All of my friends who have recently left Korea to return home, keep telling me things to the effect of, "Enjoy your last days in Korea, because when you leave you'll miss it". I am so excited to leave here for so many reasons, but I know they are right--that I will miss Korea. So while I am still here, living my Korean life, I decided to come up with my list of things that I know without a doubt I will miss...and then vow to appreciate it that much more, while I am still here, to appreciate it. Keep in mind, I am not including the amazing people that I have met on this list...because they have had such a profound impact on my life, that I don't think I would be doing them justice by mentioning them on this list. With that said, here is my, "I LOVE KOREA" list.
1. Not tipping! You don't have to tip waiters, taxi drivers, coffee shop workers, hair dressers, food delivery people. Not. Anybody. A 100% tip less society! LOVE it.
2. Public transportation. This country does transportation right. Their bus system is flawless, the high speed bullet trains are amazing, taxis are everywhere and all of the above are VERY cheap! If public transportation was like this at home, I would never have want of a car.
3. Heated floors.
4. Kimbap
5. Street markets
6. No longer being able to say "Assa" (Awesome) and "Jin ja" (Oh really?), "Yobosayo" (telephone hello) and having everyone know what I am talking about--and more often then not, finding it kind of cute. It is especially fun to say these phrases to a Korean....it makes the laugh..every time.
7. Using phrases like, "Nice-eh, English-ee, and Teach-ahh" and having everyone know what I am referring to.
8. Being able to call a doctor, dentist, or hairdresser---make an appointment and they ask you when a good time is...you tell them and they say OK. They will work their schedule around what is convenient for you.
9. Seriously cheap and convenient health care. Doctor appointment, with prescription: $20 Dental appointment: $7 Enough said.
10. Cutesy-wootsy. This country is all about the cute factor.
11. Sharing. Everyone shares their food with me. Always. My landlord brings me treats, my kids, coworkers---everyone.
12. Being a part of this community. I love that I can walk around my neighborhood and I now "belong". I love that I am invited along to functions and that people recognize me. That when i walk down the street, I occasionally get enthusiastic, "CHRISTINE" yelled out the car window as people drive by. It's so cool.
13. Street food
14. How everyone is outside...all the time. This country lives their lives outside--so much of life happens out on the streets here (Dan paraphrase)..so you really get insight into every one's lives. If I can't sleep, I have gone to my window and will stare down into my alley/walk way and it can be 3:00 a.m. and I'll see several people walk by.....from very old people, to much younger people. It may be the end of the night for some and for others their day is just getting started. I also think that since everyone is outside so much it also makes you feel safer, because there is always someone around watching.
12. Ridiculous English phrases everywhere I look. I will miss shirts that say things like, "Blue cat hello and then I went for a walk".
13. The sound of the Korean language, which I quite like. At first it was a maddening sound to me, because I had such a hard time in the beginning. Now, the sound of the Korean language is beautiful....and I love being able to occasionally pick out words that people are saying.
14. Konglish conversations. The half-way meeting place between me speaking what Korean I know and them speaking what English they know---makes for a surprisingly fun and in depth conversation. It is so satisfying being able to meet on that middle ground.
15. Being able to say, "I live in Korea". I'll admit it--it's kind of cool! I love it.
16. Making friends so easily. It is as easy as it was in Elementary school. It goes a little something like this, "Oh, you're a foreigner? Heyyyyyy, I'm a foreigner too! Wanna do something?" Voila! Of course, most of the people I've met stayed in the acquaintance category, but still, I have more of a social life here than I had my entire 10+ years in Denver! Fortunately, I have also had the honor of meeting a couple of "life-longers"........
17. $10 dollar haircuts
18. Having a new & unique experience every day.
19. Watching Korean people interact with each other. I find their culture and interactions endlessly fascinating. I can't begin to tap the surface of how interesting Korean people are to me in a bullet point list, so just suffice to say, I'll miss seeing them every day.
