Korean Customs

This being my second time here, and after living in Japan for 6 years, you'd think I'd hardly take notice of Korean customs, but it's hard not to pay attention. For example, I am really distracted by the little 2nd floor outside area of the hospital across from the classroom I am in on Tuesday and Wednesday. There are several hospitals in the vicinity of our campus and it's not uncommon to see people walking in their pajamas in the park on our campus. It wasn't until I could see the deck of the hospital that I realized those pajamas are actually hospital issued, and those people are not just local residents, but patients in the hospital. What is really trippy though it to see guys sitting out on the deck garden hooked up to an IV and smoking cigarettes. I was watching yesterday and saw one guy with an IV, a guy with a broken arm, and another with a broken leg. What struck me first was that they were all smoking, and that they were still in the hospital and hadn't been sent home immediately like in the US.

The other custom that I remembered from my last trip, but had forgotten in the interim was the toothbrushing after lunch. Students walk around the hallway and into the restroom with toothbrushes sticking out of their mouths, foam seeping out the sides. It's great that toothbrushing is such a public affair. I even bought a little toothbrush with a mini tube of toothpaste in it's own little bag. Especially after eating kim chi with lunch, brushing your teeth makes sense.

People think nothing of kicking off their shoes in class and sitting cross-legged in their seats with their bare feet exposed (I'm jealous because I can't sit cross-legged).

Everyone says "nhe" - I'm not sure what it means, but I think it is a kind of "yes".

Drivers seem like they intend to hit pedestrians, even though it appears that pedestrians have the right of way.

Koreans don't "go Dutch" (or go American as some people say). Yesterday Sonja and I joined some students for lunch and one student paid for everything. All of our protesting was useless. It was his turn to pay and he told me it was "an honor".

When they give and receive things they use two hands. If they don't use two hands, one arm is bent at 45 degress so that that hand touches the elbow of the receiving or giving arm. My student told me this is done to show respect. I have started passing out handouts and receiving their journals more consciously than just throwing them at them like I usually do.

People walk on the backs of their shoes rather than putting them on completely, even women who are dressed to the nines can be seen with the straps of their shoes hanging loose.

Umbrellas are either put into plastic bags when you enter a restaurant, or left in a bucket at the door. They never carry wet umbrellas inside (whereas I'm afraid to leave mine because someone might steal it).

I'm sure there are many more and some of them even might be irritating. For now I am enjoying seeing the differences and trying my best to adjust. I've gotten pretty good at giving a little bow while still walking each time I enter and leave our dorm and say "anyonghaseyo" to the security guards.