It just doesn't work

People probably don't understand how much I hate living in Korea. I just say it's not as bad as I thought, but it doesn't mean that I enjoy living here. I do enjoy working at my firm -- that's a different story. Luckily my co-workers are wonderful people. It's the time I spend outside with strangers that bugs me the most.

I believe Koreans are a naturally blunt sort. I grew up seeing "chinjeol (친절; kindness/courtesy) campaign" posters in public transit. One might think that in a collectivist society being nice to one another may be an unsaid rule of law, but it's quite the opposite in this country. It's a trivial thing in the grand scheme of things. But would it kill people to be considerate? I can definitely say that the Vancouverites are not the friendliest people in the world, but I have no doubt we're kinder than Seoul citizens.

Koreans are also very impatient. That's why the country thrives on the "quick service" industry. Motorcyclists drive like there's a tsunami wave behind them. Traffic signals are meaningless. I mentioned in my other entry how much I hate being pushed in the subway so I need not elaborate.

In elevators I often witness people abusing the "close" button. I usually wait a little until the person gets out and the announcement system has the time to adjust itself because the elevator doesn't respond to the close button right away. Many people just smash the button multiple times, or even hold the button till the doors close. In my old apartment in UBC I never saw a person so anxious. One doesn't make the elevator go faster by hitting the close button repeatedly. They will close when they close.


People often ask me if I want to live in Korea for good. I then answer that the best thing for me would be to work for a Korean company and be dispatched to countries all over the world.
Of course this is total bullshit.
I want to study Canadian law and work in Canada. Things that Canadians perceive as the common sense are a chore for most Koreans. This is a country in which women are considered as sex toys, lazy housewives, and parasites. The sad thing is that some of them actually deserve to be called so.

I was born in South Korea and lived more than half of my life here but it doesn't mean I chose to be Korean or want to conform to their social expectations. I'm proud of Korean history and of what my ancestors did to protect this country. Regrettably I cannot say the same for the current society, government, and culture.
I feel myself withering away. I miss Vancouver.
Thank god I love my work. It's an anchor that keeps me together.