I came to Korea eight months ago to teach English to little ones at a private academy. Before coming here, I had traveled quite a bit, South America, Europe, even living in England and Ukraine, but I had never been to Asia. I was excited to come to Korea and experience a new place; I was excited to see how people live somewhere else.

(I came to Korea in the middle of all the back and forth between North Korea and the US. Read more about it: Thoughts on Living in Korea in the Time of Kim Jong Un and Trump.)

Eight months isn’t very long. By no means do I know everything about living in Korea and I’m not pretending that I do. These are simply my thoughts from my perspective as an outsider. And from what I’ve been told by Koreans, I get better treatment because I am a foreigner (what a concept!), so my perspective, like most people’s, is skewed. Nevertheless, for what it’s worth, here they are.

The short list, for the folks who don’t like to read a lot:

1. There is a community over the individual vibe
2. I’ve never felt so safe, ever
3. I haven’t gotten a true sense of a uniquely Korean identity or culture
4. Love the food
5. Love the Soju
6. Pollution is real and all up in my sinuses
7. Healthcare has been unreal
8. They think of all the little convenient things
9. I haven’t been catcalled once
10. America isn’t the greatest country in the world

1. There is a community over individual vibe

One reason I was excited to come to Korea was that the culture is more communal based, as opposed to individual based. This can be traced back to the teaching of Confucianism, which greatly influenced Korean culture.

In community based, or collective cultures, people think about other people first when making decisions and behaving. How your behavior effects someone else is more important than how it will affect you individually. It’s asking, "how do I fit into the group?", or "how does what I do affect the rest?" Not “you’re doing this to me”, but “what am I doing to you?”

It’s a shift from the dominant American mentality that permeates our society. The Hofstede cultural dimensions theory is a pretty well-recognized data driven framework that describes a society's culture and values. Korea ranks low in individualism (18), while the U.S. comes in at 91. Read more about it here.

In talking with some Korean-American friends, it may not only be the sense of community that makes people act this way, but the communal pressure and shame that follows when you act selfishly. And I think it matters that everyone has the same ethnicity; everyone is part of the same group, there isn’t as big or obvious sense of otherness that is found in more heterogeneous societies. Whatever the reason, something is different in Korea and it permeates throughout the society.

2. I’ve never felt so safe. Ever.

It’s hard to even describe to people who’ve never lived here. Never have I felt this safe, and it feels so nice. I feel safe enough to walk around alone at night. This sounds crazy to most people (and will probably make my mom worry), but it really is normal behavior that doesn’t result in bad things happening. I still rarely do it, but I could, and I’d feel safe. It’s not just feeling safe from violent crime, petty crimes are rare too.

Now I’m not a criminal, but I definitely notice opportunities to commit crimes: being able to steal something here, not pay for something there. I see so many opportunities here. A few examples:

Unlocked bikes, everywhere and on the regular. I’ve accidentally left my bike unlocked at my apartment for five days and it was still there. People don’t lock their bikes when they go into a market, or to a restaurant. When I come out of school after 8 hours, I halfway expect to find my bike gone from the busy sidewalk I park it on, even though I locked it up, but it’s always there.

People leave their computers, cell phones, wallets, anything out on tables as they go to the bathroom or outside to grab a cigarette, without thinking twice.

Self-serve bars where you grab your own bottled beers from the refrigerators, drink, then take your empties up to the counter when you’re done to pay. Honor system at a bar! I’ve thought of so many ways to cheat this system! This would never work in America.

Retailers leave shops when shoppers are in there. They just leave! I was asking about a cell phone plan and the guy left for about 5 minutes, leaving me alone in the store full of expensive electronics. You’ll find stalls at markets totally unattended during business hours and overnight, with merchandise left out.

Cases of beers on the street in front of the bars. No one looking out, just cases of beer sitting there, un-stolen.

While crime rarely happens, I still default to acting like someone is going to steal my shit at any moment, regularly checking to make sure my phone or wallet is still in my purse. It’s a hard mentality to change. I am still shocked when I see people so carefree about theft, so trusting of the strangers around them.

I think this is tied to the whole community mentality and shaming culture. The combination of thinking about others and the stigma and fear of shaming yourself or your family stops people from committing crimes. And the presence of CCTV cameras at every corner doesn’t hurt either.

3. I haven’t gotten a true sense of a uniquely Korean identity or culture

Seoul is so Westernized, and as a result I don’t feel anything truly Korean as I walk around Seoul. I’m not sure what I was expecting to see or feel, but culturally it doesn’t feel much different than any other major city (of course other than the language and that everyone is Korean).

A big reason is that most of this country was destroyed during the Korean War and rebuilt with the goal of becoming part of the international (western) community. As a result, western culture was a big influence in the rebuilding.

It feels different in smaller regions outside of Seoul, and in Busan, a southern city that escaped a lot of the destruction from the Korean War. I loved the vibe in Busan because of this, you could feel culture, history, some grit and grime. Read more about Busan. I’d love the opportunity to spend more time in rural Korea, I have a feeling that’s where all the culture is.

4. I Love the Food

The biggest cultural aspect is the food. They love their Korean food. Rice, noodles, gimbap, tteokbokki, soup, and much more. Street food markets are common with rows and rows of food carts and small makeshift restaurants right behind. Food trucks and carts can be found on most street corners in populated areas. It’s quick, it’s cheap and it’s delicious. I’ve only eaten the tip of the food iceberg so far and look forward to diving in more.

