Katrina in Korea: Habits to break starting tomorrow.

whoisjing:

katrinasgotseoul:

• Handing items like bank cards, drinks, scissors, anything to people using both hands and a small bow.
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• Bowing to people I know in cars. Bowing in general.
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• Sucking my teeth at every small annoyance or frustration.
• Using “Assa!” “Aishh!” “Chinchaaa” and any other random Korean words/phrases I’ve adopted into my vocabulary.
• Leaving my bags unattended in public spaces while I stand in line, go to the bathroom, etc. without a thought about it. Yesterday I left my bag containing my wallet, passport, and other valuables outside on a table for about ten minutes before realizing I can’t do that starting tomorrow. 
• Going into full-on Korean mode and thinking nothing of using my heft to push people around in subways or buses lest they step on me first. I have adopted the ajumma habit of shove or be shoved.
• Reading anywhere I please. I so enjoy being blissfully unaware of what people are saying around me. I can read peacefully in any public place because even if there is a loud conversation nearby, I can’t understand it!
• Relying on public transit to get me anywhere I need to go. I have traveled all over Korea. I’ve been to rural areas and explored Seoul up and down only using public transit. Having a car will be a necessity in the US for me and I am not really looking forward to it. While public transportation can take longer, not having to worry about traffic or directions makes life so easy.
• What else? Other ex-Korea dwellers, what say you?

This won’t apply to me until next week but here are mines: 

• Having to carry toilet papers and hand sanitizers everywhere. You might find bathrooms everywhere but not toilet papers.
• To not ask for an ashtray inside the bars or restaurants. I did that when I went home and looked like a fool. I need to get used to not smoking at any indoor places or smelling like BBQ and smoke after eating at a restaurant. This might help me to quit!
• To be concise of what time it is and heading home at a certain time before it becomes “dangerous.” I’m gonna miss walking to my place at 3/4/5 am and still feel pretty safe.
• Using SO MUCH hand gestures while I talk to explain something.
• Speaking of so much hand gestures, using broken English and speaking slower than usual to talk or explaining something.
• Think about how much I’m ordering, especially when it comes to food, because it’s not gonna be $10 each -__-;;
• Being mindful for when I take the bus again. Here, it’s not too bad when you miss the bus because the next one will come in between 5-10 mins. Back home, the next one will be either 30-45 mins. Oy!

… That’s all I can think about now. 

한국 생활…

1. joelie-bailey reblogged this from katrinasgotseoul
2. melodym answered: I am very excited to have you home. And I hope you find having a car is not so much of a necessity.
3. hotyellowfellows answered: Making X’s with fingers.
4. barbiefaced liked this
5. golfcake liked this
6. jchogray reblogged this from whoisjing and added:

   한국 생활…

7. le-sob liked this
8. dimmyjenfield liked this
9. driventolive liked this
10. mllehazelwood said: Also, is there no crime whatsoever? This is crazy.
11. mllehazelwood liked this
12. the-hurricane-k-reigns-here liked this
13. whoisjing reblogged this from katrinasgotseoul and added:

    This won’t apply...me until next week but here are mines: Having

14. mllehazelwood answered: I didn’t realize you were leaving already. Must go back and read up on your blog. Where are you going in the US now?
15. katrinasgotseoul posted this