I realize that I throw quite a bit of information on this blog-but most of it completely unrelated to the “inner-workings” of Korea. I have yet to touch on language, population, and the art of travel in this foreign land. For example, when I say I went to hang out with Jackie in Seoul this weekend, it involves so much more than just jumping in my car and driving the 1.5 hours North.
Let us begin with my new hometown, Seosan (so-sahn). Seosan is considered to be the Korean equal of Bremen, Indiana…small town that no one has heard of. However, since Korea is the third most densely populated country in the world-Korean perception of small town is a bit askew. The population of Seosan is 150,000 people (<50 foreign), contains countless restaurants/bars, shops, flower shops, beauty parlors, a large market, art gallery, movie theater, bowling lanes, shooting ranges, batting cages, mountains for climbing, parks, and so much more! I am becoming comfortable in my little corner of town, but find myself discovering wonderful hideaways almost daily. This town is the perfect size to keep me busy, but quiet enough to be able to relax after a long day. Most weekends I take the 1.5 hour journey on the very comfortable Express Bus from the Seosan bus terminal to Seoul-the second largest metropolitan area in the world. There is absolutely no way I will ever see all of Seoul during my one year in Korea, it is massive. I do my research and talk to friends to make sure I visit places of most interest, and make sure not to miss a great concert, current exhibit, or festival. Public transportation is user friendly for the most part, and is my only way around this country. Upon arriving to Gangnam, Seoul by bus I must now tackle the subway to continue toward my destination.
The Seoul subway map is almost like and evil trick. At first glance I thought I might have accidentally grabbed the wiring system for the mars rover. The subway consists of 14 lines, each color-coded with distinctively different colors to alleviate confusion: the blue line, the dark-blue line, the light-blue line, the blue and yellow line, two aqua lines, the green line, the olive line, the gold line, the brown line, the orange line, the purple line, the pink line, and the yellow line (without the blue). Thank goodness I’m not blue-green colorblind, I would be completely lost in this serpentine grid. The subways are always packed to the max with old women pushing their way through, businessmen reeking of soju at 2 in the afternoon, and aimlessly wondering people with map in had mouthing FML. Honestly though, if I know where I need to go and I can pronounce the difference between Seolleung, Seongnee, Sinpung, Singil, Sangsu, Sinchon, Sameong, and Samseoung…I can arrive to my destination without a problem!
Now for a vocab lesson (the extent of mine anyway):
Hello- annyonghaseyo
Goodbye-annyonghikyeseyo
Thank You-kamsahamnida
Yes-ne
No-aniyo
How much is it?-olmayeyo
Come here-yogio
My name is….-cheirumun…imnida
Teacher-songsaengnim
Beer-maekchu
Cheers!-konbae
Obviously this is not the easiest language to learn to pronounce. There are some funny gagging noises in the alphabet that I haven’t quite mastered, nor care to!
Other random facts:
Kimchi-the staple/signature “food” of Korea. Although there are many types of kimchi, they all go by the same name. The ingredients are simple: vegetables, usually cabbage, red pepper sauce, other random crap from your garden and/or spice cabinet, then let the fermenting process take place. Kimchi is served with EVERY meal at EVERY restaurant, even the TGI Friday’s!
The currency unit in South Korea is the won. Although rare, the largest paper denomination is W50,000 (slightly larger than US$50). My wallet is overly crowded with W10,000, W1,000, and I already have quite a stash of coins in my cabinet.
Recycling and separating trash is the law as part of the government’s efforts to encourage recycling. I do my best with my household rubbish-but usually I just sneak my trash out at night while no one is watching rather than sorting through everything.
Koreans are obsessively superstitious. For example, the number 4 sounds like one of the Chinese characters for ‘death’ (samang), resulting in the elimination of the 4th floor in many buildings. If you right someone’s name in red ink, it is associated with death. I made this mistake in class and my students freaked out! I had no idea what the deal was until much later. On a positive note, if you dream about a pig, you will have good luck!
