Survival With The Finest

The key to survival in a foreign country is foreigner friends. Everything is different: the food, language, currency, and sizes. Break all of those things down and apply them to everyday life, generally there is an obstacle in front of all day-to-day activities.

Let's take for example ordering a pizza. Ask yourself how do you read the restaurant name if its written in Hangul (Korean Alphabet), moving forward where do you find the number, and take it to the last step when you call...um do you think the pizza man speaks English? Not exactly. So there goes the possibility of ordering take out! You have to go in person to order anything and hope it’s a picture friendly establishment. You point at what looks good and hope it doesn't have squid on it, once you have accomplished the ordering process the cashier gives you a total. That's great and all but you really don't know what was said so you just pass a lot of money and smile :)

This is where friends who have a few more months living in Korea can really be the key to your sanity. I have literally followed Marie around the grocery store to learn the simplest things. It's 10 cents just to get a shopping cart. In the produce section you select your veggies and get them all individually weighed. Marie was kind enough to even show me which brands she has been happiest with because there’s no chance were going to read the labels. It's all trial and error, which can be fun and exciting, but sometimes you just want to read if your granola bars are raisin or chocolate! Steve and Marie explained composting and the special trash bags I am expected to purchase. Without them I would not be eating antibiotic free eggs nor would I be disposing of my trash properly.

I learned which face creams and lotions to buy because my girlfriend Kim showed me during a weekend shopping trip. This seems like a simple enough thing to figure out on your own except Korean women think being very pale skinned is beautiful. How do these otherwise tan individuals achieve such white skin? Well bleach of course! Buying any beauty product is scary because they all have a touch of bleach added. Luckily Kim has saved me from bleaching a face I have worked so hard to tan!

Set shopping aside and figure out where the restaurants and bars are that you can most easily order a dish or buy a drink? You follow the other foreigners because they followed other foreigners and it’s a wealth of knowledge being passed on to crazy people who decide to move to Korea. We tend to eat at restaurants with pictures and English translations added to the menu. We drink at the foreigner friendly bars, and it has been properly communicated which bars are foreigner friendly. I listen intently when people order so I can learn to do the same. I ask constant questions to all of my new friends. "What is...." Bulgogi (Beef), Buldak (spicy chicken), Donkatsu (pork chop), Bibimbop (rice & Veggies), Omurice (rice wrapped in an Omelette), or my personal favorite Ssamjang (Bean and Chili pepper paste). I wouldn't know what any of these things were if I wasn't constantly met with unwavering friendliness.

As for weekend fun I have been a student in that department too! Joining in weekend activities to local beaches via bus or ferry. It has been exciting learning how to get to the ferry terminal, where to buy your tickets, and hustling to get a seat without being knocked over by a Korean. We have spent several days going to a close Island called Oedaldo (the O has a W sound). Though it is hot the weather has been beautiful and monsoon season is finally just about over. Oedaldo Island has pools filled with ocean water and a lot of Koreans hiding from the sun under shelter. You can spot my foreigner friends easily, they’re the ones standing in sunlight and the only people swimming without full cover ups on. I am one of the very few walking around in a bikini. Oh well, what can you do?

Each and every day I learn something new about Korea. I never stop seeing new things, trying new food, and learning more Korean phrases. I can't imagine how lost I would be if I didn't have awesome people pointing me in the right direction and taking me along for the ride. So many many many thanks to all of the amazing people I have met.

Dear Korea

Dear Korea,

We have officially been together for two months! While these two months have been among the most fascinating and wonderful in my life, it is safe to say I don't really understand everything about you. Marie really says it best, "oh Korea and your many contradictions". When moving to Mokpo I had not anticipated the lack of shoulders that women would show. It doesn't matter how stifling hot it may be; you can always count on Korean women covering their shoulders completely, tank tops are a no go. Which runs us into contradiction number 1, why such tiny skirts and shorts? It seems a little odd that there isn't a shoulder in sight but butt cheeks everywhere.

Walking around in the grocery store and trying to avoid all possible butt cheeks is difficult enough, but than you have to also avoid being pushed! Well Korea, this is where your 2nd contradiction confuses me. Why would a Country that focuses on manners such as bowing find pushing and shoving socially acceptable? I think bowing is sweet and all but I would rather you skipped the bow and didn't push me to get to the dried squid quicker.

I had a meeting a few weeks back and I was held after so I could be "learned" on Korean manner. Apparently Ms. Lee thought I should be informed it’s considered rude to cross my legs in front of those older than me. Ok, I get it; it's just a little cultural difference in terms of what is polite and what is not. But than contradiction number 3 Korea...tell everyone in your Country to stop slurping their food and smacking it around in their mouth.

The topic of food is also an important thing to mention. Note: your traditional Korean food has really grown on me. What I am confused about it is how the people stay so skinny. Contradiction number 4. The people here love their ice cream, candy, and iced coffee. When they do sit down for any traditional Korean meal, though it is considerably healthy they eat a massive amount. Ramen is a definite favorite and white rice is eaten with all 3 meals, these are not exactly healthy choices. I mean it really just doesn't make sense to me, how are these people so thin with this type of diet?

Most people know that Korea is advanced in terms of technology and it has a reputation for having great cell phones. I have learned that is in fact true, most people talk on their cell phones via video chat and often times there are antennas coming out of them because they are watching TV. Contradiction number 5, why the heck aren't there any dryers?!? Hang drying your clothes while watching TV on your cell phone is not exactly in the same decade in terms of "convenience inventions".

Speaking of decades and evolving cultures I am more than confused about another socially acceptable "behavior". In Korea you are supposed to hold out two hands to receive something that is being given to you. Well that seems like a nice tradition, one I am happy to adopt. Contradiction number 6, those same hands can be used for hitting your wife... in public. The same person who thought up the two-hand pass should probably spread the word that hitting your wife isn't exactly polite.

I walked out of my apartment and went to my composting bin to dump some old food; I am being "green". Composting is a great idea although not exactly pleasurable when you prop open the bin to drop your goods. However, it's great that Korea is partaking in such acts and I am happy to contribute. Contradiction number 7, why aren't there any garbage cans or dumpsters anywhere? Were supposed to leave garbage bags under a light pole but most of the time since their are no public trash cans the light poles turn into a giant trash pile. Well Korea, composting is wonderful but I think some proper waste bins would actually be a better start.

Overall you aren't perfect but nothing is. Your scenery is beautiful and the people are kind. We have only been together two months and although I miss my family, I already feel like it's going too fast. I have been making great friends while teaching awesome kids. Your many contradictions are amusing but I have grown to really respect this tiny Country.