Inside Shoes: The Socks with Sandals Puzzle Solved

I commited my first cultural sin when I stepped into my apartment, just hours after arriving in Korea. When I saw my Korean companion's aghast expression, I knew I'd done something very wrong. My shoes; I'd forgotten to take them off. Oops, OK, no big deal, right? Well, when I went to school Monday morning, I was faced with another cultural no-no. I didn't have inside shoes for school. Everyone -- students and teachers -- comes to school in one pair of shoes and exchange them at the door for another, cleaner pair. I was saved by a special pair of shoes the school keeps for just such occasions and I introduced myself to the principal and vice principal in what looked like clunky, blue Adidas slip-ons.

At first I tried to bring a second pair of shoes to change into, but it wouldn't do--they weren't the right kind of shoes. Maybe people asked me about my first week's "inside shoes" because they were flaming red heels, but mostly it was because they weren't the boring, black slip-on sandals. So I broke down and bought what you see above. I've always held a grudge against this style of shoe, especially worn with white socks. Why did Asians do that at Biola?! But it's just how Asians roll; it's not a faux pas here. Plus, I heard it's rude to show your bare feet -- which I also did my first day at school. The real irony came when I ran out of other socks one day and had to wear white ones with my inside shoes. When in Korea...do as Koreans do.

Above is a picture of my own special compartment for my outside and inside shoes. Below is the threshold of a socially cool person.

Phone a Friend

The longer I'm in Korea, the more I realize how true some Asian stereotypes are. They really drink green tea a lot, they really eat seaweed all the time, they really do the cheesy peace sign in pictures and yes -- they really are bad drivers. Chances are you've heard of the Asian driver stereotype, but in case you haven't:













Now that the Asian driving stereotype is assumed, let's move to parking. Let's just say getting parked in is a fact of life here, but Koreans have the wonderful courtesy of posting their phone numbers on their windshields so you can call them to come move their car. I've seen it done; no complaints, no questions, just a simple phone call.

Beginning by Letter

Dear Justin,
I've only been here a month, but I'm thankful that I've been able to keep up with people back home. You know me-- people addict that I am -- but video chat makes it seem like they're not far away.

Korea's stunning fall weather and foliage has not been lost on me. Here are a few highlights and things I've noticed:

--I apparently look like all the American movie stars because I'm white.

--Koreans love Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins

--School discipline does not exclude corporal punishment

--Korean women wear heels or boots at all times

--Persimmons are the choice fall fruit

--I now bow to everyone all the time, even if I'm not sure I should

--The people here are actually very affectionate

--I'm glad it's not so Westernized that chopsticks and floor tables are gone.
--A good word for a lot of things here is whimsical. And some of the marketing firms must think that if they slap on English words like love or happy, it'll sell.

--Most churches have daily early morning prayer services.
--There ARE fat Asians.
--I'm now intimately aquainted with what you meant when you told me "not to come back looking like an Asian hooker." Haha.

Yep. I could go on, but you get the picture. I live in an apartment building with a bunch of other English-speaking teachers about an hour away from Seoul. I'm not out in Mayberry by any means, but it's not quite as hoppin' as the big city. My school has 1,300 kids, and I teach 21 classes a week at around 30 kids a pop for grades 4, 5 and 6. It's great! They love me, I love them. With eight younger siblings, teaching and disciplining didn't phase me at all. I'll post teaching pictures soon.

Gail