Spangled Is Kind Of A Funny Word Too...

I've just realized that although I've been telling people for quite some time that I have been in Korea for 7 months, it has actually been 8 months (and about halfway through with that as well). If I had gotten a girl pregnant the first day I got here, I would almost be a father by now.

I have no idea why I say things like that.

Anyway, life is strange and wonderful these days. I live in a completely different country than the one I was born in. It hasn't been easy, and in fact, I have had some of the most difficult days of my life here. Despite that, there are actually a few things about living in Korea that are easier than back home, and I'd like to take the occasion of my 8 month anneversary (longest relationship I've ever been in)to highlight a few of those things.

I've found, first of all, that public transportation is a lot better here. I don't have a car in Korea, nor do I have the ability to drive one, but I know how to get from one end of the Daegu to the other in less than an hour. As soon as I figured out the busses and their routes, I was able to navigate the city with relative ease. I can even get to Seoul (about a 6 hour car ride) in about 2 hours via the KTX rapid train. Busan and the beautiful Korean coastline are about an hour south and just as accesable. I can pretty much take a day trip to any part of the mainland. Planning one this weekend, in fact.

Second of all, I'm a lot more eco-friendly in Korea. The Korean garbage system is really different than the US. You have to buy these tiny bags and put all your garbage in them, or you can't throw them away. It's really annoying. These days, I do everything I can to avoid accumulating garbage. I don't buy as much, and often when I do, I shop for only a few things at a time, taking my trusty bookbag along to avoid having to use shopping bags.I prefer smaller packaging in general, and I patronise restaurants and coffee shops that use washable dishes to serve their food and drinks. I used to fill at least a garbage bag per week, but these last 10 days have seen only a half. Feels great.

Finally, it's a lot easier to be health-conscious here. The Korean diet is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, consisting of mostly rice (and other rice-derived dishes), Vegetables and seafood. As a salad bowl native, I found the vegetables a little difficult to get used to (Koreans like to pickle everything), but after a while, your body does get used to it, and it's quite good for you. Coffee shops, fast food restaurants and bekeries aren't shy about the calorie content of their foods either. Did you know, o loyal readers(s?), that if you eat a fruit pastry and a cafe latte you have consumed about 500 calories? Calculations like this are easy once you've been exposed to them.

another reason I have been able to remain healthy in this country is the refreshingly blunt nature of most Koreans.

"Stephen, you must exercize a lot to lose weight."

I heard this quite often when I came here (I have some really funny stories about it that perhaps I will share sometime.) I don't hear it as often these days (10 kilograms and counting!), but I know I would never hear anything like that from an American, because it is considered rude to comment on someone elses' personal habits (unless they are smoking or talking on your cell phone). If you think about it, it's actually a pretty good friend that will tell you to take care of your health. Other subjects that are not off limits: religion, income, age, spending habits, and the presence or absebce of a girlfirend (often the first thing strangers ask me)

I know what you're thinking, o loyal reader(s?)

"What the hell is a kilogram?"

Don't worry about it. Just put your fingers in your ears and go "blah blah blah" to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner, and it will all go away.

The point of it is, there is so much life, and so much good to be had outside of the California coastline. I had no idea. I miss home, and I'll always be an American at heart, but this has become a bit of a home for me as well. Good to know you Korea. I can tell the we are going to be friends.