Dan & Catt - Random thoughts (Part 1)

Here's a bunch of stuff that wouldn't make an entire post on it's own.

• You order a cheese pizza here, there's going to be corn in it. No, I don't care if it clearly states "Cheese Pizza", there's going to be corn.
• For a Korean being at your desk = hard working. When they say they're a hardworking people they tend not to mention that. This is also why they expect you to come to school when you're sick.
• When ordering delivery if you speak even a little English 95% of restaurants will hang up on you.
• When ordering delivery they may actually give you bowls and metal utensils. You're not expected to keep these, you place them outside your door when you are done and the delivery employee comes and grabs them.
• Most websites in Korea require Internet Explorer. This was due to a really dumb government decision a decade ago involving the requirement of ActiveX. It was repelled three years ago but most Korean based websites (Banks) still require it.
• Kimbap is cheap. Really cheap. Catt and I had two whole rolls, enough for a dinner. It cost 2700 won (a little under $3).
• Marriage in Korea: Rings are not a big deal. The husband is supposed to buy a house with his own money, the woman is supposed to buy furniture with her own money. 
• The eldest child is supposed to take care of the parents when they cannot take care of themselves. This leads to many women actually preferring the younger siblings because they do not have that responsibility. 
• Spitting in the streets is common, especially among men. I've also heard that it's common to pee in the streets off to the side, but I have not seen it yet.
• When talking about North Korea, most Koreans are not fearful, but instead solemn and sad. It was only three generations ago that the families split. If war breaks out many males will be drafted to serve, regardless of their current job.
• Starcraft and PSY are no longer cool. League of Legends and BEAST are in.
• Taking an interest or demonstrating knowledge in Korean culture, no matter how small, goes miles and miles. 
• Most places (businesses, apartments) do not have keyhole locks. They have keypads. It's pretty nice not to have to worry about keys, honestly.
• A lot of snacks here are honey flavored. 
• No tipping. At all. Taxi cabs, waiters, haircutter; nope. Many will be extremely confused when you hand them a tip.
• Korean drinking is a lot different than other countries. It's always a social activity, ordered with food. You sit around a table and serve other people before serving yourself. The elders always get first pick. Never ever ever pour your own drinks. Always pour someone else's. And god help you if you refuse anything from a higher-up.
• When handing anything, use both hands (left hand under the forearm, like it's propping it up). When shaking hands do the same, or drape your left hand over your stomach.
• If it's got red specks, it's probably a little spicy.
• Korean food is awesome. Favorite food so far: Bibimbap. Honorable mentions: Tteokbokki, Kimbap. 
• Every meal is served with rice and a variant of kimchi. 
• Going in, native Koreans have very, very low expectations of English teachers. Requirements have steepened over the last few years, but there are many, many English teaching jobs in Korea and demand is too high to be stingy. Thankfully I say I've met probably over a hundred other teachers in the last month and I can count on one hand the number that made me go "Really? Why are you here?" (and if we're facebook friends, don't worry, I'm not talking about you :P).
• Koreans are generally extremely generous, especially with food. I heard someone saying it's a holdover from the Korean War when food was more scarce, but take that with a grain of salt.
• Many Koreans are embarrassed to speak English, although they do try. The best way to fluster a Korean is to compliment them.
• Don't apologize.  Koreans rarely apologize.
• Don't say "bless you" when someone sneezes.  It's just not acknowledged here.  
• ALWAYS bow to someone older than you/higher up than you.  I made this mistake once, oops.
• Don't be offended when they ask your age.  They just want to establish who the elder is for the conversation.
• Eat everything offered.  Or at least try it.  It's very rude to not at least try some.  
• Koreans are very concerned with what you eat in general.  Be prepared to recount all of your meals in the last 24 hours at any given time.
• Koreans will mention your weight and size.
• Need to buy something for Chuseok? Why not a big gift bag of spam for about 50k won?
• Gifts are encouraged.  Even small ones.  It shows you care in a big way.
• Don't come here if you like to stick to "gluten free" or "vegan" diets or any other special diet for that matter.  Well, I mean come, but don't expect to stay on diet for long.  They rarely even acknowledge vegetarians here.  Being gluten free is gaining more popularity but its nothing compared to the US.
• There's still a very anti-Japan sentiment here for their actions during WW2 (and their lack of acknowledgement to it since).
• Everyone in South Korea that drives seems to feel the rules and signs are just suggestions. I see a red light run just about every day (when there is no oncoming traffic, of course), lots of cutting off and such. Parking? I don't think there are designated zones: people will literally just pull up on the sidewalk and park their car. Most every street here is driveable, but many of them are one-lane with no right of way. And scooters go wherever the hell they want to go: Sidewalks, streets, whatever. If I die here it'll be by a scooter accident.
• Shopping bags are not a given at the big supermarkets. You are supposed to bring your own, though they do have ones you can grab (or even boxes). 
• Shopping carts at big supermarkets have a coin slot you put 100 won into to unlock it from the chain. When you're done lock it back up and get your 100 won back.
• Principals give their teachers gifts at major holidays! I got some expensive looking cooking oil.

In the end, Korea is a developed, first world country. There are slight differences here and there, but the people here are the same as the people in any other first world country. They want to live their lives, raise their families and get income to support both those dreams. They like shopping, movies, video games and have a subway system. The women fuss about their appearance and the men like to watch sports. Advertisements bombard the senses and people cry way too often in their soaps. It's a little odd but even on the other side of the world, on a basic level day-to-day life behaves the same as in the US. 

Anything you want us to expand on? Leave a comment!