After being here for almost a month, the differences in our cultures are becoming more and more evident. Aside from the obvious things, such as scooters being able to drive on the sidewalks when they are in a rush, there are other smaller details that we are beginning to notice.
One of the most apparent differences we have found is that it seems as though this is a society which greatly fears falling ill. Very often we see men and women walking the streets wearing a mask over their mouth, in order to filter the air that they breath. Further, if they do not have a mask available, some will simply cover their mouth and nose with their bare hand, or a scarf. Even to a more extreme extent, we will see some who choose to hold their breath when in crowded areas, such as the subway or elevator. Who knows, maybe they are onto something?
The other night we witnessed something very unusual, and it was not until a few days later that we realized what had happened. We were heading out in the evening, but as we exited the building we noticed that everything looked very different, almost as if the city had `changed`colours. We know this is a very difficult picture to explain, so perhaps its best if we compare it to an old faded black and white photo, which has taken on a yellowish tinge. After confirming that we were not in fact going crazy, we continued on our way, enjoying the ambiance of this phenomenon. However, we had our bubble burst today, as we were informed by some co-workers that the haze was actually a very unhealthy cloud of dust and sand winds that had blown in from the deserts of China. This will apparently happen up to ten times during the spring season, so we may be more cautious next time. Maybe we should invest in a mask of our own?
Aside from this, we`ve had a few interesting experiences on the subway, where we have felt the true meaning of living in a big city. We crammed ourselves into subway cars so tight that it`s a wonder we were able to breath. However, no matter how tightly it was packed, people would still shove and push recklessly to get their spot. We`ve also realized that you need to have a thick skin when living here, and not take it personally when someone shoves you in the back.
On Sunday we had the opportunity to visit a temple. There are many in the area, and we were unsure which was the best. However, we were both very surprised with how interesting it was to visit. There were guards in full uniform at the entrance, which we were able to take pictures with. We took a long walk through the massive area, and even had an opportunity to try on some of the traditional clothing they wore at the time. Check out our phtos to see!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The first weeks
Almost two weeks have passed since our arrival here in Seoul, and in that time we have certainly made a lot of progress. We have gone from feeling new and culture shocked to feeling more comfortable and settled.
uIn our first few days we ventured out to explore the city. As we were Unsure of how the subway system functioned, we felt that this may be a difficult task. Sure enough, the subway map we initially saw looked like a confusing system of lines and tracks (and Korean). As we stood and struggled to find our way, we were luckily approached by two teachers from the United States. They were happy to show us the ropes, and gave us a good break down of how the subway system worked. It is actually quite simple, and we have been taking advantage of the subway on a near daily basis.
So far we have travalled to Itaewon, the COEX center, Olympic Park and Meyongdong.
Itaewon is known in Korea as the foreigner district. There are many quaint shops and markets to be found in this area. The store owners are fairly aggressive in their sales approach, as one shop keeper physically pulled us into his store to look at his suits. As well, the night life in this area is very busy. We visited a pub named `The Rocky Mountain`, which is a Canadian themed bar. They had everything from wings and budweiser, to the Leafs game being played on the big screen. (although the game had been pre-recorded).
The COEX center is the largest underground mall in all of Asia. It is certainly a place where you could find anything. Along with all the shops and restaurants, there is a movie theatre, a casino, and an aquarium. We got to visit the aquarium, and see all the different animals (they had more than just fish, so the title was a tad misleading).
Olympic park was also very interesting to see. The venue had been kept in excellent condition, and the original signs from the 1988 olympics were still found all around. Although it was fun to see, we couldn`t help but feel shame for Canada, as this was the site of Ben Johnson`s famous 100 Metre race.
Meyongdong was a large outdoor shopping market. Sales were everywhere, and so were the people! The street was shoulder to shoulder, no matter where you turned. The locals refer to it as their own version of `time square`. Although it was fun to see, it`s not a place you can spend too much time without getting frustrated by the crowds.
