Over the past month here I have discovered a few things that Koreans do well that I wish we had back home.
1. Heating system. Korean heating system is done through the floor. In Korean culture you take your shoes off at homes, and all the flooring is wood. There is water under the floor, and it is heated up and that is how your place gets warm. I think this is the best idea ever. Your feet are always warm, and since heat rises, it makes more sense. I sometimes just put my heat on to get my feet warm and that's all! If my floor didn't seem so dusty all the time, I would lay down on it.
2. Public Transportation and taxis. Having just come from London, I was a little bias toward their Subway system, but after a little time in Seoul, I have seen how efficient their subway transportation really is. The fact that I am using the word efficient in describing something Korean is amazing! But, they do have the subway system down pretty well, including exit numbers in the station so you know which staircase to take out of the station to be on the correct side of the street. All the stops are written and announced in English, so foreigners can navigate on their own. Also, once you can figure out how the bus transportation works, it is useful. The buses are not in English, so you have to learn from another foreigner or Korean just what bus you need, but once you do learn it is pretty useful. I have not figured this out all that well yet, but I am slowly learning new buses that are helpful. Lastly, taxis are dirt cheap here. You have to pay a minimum of 2400 won (about $2.00) regardless of your destination. 2400 won will take you a decent distance though. The other day it was snowing when we were leaving work, seeing how none of us were prepared for this we decided to take a taxi to our neighborhood. It is about a 20 minute walk, and the 2400 won took us home, so we each paid 600, which is less than 60 cents! I have never been a fan of taking taxis because I feel they are a waste of money, but here in Seoul, I have come quite accustomed to them and most taxi drivers are friendly, and usually find us quite amusing!
3. Family style dining. Korean restaurants are big on sharing meals; in fact you can't really go out to dinner by yourself because everything is made for at least two people. Korean restaurants prepare the food for you at your table, and you can even add your own spices sometimes. I enjoy having the food prepared in front of me because then I know what I am eating! Friday night I had my first Korean bbq, and it was delicious! I pass by these restaurants all the time, but they are never in English, so I was waiting to go with a Korean or someone who knew what they were ordering. On Friday I finally went with someone who knew what they were ordering, so next time I can go try it and not feel so helpless. They put the meat on a charcoal grill at your table, and you add whatever you want to it. There is a heat vent coming down from the ceiling which helps cooks your food, as well as the charcoal grill beneath it. I wish my camera hadn’t died, because I would have taken a picture. Also, Korean food is fairly cheap, considering how good the food taste. There are more restaurants than you could ever imagine lining the streets, so you can always try a new place.
4. Friendliness toward foreigners. Of all the countries I have visited, Koreans are the most genuinely friendly people toward foreigners. If a Korean speaks English and sees you looking at a map, or you seem lost, they will come up to and ask if you need help. It doesn’t matter the age of sex of the person; they will still stop and ask if you need help. I truly find their help genuine and honest, and I appreciate it!
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