What you can’t get used to: Russian girl about life in Korea
From a young age, Victoria wanted to leave her native Perm and see the world. And not just to see overseas sights, but to live in another country, to understand the mentality of its inhabitants. In the end, she lives in South Korea. And although she loves this country, the girl is constantly thinking about her hometown.
To distant countries
When Victoria graduated from school and faced the choice of a future life path, she entered a university where foreign internships were promised. The girl received two higher educations, but did not get abroad.
At the end of her studies, she got a job and took a ticket to Tunisia during the holidays. This trip completely turned her life upside down. In Tunisia, she saw the work of tour guides and realized that this is exactly what she wanted.
Having settled down as a guide, she realized her dream. Over the next four years, she visited ten different countries, but finally decided to settle in Korea.
First acquaintance with Korea
Victoria had a special relationship with this country before. From an early age she was fond of romantic South Korean TV shows. Korea seemed to her a beautiful, distant and mysterious country.
The gap pattern has already occurred at the airport. It seemed to her that she had fallen into the distant future and felt like some kind of Neanderthal. She did not expect South Korea to be so highly developed. The girl saw with her own eyes the technical devices, the existence of which she had not previously suspected. But Victoria did not live before somewhere in a dense forest, by that time she managed to see a lot.
How do Koreans live?
Of course, the level of technical development is not the main thing. The most important thing is people. It is amazing how disciplined the Hangukas, as the Koreans call themselves, are disciplined. They have everything on schedule, everywhere order and clarity.
They take work very seriously, try to be professionals in their field, and strive to ensure that work is performed flawlessly. These people are real workaholics.
It’s nice to feel the friendliness of these people, and it’s sincere. They are always open to communication. Everyone is ready to give a smile, show interest, enter into a dialogue. A quarrel between passengers in crowded vehicles is simply not possible. Any careless push will end with smiles and apologies.
True, if you encounter real difficulties, no one will help you here. They will also politely and imperceptibly disappear, and you will be left alone with the problem. It is much easier to find sincere sympathy and participation in Russia than in Korea. Our people, despite the external coldness, are much more soulful.
If Russians perfectly understand the meaning of the word “settle down”, then it is difficult for the Korean to explain it. They remain children until old age. And thirty years of age for them is almost youth. They rarely marry before age 33. And such a thing as clothing not by age does not exist for them.
With all this, Koreans are very respectful of their elders. Even an age difference of one to two years makes you pay respect. In Korea, it is inconceivable that the youngest rude to the oldest, especially the elderly person. But this does not mean that the elders humiliate the younger ones, this is also unacceptable. The same situation with the difference in official position. Subordination is observed in the strictest manner.
Caring for children and the elderly is taken for granted. After the divorce, not a single Korean man will leave children. He will continue to take care of them and support them financially. Abandoned and forgotten by children, the elderly do not exist here either. This is not accepted here. Family and family values in Korea are not just empty and big words, this is the basis of Korean society.
For all their friendliness, Koreans are very hostile towards the Japanese. For many years, the Japanese occupation left a deep mark in this country. And if you don’t speak Korean, don’t try to speak Japanese with the locals, hoping that the languages are similar and they will understand you. Try to speak English better. As a last resort, in Russian or on fingers, but not in Japanese.
What is impossible to get used to in Korea
Two countries with different cultures and mentality should not be compared or evaluated. This is not to say that one country is better or worse than another. They are just different.
Etiquette standards in Russia and Korea are very different. If in Russia it’s indecent to slurp at the table, and even more so in a public place, then in Korea this is a sign that you like the treat, and you absorb it with pleasure and appetite.
By the way, with regard to Korean cuisine, it is very tasty and original. But some dishes are so peculiar that not every Russian is able to eat them. Not everyone dares to try silkworm larvae or seafood that try to crawl out of your plate.
In conversation, the Korean can show sincerity, bordering on inconsideracy. There it’s normal to tell a woman that she’s fat, or that she looks much older than her years. And no one is offended by this. Moreover, they are surprised if, after such words, the interlocutor's mood deteriorates.
Despite the fact that Russians are considered to be very drinking people in the world, they are very far from Koreans. Their traditional Friday nights with a lot of alcohol can be shocking. Even on a weekday, the boss can invite his team to hike in restaurants all night. But you can’t refuse, it’s not accepted.
Homeland is always alone
Although Victoria loves Korea and respects its inhabitants, she misses her native Perm very much. She lacks communication in her native language, streets familiar from childhood, sincere conversations, relatives, even the Russian mat. It’s even difficult for a girl to name anything in Russia, which she would recall with hostility.
