Seasons of Korea!

Well, what a topic, right? No? Well, too bad.

As an individual from Hawaii, a place that only gets one tradition season all year (summer) and two unofficial season (rainy and dry), coming to a country like Korea was definitely an experience for me that I've been looking forward to my whole life.

Korea is home to 4 distinct season: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. I have been here for the summer and fall seasons, and will be going into my first Korean winter, then spring soon. What can I say about the seasons here?

Summer

• Holy Hot!
• Boryeong Beach/Mud Festival was great
• Time to take that trip to Busan/Jeju!
• Shorts

Fall

• Holy Colors!
• The ideal temperature in my opinion
• Sweaters
• The trip to Kangwon Do/Jeunju

The first snowfall here in Asan fell on Thanksgiving Day in late November. Nowadays it seems to snow once a week. I know that winters here are pretty harsh, but I'll be running away to South East Asia for the break to get away from the cold!!!

Dating in Korea

What a topic, right? Something everyone wants to hear about. Let's cut the crap and start here:

If your only reason for coming to Korea was to make a boyfriend/girlfriend..... YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG.

Going to any country with only the goal to date a native in not only wrong, but will ruin your experience. People here in Korea, to start, don't normally look like the idols and artists from your favorite drama or K-Pop band. In fact, people will often come here and say "Oh, well they don't look like anything I thought they would". This is because they are people, too. Normal, breathing people.

Now, to flipside a few things, dating a Korean isn't the same as it might be back home. Koreans often make relationships off of little to nothing more than one date. This means they start out weak, and Koreans often break up within the first month or two. Secondly, cheating is also not as taboo as it is in the west. You can ask almost any Korean if they have been or they themselves cheated on someone. Don't be surprised by the results!

Well, what's good about dating in Korea? Maybe the fact that a local can share their local customs with you, and you may get to see see a slightly different side of the culture: couple culture. Yes, it's cute. Yes, it's excessive. Matching outfits, cell phone cases, bags, and public displays of matching in general are all big here. It's crazy to think that people spend so much, but hey... when in Rome.

Anyway, this post wasn't as exciting as you may have expcted, but I want you to be more prepared and not live in a K-Pop fantasy world.

Korean Culture Shock!!!

You've heard about it, maybe even experienced it, or just pain fear it... culture shock exists. And guess what, you may be affected by it when you move here to Korea.

Culture shock, in my personal definition, is when you don't adapt to a new culture properly and thus have feelings that often include depression, anxiety, and remorse. Now, does culture shock affect everyone? NO! Does culture shock affect everyone differently? YES! It is easy to get shocked for some people, often when the new culture is very different from your own. But still, there are others that will never get the shock, at all!

Here in Korea, some small things can really give you culture shock. Here is a short list:

• different greetings
• respect levels according to age, status, and position
• food
• weather
• appearances 
• language barriers
• politics and freedom

Now, these aren't necessarily unique to Korea, but let's just say Sally enters Korea as a study abroad student. The first thing notices is that her new roommate bows to greet her and doesn't speak a lick of English. Sally then stresses about how she will communicate. Then Sally goes to a restaurant outside campus and manages to order food. Sally would normally eat a hamburger or spaghetti for lunch back home, but a steaming bowl of kimchi jjigae is placed in front of her. Spicy, and full of foreign flavors, she decides to skip the jjigae and only eat at the small cheeseburger joint near her house, occasionally going out to find foreign restaurants.

This situation will lead to culture shock. Missing home, food, friends and family are all inevitable. She may want to go home halfway through the semester, even. So, to counter culture shock, Sally should:

• research her destination to know what to expect prior to arrival
• try new foods and find what she likes before giving up
• cook her own food if possible
• start learning the language prior to coming
• call home less often, making each call special
• utilize resources like exchange offices and student support
• make friends of all kinds

Culture shock can be scary, but also easy to overcome. Always try your best and be open to new things.... you're here for a reason!

Traveling over Korea!

Well for a travel blog, this blog does lack the more interesting things I think it should have... and that is traveling info.

When you arrive here in Korea, you will most likely have an itinerary that includes the capital city of Seoul, and possibly the second largest port city of Busan. But wait.... what else is there?

