1. Couples. Everywhere. I mean anywhere you look. And you can be certain they are a couple by their hand holding and PDA. But if you weren’t sure, you might be able to tell by their matching shirts, pants, shoes, or even hair color.
I feel like this is the result from all of the kdramas.. Korean media focuses on love and relationships which I assume is what influences the culture and the mindset of teenagers/college students (which seem to be the mass age group of the couples). Whereas in America, independency is celebrated and I’m jamming to Single Ladies.
2. There are hardly any public trash cans. Now this irks me! I don’t want to litter but I also don’t want to hold a cup dripping of 떡복이 sauce for an hour (true story, it got on my shoe).
3. But, Koreans are incredibly sustainable with their trash. So upon moving into the dorm, we had to go out and buy two different kinds of trash bags. One for food waste and one for trash. Then there is plastic/paper, which goes into any kind of bag. So we have three trash cans under the sink. Did that make sense? Then downstairs we have to throw it out in different places. Its more work but also really smart; America needs to take a couple notes. (ALSO, you have to pay for plastic bags at store and they are 50 cents! So I opt on carrying it a lot and now start carrying reusable bags)
4. Food is CHEAP! A lot more cheaper than America. Street food ranges from $1-$3, and can be a meal. An average meal might be $6-$8. I got a bowl of jajangmyun at a restaurant for 4,000 won, which is really $3.50 in U.S. dollars.
5. There are no dryers, we hang dry everything. My dorm just has a washer. I think this is common for Asian countries. It’s more work, but again pretty smart and sustainable. Why do we need a fancy dryer when wet things can just dry naturally from being out?
6. Cafes everywhere. And I’m from Portland where we have coffee shops on every block. This is like 5 coffee shops per block. It amazes me how they can stay in business when there is so much competition and their interiors are so nice. (but the drinks are expensive!! This kiwi juice was 6,000 won (~$6).
7. Make up stores, everywhere. This goes hand in hand with the desire to look really nice, all the time. It is rare to see anyone outside without any makeup on. And you’ll come to see all of the make up (and hair and clothing) is done very similarly.
8. Which leads me to say that all Koreans kind of look the same. Yup.
9. There seems to be a certain level of trust amongst people. There are many street vendors that leave their clothing out in the open or food outside without anyone watching it, and my first thought is that someone could steal it. But I don’t think people would here. People here seem to be pretty respectful and fair, at least in my short experience thus far.
10. Mosquito bites, watch out for them. They nasty. My perfume has become bug spray, but it smells pretty nice.