Of course, life in our country is far from ideal, but everything that Victoria surrounded in Perm seems so dear and real. She recalls with warmth even what was previously annoying.
To distant countries
When Victoria graduated from school and faced the choice of a future life path, she entered a university where foreign internships were promised. The girl received two higher educations, but did not get abroad.
At the end of her studies, she got a job and took a ticket to Tunisia during the holidays. This trip completely turned her life upside down. In Tunisia, she saw the work of tour guides and realized that this is exactly what she wanted.
Having settled down as a guide, she realized her dream. Over the next four years, she visited ten different countries, but finally decided to settle in Korea.
First acquaintance with Korea
Victoria had a special relationship with this country before. From an early age she was fond of romantic South Korean TV shows. Korea seemed to her a beautiful, distant and mysterious country.
The gap pattern has already occurred at the airport. It seemed to her that she had fallen into the distant future and felt like some kind of Neanderthal. She did not expect South Korea to be so highly developed. The girl saw with her own eyes the technical devices, the existence of which she had not previously suspected. But Victoria did not live before somewhere in a dense forest, by that time she managed to see a lot.
How do Koreans live?
Of course, the level of technical development is not the main thing. The most important thing is people. It is amazing how disciplined the Hangukas, as the Koreans call themselves, are disciplined. They have everything on schedule, everywhere order and clarity.
They take work very seriously, try to be professionals in their field, and strive to ensure that work is performed flawlessly. These people are real workaholics.
It’s nice to feel the friendliness of these people, and it’s sincere. They are always open to communication. Everyone is ready to give a smile, show interest, enter into a dialogue. A quarrel between passengers in crowded vehicles is simply not possible. Any careless push will end with smiles and apologies.
True, if you encounter real difficulties, no one will help you here. They will also politely and imperceptibly disappear, and you will be left alone with the problem. It is much easier to find sincere sympathy and participation in Russia than in Korea. Our people, despite the external coldness, are much more soulful.
If Russians perfectly understand the meaning of the word “settle down”, then it is difficult for the Korean to explain it. They remain children until old age. And thirty years of age for them is almost youth. They rarely marry before age 33. And such a thing as clothing not by age does not exist for them.
With all this, Koreans are very respectful of their elders. Even an age difference of one to two years makes you pay respect. In Korea, it is inconceivable that the youngest rude to the oldest, especially the elderly person. But this does not mean that the elders humiliate the younger ones, this is also unacceptable. The same situation with the difference in official position. Subordination is observed in the strictest manner.
Caring for children and the elderly is taken for granted. After the divorce, not a single Korean man will leave children. He will continue to take care of them and support them financially. Abandoned and forgotten by children, the elderly do not exist here either. This is not accepted here. Family and family values in Korea are not just empty and big words, this is the basis of Korean society.
For all their friendliness, Koreans are very hostile towards the Japanese. For many years, the Japanese occupation left a deep mark in this country. And if you don’t speak Korean, don’t try to speak Japanese with the locals, hoping that the languages are similar and they will understand you. Try to speak English better. As a last resort, in Russian or on fingers, but not in Japanese.
What is impossible to get used to in Korea
Two countries with different cultures and mentality should not be compared or evaluated. This is not to say that one country is better or worse than another. They are just different.
Etiquette standards in Russia and Korea are very different. If in Russia it’s indecent to slurp at the table, and even more so in a public place, then in Korea this is a sign that you like the treat, and you absorb it with pleasure and appetite.
By the way, with regard to Korean cuisine, it is very tasty and original. But some dishes are so peculiar that not every Russian is able to eat them. Not everyone dares to try silkworm larvae or seafood that try to crawl out of your plate.
In conversation, the Korean can show sincerity, bordering on inconsideracy. There it’s normal to tell a woman that she’s fat, or that she looks much older than her years. And no one is offended by this. Moreover, they are surprised if, after such words, the interlocutor's mood deteriorates.
Despite the fact that Russians are considered to be very drinking people in the world, they are very far from Koreans. Their traditional Friday nights with a lot of alcohol can be shocking. Even on a weekday, the boss can invite his team to hike in restaurants all night. But you can’t refuse, it’s not accepted.
Homeland is always alone
Although Victoria loves Korea and respects its inhabitants, she misses her native Perm very much. She lacks communication in her native language, streets familiar from childhood, sincere conversations, relatives, even the Russian mat. It’s even difficult for a girl to name anything in Russia, which she would recall with hostility.
Of course, life in our country is far from ideal, but everything that Victoria surrounded in Perm seems so dear and real. She recalls with warmth even what was previously annoying.
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