- "Go to the hospital" - This really means "go see a doctor." Even if you have a cold, go see a doctor. Everyone LOVES hospitals here hence there are so many. I had to see one a few weeks back (because my school made me for the 24hr flu) and I made it to the clinic, saw a doctor, got my medicine and was back in bed within 30 minutes. On the idea of doctors and hospitals no one seems to question the medicine here. The doctor just writes a prescription and off you go. Asking something like "is this anti-biotics" or "what is this?" are not valid questions. Don't question the doctors authority, from what I understand it is quite rude.
- "Butter English" - The sign outside my apartment building for the English Hagwon (private academy) on the main floor of my apartment building. Ironic much?
- With such a HUGE city (one of the top 5 biggest cities) one would think they would really care about keeping their city clean (which they sure do try). Personally I would think that having trash bins would help keep trash off the streets and streams. But no, this isn't the case. Finding a public waste bin isn't as easy done as said. Instead of hiring people to empty trash bins, you'll find people walking around with a dust pan and broom cleaning peoples litter. On another garbage note... within the home setting there is VERY STRICT rules around what you can throw out, what you must recycle and what goes to the compost. Each district in the city has a different set of bags/bins and you must abide by the districts rules. If you don't you can face up to $100.00 CAD fine (apparently). From what I gather from may of the cities citizens... if I don't want to throw something out in my own garbage, go for a walk and dump in on the street. That sounds like a good thing to do right? Oh, Korea!
- Another point about waste disposal here in Korea is that I have yet to see a garbage truck. Here in Korea when I have a full bag of compost or garbage I put outside the main doors to my apartment building. Fromt here an Agema (older Korean lady) comes by and sorts the waste. A few blocks from my apartment there is the recycling Agema who comes by and picks up the recycling. They pick all of these things up with what looks to be a reverse wheelbarrow (they pull it instead of push). I have yet to figure out what happens to the food compost bags but but reckon there is some similar system in place.
- "The cost of living is lower in Korea" - Yes, I have come across this idea many times now. I find it very ironic that people say this. Do these people not eat? I have found that in general things are about the same cost as home. Some things are cheaper (public transit = ~90cents starting fee) while others are more expensive (1 cup of butter = $8 CAD at my local grocery store). In my opinion it evens out at the end of the day, except for the purchasing of electronics. I love apple products and although technology is huge here in Korea it is very expensive. It would be more cost effective for me to purchase a computer in Canada and have it sent here or having a family or friend bring it over with them (hint hint family & friends you have a person to visit in Korea now)!
- In general it is not really ok to show your shoulders, or upper chest (I am referring to shirt like a t-shirt), but short shorts (even in winter with tights or nylons) showing as much leg as possible is completely acceptable. Also public nudity in bath houses is the norm. Am I missing something about my shoulders Korea? When it was +40 out and really humid I couldn't wear a coat, what is the secret?
- We do not practice school wide fire drills at the school. Each homeroom teacher is responsible for teaching what happens if their is a fire. In this case I still haven't been informed of what happens exactly in this situation, but I have been informed of what to do if North Korea attacks. Apparently North Korea attacking is more probable. Approximately once a month on the first or second Tuesday of the month their is a city wide drill that goes on. Alarms are sounded and people are to stay inside. This is practice for the military to move tanks and equipment should North Korea attack, again. In this case for a foreigner I was told "don't worry stay in your classroom."
- Traffic in Korea - WHOLAY why would you buy & drive a car here? The idea of getting stuck in a traffic jam is not appealing. As much as I love the subway and secretly wish I had a car here, I can't immagine driving here. A traffic jam is talked about here as a regular occurrence. A friend of mine was stuck in one after a weekend trip out of town. Eight hours later she got home. Sounds like a blast! Could you immagine if you really had to use the washroom? That would be a really embarrassing moment (because there are not really bushes or green space on the sides of the roads) or a really horrible feeling for a long time. Speaking of traffic, I have noticed that when on a two lane road and you're wanting to turn left, instead of an advanced green light going first then you yield on the solid green (like you do in Canada), people stop at the red light and only proceed at the advanced turn light AFTER the straight through traffic has gone.
