The things I’ve learned so far

As of 2 days ago, it’s my 7 monthiversay in Korea…A few weeks ago my friend Dave asked me what I have learned about myself in Korea. Veiled in disappointment from a breakup with a boy, I said not much. With 2 weeks time, I realized that I’ve learned a lot more about myself then I thought I had.

1. I enjoy spicy food!
Koreans are famous for their red pepper sauce, a la kimchi, which I could hardly eat a bite of upon entering Korea. After about 7 months I can not only tolerate spicy foods, but enjoy it! hizzah!

2. I actually can move away and be okay.
For a little while in the States, I thought I was getting stuck in a situation I didn’t like…living in my hometown (as much as I love my family and friends) and working at job that I didn’t necessarily enjoy. As much as I wanted to move overseas, there was that nagging feeling that after getting off the plane in a new country I would be right back on it 2 weeks later with puffy eyes and homesickness. I’ve realized that it’s okay, that friendships that are meant to last always last, and it doesn’t matter how far away you are from the ones you love or how often you talk to them, some things never change.

3. I’ve learned confidence.
After that short bit of sadness, I bounced back quickly from my first broken heart overseas, and have realized that here in Korea, I have a confidence that I never had before. A little shameless flirting never hurt anyone… or having 2 dates in one day… I’ve learned that maybe I don’t have to change the way I act, or the way I look in order to be attractive…just being attractive to myself is enough. I think I always knew this in theory, but now it’s in practice. You really do have to love yourself before someone else can.

4. I like dancing.
In the States I had never been to a club, or danced in a bar….or really danced anywhere besides in my kitchen. In Korea, I am a dancing machine, ignoring everyone around me, and just dancing to have a good time. Every weekend I plan to NOT go dancing, but then come friday night the itch comes and I’m confused–Jessica?dancing?what?

5. language
Maybe I don’t have quite as good of an ear for language as I thought I did. Not that I thought Korean was easy, but I thought that hearing it everyday would be the way to pick it up quickly…wrong, you actually have to work at it.

6. Korea is the home of samsung and LG.
Both of which are right down the street from my house. So dear friends and family, the ones that asked if Korea had the internet, the answer is yes. They are also on the cutting edge of technology, i mean it is Asia.

7. When in Rome, do as the Romans do…
I never thought Asians were attractive, and believe I said those words before coming to Korea. and now…. well…
and as for K-pop music. There’s something I would never imagine enjoying, but when its blaring out of every store you walk by, you learn to love it. See ya later Justin Beiber, CNBlue has my heart now.

A Korean Style Wedding

Today I had the pleasure of going to a wedding with one of my Korean friends. It was a very interesting experience, to say the least. The bride and groom wear a normal western tux and wedding dress in the beginning of the ceremony, that starts with bowing to the future in-laws, who are dressed in traditional Korean outfits, called hanbok, which the members of the immediate family, and the bride and groom after the vows also wear.
Upon walking in the door I was stared at so much I’m surprised the bride didn’t come over and slap me for stealing her thunder, but needless to say, I was the only foreigner there.
After the bowing, and the vow exchange the best men have to do some sort of show, which usually involves one of them singing a song. At this wedding, that is what happened, but afterwards the rest of the grooms friends stood in the aisle and took of their suit jackets showing that some of them were wearing sequined jackets underneath. They then did a hilarious choreographed dance, which was awesome. After that, the groom had to perform a strength test. He picked up his future mother in law, and had to do as many squats while holding her that he could. I think he passed.

The oddest part was how loud it was, and as the wedding vows were being exchanged everyone in the audience was chatting with their neighbors and not really paying attention, a strong dichotomy from the weddings I’m used to.

Afterwards, we ate. The wedding as held in a huge “wedding building” where there is at least 20 weddings going on at one time. After our specific wedding we walked down to the basement in which there is a sort of cafeteria buffet. The guests of all weddings go down and eat… It was kind of like being in a food court of very well dressed people. It was very nice sitting with a large amount of Koreans that were very amused at my small command of the Korean language, and clapped when I said I was full in Korean. They also marveled at my use of chopsticks.

All in all, it was a very interesting day and I’m glad that I got the oppurtunity to go and meet my friends family, who all invited me to their houses, which I can only imagine how that will go… as none of them speak English, but oh well.

and now.pictures.