Danielle Pittner, Junior, English, Korea University (Seoul, South Korea)
Eleven hours into the future, miles across seas, and the world is still right-side up. And I enter Choson, “land of morning calm,” South Korea.
Click, click. Click, click. Heel, toe. Heel, toe. The sounds of fancy shoes echo off buildings and in hallways. Worn daily as if they’re as comfortable as large padded tennis shoes. I’m sure they’re not. Despite the hills and mountains that make up 70% of Korea, girls do not hesitate to wear five inch stiletto heels covered in “bling”. I’m blinded by the sparkles and glitter found everywhere, from shoes and scrunchies, to jewelry and ties, but wish it were the sun.
As I walk down the street or run to class (some things never change) not one head turns in gawking disbelief of a foreigner in their presence. I’m just another Korean. Just another Korean who gets smashed into by old Korean women known as “ajummas.” Yes smashed, not bumped, not even bumped hard. They are old determined ladies who won’t change their course regardless of people standing or squatting in their chosen path. But it’s not rude – it’s just Korean.
Blending in is nice, until someone speaks to me thinking I can speak Korean (which happens constantly) and I can only stare back, lips slightly parted with a blank yet confused look in my eyes, furiously racking my brain for the vocabulary I never learned. But when Koreans learn you are a foreigner, they stop at nothing to assist you in whatever you may need. Hospitable cannot begin to describe their incredible friendliness.
Starbucks and McDonalds dot the streets, their Western signs poking their head out from between the towering skyscrapers, and I cringe.
Every sight is a sight to be seen and every experience one to be noted. 200 words is not enough to describe even a glimpse of Korea, and one year is not enough time to fully understand Korea. But from what I have seen and learned thus far, I love Korea. A land of development, a land of survivors, a land of love: South Korea.