School has been going well. We have began teaching, and are finding the days a bit long, but we know that in time we will adapt. The children aren`t that different from those we see in North America. They are cute, and full of energy, but still require a lot of attention. It is difficult sometimes to communicate with the students, since the younger ones know very little English. However, we hope in time this will get easier, and we will be successful in improving their English.
As far as shopping goes, grocery stores are very expensive for most items. Fruit and vegtables are exceptionally expensive, as we have found some items 4-5 times the price we would pay in Canada. In fact, we saw a watermelon for $40, so we wonder if they ever sell any of those...
Yesterday we ate out at an authentic Korean restaurant. We were accompanied by our school`s new director, whom is fluent in both Korean and English. It was very different, as we sat on the floor, cross legged, and ate with chopsticks. We had a dish called `kalbi`, which we cooked ourselves on a hotplate. We then wrapped the meat in a lettuce leaf, and garnished it with whichever toppings we pleased. It wasn`t too bad, although I`m sure it`s not for everyone.
Well we aren`t sure what we will be doing this weekend, but check out our pictures, hope you enjoy them!!
uIn our first few days we ventured out to explore the city. As we were Unsure of how the subway system functioned, we felt that this may be a difficult task. Sure enough, the subway map we initially saw looked like a confusing system of lines and tracks (and Korean). As we stood and struggled to find our way, we were luckily approached by two teachers from the United States. They were happy to show us the ropes, and gave us a good break down of how the subway system worked. It is actually quite simple, and we have been taking advantage of the subway on a near daily basis.
So far we have travalled to Itaewon, the COEX center, Olympic Park and Meyongdong.
Itaewon is known in Korea as the foreigner district. There are many quaint shops and markets to be found in this area. The store owners are fairly aggressive in their sales approach, as one shop keeper physically pulled us into his store to look at his suits. As well, the night life in this area is very busy. We visited a pub named `The Rocky Mountain`, which is a Canadian themed bar. They had everything from wings and budweiser, to the Leafs game being played on the big screen. (although the game had been pre-recorded).
The COEX center is the largest underground mall in all of Asia. It is certainly a place where you could find anything. Along with all the shops and restaurants, there is a movie theatre, a casino, and an aquarium. We got to visit the aquarium, and see all the different animals (they had more than just fish, so the title was a tad misleading).
Olympic park was also very interesting to see. The venue had been kept in excellent condition, and the original signs from the 1988 olympics were still found all around. Although it was fun to see, we couldn`t help but feel shame for Canada, as this was the site of Ben Johnson`s famous 100 Metre race.
Meyongdong was a large outdoor shopping market. Sales were everywhere, and so were the people! The street was shoulder to shoulder, no matter where you turned. The locals refer to it as their own version of `time square`. Although it was fun to see, it`s not a place you can spend too much time without getting frustrated by the crowds.
School has been going well. We have began teaching, and are finding the days a bit long, but we know that in time we will adapt. The children aren`t that different from those we see in North America. They are cute, and full of energy, but still require a lot of attention. It is difficult sometimes to communicate with the students, since the younger ones know very little English. However, we hope in time this will get easier, and we will be successful in improving their English.
As far as shopping goes, grocery stores are very expensive for most items. Fruit and vegtables are exceptionally expensive, as we have found some items 4-5 times the price we would pay in Canada. In fact, we saw a watermelon for $40, so we wonder if they ever sell any of those...
Yesterday we ate out at an authentic Korean restaurant. We were accompanied by our school`s new director, whom is fluent in both Korean and English. It was very different, as we sat on the floor, cross legged, and ate with chopsticks. We had a dish called `kalbi`, which we cooked ourselves on a hotplate. We then wrapped the meat in a lettuce leaf, and garnished it with whichever toppings we pleased. It wasn`t too bad, although I`m sure it`s not for everyone.
Well we aren`t sure what we will be doing this weekend, but check out our pictures, hope you enjoy them!!
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