Have you ever ate pig stomach or noodle soup with ice cubes in it? How about travelling to multiple department stores at an attempt (and eventual failure) to buy trash bags? Before coming to South Korea I had not done any of these things, but these are just a few apparent examples of some of the many different things that constitute what people label as “culture shock”. While many aspects of culture shock are not immediately visible to the eye, in this post I will attempt to breakdown some of the various unfamiliarities I felt after moving to Seoul.
There are a few differences that are immediately brought to mind when I ask myself, what exactly is different between the US and South Korea. One thing that threw me (and many other exchange students) for a loop was the fact that used toilet paper is not flushed down the drain. Instead it is thrown into a waste bin that is then emptied in the trash at a later date. While there are a few exceptions, notably in some public bathrooms, most Korean plumbing is not equipped to disintegrate toilet paper so it is necessary to throw it into a separate container to avoid clogs. While I’m on the topic of bathrooms, it is also a common practice for the shower and toilet to be separated into two rooms. This is due to the belief that toilets are generally perceived as “unclean” while showers are for the purpose of cleansing. Another difference I noticed during my stay here is that soap bars are much more popular than liquid soaps. One of the funniest examples that I encountered of this was found in the subway, where a bar of soap was fixed onto the end of an extendable rod, which you then had to stroke in order to wash your hands!
As I mentioned at the end of my last blog post, I had recently journeyed to one of the southern-most regions of Korea, the island of Wando. Wando is a small ocean town, known for its seafood, seaweed, and friendly culture. In addition to seeing many wonderful sights it was here I also had the unique experience of tasting pig stomach for the first time. Somehow in my group of friends, I have become the one that is commonly relied on to order food and translate the menus for everyone. In this scenario, we ordered a plate of fried chicken and a plate of what I presumed to be shrimp (basing my opinion not on what the item said but rather a picture of fried shrimp directly above the dish in question.) To the surprise (and dismay to some) of my group we were instead served a dish with a suspicious looking meat with some delicious sauce. After thorough inspection and tasting we later decided that it was indeed pork stomach, which has an extremely chewy yet crunchy texture.
Lastly, I want to highlight some of the aspects of culture shock that are not immediately apparent to someone once they embark on an extended international stay. Culture shock is usually broken down into four distinct phases: honeymoon, negotiation, adjustment and adaptation. The honeymoon phase is experienced upon arrival and involves a fascination with the new culture. This was very accurate to my personal circumstances, as I found myself utterly absorbed and romanticizing the differences between Korean and American culture. After this phase is negotiation, in which individuals may experience anxiety as the result of cultural differences. Homesickness is very common and the body has to actually adapt to living in a foreign environment, including adjustment to your circadian rhythm and digestion to account for the differences in food/beverage. On the whole, I have not experienced much anxiety from my trip but I have noticed changes in my diet and sleep schedules. For example, during my first few weeks it was common for me to nap excessively and I often felt abdominal discomfort following my meals. However, this passed with time and I can confidently say that I am mostly adjusted to my daily life in Seoul! While a semester is a long time to spend in a foreign environment, four months is not an excessively long time in the grand scheme of things so I will most likely not experience the final stages of adjustment and adaptation; since they tend to happen after six months.
Overall, I like to perceive the differences in South Korea in a positive light and am thankful for the opportunity to be exposed to cultural standards, foods, and societal practices that are very different from my home. While adjusting to a new environment can be challenging, I believe that it will ultimately result in insights and personal strength that could never be achieved otherwise. Thanks again for reading and in my next blog I will highlight on how I have been expanding past my comfort zones, see you again soon!