No Culture Shock in Seoul: First Week Reflections

안녕하세요!

Hello!

They say that Seoul and New York are quite comparable -  in terms of weather, costs, the bustle of everyday life. 

I, a native New Yorker, have spent the last week on the outskirts of Seoul, South Korea. It is safe to say I am now an expert. Thus, I will follow the path of every blogger and break down my opinions into a series of assumed truths that I can pollute onto the readers.

Just kidding. I don’t care for structure in my diary. It is a mere means to create an authentic display of myself - carried through the imperfect means of spontaneous thought and digital transcription.

I have another four months in this incredible city. Would you like to learn something remarkable? I have not experienced any culture shock or worries so far. Sure, when I attended Catholic Korean mass last week, I had to walk through the routine that I deemed the parishioners most likely took during in entrance. And yes, I shuffled my foreign self to the very back row, in sight of the least amount of unfamiliar eyes.

We are skeptical of what is unfamiliar. It is a mechanism of evolution. When we were in the wild, trust with the unknown was taken advantage of. The genocide of that trait has not been lost on us, humans.

With that being said, I am certain that any complaints or judgements they made about me were in my mind. I recognize it was just imposter syndrome. I was quite pleased after the mass to shake hands with the Priest and exchange the few Korean expressions I know.

Korean people are incredibly kind. Truly, some of the nicest people I have ever met.

Before coming here, I had no intentions of learning Korean outside of the beginner class I will take. Now, I allow the light of that idea to shine onto my skin. I don’t wish to make claims that will turn out false, or to make a definitive statement that will flop like a pool noodle, but I have been learning more expressions and going out of my way to speak with Koreans. 

In the last week, I have found it incredibly natural to cultivate a serious, productive daily routine. I attribute this not to Seoul, but to the small box I am living in. The lead-up to this trip, the continuously-budding anticipation of working here, is now beginning to sprout.

I know that the initial hook I made at the beginning of the blog is totally unrelated to the substance of the blog itself, but you wouldn’t blame a river for building a path far from a pre-established town, would you? I know many would, but my agenda is my agenda :p

I am deeply satisfied in the work I have been doing this week and envision myself being capable of such for decades. The world has many beautiful nooks & crevices that most will never consider seeing because they are stuck in their own mouse households; I want to make an attempt to at least find a few.

Short blog - I know. But, I just wanted to start. Hope to see you again :D