Things that make me smile...

Here are just a few things about Korea that make me smile!


1. The Cars

After counting and looking at cars all summer I can't help but look at cars here too! But they're not as exciting as Alberta cars! I don't think Koreans like colour as they only seem to have three for their cars - grey, white and black. They also like big cars and they LOVE Hyudais! Even the buses and big trucks are Hyundai. There aren't any half-tons here though or really really big trucks that we car counters call 'Es.' I don't think they have room for them.

2. The Music

One of the first things I noticed on the plane ride over was the classical music they played! But it didn't just stay on the plane. You hear it everywhere here..we groceries shop to Pachelbel and go for walks in the park to Mozart and when it's time to transfer to a new train on the subway we hear Vivaldi! I even heard the street light play Bach’s Minuet no. 3 (the one that ALL my piano students played!) the other day. No wonder Korean kids grow up to be such good musicians - they are bombarded by it constantly.

3. The Umbrellas

It rains a lot here! A LOT! So we all carry umbrellas everywhere we go. I used to have three essentials that I needed before leaving the house... my wallet, keys and and phone. Now I have four - wallet, keys, phone and umbrella. It's so fun to watch everyone walk around when it rains and to see all the pretty colours and patterns of their umbrellas. I've never owned an umbrella before but I think when I get back to Alberta I might just pull out an umbrella now and again when it rains.

4. The 'Pretty' Things

While they don't like to add colour to their cars they do like to add it to almost everything else. They like things to look pretty and so patterns and colour show up everywhere. Wall paper covers a lot of walls and the toilet paper all has patterns on it...like little bears!! When I bought dishes I searched through racks of tiny floral designs to find my plain, boring white bowls. Lucky for me they were the cheapest!

5. The Hospitals

After arriving in Korea all the English teachers have to make a trip to the hospital – just to make sure they want to keep us. In Canada this check-up would take hours but not in Korea. They have thought of everything and in less than an hour they have you out of there. You just follow the colourful lines and arrows a carry your form. Follow the red to line to the eye test, then green to chest e-ray, blue to the blood work...and your done!!

6. The Heels

Korean women love to wear high heels! They wear them everywhere; to work, to the grocery store, to church. They wear them when it's hot and when it's pouring outside. I've heard they even wear them hiking! And they all have so many pairs. I only own one pair of heels and didn't think that I would need them over here, but after being here for three weeks I think I've changed my mind. I think my first visitor to Korea will be bringing my heels with them.

7. The Rubber Boots

So while the ladies seem to have trouble knowing what is a practical choice for their feet on rainy days, the really little kids do not. They pull out their little rubber boots! They usually are a little shorter than North American rubber boots and have all kinds of exciting things on them. Whenever it rains I really want a pair. I even checked out a the rubber boot rack at the a local shore store to see if they had my size. They didn't! (BTW – Korean kids are absolutely adorable!!)

8. The Church

I’m been here for four Sundays already!! Each Sunday I’ve enjoyed worshipping with other believers and visiting a different church. It has been so neat to see that although I’ve been transported to a new ‘world’ the Church is still the same. They still worship the same God here and are a family of believers too...so each Sunday I have felt like I found a little bit of home here in Korea!