Top and Bottom things of Korea

Top (and bottom) things about KOREA according to Kayleigh...

Things I love…
1.) Public transportation. It is amazing I can go to big city or small via bus and usually for under $10.00. But the best is the Seoul Subway. It blows my mind! I think it should be nominated for one of the seven man-made wonders of the world. Check it out at…http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TR/TR_EN_5_1_4.jsp

2.) Reading the Korean Language. Reading the Korean language is rather easy (unlike reading Chinese, MUCH harder). Without being able to read it, life would be more difficult. I especially love that many words sound so similar to English words (only with a bunch more syllables!). For example:

Elevator à el-li-bay-ee-toe * can you hear it the similarity!?

(not the standard Romanized Korean, just my interpretation of what it sounds like, you have to study the Romanized Korean vowels to be able to read them properly).

3.) Festivals! The festivals in Korea during every season are so much fun! In January I am going to an Ice-fishing festival. They have festivals for butterflies, fruits, spices, teas, nuts, mud, lanterns, fish, film, moon, cherry blossoms, you name it….they probably have a festival for it. If they don’t you could easily make one…Just gather a bunch of people together, bring SoJu (famous alcoholic drink), some food, and make everything “themed”. Really, so much fun!

4.) People! The people are friendly and curious about foreigners. They will always welcome you to a dinner to try and get to know you better, even if you can’t understand each other. It is a very warm attitude.

5.) Hot water machines. Thank you! Restaurants, school, mini-stops, vending machines, everywhere has hot water! Thank you KOREA! I am limited to cold drinking fountains in my wonderful country (yes, to me it is now wonderful, I appreciate the USA much more!).

Things I don’t exactly love…

1.) People are really in a hurry in Korea! There is always something to do or someplace to go right that moment. You eat lunch as fast as you can, get out of the lunchroom as fast as you can, bag your groceries and pay as fast as you can (I am very slow at this, everyone in line always has to wait for me), get your bus ticket and move on as fast as you can, pretty much if you are doing something, you have to do ASAP.

2.) Appearance is REALLY important and emphasized. I can only remember seeing on one or two occasions where someone was in public and dressed ‘casually’ meaning, sweatpants and a sweatshirt (or for the women, anything not high heel). There are mirrors EVERYWHERE, and I mean that. And they are used well. Guys and Gals alike take a moment in every mirror to put a hair back into place, or just do a double take.

3.) Constant supply of fermented vegetables. In fact, I think that is the only way to eat vegetables. I do like some of them, but sometimes I just want a vegetable that hasn’t been sitting in vinegar for weeks.

Thank you Korea! The pleasant and not so pleasant.