Category: In Korea (Page 16 of 25)

Back To The Countryside

2014/02/25 / Nic / 23 Comments

We just spent the weekend in Seoul. The contrast between Seoul and the countryside is always interesting. We got off the bus and saw a guy we know, not necessarily a friend, but someone we see around. He offered right away to give us a ride back to the house in his dusty truck. So we put the suitcase in the back and squished into the front. Country hospitality I guess!

On Friday night we hung out with Eat Your Kimchi which was lots of fun. Saturday we went to a wedding and saw some friends and then Sunday we went to Suwon and did a livechat and some collaborations with Hallyu Back.

Busy weekend but so much fun!

Sexy at home?

2014/02/19 / Nic / 36 Comments

You know how in Korean dramas the guys wear casual but stylish clothes at home? It’s all a lie! This is what they are really wearing (don’t try to deny it Korean guys!).

I really noticed the contrast yesterday because he bought some new clothes and he looked so nice and handsome, but then he changes into this…. it can be a mood killer. 99% of the time this is what he is wearing at home. There isn’t even a tshirt under the jacket! And why do Korean guys complain about their military service constantly but insist on wearing military clothing for the rest of their lives? Haha.. anyway it makes me laugh… and then I go back to watching Korean dramas full of men wearing nice clothes.

So guys in Korea tend to dress really well when they go out in public, seriously some of the fashion here is so great… but it’s a different story behind closed doors.

(The point of this comic isn’t about just Korean guys dressing down inside because most people do that, it’s just my observations of the contrast of being extremely fashionable outside and the interesting style choices at home).

Many things to say

2014/02/18 / Nic / 64 Comments

Today’s comic is a bit sad. I always have many things to tell my mother-in-law but it’s really hard because my Korean is so basic. I studied Korean part time for 1 year but it’s only now that I’m in Korea I’m studying hard and trying to put it into use. However, speaking casually with Korean friends and throwing in lots of English is very different from speaking with my parents-in-law where I have to be speaking at a higher politeness level, and they have no English at all. Also there is the problem of dialect. Although there are things I can say in Korean it is very hard and confidence is such an important aspect of speaking in another language. Even if technically I know how to say something, it can be hard to remember it quickly enough.

I really envy my husband’s level of English because although his English is not perfect, he can express himself really well in English. I want to be able to do that in Korean. I’m studying every day but it is very overwhelming.

My husband told his mother that I have many things to say but I can’t yet, and she said she is looking forward to when I can speak well because it will be fun.

Into the Korean Wilderness… kinda

2014/02/18 / Nic / 9 Comments

We went on a little adventure on the weekend.

Alone for a Day

2014/02/17 / Nic / 13 Comments

Some days we talk all day and are joined at the hip all day, but other days we might not see each other that much even though we are in the same house. My desk is upstairs and it’s much warmer up there so I’ll be working or studying there. My husband has to look after the tiny shop his parents have (mostly snacks for students) while they work in the greenhouses. So some days we don’t see each other as much but I know he is nearby. When he went to Seoul for a day nothing was that different, but not having his presence in the house made me so lonely.

Also, sometimes even though we are in the same house we talk on kakao talk to each other, and some people noticed I tweeted at him the other day to come upstairs… hehe

Stray Cats

2014/02/13 / Nic / 15 Comments

I’ve heard other people comment on how wild the cats are in Korea. There are lots of stray cats in Australia (actually it’s a really big problem because they kill native wildlife, but lets not get into that right now) but I feel like Australian stray cats are a bit friendlier. Australia has some huge scary feral cats out in the bush but strays around towns aren’t usually too scared of people. Stray cats in Korea are terrified of people. My husband keeps telling, “That’s how they survive” but sometimes I just want to watch them and as soon as they see me they run! These are ones living right outside the house. My mother-in-law puts food scraps out for them and they run even when they see her.

I just want to watch you play kitties!!! I’ll have to do it secretly from the roof again.

Seoul Subway

2014/02/12 / Nic / 18 Comments

It is always a bit weird going from the countryside into Seoul. We feel really comfortable out in the countryside, so Seoul can be a bit overwhelming sometimes. We have to double check maps and subway exits and are carrying bags – it really makes you feel out of place.

Up until yesterday my husband thought the phrase was “country pumpkin” not “country bumpkin” so had been calling himself a country pumpkin which is pretty funny since pumpkin also means “ugly” in Korean!

One of the biggest differences I noticed was that the women had much whiter skin than the women in the countryside. Which makes sense if countryside women are getting more sun. But not all countryside women are outside a lot either so it wasn’t just that. I’m pretty sure the makeup had a lot to with it too. The way I saw some Seoul women wear makeup made their faces look a lot whiter and was contrasted with red lipstick. It was a look that I haven’t seen as much out here.

We will be back in Seoul next week. We’ll be going to a friend’s wedding as well as hopefully doing some other exciting stuff.