All in all, everything is well and I’m getting used to everything while experiencing something new every day.

He one thing is that I haven’t been able to adapt to the air. More about it soon.

Delicious 팥빙수 Korean dessert from Baek Eok (100억) Cafe in Gangnam, South Korea. This dessert is perfect for the dating scene because it weeds out the playboys and playgirls since it leaves the serial daters with exploded pancreata and missing teeth.

With this said, I’m aware that people are often the most complacent just before the worst conflicts.  People are usually caught completely off guard when the tides change for the worst. I try to be realistic and I do try to second guess my assumptions because I know that I cannot trust the calmness of people around me. Things can happen any time.

To those who have asked if I would come home if things went sour: I’m as prone to self-preservation as the other guy, but at the same time I think it poor form to abandon people when things get a little shaky.  I’ve lived here for a while and would hope that I don’t act as a fair weather friend when and if the time comes.  I have people here to worry about; therefore, to say it in fewer words; I’d stay.  Lastly, for my family and friends back home: don’t worry so much–it’s more likely that I’d suffer from fan death~

Kindness,
Knigel~

I am preparing for my trip to Beijing in two days. To be honest, I know next to nothing about China. I know tidbits; however, I must be real and accept that what I know is nothing compared with what is there for me to learn. I am looking to this trip as a learning experience of which I must keep in mind to be a traveler instead of a tourist. As usual, I will not mind giving up some comfort for the sake of experiencing something obscure or worthwhile.

I feel I will stick out like a sore thumb; however, after living in Cuba and South Korea, I have gotten quite used to curious attention. I have been told that Beijingers, due to the many foreigners, pay little attention. Still, I’m sure that I’m going to run up against some cultural differences–sometimes people just do not accept Canadian currency.

The one challenge I’m not sure I’m looking forward to is the sea of human flesh that I am about to go up against.

One of the noteworthy aspects of Korean culture is the strict rules of etiquette that are socially enforced through shame. Koreans often mention the potential glare that keeps them from acting in a way that might be out of the ordinary. As the expression goes, “The nail that sticks out, gets the hammer”.

In stark contrast are the outlets, such as drinking, that allow an escape to the normal rules. While one may adhere and even enforce the usual folkways or mores while sober, these same rules are tossed aside as a cathartic release takes the reins.

Koreans nights, throughout the weeks, are reknown for the drunken businessmen strewn along the sidewalks. This is a situation that does exist.  It may be an embarrassing circumstance similar to how Hastings Street is a sore topic for Vancouverites; however, before we work on the prescriptive oughts of our societies, we need to peel back the various descriptive elements. We must distinguish the “shoulds” from the “whats”.

Furthermore, as strangers in strange lands, we should not refrain from cultural data collection in the fear of being ethnocentric; although, we should understand that we are judgemental and we can’t escape our biases. We are going to judge cultures based on our experiences; however, the more experiences we collect, the more skeptical we can be about our assumptions.

I’ve been waiting a long time to surreptitiously sneak a photo of one of the many Korean cleaning ladies in the men’s washrooms. Unlike Canada, it is a norm to see ladies cleaning up in the men’s washrooms. This is a seeming contradiction, amongst many, to korea’s sexual conservativism. While I’m careful about giving into ethnocentric assumptions intellectually, it’s hard to say that I have no emotional hangups when trying to relieve myself with a kindly grandmother smiling up at me.

When I first found myself in this situation, I had no social script. There were no other men in the washroom from who I could casually follow example. I didn’t know if I should just walk out or pretend that I only had to wash my hands. Instead I–probably more confidently than I ought to be–strolled up to the urinal, greeted her with the customary “안녕하세요!”, took the sharpest aim I could, and reclaimed my territory all the while feeling guilty for any stray droplette.

The first time was certainly one of the culture shocks that has made me remember that I am indeed in a different country; however, this situation is quite minor compared to a few places like some pubs that have a single washroom of which both sexes use simultaneously. I’m pretty open-minded; however, there is absolutely nothing I can do from getting embarrassed after turning around and bumping into an attractive, but very flustered girl.

Pointing attention to these situations isn’t meant to depict Korea as some strange land in which everything is backwards. Each country has it’s own organically organised social constructions that result in an awkward situation. These situations are not unsimilar to the uncomfortable silence found when people share an elevator with each other.

Taken at Seoul Grand Park botanical garden.

grandpark.seoul.go.kr/Eng/html/main/main.jsp

There are reasons to keep vows of silence.

This photo was taken at the 2010 Lantern Lotus Festival: www.llf.or.kr/eng/