Ten Ways Korea Changed Me

Living in Korea legit has some pretty awesome benefits. One of my favorite ones is the national healthcare. I get my teeth cleaned twice a year, I can get a yearly check up at the gyno, and if I’m sick, I don’t have to worry about it. Not to mention, it’s super hard to get your hands on a gun here in South Korea, so I don’t need to worry about anyone walking up into my school while I’m teaching the chitlins. There are lots of ways Korea has changed me including being rude like the ajhummas. If they try and push me, you best believe I’m sticking my elbows out and letting them walk right into them. Do you know how much more their blunt force hurts when walking into a smaller and pointier object? The laws of science are beautiful ones, my friends. Living in a new culture and country will make you adapt and transform your ways of thinking and doing. Here are ten ways Korea changed me for better or for worse. 

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I Dress Better

When I was in college, you best believe I wasn’t dressing up. It was yoga pants, t-shirts, and shorts for this chick. (Also, in America, people seem to value dressing down because if you’re dressing up, you’re either conceited or insecure.) The same applied when I was in Okinawa. If I went out in a nice blouse I was stared at. This made me super uncomfortable because Japanese don’t tend to stare and I just wanted to go back into my house and put on something grungy so people would leave me alone.

Unfortunately, I can’t find my size in a lot of places, but luckily I live near a Starfield Mall so I have access to American Eagle and H&M. I also do a lot of online shopping. Check out my spring outfits in Korea guide if you’re a plus size lady looking to be stylish.

I Go to the Toilet in Department Stores

Have you ever been in a public toilet in any Seoul Subway Station? I’m so glad they got rid of the grody and germtastic trash bins filled with everyone’s waste and dirty pads or tampons. In all honesty, those restrooms are still grody. Most of them don’t have soap dispensers or toilet paper in the stall. If I have to go you best believe I will hold it until I get home or I find the nearest department store.

Like legit, some of them are an experience. They have the fancy bidet toilets, marble countertops, paper towels, and soap. Did I also mention that there aren’t hidden cameras in the stalls either?

Skincare Focus

So you know how in America a lot of women set a budget every month for their nails or their hair? You’ll find most Koreans are putting money aside every month to focus on their skin care. This could be anything from going to the dermatologist or trying a new product to help with this, that or the other.

Since living in Korea, I have been no exception.

Also, because of the yellow dust, I feel as if I started upping my skin care regime to try and combat all the nastiness that has been seeping its way into my pores. I’ve done a Jessner Peel and pimple extraction since being in Korea and I’ve never even heard of them before coming here.

The things Koreans think up when it comes to taking care of your skin is crazy.

In America, it’s sad to say, but many of my peers have started showing signs of aging because of going to tanning beds early on or not wearing sunscreen. I can confidently say that because of my job, I’m out of the sun for most of the day and I wear sunscreen as part of my daily regime. Snail Extract Essence anyone?

Healthier

When traveling to Laos last year, I unfortunately had a very nasty allergic reaction to some beef and chicken that left a rash all over my face, neck and hands. I said, “Not today, Satan.” After that hiccup I chose to cut out all meat from my diet (except fish and eggs). Also, luckily, great Korean skin care saved my skin from having permanent blotches from the rash. Koreans don’t eat as healthy (since this country is obsessed with pork) and most don’t really exercise since they’re built smaller.

I’m not Asian. I’m not skinny either. But exercising via Cross Fit and being vegetarian has helped me lose a lot of weight. Also, dumping my ex helped a lot too. He was obsessed with eating pork and ramen. Two foods that are very, very bad for you.

In addition, a lot of the fruit (can ya’ll holla for some Korean strawberries?OMG) and veggies come seasonally. I’m vegetarian now and I have a complete guide on how to be vegetarian in Korea. In America, we value choice and option so we have everything in the store no matter if it’s in season or not. I appreciate the freshness of the foods here because they have so much more flavor compared to America’s. For things I cannot get, I usually shop on iHerb.

Smaller Everything is Chill

In Korea, I’ve dwelled in an offictel and I’ve lived in an apartment. These accommodations would be considered small by American standards, but I’ve gotten used to it. When I went home in 2015 to my parents’ house I was like, “Holy crap. I forgot how HUGE houses in the burbs of the Chi are.” My old room was actually half the size of my apartment in Japan and bigger than my bedroom now. I had just as big of a closet as well. But at the end of the day…

Whenever I want to buy furniture or take something home I pick it up and say, “Gina Bear, will this fit in your house? Do you really need this new comforter set?” If the answer is no, then I immediately put it back on the shelf, cease and desist. Think about it, the bigger your house is, the more you accumulate. Having a smaller place forces me to pick what’s really important.

