We just returned from a trip to Seoul, Korea and I thought I would share a few observations.
For those of you who know me, you know I have a deep connection, but every trip serves to offer a few more insights, as well as reinforce old ones. And you need to know as you read through this, I really do love the place. It is a city of contrasts and life, and offers just about anything you are looking for, and maybe some things you weren't.
The cost of living has hit here like everywhere else. The cost of food, whether buying at a grocery store or eating out is more expensive, forcing people to make wiser choices. That doesn't stop the people from buying something, it just means that they have to compensate. When they want something more on one side, they give up something on the other.
Housing is almost prohibitively expensive, and their system of jeonse would freak out the average American. It would make coming here to live pretty difficult. Most of us don't have that sort of money ($500,000 plus) on hand. If you want a reasonable place to live, that's what its going to cost.
The food is one reason I love coming to Korea. I have accumulated a number of places and dishes that you can't get anywhere else. I have tried to find places in Arizona that are similar in some way, but nothing even comes close to measuring up (except maybe our house). So when I get the chance to come to Korea, I make sure I get all of my favorite spots at least once during my stay, while on the lookout to add to my list with another great place. The food is basically healthy and low in the bad stuff. Of course you can get your Big Mac, Whopper, KFC, Krispy Kreme, Papa Johns, etc., if you want, but with all the choices of great Korean style cuisine, why would you want to? I find that I don't even give these places a second look.
Driving here is only for the brave or mildly insane. Koreans give new meaning the the phrases "every man for himself" and "go for it." It seems to be a perpetual game of chicken, and I found myself wondering, why do they even bother painting lines on the road (and for that matter, traffic lights about half the time), because nobody pays them any attention. I've seen city busses run red lights. If there is nearly a car length between you and the car in front of you (and often even if there isn't), you can be sure someone will try to insert their car in it. They can be the best and the worst drivers I have ever seen, and all at the same time. And what we might call a California stop is time wasted waiting in one spot. I'm truly amazed there aren't more car accidents. It's a good thing guns aren't allowed in Korea, but horns are used with enthusiasm.
There are about a zillion motorcycles there of varying sizes, primarily used for transporting goods and food. From what I observed, there is no place where they won't drive, including the wrong direction down a busy street, sidewalks, and threading the needle between cars. It's more like two-wheeled anarchy, and they use their horns freely to tell YOU (the pedestrian) to get out of the way. Although there are traffic laws for motorcycles, I've never witnessed a cop citing one for anything.
Their use of technology and connectivity is far beyond the USA. They find it hard to believe that people in America still use any sort of dial-up, or low speed service. Our average internet speed is slow compared to theirs, and actually more expensive to boot.
Nearly everyone in Seoul has some sort of smart phone and it seems like they (especially kids and young adults) are connected almost continuously. To me this can be rather annoying, since they hardly look up to see where they are going when walking down the street. I observed a lot of young people only have one free hand, because their smart phone is usually in the other.
In one case, I was riding the bus (actually standing, because the bus was a little crowded), and an elderly lady got on. A young guy purposely stared into his phone, trying to look too busy to notice the lady could have been given his seat... so she stood next to him while he played with his smart phone. I guess manners and reverence for age in not as universal in Korea as is led to believe, or times for stuff like this has changed. If it was my seat to give, I would unquestionably got up and offered it to her. As I have seen in the USA, Korea is no different. It's "all about me", and I was here first, so manners and respect are dying out all over. Maybe I was just brought up in a different time and place.
I am definitely a guy who appreciates the female form. I'm not outwardly overt about it, but I do enjoy the view as much as the next guy, and just keep it to myself. The woman in Korea set the bar high, as attractiveness and sophistication is measured (just my personal opinion, I assure you, but based on many, many years of observational experience). You see no overly amply exposed muffin-tops, although I'm sure there might be an exception out there somewhere. The women there appear to be more conservative, and quite conscious of their outward appearance, taking to time to look good, if even going to the corner bakery for a loaf of bread. There are no Walmart people types to witness in Korea (although I'm sure they probably exist), but in the time I was there, I never saw anything close. There maybe one in 20 that they would consider overweight here, but by our standards, they are still reasonably proportioned. I think times are changing slowly though. With the introduction of KFC, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, etc, etc, the overall Americanized diet is creeping into the Korean diets, so it's just a matter of time before we begin to see its effects, but for now it's a girl watching Shangri-la, and life is good.
If you appreciate a great pair of legs, there is no place better. I would venture to say that after a few days, you might be a leg-man convert in short order. Fashion styles have changed over the years, but short skirts always seem to be in style there (and getting shorter, if that's possible), making the supply of shapely legs an ever present display. Is it any wonder I love to get out and walk around. It's a miracle my head doesn't spin completely around sometimes. There are some who see issues. Check out this report from March 2013.
I am just a guy after all. When I stop looking, you might as well fill in the hole, because I have probably died.
Koreans are quite brand conscious, and the more famous the brand, the more exposure it seems to get. Actors and actresses, and models from America are in many of their advertisements, promoting cars, clothing, alcohol, what-have-you. Places like the Hyundai and the Shinsegae Department stores are something wild to behold. Nothing we have (that I have seen) measures up. Of course out of 11 floors in the Hyundai Department store, six of them are fully dedicated to women's fashions and three of them are for groceries and restaurants. Guys, kids, and the rest of the stuff they sell get the rest of the floors. I guess we know now why women there look so good.
I continued to work out while we were there, and would jog several miles in the early mornings. We were staying next to a fairly upscale part of town, and I would always get a chuckle (and I felt a little strange) as this older guy dressed in sweats, would jog through this section of the city, passing shops you might find in Beverly Hills, including a Rolls Royce dealership. Stranger in a strange land to be sure.
I guess that about sums up my latest visit. The family time there was the best, and getting to know the new generation of the family is always fun. Being the only non-Korean on that side of the family has its downside to be sure, because I tend to get left out of some conversations. However, the rewards of the little smiles and playtime with them, and visits with good friends makes it all worth the effort, and I look forward to the next opportunity to travel that way.
Cheers! :o)
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