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Published: March 24th 2010
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Training has been overwhelming. But I have promised myself some time away from training/studying. Yesterday I spent that time in the gym. Which was nice for many reasons but none more significant than it gave me an opportunity to be surrounded by english. From stationary bikes to treadmills, to machines to free weights- all were in english. So, for today's time off I will return to my blog.
This, I hope, will be the first installment of a random series of blogs that are less formal. We will call this Jake's View- great name for a column. In this particular series I will discuss random notes that I take down or cultural differences I notice from time to time. I hope to create a list of oddities that I have discovered over the course of my stay here in Korea. Since seeing is believe I hope to incorporate as many pictures as possible.
For this first installment of Jake's View will begin with some notes from Hooters.
Now going to Hooters in the first place is a bit interesting for the obvious reasons, but when doing so in a new country it tends to be
a bit more weird. It is not a place I frequent in the States, but it made it through a list of criteria that Bethany and I had set up after our first meal in Korea. 1.) A place that is not Korean. 2.) A place where you could order from an English menu and therefor get what you order.
First thing I notice when entering Hooters, besides the obvious lack of hooters, is that the place is EMPTY. No one is there. It is a very large restaurant which could fit 200+ people comfortably. The 5 people there, besides us were Americans. Reviewing the menu I decided to order something that cannot be screwed up: boneless wings and cheese fries. Pretty simple, and a lot more simple if you figure in me trying to order a bacon cheese burger plain. Bethany order the Caesar salad (with honey mustard dressing, naturally) and a water. Of course, since I did NOT order water, water was not given to me, naturally. And of course when our food arrived I ended up with traditional wings (w/bones) and fries with NO cheese, naturally. I decided that since our waitress did not understand
Photo b II
Oscar from El Paso was not hurt while taking this picture. my original she would not understand my request for what I originally ordered. So, a ate my waterless meal of wings and fries.
1. Tipping at restaurants or any other places that you would normally tip in the States, is extremely uncommon. No tips.
2. Everyone smokes in public. Besides women. On our way to training in the morning I see around 100 men smoking outside of various buildings but never have I seen one women smoking.
3. It is taboo to sit on a subway train when the following persons are standing: a shepherd, a pregnant women, someone with an obvious leg injury, or a Siamese-twin. See photo a.
4. Showcased on the ceiling of a subway entrance there is a picture of the Baitoushan volcano (or whatever is left of it). This is the site of one of the largest volcanic explosions the world has ever seen. The explosion in 1000 AD left more than 150 cubic kilometers of ash. St. Helens left 1 cubic kilometer of ash. This area is also known as the birthplace of Korea. The only reason I mention all of this is because the volcano is located in North
Korea. See photo b.
5. Korean ads are
somewhat straight forward. See photo c.
6. It is interesting for the first time in my life I am living as the minority. It is strange and I'm not sure what to think about the common feeling I get when I actually see someone that is obviously not Korean. I want to immediately run up to them and ask them where they are from and talk to them. Am I slightly racist or do we have an innate need to communicate and need to feel that we are in familiar company. I pass nearly 1,000 people each day on my way to training and 99.9%!o(MISSING)f them I cannot communicate with and therefor cannot find the worldly similarities, besides the obvious similar physical characteristics (which don't seem so obvious anymore- since I am a foot taller than most men). It is nonetheless interesting insight being the minority.
7. We just ate at TGIFridays. No people in there either. Interesting meal though, as I have never had a burger that originated in three totally different continents. See photo d.
8. Korean females are VERY affectionate toward their friends. Holding
Photo d
Bacon from France, meat from Australia, and rest from Korea? arms, hands, even massaging palms are common and not seen as awkward. How odd? Affection that is welcomed, not laughed at or frowned upon.
9. Where affection begins with touching of arms and hands it ends with eye contact. Eye contact is not a norm and I feel that sometimes I am invisible on the subway as no one will ever just look me in the eye.
10. Apparently the "23th" is interchangeable with the "23rd." See photo e.
11. History knows no language barrier. See photo f.
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marielle
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*I laughed out loud to point 3, a shepherd. *I read your first entry out loud to Oma/Opa/my mom and pop. I will add your blog to their favorites so they can keep up too! *This is so fun!!!