Five Things I Like About Korea

I’m in Korea…. AHHHHHH! *ahem* sorry, it’s still a bit weird to say that.

I’ve been in Daegu(home!) for about 5 days now, almost a whole week at school. It would be impossible to write about everything that has happened. The whirlwind of moving into my apartment, seeing my school, trying to figure out how to teach English, making the bus driver mad and then getting a free ride, my crazy “gangnam style” neighbor… so much has happened in such a short time!

So to break it down a bit here are five things I liked about Korea this week:

1) Saying “Hello”

Ok, so technically this is English not Korean but let me explain. This is the one English word that EVERYONE at school knows. 1^st graders, 6^th graders, administration- everyone knows how to say hello… so I hear it a lot! In front of the school in the morning- “Hello!” On the steps up to my classroom “Hello, Bethany Teacher!” Even when I’m eating my lunch I have multiple heads suddenly popping up from behind saying “Hello Teacher!”…. and I totally love saying hello back to them!

2) School Lunch

Confession- I don’t always love the Korean style lunch. Sometimes it’s really good (bibimbop, spicy crab soup, some sort of mashed potato that was super tasty) but sometimes it’s flavors or textures that I’m not quite use to yet. However, I have decided that I do in fact love school lunch for a few reasons.

It seems to be a big deal to the other teachers that I eat school lunch and like “Korean food”. It is also one of the few times I get to see the other teachers. We don’t do more than smile and bow, maybe say hello, but it’s nice to feel like I’m making connections. The last reason is completely selfish. Every day the lunch lady that serves the last thing in line always gives me the biggest smile! What could be better?

(not my picture but most of my lunches look just like this: rice, some sort of soup, veggie, kimchi, and one other something... not always sure what it is!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_South_Korean_school_lunch.jpg

3) Neighborhood Shops

I took the 15ish minute trek down to the Lotto Super (grocery store) yesterday afternoon. As I was walking I started to notice that all the little stores in my neighborhood are very specific. Each one is very tiny but full to the brim with a specific item. One sells pots and pans, one specializes in small electronics, another fabric, and one store just for work gloves. Seriously, I’m sure it’s a whole store just for work gloves! I’m not sure why but I love that! : )

4) Uber-cute packaging

 I’m going to have to be careful when I shop here. Yesterday at the grocery store I bought things I would have never bought back home because it looked so darn cute! Although, to be honest, the strawberry milk was kind of a nice treat while I was cleaning!

5) Korea

Yes ok, maybe this last one is kind of a copout- but it’s true! I know it’s only been about 15 days since I landed in Korea and not even a week here in Daegu but already I have so many things that I love about living here. I’m sure it will be hard at times and I’m sure I will miss things and get frustrated. But right now it’s amazing!!

A new adventure

I’ve never officially had a bucket list. If I did the first thing on the list probably would have been written when I was 11 years old and gone something like this:

1. Live and work in a foreign country when I grow up.

Supposedly I’m “grown up” so it seems as good a time as any to get #1 crossed off the list.

On Friday I get on a plane and will, eventually, get off a plane in South Korea.  After 10 days of orientation I’ll find myself in Daegu where I will live for the next year (or more?). 

No, I don't know Korean. No, I don't actually know much about Daegu (although the wikipedia page was pretty long!). No, I've never even been to Korea before …. um, what was I thinking when I was 11!!!

Looking past the nerves and butterflies that are starting to form it’s a little hard to believe that I’m actually doing that thing I’ve talked about for so long. It’s completely exciting and utterly terrifying all at once.

I really have no idea what to expect after I get there. All I know for sure is that I have a passport with a visa, a plane ticket, my life packed into two bags and a carryon, and I’ve never been so excited to start a new adventure… and who doesn't love a little adventure in their life!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

-       Mark Twain

Oh, and besides, Big Bang invited us all to Korea so I'm pretty sure it's going to be awesome! ㅋㅋㅋㅋ