Korea Korea

-Roberta’s parents were initially surprised at the smells of Korea… yet claimed that after a few days the smells had become less strong… I asked what smells???--- actually I wish I asked that as there are a few corners (mostly the simmering silk worm larvae ones… that still knock my socks off)

-I have mentioned that at times I feel like a celebrity in Korea… well it just got better Roberta, Camille, and I are now literally as big as a building and cover 2 stories as a picture poster on the side of our school building! The best worst part of this… is that we were never told about it… I just happened to look up about a week after the poster was put up... to see us plastered on the building… ohh what a shocker!

-moving into an apartment requires the help of a crane with a platform… the elevators are too small to carry up large appliances/furniture so one rests it on this crane and sends it in through the window!

- on that note we also have 'descending life lines" where in case of a fire we are meant to hook a rope onto this large metal carbeaner (sp?) by our window and propel down... ahhhhhhh

- only in Korea is the sound of a deep hork of followed by a large goopy spit a common occurance

- delayed walk light signs... you know how you should be able to walk with the traffic that is going in the same direction… same holds true here only the walk light is quite delayed… also wherever there is a four direction intersection each group has their separate turn to go… which means waiting for the light takes a damn long time.

- “no tattoos, rings or low crotch look” Ron Robb. Interestingly, it is illegal to have tattoos when you are serving for the army… some men actually got tattoos right before it was time for them to go for their two year mandatory military service… they got out of it… but I believe this law has changed now… (tattoos are often perceived as being gang related)

- No street names—the city is divided in to numbered lot blocks… and that is how buildings are found in the city… as a foreigner this is odd… but it seems to work for them!

- We don’t tip in this country—some Koreans may even be offended if you offer them a tip

- Many Women’s Universities exist—we believe that this is because women in the work force is a relatively new thing well for the world but even more so for Korea.

-For Korean New year people do make the trek to their original towns and gather as a family. About 3.2 million people are on the road at this time of year… traveling by car can take three times as long as it would at any other time of year!

-The traditions consist of eating lots and bowing to ones elders (who usually give the children cash)…. Asssahhh!.... but not necessarily assahhh for the “grown ups” as they have to fork over money to their elders.

-We learned that one of our teachers actually as to pay her mother in law monthly as well as more at these special times of year. When asked why she told us that it was expected because this mother has raised such an excellent son for her to marry!!! The men don’t pay their wives mother’s for raising such a wonderful wife so it is another one of those unjustices against Korean women.

-There is a complete lack of coloured cars. Only black, silver, or white really exist.