Culture Shock!

So I guess I’m not good at keeping up with this blog thing. Sorry guys. I’ll try to do better. This post is a bit short, but I promise the next post will be longer and with pictures.

I was in the mist of writing a post about my glimpse into North Korea last weekend, but that will have to wait because I want to share my experience about my first real culture shock today. 

I was walking to the subway station from church when I heard a loud noise. I looked across the street to see that a guy had crashed/fallen off his delivery bike. He slowly dragged himself to the sidewalk where he then curled up in a ball holding his leg. No one moved to help him. No one took out their phone. People stared and pointed. After a few good long minutes I saw two kind souls on the ground with him. If I had minutes on my phone I would have called the police with my broken Korean. In Georgia, I witnessed a sports car flip over and a herd of people ran to help person in the car, and about a dozen of cars pulled over to call for help. Here, in Seoul, it was as if no one cared. It was a bit disturbing to this Southern American girl. 

Hostels and Clubs

South Korea represents a lot of firsts for me. The first few nights in South Korea I guess kind of set the tone of my experience here.

1) My first night in a hostel

Those who read my first blog know that I arrived a day early and a kind lady helped me find a hostel to stay at my first night. I stayed in a four-person FEMALE dorm, but only had one roommate for the night. She was also an American exchange student who took classes over the summer. She helped me find a place to eat dinner and then we went back to the hostel. ( I was too tired to explore ) Well an hour or two later, one of the workers barges into the room. No knock or “Hey I’m coming in!” Or anything. He just simply puts the key into the lock and turned the doorknob. He then proceeds to tell us he has to “fix the router” which is oh so conveniently in our room. He exits the room leaving the door wide open and as soon as I close the door, he bursts right on in again this time bringing another worker with him. Both of them take the liberty to lie all over my roommate’s bed. The room wasn’t very big to begin with, so it really became crowded when the two ahjussies (Korean word for middle aged man) took over the room. 

It was one of those defining moments where you ask yourself "What is going on in my life right now?"  

I’m not really sure what they think of foreigners if they assume its okay to barge into the other genders room without knocking or asking permission. In America, that wouldn’t be okay. They would have likely been threatened.

I came to this country thinking it was a very conservative country. I guess conservative is a relative term.

2) Clubs

.Sayyy what??!! CC went to a club?!

 My second night here, there was a welcoming party for all the exchange students in Seoul.  I joined a group of people who wanted to go to the party. We had a nice Korean BBQ dinner, and then decided to wait out the Welcoming Party because there was a special discount after midnight.  After dinner, we went to Club Maad. Now, for those who know me, know that clubbing/partying isn’t exactly my cup of tea…but since I’m in a different country I decided to give it a try. The club was small, and dark with very flashy lights that hurt my eyes and gave me an instant headache. There were more international students rather than Koreans. People were drinking, smoking, and yelling in each other ears. Not exactly my ideal place to meet people.  Honestly, all I wanted to do was go back to my room, turn on a nice Korean drama and go to sleep. 

I was happy when it hit midnight and we left the small crowded club and headed towards the welcoming party, only to find out the welcoming party was yet another club that was even more crowded and weren’t allowing people in.

So that was my clubbing experience. I went, I saw, I left. Never again. I much rather watch Japanese anime in my dorm room with my roommate.  That’s my ideal of fun.

God is with me in South Korea

Welcome to my Journey in South Korea. I think what is significant in any journey is the beginning of the journey. This post is a bit long, but is a really important aspect of my trip to South Korea.

After a 14 and a half hour cramped, stuffy plane ride, I landed at the Incheon airport in South Korea at 4:30 in the morning on August 29^th.  But wait, that’s wrong… I was supposed to land Friday morning on the 30^th so my friend could pick me up. Apparently me nor my parents or my Korean friend knew how to calculate the International dateline.

I remember gazing wild – eyed at the fluorescent sign above the baggage claim stating the time and date. “Is it really Thursday the 29^th?” I asked the blonde woman beside me. She looked at me a bit strangely and replied “Yes.” I told her my situation and she directed me to the Korean Air desk.

Well that’s freaking awesome. I arrived on the wrong date and had no way to call or contact my friend. I had no idea how to reach the university … after all this was my first time by myself in a foreign country.  I waited for my luggage and prayed.. “Please Lord help me figure all this out… please let everything come together under your will.”  Not even a full minute after my silent prayer, the blonde woman from earlier walked up to me and asked where I was going. “Seoul.” I answered.  “Great I am headed that way too, why don’t you take a taxi with me to my hotel, we’ll eat breakfast together, and then call your friend and figure out what to do from there.”  I hesitated for a split second,  Mom’s warning repeating in my head “ Don’t trust strangers” but rather than feeling apprehensive, I felt calm and at ease. I knew right then that this tall blonde American woman was my answer to prayer.

We took an hour long taxi ride from Incheon to Seoul. We had a nice cab driver who spoke excellent English with a bit of a French accent. ( No, I don’t understand how that works either)

We arrived at a fancy hotel where I spent most of my day in the lounge. The clerks held on to my luggage and helped me call my friend.  With the help of my kind companion and the hotel clerk I managed to find a hostel for the night.

My answer to prayer was a woman from LA, a believer, who comes to Korea twice a year for business. I have not spoken to her since that day but I will always remain grateful for her kindness and generosity. God’s presence was definitely felt the day I landed in this beautiful, vibrant country.

In my next post I will tell you about my first few nights in Seoul.

Cheers.

(This was the view from the hotel, my first morning in Seoul)