adaptation

I have now been in Korea for nearly two months. The time is flying. Even though I am still considered to be a "newbie", I have realized that I am rapidly adapting to life in Korea. When I think about some of the strange things I encountered when I first arrived, I chuckle at how normal they have become. At this pace I'll be coming home acting like a huge goober. Here is a list of changes already being made within my first couple months:

I no longer bother picking corn off my cheese pizza.

My apartment is no longer small-it’s quite cozy.

I have graduated from wooden chopsticks, and can now grasp a single noodle with stainless sticks!

What is a fork? Sounds like a foreign object.

I no longer have leg cramps from sitting cross legged on the floor.

I have considering buying a knitted, sequinned, Disney character sweater.

Korean cops no longer look like boy scouts.

I am immune to the smell of "the kimchi breath."

My back is sore from bowing.

I walk down the street holding hands with my Korean friends.

I am no longer frightened when the cab driver makes a left turn looking only to the right.

I look forward to the Lunar New Year.

I realize that it is safer to "J" walk than use a pedestrian crosswalk.

I’ve crawled back into my house to get forgotten items, rather than take my shoes back off and walk on the floor with shoes on.

I caught myself humming the tune the crosswalk signal lights/subways play.

I believe that I can blend into a large crowd of Koreans.

I select shoes based on how easily you can get them on and off.

I answer "Nhe" even when speaking English to non-Korean friends.

I don't freak out when the salad arrives with octopus legs still wiggling on top of it.

I am no longer embarrassed when old ladies are standing in a bus while I am sitting down.

I have a favorite Korean commercial.

Seaweed and beer is a decent combo (although, I have caught myself with a few wine/cereal combos back home).

A roll of toilet paper at the dinner table no longer confuses me.


purse update: The police are aggressively investigating the "case". If they catch the thief and he is foreign, he will be deported immediately. It is becoming an extremely long/drawn out process to replace the money in my bank account.