The Movies Are Better in South Korea

Going to the movies is one of my favorite ways to curb homesickness.

 

Movie theaters are great places to escape to when the trials and tribulations of living/traveling in another country are just becoming too much and all you want is something familiar. The basic setup is always the same and most theaters around the world will play movies in English (with their native language in subtitles, of course).

I've gone to the movies in Europe, in the US, and now in Korea and by far the best experience I've had was in Korea.

The ultimate movie experience begins with you being able to pick your seats while you purchase your tickets. Nothing puts a damper on your movie experience like having to sit through 20 minutes of commercials before the movie, just to get a decent seat. In Korea, you have the option to bust in with two minutes until the movie starts and still obtain optimal seating. Eff yeah!

You know how whenever you go to the theater, you wish that no one will sit in front of you so you can put your feet up on the chair in front of you? Well, on our most recent trip to our local theater (a Megabox), we excitedly discovered that every seat came with a footrest. Yes, a footrest!! How awesome is that??!

Spencer enjoying the facilities. (sorry for bad quality! taken with my iPod)

The armrests on the seats are all extra wide so every person has two arm rests and no one has to share or fight over it. The seats leaned back just enough to make it super comfortable but not so inclined that you'd be tempted to fall asleep. Seriously, what more could you ask for?

There are also "couple" seats available for lovers or BFFs. They are loveseat-sized seating on the sides of the main seating area upholstered in red velvet (oh, la la). With the loveseat, you both get your own footrest and the armrest in the middle folds up for snuggle time. How cute is that?? 

The Hunger Games movie poster

Another great part about movie theaters in Korea is that they all have free mini movie posters. They are all in Korean, but that really just adds to the charm. We always snag a few to hang in our apartment.

Cat Cafe in Seoul

I thought it was going to smell terrible and I was going to hate it but I decided to go to the cat cafe anyway. I mean, why the hell not? I'm here, it's here, and it makes me uncomfortable which means I might learn something or grow as a individual, or whatever it is they say.

From the moment you walk in, the cats are everywhere. 

The first thing you do order a drink. The price is more than your average cup of coffee (about $7-8), but you are paying for the experience of seeing/playing with the cats as well as the beverage.

While ordering and waiting for your cups, get a good look at the rules. It was good to know what was allowed and what would cause us to get kicked out. Thankfully, they had an English copy to show us.

It included obvious things like "don't hold the tail please" and not so obvious things like "don't pat cat's bottom" and "don't tease the cat with straws." I thought cats loved getting teased with straws (!) but at this point, I wasn't sure I was even going to touch a cat so I wasn't too bothered.

Katie and me watching the cats

We made our way to a table and sat. Not too sure of what to do, we just sat for a while watching the cats. There were about 30 cats all roaming around the cafe: some sleeping/lounging, some eating, and a few playing.

I saw male cat spray on the window sill near where we were sitting and I about wanted to leave right then! We had just gotten there, so even though I was thoroughly disgusted, we stayed. We later found out that that cat is referred to as the king of the cafe.

The amazing thing was in a few minutes all the spray was gone. It somehow magically seeped into whatever material was covering the window sill, which was simultaneously cool and gross. 

The cats are so well loved by all the attention giving patrons that none were rushing up to us begging to be petted or rubbing on our legs as we sat. In fact, the cats were so lethargic that one of the employees went around handing everyone a few cat treats to get them excited and moving around.

It was only when I was handed a cat treat that I decided I would pet one....just a little scratch. I wasn't getting too crazy or anything.

See how stoked I am? ha!

It was actually a pretty fun experience...until I saw the hairless cat. When I saw that thing stalking around, I was ready to leave. I didn't want that cat anywhere near me. Thankfully, some little Korean girl coaxed it into sitting on a pillow in her lap on the other side of the room.

With our drinks drained and the hairless monster roaming around I was more than happy to leave. It wasn't smelly and I definitely didn't hate it, but I think I'll go to the dog cafe next time and skip the felines. 

Cherry Blossoms in Suncheon

I don't know if you've heard, but I really love flowers. That's why when we were making our bucket list for our time in South Korea, I knew I wanted to "walk through hella cherry trees in bloom."

blooming cherry trees along the river in Suncheon, South Korea

April is the month for the blooms and trees have been exploding in white and pink for the past two weeks. Standing in the shade of a flowering tree as the cool spring breeze blows the petals around you like the most gorgeous snow you've ever seen is so calming and cheerful. It's beautiful, glorious, and dream-like. How can you not be happy when the world is showcasing this wonder around you?

