Month 4 Update:

On March 3rd I started my 5th month in Seoul, if you’ve been following along I like to take that time to reflect on what I learned in the month before.  (Month 1, Month 2, Month 3)  I know last time I said I wouldn’t let most of the month go by before updating but I got side tracked.  I’ve been doing a lot of thinking future and I just didn’t have the time to sit and reflect on the past. 

But I did and it’s a long one :)

1. Reduce- Reuse- Recycle:  The only thing Korea doesn’t have down is the reduce part.  From my experience everything is over packaged.  You think you’re buying a box of cookies but inside are individually wrapped cookies.  Mc Donald’s even has a card board ring around the burgers to keep them straight and a plastic bag just to carry your to-go soda.  Very wasteful.
2. I will say though for what they waste, they make up for it in reusing and recycling.  As you can see in this picture the vending machine was in need of a straw holder.  Rather than buy one for the machine, someone took the time to make one out of a water bottle.  I see examples like this every week, I appreciate how crafty and resourceful Koreans seem to be.
3. Recycling here is taken very seriously.  I like to call Korea ‘The Land of Sorted Trash’- among other “The Land of” nicknames I have.  When taking out the garbage there isn’t just “trash” and “recycling” there is “Plastics, Glass, Metal, Paper, non-food trash and food trash.”  It’s required by law to do this.  I got stopped on my way to work for not sorting my trash and I had to go back and do it by hand, while my security guard stood there and watched.  You’re even supposed to use different trash bags for the different trash… I do not partake in this.
4. I’ve noticed that Koreans have much ‘smaller personal bubbles’ than Americans do.  I feel like every time I am out or even at school I have some one standing right next to me.  It’s not because there isn’t enough room where ever we are, it’s just the personal space we give each other, Koreans don’t even think of giving.
5. A different note on space is apartment space.  My one room apartment is fairly large for just me and maybe could fit a significant other, but my next door neighbor has the exact same apartment and 4 people live there!!  Like I said their personal space bubble is much smaller than ours is.
6. They are curious people.  Koreans ask very personal questions upon first meeting you.  Are you married, Do you have a boyfriend, Why not- Should I set you on a blind date, Are you in love, Which stop do you live off of, Which apartments do you live in?  Are your eyes naturally that color?  The list goes on with things you would not want to be asked in the first couple minutes of meeting someone.
7. I waited 4 months to post this one.  I was waiting to see if it was just a coincidence or just the places I was going- nope, it’s not. Koreans chew with their mouth open, not just open but smacking.  What’s weird that that I notice mostly women doing it.  I’ve seen men chew with their mouth open but women smack.  It’s disgusting.
8. When going out for a meal, the person who invites pays the bill. When two people who know each other are dining, usually the younger person pays for the older person.  I like this.  
9. Koreans are very vague- not just when making plans.  This way if everything is indirect there is less of a chance that they will be criticized or contradicted.  And “yes” does not mean “yes we are doing that” it means “I’m trying to avoid saying no because I don’t like saying it.”
10. Gift giving is a little odd.  Since being here I’ve had a few instances where someone was told what the wrapped gift was even before opening it.  “Oh it’s a _____ if you don’t like it you can take it back.”  Why even bother wrapping it??

So there it is folks, lots of things learned in the 4th month.  I noticed from looking at my previous posts that these things are more ‘real’ things about the people here.  I’m beginning to understand the culture and even appreciate the ways things are done differently here.  I will never get used to the pushing and I will always think somethings are crazy but on a whole- Koreans are pretty great people.  :)

picture taken by itsjustjared