I wrote this letter a couple of weeks ago and I think it accurately portrays what life in Korea is like. I do feel better now about Korea than I did when I wrote this letter though so things aren't all bad! Here it goes:
Now I have become comfortable with living in Korea. Having some of my close friends from college here is truly a blessing. I wouldn't be here without them. I feel like I have been here longer than two months! In the beginning, everything was new and different, but scary and exciting (as usually happens in a new situation I assume). But after the first couple of weeks, I began to have a strong case of culture shock and it hit me pretty hard. Korea is a very fast paced country definitely more so than America. Working hard is expected here. No one really seems stressed out by their long hours. As I said its just expected. Seoul definitely never sleeps! I don't think they know what rest is. And they are so developed with technology! Most Koreans have been very kind to me. I have Korean teachers at my school and I am free to ask them for any help. They have helped me so much with things such as setting up a bank account or even just going to a store and translating for me. Its made me lazy though because I should be learning more Korean!
Oh well...But then there are things about Korea that just aggravate me! First of all, being a vegetarian is just unheard of so finding food has been a challenge. And I get stared at everywhere I go. Sometimes I don't care but sometimes it makes me angry becuase I know that they are staring at me for being white....Also, common courtseies that Americans have just don't exist here. I get shoved and pushed all the time by people trying to move ahead of me on the street or to get on the subway. I realize that these may seem like small concerns but when you deal with them everyday, it can get to you. However, I'm trying not to let those aspects of Korea bother me because I realize that they are just cultural differences.
There are foreigners in certain parts of Seoul, but not too many in the area I live! But learning English is considered an obligation for Koreans so most know certain words or phrases. Sometimes on the street I'll get people saying "Hi!" or "Nice to meet you!" or "I love you!" Its pretty funny. Korean kids are very competitive and work way too hard. The kids I teach in the morning (its considered preschool and I teach two different classes from 10-1) are seven and the amount of English that they know is amazing. But once I asked them "What time do you go to sleep?" and some of them said "12"..They are seven! One of my students Sarah (they all get English names) leaves SLP (where I teach) at 2:30 and then goes to violin lessons, piano lessons, swimming lessons, drawing school, and Korean lessons...All in one day! So of course she's always tired and she's only 7! I can't imagine how hard they work in middle school and high school.
As I said, the food in Korea has definitely been a challenge. Luckily I eat fish so I can eat most things. However, eating octupus and squid are not very appetizing to me! I don't know if you've had Korean BBQ but its very popular and I can't eat it! I have to get side dishes..I just have to know the names of foods and I'm fine. But I can't really go out to Korean BBQ or anywhere else by myself because eating alone is a social taboo. Its a very social eating and drinking country.
I know that not being home on Thanksgiving and missing some of the Christmas season at home is going to be hard and I'm trying to prepare myself for that. I'm looking into finding a place to have some kind of Thanskgiving feast. We'll see what happens. They have an American military base here so maybe I can sneak there!
