As my last week in South Korea rapidly approaches and dissipates, I can't help but fall victim to the urge to begin viewing my time here in past tense. As a result, I have stumbled across a number of things that I have learned, realized, or seen while here, that have had a huge impact on the way I see the world and my place in it. Perhaps one of the most popular countries in the world, culturally, economically, and politically, South Korea is an interesting country. It is a place of extremes which coexist, past and future, conservatism and progressivism, war and peace, giving context to many worldwide phenomena, and most importantly, what it means to exist and continue trying to progress, no matter what.
When they tell you it's going to be hot, it's going to be hot.
f(x)- hot summer
As someone from the South, when I heard that the Korean summer would be hot and humid, I admit I shrugged off the warning. What I didn't know was that it would be a thicker humidity and a more sweltering heat than I've ever felt. It is also the hottest summer since 1994. When outside feels like 100-109 degrees on a daily basis, you slowly begin to give up on life. I've bought an automated fan and multiple manual ones, but there is no escape. So if you're coming to Asia in the summer, leave your jeans at home, maybe even leave all of your nice American cotton clothing altogether and buy clothes on site. The thin, breathable fabric makes all the difference.
There's no room for being timid or shy.
The way Korea will ignore you
You will be ignored. Bumped into. Pushed. Overlooked. Unless you pretend to be are confident in what you are doing and assert yourself. Learn the phrases for excuse me. Learn the mannerisms that are seen as polite. Befriend people who can teach you the customs and behaviors of the place you visiting. "When in Rome" is a saying that encompasses many different sentiments, but most importantly, you must remember that although you cannot ignore your socialization from your home country, expecting others to adjust to you when you're outnumbered is stupid. And you didn't ride in a plane for over half a day to be just another foreigner in a country, did you?
It's okay to look like you're trying.
Won Bin looking sexy af
Everyone looks good. All the time. The meticulous nature with which Koreans care about the way they present themselves is somewhere between disturbing and awe-inspiring. There are reflective surfaces everywhere: the subway, restaurants, random wall panels on sides of buildings. It took me forever to get used to seeing men and women (honestly more men than women) checking their reflections, shifting their bangs, and adjusting their clothes before continuing on as if they never stopped. As someone that comes from the land of 'Casual Everyday' and 'athleisure', I love it. I think the American culture of not wanting to look like you try too hard is deceptive and has contributed to the laziness that has seeped into our culture. There is nothing shameful about hard work. Hard work gets results.
American food is overrated.
Korean food porn.
Korean food is so much more than Kbbq and kimchi. I have always known this, as I grew up eating it; however, its beauty in its native country is unprecedented. Manduguk, mandu, kimchijjigae, bibimbap, bulgogi, samgyetang, every banchan, even convenience store food, are edible gifts from God. There is no string of words that can accurately describe the abundance of flavors, textures, and beauty that is Korean cuisine. If you haven't eaten it, do yourself a favor and grab a spoon and some chopsticks. It's time.
People really believe in the American dream.
Lisa Shin at RNC endorsing Trump and the American dream.
Every native Korean that I have talked to has either been to the US or has dreams of going to the US. Although the 'American dream' is lost on natives, who have been indoctrinated into (and possibly educated about) the cycles of oppression that are the foundation of our country, for those who wish to return home after being educated, or even stay in the US for work, there are certain roadblocks that they surpass (although the path is not empty of obstacles), keeping the 'Dream' alive and very realizable for some. It's both beautiful and sad to know that it is both dead and thriving, and the difference in perspective of its truth lies in the uncontrollable.
Everything makes sense.
Man in nice clothes and sneakers.
I used to be so confused and annoyed by seeing Korean men and women wearing fancy clothes and tennis shoes, cheaply made clothes and still looking good, and carrying around umbrellas to make shade because of the whole 'god forbid I get darker' thing and me being born 'darker', but it all makes sense now. In a place as hilly as Korea and as defined by a culture of walking and public transportation, wearing uncomfortable shoes is akin to shooting yourself in the foot. Almost literally. The thin fabrics of the clothes make a one to two degree difference in the summer heat and can be the difference between visibly sweating and merely glowing. And the shade umbrellas can be the difference between life and heat stroke. Literally. As there is a near consistent five degree difference between being in the sun and shade. So. The lesson here, kids, is to never judge a book based off of the context of your own understanding, do your research first, because you might find yourself in the same context it was written in writing the same book... or the saying goes something like that.
The Korean wave is real and it brings people together.
A Koreaboo
The diversity in Korea is amazing and somewhat surprising. There are ethnically diverse Koreans from all over the world, and even more fans of the Korean (Hallyu) wave who come to Korea because of their interest in Korean culture. I went to a K-pop concert and there were fans of every shape, size, and ethnicity. It is a beautiful, crazy thing and unlike any other place on Earth.
Public transportation is your friend.
Actual footage of the public transportation struggle
Foreign public transportation is always awe-inspiring to Americans, it was when I went to Spain and it was even moreso in Korea. Although it can be busy and crowded, one of the things I've fallen in love with in Korea is the public transportation. It is cheap, easy, and reliable (except for when you're going clubbing and want to go home between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.). It is safe (seriously, Koreans don't steal things and it's kind of confusing to the American in me). It is fast. While I'd like to assert that such a system would be useful and practical in the US, it wouldn't. So I'll just enjoy it while I can.
We've all got a lot of work to do.
Miss A cheering
Something about being in a different society really contextualizes your own country's faults and strengths. From their technological infrastructure to their heightened commitment to recycling to their preservation of greenery even in urban cities, the US could learn a lot from the Korean government's prioritization of investment. Of course, the assessment goes both ways.
Hopefully, globalism will prove to be useful and foster a cross-cultural exchange that actually betters societies, and not just by making the world's elite richer. So. Here is a 'Go Team!' for the world. Hopefully, she's listening.