I live in the countryside outside of Seoul in a small village called Sinchang, part of the Asan/Cheonan City district. It is really countryside-like. No major fast food chains, clothing stores, malls, nothing. Everything here is based around college life, so we have restaurants, bars, a bowling alley, PC rooms, singing rooms, and billiards. That's it. So why travel here?

The Korean countryside offers a glimpse into what you can't see in Seoul or Busan. This includes farming, lost churches, rice fields, and mountainous beauty. Boring? It can be, but taking a morning jog through rice fields in the peace and tranquility of the countryside is something I've come to cherish. Near my tiny village, just one train stop away, is home to the most famous hot springs in Korea. Onyang Oncheon is definitely a quaint town that you can get used to quick.

Here is a small list of awesome places to go in Korea, and why!

• Kangwon Province, Seorak Mountain during Fall
• Jeonju, famous for awesome foods and traditional Korean folk villages
• Jeju Island, the Hawaii of Korea, home to beaches and the largest mountain in South Korea, Halla Mountain
• Daegu City, though I've heard this is just for a quick getaway
• Incheon Beach-side Islands, an awesome place to go in summer and walk out to during low-tide

Thanks for reading... Let me know you want to read about next week. Until next time!

What To & Not To Bring Studying Abroad!

Hey guys! Another week, another post.

After studying abroad in two different countries, and through many countries in general, I thought coming up with a list of things that are and aren't needed in your suitcase would be fitting for this post! Traveling abroad can ignite a myriad of troublesome worries when packing time comes around. If you're like me (and you shouldn't be), packing comes the night before a flight. Here is some advice on what to pack, and what to avoid when studying abroad!

BRING:

• appropriate clothes per season
• medication, trip length's duration and a half
• copies of passports, I.D.s, visas, and medical insurance/records
• souvenirs for friends you meet
• pictures of family and friends to share
• personal electronics
• electric adapters
• extra glasses, and a copy of your prescription
• at least one formal attire
• a FEW, amazing quality shoes

DON'T BRING:

• smaller articles of clothing like gloves
• cutlery and eating ware
• too many clothes in general
• vitamins and general aid items
• all toiletries (besides a travel set)
• school supplies

The reason for ALL of the "don'ts" is that things can be purchased at your destination. A recommended trip to the local grocery store can solve all problems. Clothes can go both ways, reason being that smaller people typically won't have a problem finding cheap and new clothes (especially here in Korea), but larger people, like myself, have some issues. Plan accordingly. Also,
make sure your bring small gifts like key chains, calenders, and anything else that truly represents your home as gifts to your new friends and teachers! Candy can also be a big hit!

Hope this helps some of you. Happy traveling!

Korean "Skinship"... Real or Fake?

This week, I'm going to talk about something every student about to study abroad in Korea has read about that may or may not freak them out, and that topic is skinship.

The word skinship is a play on words that is a rough combination of skin and kinship. The idea behind this word is using touch (haptics) to express the depth of your relationship with someone. This is done in every culture, but in Korea, it's a bit different.

Here, skinship between a man and a women who are not in a serious relationship is highly frowned upon, but Koreans often want to show their love and affection to the friends, anyway. Skinship here is almost always between the same sex. Now, many other culture find this kind of interaction to be uncomfortable or homosexual, but that is just not the case here.

Here is a list of things that happen during skinship (mostly men, believe it or not!):

• Holding hands
• Hugging (from behind)
• Laying/Sitting in eachothers' laps
• Kissing on the cheek/forehead
• Touching of the shoulder/back/thigh and leaving your hand there
• Laying down together/cuddling

These are a few of the more extreme skinship examples. But why is it like that here???

My personal theory is that the idea of homosexuality "doesn't exist" here. It is something that Koreans often will deny exists here in this almost completely homogeneous society. Thus, when someone wants to hold your hand or kiss your cheek, it is completely for friendship, and not sexual in any way. It only strengthens the bond of friendship showing how loving and comfortable you two are together. Now, this is obviously not true. Korea has homosexuals just like any other country, but the intentions of skinship are almost completely all for friendship (and that's the truth);

What do I think about skinship? Well it was uncomfortable at first, but I (and my other international student friends) have become used to it. The sense of friendship is a lot stronger here than in the states, quicker. So yes, I do partake in skinship here in Korea, and everyone prety much is, unless they are uncomfortable with their sexuality or highly conservative.