- There are no formal PST (parent, student, teacher interviews) her in Korea. After inquiring about this apparently parents can make appointments with the teachers and come in to chat any day after school. (School ends at 2:30pm so from 2:30-4:40 parents can discuss their students achievements with the teacher).
- Motorcycles & Mopeds can drive both on the side walk and road. Also the larger the vehicle seems to ALWAYS get the right of way. So if you are walking in Korea I have two words for you... watch out!
- As you probably know teachers grade students, and students receive grades for the work they have completed during the semester. Many teachers have an Excel spreadsheet or use a database developed by their school board or district. Here in Korea there is 1 national database for implementing marks. This database is accessible to parents (they can view their child's grades online as they are posted). Teachers can message parents, download various forms (like a field trip form) and keep up to date with school updates and the school calendar. Another cool feature of this online program is that teachers can type out a message and send it to a parent's cell phone. All contact information is stored on this online database & in my opinion makes the school system far more transparent. In addition of students transfer from one school to the next paper files are not following the student. The new teacher can access the files online of the new student and pick up from where the last teacher ended. Canada I think a program like this should be considered. :)
- Humidity is a huge issue here in Korea. I essentially live on a peninsula... and during the summers it is very hot and humid and in the winter it is cool and in my opinion still humid. I am apparently wrong as in winter it is very dry so people use humidifiers to put all the moisture in the air (and then some people have a mould problem...) and then come summer they use dehumidifiers like they are going out of style. Maybe I am missing something here BUT what I do know is a lot of power is consumed by the citizens of Korea. No wonder there is issues with this precious resource. (Note: The government has currently mandated that businesses shut of Neon Signes during peak power usage times. Seoul apparently deals with devastating blackouts due to the overconsumption of power).
- Stress - Did you know there is approximately 40 suicides in South Korea a day? If you are on the subway system and the train stops unexpectedly for a concerning amount of time this may mean someone may have taken their life by jumping infront of a train. Bridges here are also quite popular places for one to take their life. My point here isn't that people commit suicide it is that starting at a young age (yes some of my students have informed me of this both verbally and in writing), that they are extremely stressed. We are talking about grade 5's and 6's that are up until 1am studying. Here in Korea there is so much pressure to be perfect, conform and be at the top of their class (intern making the family proud), that if one can't be in the top percentile of their class their is often consequences. Some of these consequences lead individuals to taking their own life's. In learning all about this and recognizing what "conditions" I grew up with (yes my parents expected a lot of me, but what they expected was for me to do my best, try my hardest and their expectations were realistic. In the circumstances where I did not meet their expectations they did their best to support me and help me achieve the goal in mind), I realize how lucky I have been to have such great people in my life. As you are probably aware there are many videos going viral after the Jonah Mowry YouTube video was posted. If you are reading this know there are many supports out there. Talk to your teachers (believe it or not they do care... a lot), parents, or contact one of the many people who have reached out to help and who have been in similar situations. As Jonah Mowry said, "there are a million reasons to be here." I just wish all the people here in Korea that contemplate taking their life would realize it. Their is more to life than money, social status and how many LV bags you have.
Well I am so glad I have had the chance to finally take you on a cultural journey through my extremely mixed observations about Korea. I know for sure that there are SO many other weird, wonderful and different things about this country and every country. These are just some of the few that I have been meaning to share with you for quite some time!
On another note... I know you all read the Korean news papers with the help of Google Chrome, because you are so interested in Korea politics (right?) WELL on the off chance you do not.. I would highly recommend reading > THIS BLOG < which has done a good job summing up what the media is saying about budget cuts for Native English Teachers in Korea (like myself).
I hope everyone has a great week.
Until next post,
Michelle
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