5. I Love the Soju

Koreans also love their Soju, a fermented rice liquor. So much so that in 2011, Jinro soju, a Korea brand, was the best-selling liquor in the world. Beating out Bacardi, Jack Daniels and Smirnoff. South Koreans also drink more than any other country. The average Korean adult takes down 13.7 shots per week, compared to 6.3 shots for Russians and 3.3 for Americans.

This is one area where I have connected with the local culture. A few bottles of Soju, some snacks and good company at a plastic table in front of a local convenient store is my favorite way to spend an evening. Soju is incredibly cheap, about $1 a bottle and pretty easy to drink. It’s not uncommon to go out and see loud businessmen with 8 empty bottles on their table, and later see one of them lying on the ground outside the bar in his suit, or walking/swaying arm in arm with his fellow suited businessman.

6. The pollution is real, and all up in my sinuses

I haven’t really felt 100% healthy since I got to Korea. A cold here, a sinus infection there, a cough, sore throat, or some allergies, it seems like it’s always something. In contrast, I rarely got sick back home, going months to years without even a cold. I’m sure it has some to do with the fact that I work with snotty, germy children all day, but the pollution definitely plays a role too.

Pollution in Seoul gets bad. To put it into perspective, Los Angeles has 174 healthy air days, 182 moderately unhealthy days, and 9 unhealthy for sensitive groups days. Seoul has 44 healthy days, 267 moderately healthy days, 45 unhealthy for sensitive groups days, and 9 unhealthy days per year. So, most of the time it’s not exactly healthy air you’re breathing in Korea.

I feel it, and see it. On bad days, I can’t see the humongous tower only a few miles away, while on a not so polluted day I can clearly see. I feel fatigued, I get headaches, and I’ve had a fair share on sinus issues. People’s masks are part of their lifestyle and even their fashion, but it’s all practical. I miss the clear, fresh air in Norcal for sure.

7. Healthcare has been unreal

I’ve gone to the doctor twice in the 8 months I’ve been here. Both times it was efficient, effective and cheap!

The first time I went to see a general physician because I had congestion that just wasn’t going away. I walked into the 2^nd floor doctor’s office without an appointment and handed my ARC (Alien Residency Card) to the nurse at the front counter. After a few minutes in the lobby, I was called back to meet the doctor. He spoke pretty good English, and said he even spent a few months in San Diego. He did an initial examination, peeked in my ears, down my throat, and up my nose. Turned out I had a sinus infection. He prescribed me some meds and had me sit at this machine for two minutes breathing in cold air. It was some kind of breathing machine to clear me out. I walked up to the front desk to hear the damage – 4,500 won – about $4. I picked up my prescription for 5,000 won, about $5. For a grand total of $9.50 with minimal stress.

My second experience was with a pain specialist. I pulled a muscle in my back (3 days after my 35^th birthday, thanks body). I walked into the pain management center without an appointment. After about 10 minutes I met with the doctor and walked next door to get some x-rays. Fifteen minutes later I was lying on a bed in a physical therapy room with a heat pad on my back followed by some electric muscle stimulation for a total of 9,000 won, about $9. I picked up some muscle relaxers for another 4,000 won.

Some money comes out of my paycheck each month for medical, but it’s minimal. Definitely less than anything I ever paid in America. It’s pretty incredible.

8. They think of all the little convenient things

I’ve noticed a few things that just make life a little more convenient.

• Rings that are attached to the back of phone cases so your phone doesn’t fall. Makes it easy to hold one handed.
• You can pay all your bills (water, cell phone, cable, internet) through the ATM or your bank’s mobile app
• Free phone chargers and WIFI everywhere.
• Most apartments don’t use keys. They have number codes for the door locks. Since I don’t have a car I never carry keys, so I can’t lose them!

9. I haven’t been catcalled once

I repeat, I haven’t been catcalled, called out, or made to feel uncomfortable as a woman walking down the street. I feel safe. Not only safe from crime, but safe from the leering gaze that identifies me as a sexual object. This must be how men feel walking down the street.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still get stared at, constantly, but it’s not in the same way. It feels different. I get stared at because I am a foreigner and people are curious. This is the biggest difference I feel walking around Korea.

I can give you my theories all day as to why it’s so different here than in America and most of the west. It’s too complicated to be addressed here. But something is different. And not to say they have it all figured out, there is still plenty of sexism here, it is still a strong patriarchal society, but something is different as I walk to the market or to the park, and it feels good.

10. America isn’t the greatest country in the world

Regardless of what our politicians tell us, America is not the greatest country in the world. It’s good, don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful I was born there, and I appreciate the freedoms we have, but there is so much room for improvement.

Repeating the idea that we are the best, doesn’t allow us to recognize what other countries do better to learn and improve in areas where we falter.  For example, in areas of education, health care, and gun control. Living abroad gives you a sense of how things could be better, and makes you question why things really are the way they are.

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There is so much I like about this country. For me, living abroad broadens my mind, exposes me to ideas and experiences outside of my normal, and makes me want to do it again somewhere else. This post is a work in progress and I'll be adding things as I notice them. I’m sure there is more you’d like to know about life in Korea – tell me what I missed in the comments below!