This is what I thought I knew about this people:
* For some reason they play it dumb but are actually quite smart.
* They have a very rigid system that respects older people in ways that for us, at least where I grew up at, is old history. And it doesn't mean we don't respect the old people. But we just don't bow upon someone 1 year older!
* They are very quiet, easy going and like to eat spicy food with chopsticks.Bear in mind my friend that all these impressions are formed though my place in the world, which is very influenced by my job. I am a simple humanitarian server that interacts with peoples from all over for limited periods of time. But after various successful interactions, I tend to form an opinion. Though first impressions ... those are priceless! For all the rest there is MasterCard and that's so true. Still, that was before I met them. Koreans.
So, back to this first impression. As they boarded the airplane, fashionable as Parisians, they smelled so good, they found their seats and sat themselves after stowing their Luis Vuitton baggage without help, they fastened the seatbelt and they slept until we landed. I just couldn't believe it. This people are not normal. This might as well be a great trip. That was my very fist impression.
(Maybe the average of my asian costumer is a bit more demanding and has a more peculiar smell, not such a generic french perfume one).
The city welcomed me at night. Not so much because it was actual night but because it was wintertime. Christmas decoration and neon lights as we approached downtown, a feeling of TOkyo (no I have never been but this is how I imagine it: a lot of tall buildings, neon lights and signs that are supposed to be an alphabet, but to me just cute unreadable signs), a few more turns through wide avenues and violá, the hotel. Majestic. I was surprised by a giant Christmas tree.
Knowing also that they are probably one of the most skeptical and unbeliever nations in the world, to which I associate the hi suicidal rate, I thought all the rest were Buddhists and don't celebrate Christmas. (I was only to find out that not only there are a lot of Christians, but also that they are into whatever you can buy, like Luis Vuitton bags and CHANEL dresses). And back to the tree and my awe, it was just so big it could have been in the middle of Times Square without getting lost.
Life around, that is people, sounds, visions, everything, submerged me in an anime mood for a while. This little boy, just part of his big squared head hanging to a side and his hands were visible, squeezing the mum's designer dress. Mum obviously upset about this last fact, pushes him away. Our looks meet. I am touched by him. Maybe just brings back memories or maybe because I have never seen such a little korean, who knows? I waved and smiled at him. He bursted into tears. I looked away and started talking to colleague, not taking the blame or the responsibility. It was just hilarious. My colleague, also korean, explained me that to him, plain and simple: I am an alien. In his short life, he has probably never seen someone with such big eyes and all so dressed up and head covered in the muslim way. That I should not worry. My anime mood bubble was cracked and vanished.
I went out. I had to see them in their environment. Youth, they might be very respectful of the older generations and even the one year older next to them, but they are not quiet. Not at all¡! They drink a lot. They are absolutely madmen! And girls, their dresses, seriously, hey, it's -20C out there, get dressed for God's Sake! I was saying, dresses are so short, that later on when I was roaming the local market, I thought they were long tees. Seller was in between indignant and amused when I suggested the long tee thing while checking out a dress. She, too, must have thought I am an alien.
They have a very peculiar sense of fashion, very southeast asian. Cheap and good quality industry. A super modern metro system that takes you to palaces originally erected in 1394 by the Joseon Dynasty and many other places. It goes through blocks of mega tall housing buildings, with names as original as BLOCK I BLOCK II BLOCK III and so on. Wanting to kill my ignorance, I asked a friend if this had something to do with a communist movement -well, hey yes! It did remind me of Moscow and Zagreb and other communist places- from before splitting up with North Korea or what. And I was explained that it had nothing to do with communism, just a lack of taste in housing design and a need of housing a lot of people in a tiny place. No brain cracker after all.
Barbecue was quite an experience. I was satisfied with the side of the barbecue, so many fresh greens, carrots, veggies that I have no clue what they are, miso soup, rice. They put it all in the center of the table around the actual barbecue which is like a hot pot hole where they throw the meats. Lots of pork and some veal. Thank you very much, you can have that, I will just grill the onion. There is no meal without Kimchi, this spicy fermented cabbage (is the most traditional, there are other veg kimchies as well but never tried one) thing with many seasonings. I loved it! Thirsty? Cheongju, some sort of Sake but korean. Same same but different, rice wine. Personally not my favourite, though I quite fancied they fresh and clear easy drinking beer.
This is what I think about the average of this people:
(of course, there are exceptions to the rule)
* Some seem smarter than they actually are. They weren't playing it dumb
* They barely speak english, for some reason the ph sound is almost impossible to pronounce and it mutates to P -so they don't say coffee, they say copee.
* Seems like the original sin's burden can kill them if they put on some weight over 50kg, this specially applies to girls,
* Over 25 years old and unmarried? Surgery will fix it.
* Over 27 still unmarried? Just go and stay abroad, you have better chances of happiness there.
* Easily corrupted by materialism.
* Uncorrupted souls, independent thinkers are a race in danger of extinction, but they exist!
* No KIMCHI No Life
And honeymooners wear the same clothes. What da F..k?¡! Trends, fashions, traditions. Who knows? But you are always welcome onboard!
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