Ache and Pain medications, or even insect repellents and contact solutions. For this you have to to go a pharmacy. This is incredibly annoying and perhaps the ONE thing I truly do not like about living in Korea. 

* Consciousness of Self Image – This is a blessing and a curse. It’s wonderful at times being in a country where almost everyone is conscious about their image.  When I have a night out in Itaewon or Hongdae, I look and feel as if I am very attractive and well groomed. Often many other foreigners I am with compliment my attire. However, once amongst Koreans I feel as if I look sub-par. It is as if everyone is on Hollywood Blvd and ready for a GQ shoot.  Being fat here is pretty shameful and I often feel bad for overweight Koreans who get stared and laughed at CONSTANTLY.  Go into a subway platform and you’ll see large mirrors on each wall with people ranging from an elementary school girl to an elderly man making sure their hair is fixed and their clothes are straight. In the US half the people are usually wearing sweats and their hair is in a messy bun/ the really need to shave. I feel as if it is nice that Koreans care so much about appearance...but also leaves me to wonder about future problems that may arise due to the obsession with self image. 

* Lastly for now, Being a Foreigner – This is a huge blessing and curse! It is the  beauty and bane of my existence.  I am praised as a genius for speaking elementary Korean.  People often tell me I’m handsome, my eyes are beautiful, I’m so tan, I'm really fit, etc.  Korean waiters have given me free drinks at restaurants and often like to sit down during their shift and speak with me.  Almost everyday people approach me and start random conversations about where I’m from, what I do, what Korean foods I like. etc.  People help me if I need it. I can get away with small mistakes because I’m a “foreigner” and am part of a population that represents the education and skill levels of their children's future.  It’s too easy to make friends with the Korean families considering that strangers and kids/teens smile and yell “Hello!” on the street.  

Sounds perfect right? Not all the time....

I am praised for my Korean skills, but can’t have a truly meaningful conversation with a Korean stranger. With my Korean friends yes, but not with a random person. I’m exotic and handsome yes, but I’ll always be different looking.  Everywhere I go people stare at me.  That’s interesting for the first week or two.  Yes, 99% of the time it’s harmless and curiosity-driven, but when I’m in a bad mood, I just want to be left alone.  There are days where I wish I could just be one of the masses, just an average Joe. The nice gestures and conversations Koreans start with me are nice but I often wonder " are they speaking to me because they are genuinely curious or because I’m  walking-talking free English conversation practice station?  

I obviously love Korea and Korean people, so don’t that paragraph as a slight.  I just want to show that being “special” isn’t always paradise.  Some days it’s Brad Pitt, other days it’s Outsider.   

So altho this blog was about similarities and differences,,,I feel as if as of right now one thing I’ve learned while living in South Korea is that people are just people and things are just things. Altho every single person we meet and experience we have are something 100% new to our lives, they are also incredibly familiar to a previous encounter we have had.