Some people are probably thinking, “But all my shoes and clothes!” You don’t need all those clothes and shoes. Most things go out of style really quickly because fashion is always changing. If something has been sitting in your closet for over 6 months chances are you’re never gonna wear it again. Trust me. I’ve been down that alley before. In addition, as a plus size beauty in Korea, I have also come to terms that my wardrobe collection is small not because I want it to be, but because I have a very limited range of clothes available to me.

Shoes Off

I am SO IN LOVE with no shoes on in the house. Like legit, do you all realize how nasty our shoes are? We travel to all sorts of filthy places in our shoes. E Coli is huge in any public restroom so why would you drag that in the house? My shoes stay at the coop in front of the door and I don’t bring them in the house or wear them in the house either. American shoe culture in the house is so [insert colorful expressions here]. We can learn a thing or two from around the world and keep our shoes outside and not in our living accommodations.

I’m Less Patient

My patience was already running thin from the shit driving in Okinawa, but now it’s gotten worse. Since Korea has a bballi bballi “빨리빨리” culture I have also adapted and expected everything to be done quickly and efficiently. The bus drivers conduct their vehicles like they got their license on the NASCAR track and if I’m waiting for a subway or bus more than 10 minutes I’m like, “Where da fuq this transport at?” 

At a restaurant, I want my food to come quickly and piping hot. The same goes for my delivery. I also have less patience for people chewing with their mouths open like cows at restaurants. I know it’s not part of Korean table manners. The only thing that’s acceptable is slurping noodles. So help me cheezus, if I hear you chewing with your mouth open, I have most likely fantasized about your death. I just don’t have the patience to tolerate open mouth chewing… Which is why I eat at home.

I Appreciate Clean Air

One thing I wasn’t prepared for when moving to Korea was the amount of pollution. It legitimately makes me appreciate all the clean air acts my government put into place before Trump repealed them. Some days, I go outside and I can literally taste the pollution. You cannot fathom how terrible it is when I want to take that first deep breath in the morning outside and I taste yellow dust. It makes me want to go in my house, turn on my air purifier full blast, and never want to step outside again. Most of the time in spring I’m usually wearing filtered face masks to combat the pollution. It’s super depressing and I would never wish unclean air on anyone in the world.

Seriously people, protect our planet. Do your part to clean up trash and switch to cleaner more sustainable energy. Life is too short and our posterity won’t even have an amazing planet if we keep screwing up the Earth the way we are.

Even though I love Korea, I don’t see myself here forever because of this pollution. It’s not good for my health.

I Check Myself Out in Public

Hear me out. While some people may hate the fact there are mirrors everywhere, I actually like it. Some people call Koreans vain, but opinions are like assholes. Ya feel me? The mirror never hurt anyone. I personally like it when there are mirrors and I can make sure my hair and makeup are in place… Especially in the summer. You never know who you’re gonna run into and you always need to be selfie ready. Besides, who doesn’t want that totally adorable bragging you’re eating bingsu photo?

If I’m walking by and I’m really feeling my outfit, it’s okay to check myself out. I give myself a mental, “Yahs queen, slay.” And that’s the end of that.

I Have a Better Work Ethic

Koreans work hard. In fact, they are some of the hardest workers in the world. At my Korean Middle School, teachers are working longer and harder because the staff is downsizing. The amount of work has stayed the same but now there isn’t enough people. When I was in Okinawa, I wasn’t doing much which most likely added to the list of reasons why I was going crazy.

In order for me to be happy, I need to be in a structured and productive work environment working towards my dreams or I can’t handle it.

Living in Korea helped me work towards my dreams while doing a job I dislike so that I know there will be success at the end of the road.

Alas, living in Korea will do some pretty funky things to your habits and these 10 ways Korea changed me are definitely things I’ve noticed. Living in Korea made me a better person in some ways but worse in others (i.e. elbowing the ajhummas). Part of living abroad is adapting and doing as others do. It’s also about enjoying the conveniences of said host country like fast, clean and accessible public transport or checking yourself out in public and taking selfies when you feel like it. After residing in the Land of the Morning Calm for almost three years, your girl is definitely calling this home and some of these habits are here to stay.

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