South Korea is a small beautiful country on the tip of the Korean peninsula off the east coast of China and the west coast of Japan.

It is 14 hours ahead of South Carolina where I am from which was slightly awkward, especially when I had to have my interview at midnight my time until almost 1am.  Good times.

IN GENERAL…

…culture-wise it’s a Confucian society with all importance placed on age, position and now wealth.  They even have specific language forms for appropriate ages and positions.

…appearances or “face” must be maintained at all times because a person is an extension of family and it is the greatest sin to bring shame upon your family.

Side note: I’m super excited because as a country it is far advanced in technology than anything on the market in the US.  Sony, LG, and Samsung are just a few mega companies that are based in Seoul, the capital city.  Across the country the internet is four times faster than anything available in America.  I’m going to be so spoiled when I get back…if I ever come back!

Food is abundant, the variety is amazing and incredibly cheap and EVERYTHING can be delivered to your door in real stone or ceramic bowls.  You just use them and place them back in the delivery container and place them outside your door.  What luxury!

People are extremely generous and welcoming.  They will literally go out of their way to help you.  I’m banking on this since I will probably be in a small town with limited contact with other foreigners.  I’m really hoping that someone will be willing to teach me how to cook Korean food.  It’s so simple and nutritious and I can have 90% of their food since it’s predominantly rice based.  No cursed wheat!  Woot!

Apartment are generally small and in large multistoried buildings.  Typically you will have one or two burners but no oven, with a washer but no dryer.  Dryers are considered a waste of energy since you can just line dry your laundry.  That I’m sure will be an adjustment but I think I will love it after a while.  I abhor waste and excess.

As a country, everyone is extremely serious about recycling.  I love that!  I’m not a rabid environmentalist but I do believe strongly that we are stewards of this earth and as such we should do all in out power to preserve and care for it.  These people have a serious recycling system including three separate kinds of paper, packaging material, bottles, plastic bottles, newspaper, and food garbage.  Everyone is expected to sort his own and bring is down in appropriate bags.

I can’t wait to learn about this fascinating country.  Come along with me as I explore and seek to understand these amazing people that live in such a beautiful country.