Day 1: Korea
The phrase "Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire" ring any bells? It doesn't quiet describe my situation for the first day but it feels like it should. In all the countries I've gone to I never experienced so sharp and dramatic of a culture shock before. It was usually a gradual build-up that took months, but not in Korea. There is no time for that.
Ironically, my first surprises were not the differences between Texas and Korea but the differences between Japan and Korea. For example, it was shocking to see people talking on their cell phones on trains. o_O Unheard of in Japan! There were other small things like shopping centers being more like flea markets. Everything is served with pickles especially western food! Store clerks don't scream out "Irashaemase" everytime you pass. In fact, they don't even greet you they just keep chatting with the other store clerks or playing on their cell phones. You open your own beers here. Cleaniliness in the places I have been is not as highly prized. Everything is not carefully packaged in fact it may not be packaged at all if you don't ask. Lots of little surprises.
I started off the day by making my way to my hostel on their super-cheap and sparkling clean metro system. It is pretty idiot-proof like the guidebook said with English everywhere to help out. Amazingly I haven't spotted any Engrish yet. Am I looking in the right places?
After checking in the hostel, I went to Dangdaemon and saw the shopping center/ flea markets. I attacked the pour lady at the Tourist Information Center and sucked her dry of maps, Korean Phrases, and recommended places to go. I then on top of all that had her help me book a half day DMZ tour. Afterwards I ate a spagetti/ raveolli with pickles, of course, on the side meal that was less than $3.
When I got back to the Hostel Owner and her sister were there. I made fast friends with the sister who spoke great English and she showed me around the area which was packed with people my age and some quite handsome. She showed me a Jazz Cafe and then we went to her favorite bar to crack a beer and eat pizza. kukuku. I may meet her tomorrow, we will see!
All in all the day started out a little rough as everything was a little overwhelming but by evening it was all starting to make sensea and I was beginning to get the hand of things.
Ironically, my first surprises were not the differences between Texas and Korea but the differences between Japan and Korea. For example, it was shocking to see people talking on their cell phones on trains. o_O Unheard of in Japan! There were other small things like shopping centers being more like flea markets. Everything is served with pickles especially western food! Store clerks don't scream out "Irashaemase" everytime you pass. In fact, they don't even greet you they just keep chatting with the other store clerks or playing on their cell phones. You open your own beers here. Cleaniliness in the places I have been is not as highly prized. Everything is not carefully packaged in fact it may not be packaged at all if you don't ask. Lots of little surprises.
I started off the day by making my way to my hostel on their super-cheap and sparkling clean metro system. It is pretty idiot-proof like the guidebook said with English everywhere to help out. Amazingly I haven't spotted any Engrish yet. Am I looking in the right places?
After checking in the hostel, I went to Dangdaemon and saw the shopping center/ flea markets. I attacked the pour lady at the Tourist Information Center and sucked her dry of maps, Korean Phrases, and recommended places to go. I then on top of all that had her help me book a half day DMZ tour. Afterwards I ate a spagetti/ raveolli with pickles, of course, on the side meal that was less than $3.
When I got back to the Hostel Owner and her sister were there. I made fast friends with the sister who spoke great English and she showed me around the area which was packed with people my age and some quite handsome. She showed me a Jazz Cafe and then we went to her favorite bar to crack a beer and eat pizza. kukuku. I may meet her tomorrow, we will see!
All in all the day started out a little rough as everything was a little overwhelming but by evening it was all starting to make sensea and I was beginning to get the hand of things.