The [Not so Irritating!] AWESOME Side of Korea

So last week, I wrote about the irritating things about Korea. This is  because I wanted everyone to know every country, Korea included, has it's flaws. Really. But this week, I've decided it was time to post about the awesome things in this little country I call my second home.

Like last post, I'll talk about the biggest, most impactful thing first, and that is family culture.

What does that mean? Well, after being abroad, I've realized how independent I am, and how the culture I grew up with is focused on taking care of yourself. I think there are many pros and cons to this, but that independent lifestyle is simply not the case here.

Here, I am incorporated into a myriad of family settings. I am in my academic major family, my suite mate family, my club family, and my friend family. What does this entail? While I am still considered  foreigner, I am treated more as a brother than a friend. I am expected to do many things, including contribute to group moral, I am also expected to let others do things more me (something that is really hard for me, believe it or not!). Either way, I feel so much more incorporated here. Don't get me wrong, this has lead to many problems. I conform well to Korean culture, and sometimes my Korean friends take it too far. I need to gently remind them I am not Korea, and am trying my best to respect this amazing culture.

Besides the family culture aspect, there are SO many more things I love about this country!!! Here are a few:

• "Service", which basically means free stuff. A free soda with your delivery purchase, a pack of tissues taped to your cereal... it's all fair game!
• Delivery 24/7 for almost EVERYTHING..... America, catch on, please. I'm sick of pizza!
• Banchan, or Korean side dishes that are plentiful, refillable, and FREE! Best part of the meal!
• All around, Korean food is pretty delicious, and healthy.
• Free clinics at your school, including basic services for FREE
• All your seniors buy you things hehe
• Upbeat music everywhere you go
• Cheap alcohol and activities like karaoke and bowling everywhere
• Drinking culture. Google it.

And lastly.... Korean people. I am meeting more and more everyday that show me life is pretty awesome.

The Irritating Side of Korea

This week, I thought it would be cool if I were to show you the more irritating side of Korea before I talk about all the amazing and awesome things here. Really, they both exist.

First, and probably the most serious, is that Korea is an almost completely homogeneous society. It has to be one of the craziest things when you walk out in public and only see Koreans. Seeing a foreigner is a treat! Now, this isn't iritating in any way (I actually really enjoy it), but it leads you to the understanding that you will never be able to conform to this society. Ever. You will always be a foreigner, and although your friends may consider you a Korean, it is never beyond a friend's point of view.

Some people don't mind this, but others who really want to adapt to life here, just can't accept it. I'm indifferent, but it is pretty frustrating to learn another language and still be spoken to in very poor English everywhere I go.

The next few things are just a quick flash of things that drive me crazy, so bear with me...

Urinals spitting water at your feet before you pee,
A.C. being turned off in my dorms when fall comes (it's still hot in the day!),
Only people of the same age can be friends (everyone else is younger/older brother/sister),
Spiders (their everywhere),
Construction.... EVERYWHERE,
Staring (only sometimes I get irritated),
Not letting foreign customers eat the spiciest foods (some of us can handle it!),
Lack of variety in cuisine (Korean is my favorite, but come on...),
Hierarchy culture (google it),
Cheese here sucks.

That's it for this week...

Also understand this: I love Korea SOOOOO much. I wouldn't trade this country for anything! And next week, I'll talk about everything and anything amazing about this country.

'Till next time,

Kalani Stephens

Introduction!

So as many people know, I am currently studying abroad in South Korea on an international exchange program.

Exciting? Maybe a little, but after studying abroad in China (for free!) and traveling all over Asia during the summer, the excitement of being abroad is turning into a normality. I am here for a total of 10 months, which was added on to my original 8 moths abroad when I left for China in January. What a trip, right?

I figure my first blog post can be an introduction. So this it it:

My name is Kalani Stephens,  文海生， or 신바다 depending what language you speak and where I am. I currently study at Soonchunhyang University in Asan, South Korea. I major in Internation Economics and Business, and also study Chinese and Korean. Originally from Hawaii, I feel like the world is my playground. I love to travel, and I'll be here in Asia for awhile. Although life for me seems exciting (and it is), I live a pretty average life. I wake up in the morning and brush my teeth and dread doing laundry, just like you. See? Normal.

But I have learned that the world is different and the same in so many ways and I want nothing more than to continue to explore it further.

Feel free to ask question about what you want to see or hear about from Korea or Asia (I travel through here a lot nowadays).