Anytime you experience a new culture, differences abound. As a young wide-eyed woman from the United States with big plans, setting foot into Asia for the first time, I noticed plenty. Wanting to experience a new culture, and language, I decided to teach English in Seoul, South Korea. Of course, I researched “culture shock” before moving to South Korea, but reading is different from actually experiencing. The following moments helped me learn to navigate the new culture
Shoes; yes or no?
The tradition of removing shoes is an important part of Korean culture. I knew from my research that it is customary to remove your shoes and place them neatly in the designated area when entering a home. What I did not know was that it applies outside of the home as well. For example, one should remove their shoes in some religious settings and some traditional restaurants.
I learned the importance of removing shoes when I went to the lap pool for some exercise. After purchasing my pass, I entered the locker room and went to my locker to change. I didn’t realize anything was amiss until an animated Ajumma 아줌마 (older woman) ran over waving her arms. As she didn’t speak any English and I only spoke basic Korean phrases, we turned to another method of communicating, body language. She took hold of my arm and pulled me back to the entrance of the locker room. She pointed to my feet and mimed taking her shoes off until I removed mine. She showed me where to leave my shoes and then led me back to my locker. She waited for me to store the rest of my items. Then, she showed me around the locker room. She pointed out many features and was quite expressive with her spoken words, of which I understood little, and her body language, of which I could figure out bits and pieces. At the end of the tour, she again showed me where we had left my shoes and gestured that they were to stay in that area until I left. At this point, she had a massive smile on her face. I am incredibly grateful to her for going out of her way to explain the locker room etiquette to me. After that, I always thought twice before entering places with my shoes on.
Dog or human?
One of the joys of working with kids is seeing their excitement when you do something out of the ordinary. For example, whenever we would go to the stairway, my students would become excited and filled with energy. They knew that we were going to go somewhere special like the playroom, gym, or party space. In the beginning, my students did not know any English and it was important to stay quiet in the hallways, so we would often communicate through hand signs. During our first outing, I encouraged my kids to follow me with what I had known as the “come here” hand sign. This starts with a flat hand, palm up, then moving your wrist so that your hand and fingers move in towards your body a few times. To my consternation, after doing this hand sign, my students slowly moved forward, looking sad, anxious, and worried. They looked at the ground and fidgeted while not holding my eye contact, as if they were upset. I was confused and did not want my students to be sad, so I spoke to them in soothing tones and told them it was okay. I reminded them that we were going to the playroom and made faces until they were giggling. Later, I discussed their reaction with my Korean friend. She explained that using this palm-up hand motion is rude. It is typically used with animals, especially dogs, or to show aggression. She explained that to motion for someone, I should use a similar motion except with the palm facing down. I later tried this with my students and had great results. They ecstatically followed me to our next adventure.
Quiet like kids
I worked with my students on the concept of being quieter indoors than outdoors. Little did I know that I needed to take my own advice. My friend and I had been out exploring the city. We went to an art museum featuring René Magritte and explored an ancient palace. It had been an action-packed, fun-filled day. To go back to our apartments, we rode the bus.
It must have been rush hour because the bus was filled with people of all ages. No seats were open. This didn’t bother my friend and me at all. We stood at the edge and spoke of our souvenirs that we had bought from the vendors. As we recounted a moment where I attempted to speak Korean and confused everyone involved, we laughed until our sides ached. We started into a different story when I felt a tap on my hand. I looked over to see an 아저씨 ajeossi (older man) put his index finger vertically in front of his lips. My friend and I apologized and stood in silence for a minute. At this point, I took stock of my surroundings. I listened to the rest of the bus and realized that although it was filled with people, there was very little being spoken aloud or at least loud enough for me to hear. I was quite embarrassed to realize that we made the entire bus listen to our conversation, no matter how funny we found it. From then on, I made sure to listen and match my volume. I found that most places were much quieter than I had expected.
Understanding cultural etiquette is critical to assimilating into any new country. Every moment is a learning opportunity. It’s important to allow yourself patience as you learn the nuances of the new culture. I am grateful to all of the people who helped me find my way in South Korea. I would not be the same person today without their guidance. Now back in the US, I take extra time to think through my actions. My time in Seoul was filled with funny memories, lessons learned, and most importantly, the kindness of people around me.
Next time your journey takes you to South Korea, hopefully these tips are helpful!
