Money

So, over the last few weeks, I've noticed a lot of price differences here in So Ko than in America. I know, I know, of course things will cost more or less depending on resource availability, not to mention the exchange rate with the money and all... but here are a few things that make me giggle or make my jaw drop whenever I see them.

1. Food is, for the most part, pretty cheap over here. You can eat a massive meal at almost any Korean restaurant for under $10 American.

2. Toilet paper is expensive. Like, really expensive.

3. Socks, for some odd reason, are expensive as well. A three pack of socks (plain white for the sake of this post) runs between 7,000-9,000 won. Which is about $7 or $8 American. For three pair. But, oddly, if you buy a cute pair (ONE pair) from a street vendor in the shopping districts, it's cheaper. I don't know. So weird.

4. Movies (in theater) cost about the same here as in Georgia. But the facilities in Korea are nicer, and the theaters have MUCH better sound than in America.

5. Purses are WAY too expensive, even at discount stores. Like, obscenely expensive. I asked a man at a bag vendor how much he wanted for a particularly cute lavender leather bag, and he told me 98,000. Now, I'm not a connesieur of leather goods, but even I could tell this was just a cheaply made leather bag. I tried to haggle with the guy, but he wouldn't go lower than 60,000, which was still WAY over my price limit. I finally told him it was too expensive and walked away, more than a little ticked at the price.

6. Coca-Cola is cheaper here. I bought a can for 550 won the other day, which translates to about $0.50. Why do American vendors charge so much for it??

7. Because the people here are so conscientious about recycling and reusing, they carry their own shopping bags to the grocery store. I know, some of us in Georgia have caught on and do the same thing... But the people of So Ko are so into it that the stores actually charge you for a plastic bag if you don't have your own and you need one.

8. Make-up is really costly. Luckily, I haven't needed to buy any, but we've been to a few stores, and on the whole, its way more expensive here than in America.

9. Gas, as in every other major country in the world, is REALLY expensive. I know it is in America, but as of yesterday, gas here is (on average) 1,989 won a LITER. I'm not big on conversions, but there are four liters to a gallon... so... almost $8 a gallon? Choke on that, America.

10. Public transportation,thankfully, is cheap. It only cost me 2500 won... about $2.30 American... to travel two hours away to Seoul via subway.

More later.

-B

I want to go home.

-B

Ugh

Wow, I've been terrible about updating this. It's been two weeks since I posted anything, and sadly, I don't have much to offer even now. We've been out shopping a few times, but because Soo-Min is working as an intern all summer, and Soo-Bin has apparently decided she doesn't need to talk to me, I have nothing to do and no one to talk to. I've literally spent the past two days watching My Chemical Romance videos on Youtube and sleeping. Here are some more observations, though:

1. When travelling to a foreign country, it's always good to try to understand the cultural differences. We were at a mall in Seoul last weekend and I happen to overhear another "foreigner" (an American, much to my own embarrassment) whining about how rude Koreans were for bumping into her. I nearly said something rude myself. South Koreans live a hustle-and-bustle lifestyle that is conducive to jostling, shoving, and lack of "personal space", but only a hoity-toity American would have the nerve to consider this fast-paced culture "rude." Her ignorance irritated me almost as much as Soo-Min. I'm not saying you have to like being shoved around, but it would make you seem like less of a snob if you could at least understand why you're being bumped into.

2. Korean milk, though way too sweet to be enjoyed in a glass, makes really delicious ice-cream.

3. There is no way to cure homesickness.

4. When you do very little for days at a time, it's easy to lose track of what day it actually is. For instance, I thought today was Friday...all day. Soo-Min told me it was Saturday when I asked why she was home on a Friday. Needless to say, I felt pretty stupid.

5. A Rubik's cube, though difficult, is not impossible to solve. I should know... I've spent two days working on one, and have solved it a few times.

6. Forgetting the pin number to your debit card while visiting a foreign country is a BAD idea.

I miss a lot from the U.S. I expected to be having a lot more fun in So Ko. I try not to get too bummed out about being stuck indoors everyday. Part of me hopes something cool will happen regardless. But I've spent a week indoors, with no hope or indication of any plans to do something entertaining from Soo-Min and her family. I've tried walking about, to get to know the neighborhood, but the incessant rain and heat make walking a trial. I've been to E-Mart several times, simply to have a big, air-conditioned place to stretch my legs, but even that gets old. Soo-Min's parents are so kind... they take care of every physical need I have. But I get left out a lot due to the language barrier. To put it bluntly, it sucks to have no one to talk to. I had such great hopes for this summer, but suffering from homesickness and loneliness in a house full of people wasn't in my plans. It saddens me to think that in May, I was counting down the days until I left for So Ko, and now I find myself marking off the days until I can be back home among friends and family, with whom I can talk and laugh and just be around without feeling like a piece of furniture in the room.

I've tried to be understanding, noting that Soo-Min is working and Soo-Bin is much younger than me... but it's hard not to feel bitter when you're never addressed except to tell you when to eat. I just want to have a conversation with someone that isn't forced.

-B

Traditional Village!

We visited a traditional Korean village tonight... Like most things here, it was tucked away in the mountains, hiding in the valley between two rather steep monsters. I really liked this village. Apparently, some people actually do live in this village still, though it serves mostly to education tourists and as a resort for travelers.

Everything about it was charming and simple. The houses, whose roofs were either thatched or tiled based on income, were quaint and lovely. There is so much antiquity and tradition in So Ko that we just don't have in the US. So Ko is so very old by comparison, and has so much to offer in the way of artistic history.

I was able to learn all sorts of strange and wonderful things about what a "typical" traditional village consists of-- everything from how criminals are punished (tied face-down on a horizontal cross and beaten with wooden rods) to how women ironed clothes (pounded with wooden beaters on a flat stone) to some of the old games (like a hoop toss that resembled the game of Horseshoes).

Anyway, I took a ton of pictures and posted them on Facebook, so check them out. :)

-B

Oh, and just a side note... no matter how many times I change it, the time on my posts is never correct. Blogger can't seem to tell what time it actually is when I post something.