Korean oddness? and Time to say goodbye

I live in an apartment complex. There are lots of people here. Well. Or korean people don't care about material things, or my neighbors are insane. Everyday I go down to my art class or just to walk over the neighborhood, I look at the rubbish cans and see a strange thing. My neighbors throw away brand new (I mean really brand new) beds and mattresses and computers, bags... wtf?! Maybe someday I'll find a bicycle... I really need one...
The nazi swastika symbol is used here on the budhist temples, and it has nothing to do with the Nazism. Actually, it means something good, or good luck.

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Time to say goodbye...
I've been here for three months, and I've learned and grown a lot. It's been a unique experience for me, words can't tell it. If anyone has an opportunity to go abroad like that, I'd say, grab it! ^^
I've made some good friends and I'll miss here so much T_T

"Now the bard songs are over
and it's time to leave..."

Korean habits?

Some korean do not like the number 4 at all. It's because its writing is very similar to the chinese manner of writing "die". So, korean don't like it. Some buildings, for instance, do not have the 4th floor. They name it the 5th instead. 1st floor, 2nd floor, 3rd, 5th, 6th...

South Korea blocks any kind of communication with North Korea. Even cyber. I've tried to access a North Korean website and it was redirected to a police statement. You can see the print of it in this post.

I don't know much about wedding habits in other countries, but in mine it's common to give houseware gifts, such as dishes or microwave. But here people give money to the groom and the bride on the wedding day. Usually, an amount from 50 to 100 wons, what is from 75 to 150 reais.

Some more curiosities

At Everland Resort

Ok, this one isn't from Korea, but from China. I haven't had the opportunity to go there yet, but I've been told a curious thing that might be disgusting for some foreigners. That is... chinese people spit on the ground all the time. Everywhere. And... well, that's it. =S

Now, back to South Korea, last week I tried really hard to find some shoes for me, but... impossible. The female shoe measure here is like from 200 to 250. Mine is about 265. The vender couldn't stop looking at my feet and saying how huge they were. But finally I found at least an All Star for me. ;)

 

Also... Korean (and I suppose japanese and chinese too) people think foreigners are too similar, the same way we think people with "small" eyes look so much alike.

 

At Everland Resort Safari

And for last... well, I guess it's not a rule, but some korean people use the wedding ring on the right hand, though I've seen some using on the left too. For what I know, in some Western countries, US, Ireland, Italy, France and Brazil, for instance, the wedding ring is used on the left hand, while in Germany, Russia, Poland and lots other it is worn on the right one.

Curiosities

Sunrise - from my bedroom window *-*

Crab food

It's been a month since I got here, and even so I still don't know everything about korean culture. Every week I learn something new. And there seems to be lots of things that may be odd for foreigners. Like, korean people burp while walking. I have seen many koreans burping anywhere on the streets. I know it's common in some countries to burp after the meals, but... where I come from, it is not polite. So it's been funny to me.

Another similar thing, also not polite in Brazil, is the habit of eating soup really noisily and talking while your mouth is full of food. It is common here.



At the beach - it's really cold and windy on the winter



Also, like in Brazil, car drivers are really angry. They're always honking at you anywhere with no apparent reason... haha

All these might seem bad or impolite to some foreigners, but remember culture is unique in each country. For instance, in Greek you must never wave your hand when saying hello, like in American style. It is very rude to greeks...

Wandering



Somewhere over Gyeongbok Palace



These days I've been wandering through South Korea, I could learn some more things. For instance, my host family had to go to Techno-Mart in Seoul so I went too. Surely it's a huge shopping area for electronics and stuff. I don't care about it very much, so I was just hanging around. Then I saw a DVD store and went crazy. Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Mr.Big, Guns 'n' Roses... Each one for 2 wons, that means 3 reais or almost 2 dollars. The saleswoman said they were all original. Of course it couldn't be, yet I bought'em. Then I saw they were almost the same as the original ones. If you take a fast look on'em, you won't ever see the difference. The only different thing is that there isn't a booklet inside the DVD case. If it weren't for this, I'd believe the woman. It was somewhat baffling.

Anyway, I kept hanging around with my host family in Seoul and I was surprised to see that there are lots of foreigners in South Korea. There is a district in Seoul called Itaewon where you can see lots of american and european people.

I went to Seoul Tower and to the Gyeongbok Palace. It was quite a sight. Anyone who's about to come to this country should put these on their list, especially Seoul Tower.



Sunset nearby Seoul Tower



Another thing I could see all these days I've been here was the habit of sharing the meals when eating in group. Also, I went to a korean restaurant and it was very different for me. First, I had to take my shoes off. Then, I had to deal with the fact that they seat on the floor. It really hurted my legs after a while, but it was a nice experience. Back in Brazil, I was vegetarian. But to adapt myself to where I'm living, I have to eat meat indeed.

For last, today is my birthday, and I'd be 18 in Brazil but I'm now 19 here. Korean count an extra year on ageing, for the time one were in their mother's womb. This is not just it, but I don't know what else makes it turn an extra year. I shall write about it again if I discover.

Well, see ya!

Korean Love



Matched clothes on sale



One of the first things I was amazed to observe when I got here was the korean way of loving someone. I don't know how it is in other countries, but in Brazil it's common to date when you're a teenager, even when you're 12. And it is even more common to see people kissing and making out anywhere.

In South Korea, things are very different. Boyfriends and girlfriends do not kiss each other in public. Only on the cheeks, and yet it is rare. In public, they only hold hands and hug each other, from what I saw.

Another thing, they use the same pattern of clothes. Like, if I was using a striped red shirt, so would be my boyfriend (if I had one haha). Pajamas, beach clothes, they always match the clothes. It is really cute.

Also, valentine's day is interesting here. On February 14th, the ladies give her sweetheart chocolate. One month later, it is celebrated the White Day, in which the lad pays the girl back with candies.

Things are really sweet here ^^

First impressions II

There are many interesting things about corean people that I can't just ignore.

Female toilet in Nakwon Arcade. It's not thus
everywhere, but it is common.

First, the smell. When sweating, they exhale a different smell from the one I know. It's due to the spicy food they're used to eat. From sandwich to pizza and from noodles to meat, everything is spicy.

Then, there is another interesting thing. When a corean gives or receive something, be it money, food or any other thing, they use both hands to hold the object, as in an offering. When not the both, the left hand holds the right arm, and the right hand gives or receives. It might be unpolite to use just one hand.

Also, when corean women laugh, they often cover their mouth with the hand.

When I arrived here, it was very cold, -15°C. When I entered a snack bar, the first thing they served me (and it's for free) was a hot water glass. It is common on winter and it was strange for me.

Streets of Seoul, at night

Another thing I observed was the fact that some couples use the same jacket, or the same pants. For instance, if a girl is with a scooby-doo sweater, so is her boyfriend. It is to symbolize that their love is strong. Cute, huh? =)