Last Full Day - July 24, 2010

Today was our last full day in Korea. Wow, I cannot believe we have already spent an entire month here. It was not a long enough visit and I can’t wait to return, hopefully in the near future. Since we didn’t really do anything particularly noteworthy today (watched Smallville and packed up) I will tell you a few things I will miss about Korea and a few things I will be glad to come home to. (In no particular order)
What I will miss:

1) The Toilet Paper: Korea makes the prettiest toilet paper. It is often decorated with little flowers or other designs.

2) No Housework: Okay, so this just may be the thing I will miss the most. Although I have always volunteered and attempted to help, I was never allowed to clean up around the house, other than in my room. At first, I was a little frustrated that I could not contribute in anyway, but I got used to it quickly enough. Now I dread the long list of chores I will have when I get home. :S
3) The Free Stuff: During my stay in Korea, I was given free stuff left, right and centre. This one lady gave me a pretty fancy fan, just because there was catfish on it, which my name translates to in Korean. I also got a few t-shirts, a baseball encased and signed by Incheon’s best player and Olympic gold medalist, not to mention all the freebees that are taped to whatever you buy at the supermarket.

4) The Food: So this one will have to apply for both lists. I will miss it because Korean food is so delicious. My favourite dishes include jeon, bibimbop, spicy rice cakes, calbi, sam gup sal, or pretty much any kind of meat that is hot and spicy! I will really miss eating this delicious food, and I may have to make my way to a few Korean restaurants when I get home, though I know none of them will be a match to what I have been eating for the last month.

5) The Kitties: So at the house we were staying in, there was a family of wild kitties. They are all so cute- some were tabbies (brown and gingers) there was an oreo cat, and the mother was a calico. Even the full grown mother was tiny and her kittens were like Beanie Babies. One night the ginger cat was playing ‘velcro kitty’ and kept climbing up the screen door.
What I will be glad to come home to:

1) The Food: So like I said, this applies to both lists. Although I will miss Korean food dearly, it will be nice to come home to the food I’ve been deprived of this month. Pizza, pasta, roasts, and berries are at the top of my list.

2) My Guitar: I never realized how much I loved to play guitar until I couldn’t for a month. My calluses have been wiped from my fingers and my nails have grown too long. It’s time to take out the nail clippers and learn a few new songs!

3) The Air: The moment I stepped into the Korean breeze, I noticed a difference in the air. Between extreme humidity and a high concentration of pollution, Korean air can be hard to get used to, especially when you’re running.

4) Courtesy: Korean people air extremely kind, generous and helpful. When it comes to being courteous in public though, they may need some work. For example, when boarding the subway or an elevator, rather than allow everyone off and then proceed on, everyone just pushes you and worms their way to their destination. One time while I was standing on the subway, with about a metres’ width of room on with side of me, a guy so blatantly pushed me aside to get through. Another interesting encounter with the courteously challenged was when Sunghee and I were outside the subway, waiting for my cousin. I man walked by us, and deliberately poned Sunghee in the head with his umbrella. He looked back and just kept walking. We stood there confused for about 10 minutes as we could not figure out any reason for this.

So there is my list. I could add so many things for either side, but I cut it down to the basics. I had an amazing experience in Korea and I hope to have a similar one here in the near future. I wish I could stay longer and see more of this fantastic country, but it will have to wait until I return!