After being in Korea...

mel_ee

2447 Posts

November 27 2010 09:45 GMT

While I studied in Korea for about 1 year~ I had the time of my life... It was awesome, new perspective, new thoughts on life, and many new experiences outside the U.S. Being from California and going to Korea for one year totally brought me a new outlook after living there for one year.

I don't know who have went to Korea may have felt this way, but it has been almost one year since I have left and I have thought about Korea constantly. I thought it would be a phase and would eventually die out, but I find myself comparing things to how Korea works. Sometimes I feel like the service in Korea is better in most parts of Cali.

I find myself saying things like: "wtf they cant deliver chinese to this part of the city?" or deliver anything for that matter with top speed.

I cannot go to a restaurant and not say how shitty it is if it has no bell to ring for the waiter...

I cannot find a phrase similar to "chogiyo" to call the waiter over with my loudest voice..

I can keep going and i'm sure many of of you who have gone to Korea can even tell better stories, but my point is this...

Once you have experience Korean style, it is hard to forget!

Rekrul

Korea (South)17174 Posts

November 27 2010 09:59 GMT

in USA:

'wtf U DOING?' oh shit i forgot it's not normal to eat from other ppl's plates in this country, sorry man that bacon had my name all over it

nine hundred? fuck you heres 600 u lazy fk 'okay brb' *gigantic black bouncer enters room

spicy level 10 is korea spicy level 1

why are there never any taxis around??????

i merely called and asked the front desk for a toothbrush and toothpaste, yet you brought me 10 of each. you must really want this 1 dollar tip im giving you out of pity

why the hell are the lights coming on at 2 am? i'm not even buzzed yet

no, you industry whore, i do not want to give you some of my vodka; i see your boyfriend over there

just because you and i are going to be trapped in this elevator together for the next 15 seconds, doesn't mean you have to try and strike up a conversation with me, bro

Elric

United Kingdom1327 Posts

November 27 2010 10:17 GMT

Hey mel_ee, completely echo your thoughts!

I think about going back to Korea pretty much every day, possibly even back to the sad circle of an teaching english life. I had a huge case of 'reverse culture shock' coming back to London. This 'leading financial centre' of a city could learn so, so much from an Asian city like Seoul. The UK feels downright third-world when you compare things like transport and IT infrastructure.. and I really have to restrain myself on a rant on UK drinking culture and chavs... fucking chavs.

That said, I wouldn't wish this thread to be derailed be a 'Who is better of Far East and Western cities". Korea/Seoul has its fair share of negatives and personally, living is there is great, but following a professional career path in Korea would be shit - and vice versa for the UK.

One thing to bear in mind is that I think a lot of nostalgia from fellow Korean-ophiles like us comes not from the particular awesomeness of Korea but just from the fact that for many of us, when we went there, it was like a gap-year for us so we were free from the stresses of proper job hunting/job responsibilities at home. It could have been any Asian/exotic city with a v. different culture.

p.s I still remember my first BBQ meat fest at the place you took me and Shloober!

Wolf

Korea (South)3290 Posts

November 27 2010 11:03 GMT

Love Rekrul's post. I'll be headed to Korean in the near future for various reasons, and I'm hoping it'll go as well for me as it has for you!

MrHoon

10183 Posts

November 27 2010 13:52 GMT

Girl: That'll be 25.32 for that shirt sir
Me: How bout we make it a flat 20
Girl: No.

fuck.

mel_ee

2447 Posts

November 27 2010 22:20 GMT

ya Elric Sinchon is quite awesome! was funny seeing you there at random times goin to Mikes Cabin. haha

One thing that was reverse culture shock was how to greet/say bye to people.

In Korea I got use to the bowing thing and since I was dumb and ignorant, I pretty much did it whenever it looked appropriate. Teachers, ajumas that give me stuff, etc. Little did I know I would do it constantly when coming back to US...I probably did that half bow greet with the head nod to people and I get that look like, "wtf? did he just bow his head to me?"

Elric

United Kingdom1327 Posts

November 28 2010 00:13 GMT

I swear I only went to Mikes Cabin twice! Too many dirty foreigners there!... D:

I never thought I'd say this too but GODDAMN I miss 노래방s

krndandaman

Mozambique16569 Posts

November 28 2010 04:13 GMT

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