Directions: There are cherry trees along most of the river in Suncheon. To get the the walkway with the trees on both sides, go downriver. It starts at where the garden expo will be and goes upriver.

Seven Super Shots

We were honored to be nominated for another fun travel blogger meme by our fellow expat in Korea, Tom of Waegook Tom.

Without further ado, here are my Seven Super Shots! :)

1. takes my breath away

This is from the annual Jinju Lantern Festival in South Korea. The river and fortress next to it were filled with thousands of lanterns both big and small. It was incredibly beautiful and magical. It's the best festival we've been to in Korea so far.

2. makes me laugh or smile

At our wedding last May, we had a home made photo booth with tons of props. It was the best decision, EVER! I love all the pictures and laugh every time I look through them. Here they are if you want a laugh.

3. makes me dream

I took this picture of my best friend's feet while exploring the tide pools of Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, California. Her tattoo of the world really makes the pic, I think. 

4. makes me think

While on our honeymoon in Belize, we visited the ATM cave aka the Mayan Underworld. Mayans would bring offerings to the gods into the caves in times of distress. The skeleton above is a human sacrifice.

5. makes my mouth water

We were wandering around Kyoto, Japan looking for an early dinner after walking around all day. While looking at the menu outside this restaurant, the man pictured came out and started speaking to us in perfect English, telling us about the restaurant and menu.

We decided to try it. At first, there was only us and one Japanese couple there. I was a little skeptical, to be honest. Until we started eating. The food was amazing!

Soon, the restaurant was full of people and they were turning people away if they didn't have a reservation. We struck up a conversation with a couple of nice American women next to us who had made a reservation and they were shocked to hear that we didn't know this restaurant was the number one rated restaurant in Kyoto on Trip Advisor. Lucky us!

6. tells a story

I love Rainbow sandals. The pair on the right were my first pair and I wore them everywhere in San Diego and while traveling with the Semester at Sea program. They have literally been around the world.

7. A photo I'm the most proud of

One of my favorite things to photograph is flowers. I've taken so many pictures of flowers but this is my favorite. I took it at my favorite place in the world, Monet's garden in Giverny, France.

Korean Age

I was born on November 12, 1986. I'm 25 years old but in Korea, I'm 27. Ugh, it's terrible.

Here's the low down on how I magically lost two years just from landing on this peninsula.

When you are born in Korea, you are one year old. When you are one day old, you are one year old. Then, the following January, you are two years old. From then on, your age changes every January, NOT the day you were born.

This offered a lot of confusion between me and my students at first. Whenever a kid told me it was their birthday, I would ask, "Ohhhh, how old are you now?" with a big expectant smile. American kids love when they get a year older and say their new age with pride and a grin. But Korean kids would just look at me like, "What? Why are you asking me that?" and then go on to say the age they had since January, leaving us both confused.

birthday party at our school

Using me as an example, I was born on November 12, 1986 and on that day I was one year old in Korean age. Then on January 1, 1987, I turned two years old, in Korean age. When my birthday rolled around in November of 1987, I was still two years old in Korean age (even though I was just turning one!). Then in January of 1988 (just a month and a half after my first birthday), I turned three years old Korean age.

When kids start kindergarten at our school, they are either five or six years old, in Korean age. I have a five year old class that I teach every day and they are so cute, very active, and tiny. The school year starts in March and so if their birthday is early in the year, they could be four years old but most of them are probably still three (western age).

Here's some videos of them speaking English after learning English for about a month.



How old do you think they are?

Beauty and Plastic Surgery in Korea

In Korea, it's not considered rude to call someone ugly if it's true. In a class of 12-13 year old students, a girl called a boy ugly and I automatically said, "Don't say that; it's mean." The kids all looked at me with surprised looks and one said, "It's not mean. He knows it!" while the boy just smiled at me sheepishly, seemingly unhurt by these accusations.

double eyelid surgery source

With physical appearance so brusquely out in the open in Korea, the way you look really matters.

