I thought, I’d escape culture shock…

Zhibek Azamat 27′ is Business Analytics and Marketing double major currently studying at Seoul National University for Fall 2024!

As a person who experienced culture shock multiple times since the age of 15, I thought, I would easily blend in to Korean society within first 48 hours. Oh well, I overestimated my skills! Today, I want to talk about some rules Koreans follow that might confuse or shock the foreigner

Language Barrier. After taking Korean 101 class in Spring, I did not open my notes ones as I was so sure I could manage basic conversations. Besides, the majority of people there speaks English, right? Well, not quietly. When I finally got here, I noticed that everything is written in Korean, most of the menus in restaurants are in Korean, which can be both confusing and overwhelming for a person who barely reads and remembers only the numbers in Korean. It took me solid three weeks to figure out the worker at the convenience store was asking if I needed a bag (가방 – ka-bang). It also gets a little harder to request any beauty services as not every one of them is foreign friendly. One thing that did come in handy is the app called “Papago.” It translates texts in picture, you can translate your question by simple audio recording and most importantly, it translates accurately compared to regular Google Translate. Indeed, standing in front of the kiosk for longer than 5 minutes to figure out whether the meat in the ramen is beef or pork can be quiet embarassing, it taught me some words I can pick up on immediately, for example, 돼지고기 (pork).

Tip: always have a little notebook with you to write down some of the vocabulary and sentences – that will make your life way easier!

Absence of trash cans. Koreans are very meticulous when it comes to sorting trash. Food waste goes separate from plastics and cans, whereas plastic itself is divided into soft and hard plastic. Paper is utilized separate as well. Every trash can around your home is labeled and one thing cannot be put into a wrong can as people are charged fines for it. In one hand, it might seem like a waste of time however it makes one extremely conscious of their consumption and taking care of the environment. One thing I still cannot adjust to is absence of trash cans on the streets. Did you buy this coffee from the sweet lady at the local cafe? Great, now keep it until you get home or find a single small trash can on your way. And don’t forget, it has to be a trash can specifically for plastic! Throughout the day, my bag would accumulate some receipts, gum wraps, cover from the straw, and many other small trash. I created a habit of keeping a small bag I got from the convenience store specifically for general waste in my purse to keep things organized. The good thing about this whole complex process with sorting trash is how clean the street of Seoul are. Nothing distracts from enjoying city views and stress free environment.

Tip: grab some waste bags from the convenience store and keep them in your bag!

What about personal space? When I first came to the States in 2022, I was astonished how everyone respects each other, and I got used to say “bless you” or “excuse me” in crowded places. Here, I noticed it is not really a thing as people might stand very close to each other and it is a normal thing to experience. It can especially disturb while being in the bus or train. Though it is not bothering as much, it is something that one should be aware of and not freak out. Korea itself is densely populated and stores, buses are smaller compared to US sizes. I find it quite similar to what I used to experience back in Kazakhstan and understand that it is a cultural norm here. Just be prepared to getting pushed, stomped in the busy streets and don’t get mad if someone is not holding the door when you are entering the building.

Food! Korean cuisine itself could be a culture shock as well. So is the dining in experience. Most of the food consists pork, even some of the pastries and juices might have pork in there. As a person who doesn’t eat pork at all, first couple of weeks, I couldn’t enjoy most of the delights on food markets Korea is known for. I would recommend double checking if the meal has pork on it as it might be just a regular tteokbokki made using the pork bone broth or pasta sprinkled with pieces of bacon. Also, make sure that you know how much spice you can handle when ordering food as sometimes the broth or the meal itself could be spicy without it being mentioned. Similarly, it is recommended to dine in by sharing the portion with friends as some of the restaurants make the sharing size meals only. Sharing the food is a common thing in Korea as you might see Koreans ordering one meal and sharing it with a family or group of friends. One tip, look at the prices in the menu as it gives you a clue whether the food is served in a sharing size. Different variety of one dish is both exciting and overwhelming but it tastes incredible regardless!

Be quiet! In the building I have my accounting class, I was told multiple times to keep silence while talking to someone. Same rule applies in Goshiwon (student oneroomtels) as my renter states clearly that I should keep quiet on the hallways, listen to music with headphones and simply respect others. It is a common etiquette not to talk on subways and buses. I was so used to loud streets in Philly, people speaking loud and being expressive that when I came here, I would subconsciously talk loud. Most of the buildings on campus follow the rules of quiet rooms so students wouldn’t be disturbed in the middle of study sessions. This teaches one to be mindful of their surrounding and follow the formal etiquette as the way you behave does impact how you are treated here.

Now we learned something about common culture shock moments, and hopefully this will prepare you for a smoother adaptation period. At the end of the day, there is beauty in it as it a process of learning and getting to know a new environment. Don’t try to escape culture shock as if it is a bad thing, but rather embrace the fears you might have and understand that it is a complete normal experience. There is a beauty in it: it means you are adapting to a new culture by immersing yourself into it!