A Little Bit of Culture Shock

It's been one month since I arrived and things have not gone the way I anticipated. Korea is not like I thought it would be but then again I don't really know what I expected. Maybe it was the 6 months of anticipation? I suppose I had this idea that it would be just like any big city transplanted into Asia. It's definitely not like anywhere I have seen before so its hard to explain as I have nothing to compare it to. It is on the biggest scale imaginable. How many skylines can one place have?! I am fairly certain that my first few weeks were filled with some serious culture shock, something I have never experienced upon arrival in a new country. When I first moved to Thailand I was lonely but it was somehow easier as I was so enchanted with my surroundings. Here it is the opposite, I already knew, and have met lots of great people in the city, (and one not so great, but it happens), but was miserable the first few weeks. School also took some getting used to. Things are very chaotic and different than any teaching job I have held. Now that I am getting the hang of it things are much better. I am getting used to the fact that there are no garbage cans, anywhere, and gas mask stations in the subway. The thing is there are about 20 at each so I would more likely die from the mob than the actual gas attack. I suppose these are the Korean equivalent of an old wives tail but believed by many nonetheless: If rain touches your head your hair will fall out, and if you fall asleep with a fan on you will die. One of the first things that struck me was how quick people are to pop off (yea like Jersey). The whole people yelling at strangers thing took some getting used to as Thailand is the extreme opposite. I have gone through the ringer with my washing machine. It is finally being fixed after 6 weeks and quite a few ruined clothes along with a lovely little flood in my apartment. I wasn't greeted with an actual bed and slept on a foam pad on the floor for the first month averaging about 4 hours of sleep per night. Oh yes and I have been to the doctor like five times for everything from digestive issues to a gnarly cough. So here's the good news... It's like a switch flipped and I found my groove. I am finding Korean people lovely and endearing now that I understand them a little better. I know what's going on at school about 86% of the time, and my surroundings are becoming familiar enough that its starting to feel like a home. I really like Korean food too but miss things like green chiles and mac n cheese. Adventures are also good and exploring makes me feel better. The first month of a transition is always the hardest, but this was a doozy.

Toto We're Not in Thailand Anymore

It has been a week since my arrival in Korea. I am not sure I was prepared for how different it is than anywhere else I have lived. The travel portion went smoothly and I was immediately thrown into working the next day. This proved to be welcome as my apartment contains only a mat on the floor, no internet, cable, or TV for that matter. After 3 days at school I got the next 6 days off for Korean Thanksgiving. Luckily I do know a few people in the city and made a friend from school who has been really good to me. A description of this place is still not something I can put into words at this point. I can say however, that I am a lot more overwhelmed by Seoul than I expected. Over 10.5 million people! Its nuts. The level of modernization was so quick it seems that society as a whole hasn't quite caught up. The juxtaposition of uber modern meets traditional is incredible. Again I don't really know how to articulate this any further. The cost of living seems to be on par with America and they looove their tech gadgets. I went to get a phone and ended up with a used Galaxy, it's really a  nice phone. The people in the shop all lined up at the counter to help me and we made lots of hand gestures. As soon as they discovered my new tablet it was promptly taken for a game of Angry Birds Space. A sales guy brought me a mango soda. They were delightful although no English was exchanged. At school my hair has been the major topic. The kids keep asking me why my hair is light and my eyes are blue. They are so curious. Some of them smell me. The last day before break a few teachers asked if they could touch it and likened it to "Barbie Doll Hair." Funny thing is I have been to multiple countries where its noticed, but not to this extent. It's a little much sometimes as I am not big on being the center of attention but I understand the natural curiosity that comes with foreigners who look so different. People stare at me constantly, but I will take it over being called "Falang" all the time.  So far I have gotten to know my home area of Ilsan, had a few subway excursions, and seen the inside of lots of bars. It's amazing how even a well traveled westerner can still be completely overwhelmed by a new place. I am missing the comforts of having a home, and this vagabond lifestyle makes those fleeting. The locals are perfectly kind but I have noticed they do not smile the same as Thais or Oregonians. So far if I ask for help from a stranger, I shall receive, but the overall demeanor is more subdued. It's not good or bad, it just is. I appreciate the directness but still feel I have a lot to learn. As this first week comes to a close I am very aware of how whelmed I am, not over or under, but just so. I am longing for the familiarity of Thailand and home but excited to continue on this new journey.