You Know You Live in Korea When:

I have become very aware of the fact that being an expat in Korea comes with a completely different lifestyle than that I have led in other countries, which were also much smaller cities. There is always an invite, something to do or see, and you are constantly meeting new people. It is a ton of fun but sometimes feels like a transport back into University. You attend work with the same people everyday (just like class), walking to and from together. You eat all your meals together and live in the same building which instantly feels like a dorm. "Hey wanna get food?" "Sure just come down to my room." Then there's that sudden realization one day: Oh wait, I am 27 years old and this only sort of feels like reality. Immediately followed by "I am having too much fun to care." Plus someone else is paying for my apartment and I am making great money, instead of taking out 30 grand in student loans. The party scene here is reminiscent of my time in Spain. A night out can easily turn into not going home until 5 or 6 am. I am not even talking ridiculous night clubs in Seoul. More like a group of us in Ilsan dancing like idiots to 80s/90s music, (Michael Jackson's "PYT" along with Next "Too Close" are common favs) till we realize McDonalds just opened for breakfast and its probably time to go home. The great thing is aside from the party scene there is so much to do and see. I have recently gotten involved with a group called PLUR who does various projects to help the homeless in and around Seoul. On Sunday nights I have joined a group that walks around and gives out food. There are over 1 million homeless people in the city and it is a significant social issue. Most of them are old and many have mental disorders. There is a lack of retirement support or what we would call social security and most of them are made up of the population that fell through the cracks with no family to take care of them, or services to help with their mental health. It seems like there is always a festival or free cultural event going on somewhere and this place is so huge that the possibilities to explore seem endless. Have I mentioned how many skylines this place has?! Ilsan is starting to feel like home and I really love it here. We have our regular spots where people know who you are, and wave to you as you walk by, even though you've never exchanged more than hello, thank you, and goodbye in Korean. Literally across the street from my apartment building is a mall with an imax theater (which I have not been to yet, go figure). Anything you could possibly need is available which is beyond convenient. Dangerous too. Koreans dress very well. Sometimes they also dress ridiculous, and I love it. Sweater leggings? Fuzzy hoodies with bear ears sewn in? Mittens with strings? A reindeer sweater?! YES PLEASE. The latter I could not resist. I needed some socks so I bought a few pairs for a buck. They have chickens on them with some writing in Korean. I wore them to school only to find out the writing is the equivelent of "sexy moaning" in korean. WIN. I finally got a real paycheck for the first time since last June which felt great. My apartment has come together nicely with bits and pieces from people leaving and a few very frugal purchases on my part. I hardly recognize it from a month ago and it feels like my own little home. All in all things are good and this girl is loving it. So the moral of the story is: You know you live in Korea when you are happy to wear moaning chicken socks, reindeer sweaters and dance to MJ till 6 am.