20. The loose rules--example: It's okay to drink on school property after school and sometimes during school hours.
21. Cheap (almost free) facials and other luxuries.
22. I only went to one baseball game, but I will miss having the opportunity to go to more! What an amazing experience.
I am sure there are many other things I'll miss about Korea.....and there may be a part 2 in the near future. In the meantime, I only have 28 days left, to enjoy the things that I will miss about my fair, adopted country.
1. Not tipping! You don't have to tip waiters, taxi drivers, coffee shop workers, hair dressers, food delivery people. Not. Anybody. A 100% tip less society! LOVE it.
2. Public transportation. This country does transportation right. Their bus system is flawless, the high speed bullet trains are amazing, taxis are everywhere and all of the above are VERY cheap! If public transportation was like this at home, I would never have want of a car.
3. Heated floors.
4. Kimbap
5. Street markets
6. No longer being able to say "Assa" (Awesome) and "Jin ja" (Oh really?), "Yobosayo" (telephone hello) and having everyone know what I am talking about--and more often then not, finding it kind of cute. It is especially fun to say these phrases to a Korean....it makes the laugh..every time.
7. Using phrases like, "Nice-eh, English-ee, and Teach-ahh" and having everyone know what I am referring to.
8. Being able to call a doctor, dentist, or hairdresser---make an appointment and they ask you when a good time is...you tell them and they say OK. They will work their schedule around what is convenient for you.
9. Seriously cheap and convenient health care. Doctor appointment, with prescription: $20 Dental appointment: $7 Enough said.
10. Cutesy-wootsy. This country is all about the cute factor.
11. Sharing. Everyone shares their food with me. Always. My landlord brings me treats, my kids, coworkers---everyone.
12. Being a part of this community. I love that I can walk around my neighborhood and I now "belong". I love that I am invited along to functions and that people recognize me. That when i walk down the street, I occasionally get enthusiastic, "CHRISTINE" yelled out the car window as people drive by. It's so cool.
13. Street food
14. How everyone is outside...all the time. This country lives their lives outside--so much of life happens out on the streets here (Dan paraphrase)..so you really get insight into every one's lives. If I can't sleep, I have gone to my window and will stare down into my alley/walk way and it can be 3:00 a.m. and I'll see several people walk by.....from very old people, to much younger people. It may be the end of the night for some and for others their day is just getting started. I also think that since everyone is outside so much it also makes you feel safer, because there is always someone around watching.
12. Ridiculous English phrases everywhere I look. I will miss shirts that say things like, "Blue cat hello and then I went for a walk".
13. The sound of the Korean language, which I quite like. At first it was a maddening sound to me, because I had such a hard time in the beginning. Now, the sound of the Korean language is beautiful....and I love being able to occasionally pick out words that people are saying.
14. Konglish conversations. The half-way meeting place between me speaking what Korean I know and them speaking what English they know---makes for a surprisingly fun and in depth conversation. It is so satisfying being able to meet on that middle ground.
15. Being able to say, "I live in Korea". I'll admit it--it's kind of cool! I love it.
16. Making friends so easily. It is as easy as it was in Elementary school. It goes a little something like this, "Oh, you're a foreigner? Heyyyyyy, I'm a foreigner too! Wanna do something?" Voila! Of course, most of the people I've met stayed in the acquaintance category, but still, I have more of a social life here than I had my entire 10+ years in Denver! Fortunately, I have also had the honor of meeting a couple of "life-longers"........
17. $10 dollar haircuts
18. Having a new & unique experience every day.
19. Watching Korean people interact with each other. I find their culture and interactions endlessly fascinating. I can't begin to tap the surface of how interesting Korean people are to me in a bullet point list, so just suffice to say, I'll miss seeing them every day.
20. The loose rules--example: It's okay to drink on school property after school and sometimes during school hours.
21. Cheap (almost free) facials and other luxuries.
22. I only went to one baseball game, but I will miss having the opportunity to go to more! What an amazing experience.
I am sure there are many other things I'll miss about Korea.....and there may be a part 2 in the near future. In the meantime, I only have 28 days left, to enjoy the things that I will miss about my fair, adopted country.
assa!
ReplyDelete