You tend to take simple things for granted when you live in your home country.
Like you will be able to read the signs as you walk down the street.
Or be able to read how long you are supposed to cook what you're hoping is rice - you only know that because there is a picture of the white stuff on the front.
In the UK (which by the way seems to be a phrase that I have been using A LOT lately), I did have to learn new words for things. Garbage became bin, dish soap became washing up liquid. Aluminum became, well they just pronounced it differently and liked to point it out A LOT.
But here, I am starting from stratch. I just mastered the sounds of the vowels in the language hangul last night. There were about 8 of them. I know what they sound like. Where they are placed in words and what those words mean? Oh yeah, well maybe somtime next to NEVER.
D and I are making a pact to try and dedicate 30 minutes a day to listening to the Korean tapes and learning the language. After a day of standing in front of kids talking, the last thing you really want to do is start learning yourself but I think it's important.
I have little kids that don't understand why I don't understand them. Their cute little faces look up at me, perplexed as why the words that are coming out of their mouths sounds like blah blah blah to me.
I have to admit the biggest thing that has surprised me - and of course is stressing me out - is the garbage. We were told to leave it until Tuesday. Tuesday has come and gone and all the 15 boxes are still sitting outside my apartment. I also have a bag of compost rotting under my sink. I'm too scared to put it outside the door in case a crazy Korean lady comes banging and knocking. What happens now?
Guess we just remain the asshole foreigners who collect garbage outside their door.
Like you will be able to read the signs as you walk down the street.
Or be able to read how long you are supposed to cook what you're hoping is rice - you only know that because there is a picture of the white stuff on the front.
In the UK (which by the way seems to be a phrase that I have been using A LOT lately), I did have to learn new words for things. Garbage became bin, dish soap became washing up liquid. Aluminum became, well they just pronounced it differently and liked to point it out A LOT.
But here, I am starting from stratch. I just mastered the sounds of the vowels in the language hangul last night. There were about 8 of them. I know what they sound like. Where they are placed in words and what those words mean? Oh yeah, well maybe somtime next to NEVER.
D and I are making a pact to try and dedicate 30 minutes a day to listening to the Korean tapes and learning the language. After a day of standing in front of kids talking, the last thing you really want to do is start learning yourself but I think it's important.
I have little kids that don't understand why I don't understand them. Their cute little faces look up at me, perplexed as why the words that are coming out of their mouths sounds like blah blah blah to me.
I have to admit the biggest thing that has surprised me - and of course is stressing me out - is the garbage. We were told to leave it until Tuesday. Tuesday has come and gone and all the 15 boxes are still sitting outside my apartment. I also have a bag of compost rotting under my sink. I'm too scared to put it outside the door in case a crazy Korean lady comes banging and knocking. What happens now?
Guess we just remain the asshole foreigners who collect garbage outside their door.
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