Welcome to Seoul

Hello World! It's day three in Seoul and already my heart has swung into a love song with Shinchon - my little college town of Korea.

Shinchon is the cutest hubbub of posh cafes and waffle shops in the morning, and a hypnotic showbiz by twilight. Like the Starbucks of NYC, the green Family Mart convenient store sign hangs over every block. Men wearing black T's and close shaved heads pop of bars to invite you in, and deep fried seafood stands fill the blocks with smoke. The food here is satisfyingly cheap: McDonald's vanilla icecream = 400 won (less than 40 cents in US). And the people? Well, let's just say even the 50 year old ajumma (menopausal woman) can rock a pair of kitten heels. Their sense of fashion is urban and pristine.

As rumors say, Kimchi is indeed the staple at every Korean meal. I've eaten red-hot, fermented cabbage as banchan (side dish) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner since day one. My mother warned me that when non-Koreans arrive by plane, passengers reel because of the kimchi stink that covers the entire land. Though I don't think I've had issues with my respiration, I do warn that after you eat kimchi, your lips dye to the shade of tangerine and your breath smells awesome* for several hours.

For those who fear traveling to East Asia, forget it. If you thought (like me) that at the point of arrival you will starve at the airport terminal because you don't know how to say words beyond Sarang-heyo (I love you) and Hwajangsil-E-odiyeyo? (Where's the bathroom), be comforted that EVERYONE speaks English. (Or at least they understand a bit and offer a polite "Hello!") I've tried many times to practice Korean grammar on the street, but once the waitress, store keeper, street vendor, aircraft hostess, and fruit market cashier recognized my accent, they eagerly drop the conversation and practice their English on me! Jeez, Korea. Way to throw me off.

It feels like I've never left all of America behind :)

*kimchi breath is said to end relationships in Korea
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