Funny things I've learned about Korea

As expected, Korean culture is very different from America. Since i've been here, I've seen and learned some of the differences. Some of them are funny, and others just odd. I thought I'd share some of them with you!

1. If a Korean’s glass is empty they pass the bottle to the person sitting with them. (In Korean culture it is frowned upon to pour yourself a glass; the proper etiquette is pouring for each other.)

2. Koreans are already putting the next bite of food in their mouths before they finished chewing the last bit.

3. If a Koreans suffer indigestion after meals, or even an upset stomach, they treat it by pricking their fingers with needles. (They think this cures upset stomachs...I just look at them and think they are diabetic...or crazy!)

4. Korean women who smoke are seen as women of loose morals (if you get my meaning). It's not uncommon for older Koreans to walk up to girls and rip cigarettes out of their hands, or yell at them and cut them down.

5. Hitting seems to be a sign of affection in Korea. It's not uncommon if you say something funny or are talking with someone, for them to whack you upside the head...all in the name of love!

6. Business men are often taken out after work by their employers to bars where they get completely drunk, and even to Men's Rooms, or prostitutes. Not my husband!

7. Koreans spit in the street. They don’t blow their noses in public because they think it’s gross, but it’s perfectly ok to spit in the street. You even hear old ladies hocking up their lungs and spitting.

8. Urinating in public is a fact of life. You see men in allyways, parents helping their children pop a squat on the side of the street...it's just normal! I guess if you gotta go, you gotta go!

9. Korean girls are obsessed with appearance. One issue is, the whiter the face, the prettier you are. They believe silly things like if you drink milk while you're pregnant, your baby will have whiter skin, and if you drink coke, your skin will become darker and uglier.

10. Fan Death...almost all Koreans actually believe this is real. They think if you sleep in the room with a fan on, and all doors and windows are closed, you will die. They swear, even doctors, that the fans suck out the air you need to breathe. For this reason you don't see many fans in Korea!

There are just a few...I'll be back later with more crazy Korean customs!