So, what is considered beautiful in Korea? There seems to be only one right answer: thin body, big eyes/double eyelid (a crease when your eye is open), a high nose (a bridge), good teeth, and a small face.

“Koreans agree on what constitutes a pretty face. The consensus, now, is a smaller, more sharply defined youthful face — a more or less Westernized look.” (The New York Times)

To get this "Westernized look," more and more Koreans are turning to plastic surgery for help, especially women.

In a CNN interview, reporter Kyung Lah talks to a plastic surgeon at one of the busiest clinics in Seoul. "Dr Kim believes in the global economy, investing in plastic surgery to slightly westernize the face will bring a return on the investment of 100 times, through more confidence, a better job and obtaining a better marital partner."

advertisement for plastic surgery on the subway source

 A New York Times article states,"Doctors say their main patients are young women entering the marriage and job markets. 'As it gets harder to find jobs, they’ve come to believe they must look good to survive,' said Choi Set-byol, a sociologist at Ewha Woman’s University."

It's sad that people resort to expensive surgeries to try and be happier and more successful but what's even sadder is that sometimes, it works. Studies have shown that attractive people make more money "than their less comely colleagues." 

With the promise of a happier and more successful life, plastic surgery doesn't seem like a bad option to many Koreans. In fact, the number of people who are willing to have procedures done has increased from 21.5% in 2007 to 31.5% in 2010 (survey of both men and women). In a survey done by Trend Monitor, "one of every five women in Seoul between the ages of 19 and 49 said they had undergone plastic surgery."

Plastic surgery wasn't always so popular or accepted in Korea. In the past, the bad stigma surrounding plastic surgery would keep people from getting procedures done but even that is starting to wane due to more and more Korean celebrities coming out about going undergoing operations.

“It used to be all hush-hush when mothers brought their daughters in for a face-lift before taking them to match-makers,” said Dr. Park Sang-hoon, head of ID Hospital. “Now young women go plastic surgery shopping around here.” (New York Times)

The place to shop around for plastic surgery in Korea is an area called the "beauty belt" in the Gangnam district in Seoul. Plastic surgery clinics line the streets and advertisements showing before and after photos of successful surgeries are everywhere.  

With plastic surgery so accessible and acceptable, will all of Korea one day be surgically altered?? I don't think so. There are some people who disagree with it and warn of procedures gone badly, dubbed "plastic surgery syndrome," and the possibility of getting addicted to it. There have also been a few posters advocating "Against Plastic Surgery" in the Gangnam area.

However there are far more posters on subway cars, in subway stations, and on billboards showing successful surgeries of smiling "perfect" young women.



Would you ever get plastic surgery? What if you were promised a better job and a more successful partner? Would you be tempted even a little? 

Stuck in a Rut

A couple weeks ago, I realized that I brought five cocktail dresses (yes, five...I know, I know...) with me to Korea and have yet to wear one once. I tried them all on in turn and put on the heels I haven't worn either.

I walked (and spun) around the apartment in them relishing in their adorableness. Maybe it's because I hadn't worn dresses in a while since it was winter or maybe it was because I had no reason to ever dress up in Korea but the whole experience just made me sad.

The past few months have been a downer. I was sick for the entire month of March after only being better for two weeks from a previous illness. Actually, I think it's safe to say I was sick all winter.

I haven't been having a very good time, as of late. I feel like it's all work....work, work, work, work, work.
 

from my iPod

To try and turn my frown upside down, I made a plan. I thought it would cheer me up to wear my fanciest dress, make Spencer wear a tie, and go out for drinks at the fanciest hotel in town.

I painted my nails. I wore contacts. I spent a good twenty minutes just doing my eyeshadow when usually it takes me all of ten minutes to put all my make up on. I changed my hairstyle three times before I found one I liked. I put on my beloved red party dress and the gorgeous shimmery coat my mom had just sent me. I wore heels outside for the first time on Korean soil.

We took a taxi to the hotel where the very kind employee told us we couldn't go to the bar that overlooks all the sparkling city lights of our town with the fancy drinks and plush chairs, because there was a wedding reception up there.

I was so disappointed.

We walked around for a while and then went to a restaurant we knew nearby that served cocktails. We salvaged the night and had a good time drinking and chatting while sitting in over-sized chairs listening to techno. We didn't have the view and I was totally overdressed but it was still nice to go out.