Korea, darling, I love how adorbs you are

Suzanne Nicole
Feb 2, 2019
4 min read

Preface: Thank you for coming back to me after the holidays; I know you've been agog to hear my tales. I hope your days off were spent with your family and loved ones; I spent mine with champagne. Oh, and a quick visit home to my nearest and dearest. If you're like me, you enjoyed the break, and it took awhile to get back into the swing of things.

Full disclosure: I was a little depressed coming back to Kuwait. I didn't want to leave my home, so I just tuned out... Then I went to South Korea for five days and tuned back in at a high frequency. Not fully in Gangnam style, but in the "I can't believe this is my life" way. I mean, we might have gotten lost in a taxi or two... Who am I kidding? On all six confuddled trips between Incheon and Seoul the drivers spoke zero English, and one even used Google Translate to tell us "Incheon is wide." Thanks, guy. At least Koreans reminded me of how much I appreciate order and organization as they queued for buses and the metro in perfect formation. *swoon*

The professional development

(...obviously least important, but the reason I was in South Korea) It was nice to see a school that invests in its infrastructure in order to make students feel respected or connected to the physical environment so their mental space can be free to learn. That might sound like my own diatribe against far too many schools that frankly don't have the budget to update the buildings to make students want to actually be there. I was lucky enough to attend a high school that turned three years old when I arrived as a bushy-tailed froshy.

At the conference I networked with other "good" Asian country teachers who were replete with comments about how much they loved teaching, and I added a few strategies to my repertoire. How refreshing. Insider look: Teaching middle school has me doubting I will continue to do this after my contract is up. It weighs heavy on my heart. Alas, this conference reminded me that I do know how to teach, I just have to figure out what the hell motivates these entitled, silk-stocking tweens to whom money is a bagatelle. Cat's out of the bag ...

An immaculate city

You might think I'm being mendacious, but South Korea might be the most impeccably clean city I have visited. Or it might just be that Kuwait is incredibly grubby on most days? Of course there are older parts of the city that showcase the post-war boom of the 1960s and not much else. I spent most of my time exploring this part of Seoul outside of the story of the war, ironic for the history teacher in me, preferring to take a vacation from learning.

One of the first places I sat down in Incheon for some free WiFi and because it was exceptionally cold was Cafe J, and it reminded me of my quest to find fetching coffee shops in Kuwait. Another get-warm-quick spot is a product of gentrification: F4. Koreans were methodical city planners in the 1960s, and they are as creative and forward-thinking for the modern age. I'd wished I could have stayed and read among the locals with a glass of vino.

Foodz

I took a tour of the Gwangjang Market - similar to souqs here in Kuwait, but so much better - and ate food that is not in my normal register, i.e. kimchi, a traditional dish of salted and fermented vegetables such as cabbage. It's important to step outside of my comfort zone, but not that far if a suitable toilet is not within sprinting distance. See examples of wonted food for Koreans that excited and traumatized me:

Cringe-worthy CUTENESS

Have you ever been to a baby shower where you lose points, charm bracelets or some other trinket when you squeak, "OMGOMG! That's so cute"? Well, that's basically the entirety of my musings on South Korea. Presenting Ryan the Lion:

And!! He has friends: Kakao Friends.

Basically he's the Hello Kitty of South Korea. This type of cute isn't like using the guest bathroom at your aunt's and there are teddy bears imprinted on the toilet paper. It's the kind of cute when you want to hug, pinch, cuddle, caress, or spoon with every fuzzy toy you see. My seven-year-old self wanted an advance on my allowance so I could own a collection of snuggly toys and populate a city of smooshies for an exclusive slumber party.

Finally, a shout-out to Airbnb Experiences

I've been a loyal tripadvisor customer and reviewer (280 points away from Level 5 coronation, Rosie); however, I highly recommend the personal attention from Jay on the Gwangjang Market Food Tour and a funky take on urban history through art with Q on the Hidden Look of Seoul with an artist tour. I learned South Korea's underground catchphrase: "You, too, can build a robot!" There are numerous stores of spare parts packed floor to ceiling to make any tinkerer orgasm. Also my reviews and pictures are now on Airbnb, too. Stop making fun of my personal goals to take over the travel review sector of the market, Gregg.