Korea is Real

Real crazy, that is! ZING! I still got it.

But seriously, I've totally been here for, like, three days, and every morning when I wake up, Korea is still there. Right outside my window.

 All those cars are Hyundais.

At this point, I still have to remind myself that I am actually in a different country. One where I where I don't speak any of the language past "Hello" and "Thank you," much less read any of it. Since Shawn and I arrived in here, we've been taking part in the EPIK Orientation program at Eulji University in Seongnam City (look it up if you want). Don't get me wrong, the orientation is great. EPIK does an awesome job of taking care of us - setting us up in dorms, feeding us, getting us introduced to teaching, and basically trying to prepare us for what we're about to get ourselves into. They even gave us an awesome gift bag.

 

But it's also pretty insulating. On campus everyone speaks English, even the Koreans. All the signs are in English. We had french fries at lunch today (along with rice and kimchi, of course). I have to constantly remind myself that once orientation is over, I will be the only one speaking English. All of the signs will be in hangeul (the Korean alphabet). I can probably still eat french fries, but only at McDonald's, which I have yet to see, incidentally.

Luckily, Korea is still right outside my window. Once I step off campus, I'm in Korea. Which is why Shawn and I have been taking several walks up and down the street lately, watching people, taking pictures, trying to decipher signs, and even venturing to partake in some authentic local cuisine.

We're totally sitting on the floor.

We had no idea what we were ordering. Just point to a picture of the cheapest thing on the menu and out comes some kimchi, two bowls of boiling soup containing an indeterminable meat, and a tray of fixins. After chowing down, we did a little research and found out we just experienced sundaeguk, or blood sausage soup. Mmmm! It probably won't be my first choice at the next meal, but it was a good experience. Every outing in Korea is a good experience (so far anyway). Interacting with people, despite a total language barrier. Both parties overwhelmed with joy when one even attempts some rudimentary translation, and even moreso when a mutual understanding is attained, which it almost always is (so far anyway).

I'm very grateful for the preparation and resources that EPIK is providing for us at this orientation. I would have been totally overwhelmed to get off the plane and be thrown into the new world without any transition. But I also think that it's good to learn by doing, and I'll be happy to get out and decipher the real Korea. 

Although, there will probably be some things that I'll never understand. Like this commercial: