This is the start of a mini series on traffic and various motor vehicles. I’ll start with what I’ve observed to be the most important rules of the road. Many of these rules will be elaborated upon in future blogs.
1.) There is a hierarchy of vehicles based on assertiveness. Buses are at the top of the food chain. Next in line are taxis. Finally there is everyone else.
2.) Checking your blind spot or merely looking before pulling out is completely optional. Assertive drivers will beep to indicate that they won’t stop for you. Passive drivers will slow down and move out of the way.
3.) While in Korea, I’ve heard the horn beep in every ride I’ve ever taken anywhere. Horns aren’t tools of road rage; they are communication tools to establish assertiveness. Horns are typically used by oncoming traffic to indicate that someone is or could be in the way. Despite all the horn beeping I’ve never seen any outward display of anger in the form of hand gestures or glares.
4.) Traffic lights only provide a suggestion to stop.
5.) Scooters and small motorcycles can drive anywhere they want.
6.) Seatbelts are optional.
Thanks for reading!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
White Rice
There is a lot of Korean etiquette that foreigners are never aware of violating because it isn’t discussed. Koreans don’t often seem outwardly offended by our breaches of politeness. They just shrug it off and think, “foreigner.”
My co-teacher at Tosan, Mr. Yang, is often telling me interesting bits of history and customs in Korea. Today he began my education with a casual conversation starter, “Do you like bibimbap?” Mr. Yang must have known I’d say yes. I’ve never met a single person who doesn’t like this rice dish topped with vegetables and an egg. Before bibimbap is eaten, everything is stirred well and seasoned to taste with a spicy red sauce.
My co-teacher told me that he also likes bibimbap, but he always feels guilty when he eats it. Mr. Yang informed me that apart from bibimbap, it is traditional not to mix food in Korea out of respect for the cook. His grandfather used to hit my co-teacher on the head with a wooden spoon if he didn’t keep his rice white throughout the meal. We both laughed at each other.
Eight months into being here I find out that it is impolite to pinch my rice with my kimchi, seaweed, sesame leaf or other side dish. I wonder what else I don’t know. Some of my kids have looked at me, pointed, and giggled at the way I pinch kimchi with my rice. I didn’t think anything of it though because kids universally don’t like mixing their food, and the students are always laughing at me so nothing seemed unusual. I had noticed that the adults rarely pinch their rice with other food, but it never occurred to me that it was an etiquette issue.
My co-teacher at Tosan, Mr. Yang, is often telling me interesting bits of history and customs in Korea. Today he began my education with a casual conversation starter, “Do you like bibimbap?” Mr. Yang must have known I’d say yes. I’ve never met a single person who doesn’t like this rice dish topped with vegetables and an egg. Before bibimbap is eaten, everything is stirred well and seasoned to taste with a spicy red sauce.
My co-teacher told me that he also likes bibimbap, but he always feels guilty when he eats it. Mr. Yang informed me that apart from bibimbap, it is traditional not to mix food in Korea out of respect for the cook. His grandfather used to hit my co-teacher on the head with a wooden spoon if he didn’t keep his rice white throughout the meal. We both laughed at each other.
Eight months into being here I find out that it is impolite to pinch my rice with my kimchi, seaweed, sesame leaf or other side dish. I wonder what else I don’t know. Some of my kids have looked at me, pointed, and giggled at the way I pinch kimchi with my rice. I didn’t think anything of it though because kids universally don’t like mixing their food, and the students are always laughing at me so nothing seemed unusual. I had noticed that the adults rarely pinch their rice with other food, but it never occurred to me that it was an etiquette issue.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Hello!!!
Nearly everyday some adorable kid walking down the street will say “Hello!” Sometimes it’s a kid on their own, other times a parent has encouraged forced their child to speak. In general, kids prefer to travel in packs. It’s from these small swarms of kids that I get the most hellos. I can see these kids from a block away. The whole pack sees me and gets visibly excited. I hear words in Korean like “foreigner, look, and American.” There are other words too, and I imagine that they are daring each other to speak to me.
Eventually the moment comes when we are actually passing each other and the bravest kid lets out a big “HELLO!” I always return the greeting at which point everyone giggles. Sometimes the rest of the pack is emboldened by the ‘hello initiator’ and a whole chorus of hellos follows the first.
If I’m standing next to a group of social kids at a cross walk or some such place, then I continue the conversation. I ask “What’s your name?” and say “Nice to meet you.” or “Have a good day!” Some kids look around in total panic as if they are thinking, “WHY? Why did I say hello?” A really confident kid might ask “Where are you from?” When I say, “I’m from the United States.” The pack of kids erupts with “Ah! USA, USA, migook!”
This is usually the furthest extent of a conversation with kids on the street. It always makes me laugh. Even though I don’t know them, I’m a little proud of the kids for taking the initiative to have a spontaneous interaction. I can also identify with their happy giggles. It’s exciting to speak a foreign language in an authentic situation for the first time. I’m always overcome with a feeling that I’ve pulled off a feat. “It works! These words actually work!” It’s like learning a password that everyone around me knows, and I’ve been let in on the secret.
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