One of the first days Luke and I were in Seoul, we spent the day with a friend Luke met in Turkey. Kyu was born and raised in Seoul, and it was by sheer luck that Luke and Kyu became friends and galavanted around the Turkish country side together. Kyu gave us an awesome tour of some of the best parts of Seoul including the traditional village of Namsangol Hanok, Itaewon, Insadong, and the Seoul Floating Island. To say that we had a great day was an understatement; it was punctuated by beers and fried chicken on the banks of the Han River. Something all ex pats in Seoul should do at least once. Being able to buy beer at 7/11, which by the way is literally every block here, is something I would have never dreamed my life was lacking in the US. But something Kyu said stuck with me. When we were standing on the subway, I noticed that I was the only female in a tank top dress. It's one of my favorites. A silk number from Madewell that makes me feel like a classy lady (you can check out my Facebook prof pic if you're curious). Anyway, I asked Kyu about why no one else wore tanks, let alone exposed their shoulders. Kyu replied, 'Koreans are very conservative, they tend to have a mind set that covers their shoulders and chest up.' I laughed at this because most young Korean girls prance around in short skirts or are PDAing with their beaus way hard. Kyu added a moment later, 'but it's okay for you, you're a foreigner. Plus, they're always going to stare at you, and that's okay.' It is only now on this Sunday afternoon as I ride the subway alone in another tank dress that I realize how true it is. Even when I am not wearing tank tops, I am still given a second look. Although ex pats have become somewhat of a cultural fixture in Korea, it is still not common place to see Americans, or really any ethnic group besides Koreans. At all. It's funny, sometimes when Luke and I go grocery shopping to the Korean equivalent of Walmart, we run into ex pats. We smile to each other because it's then we reaffirm that we are not alone in a country that is not our own. I guess the point I am trying to make is that it's weird to me feeling as though I am on display. It is something I am not used to, at all, but it is something that will be common place for me in the next half year. I love that Korea challenges every part of my personality and character. Seoul has fostered so much growth in me even in the last two weeks. I cannot wait to see what else is in store. But on a lighter note, here are some pictures from the day...
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Author: Allyson DitizioGeographer, yogi and occasionally creative writer. Archives
September 2016
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