Things You Will NOT Find in Korea... and some things you will

I've been recently compiling a list of all of the "comforts of home" that are unavailable or very hard to find here in Korea. By no means is this list complete - consider it an ongoing task....

1. Cars that are any color but white, silver or black. If you see a blue or red car chances are it was imported by an expat or a diplomat from another country. Cars that are made in Korea are only produced in three colors. Black seems to be the color of choice. Now what you will find are many brands of vehicles that are not sold in the US. One example is a car made by Hyundai called the Equuis. This car is all over the place here. It is a large black sedan looks a bit like a boxy Mercedes/Bentley combo and it sells for $80,000 US. I guess the thing is tripped out inside. I haven't been in one yet. I've almost been hit by several, but haven't had the pleasure of actually riding inside one. I'm thinking the closest I'll get in the near future is when I'm riding some guys hood ornament because he's hit me from behind as I'm trucking up our hill. (I'm not sure but I'm feeling a slight tinge of racism especially when I see or hear them hit the gas when they see it's a westerner walking alongside the road - or maybe I'm just being paranoid. Juries still out on this one.)

2. Tampons - no need to explain here. But if you're coming for a visit, you may want to throw a box in your suitcase.

3. The large/"family" size vanilla yogurt. It's all the drinkable stuff, very yummy, but no just plain or vanilla. Koreans love yogurt which is great because we do too. You can find it in all kinds of fun and crazy flavors (kiwi) but if you want the big old honkin' size to take home and whip up a bunch of smoothies for a week, forgetabouit - no luck there. I've actually been resigned to opening six small yoplaits at once to make up a smoothie for my family. What a girl will do for love.

4. Pam cooking spray. I'm especially feeling this one after I attempted to whip up several batches of cupcakes for a friend and they all stuck! Uggh. PS: Can't find any cupcake foils here either.

5. Unbleached or bleached flour.  There's flour here but it is not the same consistency as flour we use to make cookies, cakes, waffles, muffins, etc...  Now, if I wanted I could purchase the flour that's used to make Korean pancakes but I'm sticking to my guns and my good old Betty Crocker cookbook and hunting down the Gold Medal to whip up those home made confections for my family. (See #3 for the point about being dedicated to my little brood).

6. Spandex based work out clothes. There are plenty of work out clothes, but apparently the Koreans are impervious to the heat and humidity that descends upon the country from July through early September. God Bless these folks, they will go out for a run, hike, walk, etc.. in full running pants, t-shirts and with jackets on all the while sporting those highly fashionable oversize visors. (I'm not coming home without a visor or two as part of my wardrobe. I'm thinking it'll be a smash in Vegas. In fact, I'm thinking these little beauties might make great Christmas presents for all those whom I hold dear. You know who you are - wink, wink.) Now I'm as understanding about being respectful to the Confucist life-style as the next guy, but I"m sorry when it's 85 degrees and 85% humidity I've gotta show a little skin during my workout. Now what you will find in Korea are fantastic walking trails that also have Nautilaus style gym equipment stations all along the trail. This is a great benefit because you can actually get a full work out in without having to step foot in a gym. (Me likey.) Mike and Michaela actually found a spot the other day on a walking trail where you could do reflexology on your feet. Pretty neat stuff.

7.  Safe drivers. You will not find safe drivers in Korea. (See #1). Apparently in Korea, stopping for pedestrians in a cross-walk in OPTIONAL. In Korea, you do not want to jay walk. In fact in Korea, you do not want to even be the first person off the curb because it is highly likely there will be a motorcycle delivery guy or a cab or a bus that decides to run the cross walk sign. Now, to cut the Korean drivers a little slack, the cross walks here are not at the corner of an intersection, usually. They are off-set about 40 to 50 feet from the light and intersection. (Don't ask me why, I'm not a Korean civil engineer and did not plan these things.) So, a driver with a TV screen suction cupped to his windshield could easily miss the cross walk signal and plow right on through. Yes, you did read right, many cars are outfitted with portable TVs on the driver's windshield. And in the US they think texting while driving is horrible. Pish posh - that's amateur night compared to watching live TV while navigating the roads.

As I stated this is not a complete list, but just some musings after nearly a month here in the "Land of the Morning Calm."

Now quickly here are some things you will find in Korea:

1. Dunkin Donuts - But this ain't your mama's DnD. I'll take pics next time I'm in one.

2. Baskin Robbins - ditto from above. You should see the fancy ice cream cakes they make here!

3. KFC - don't eat it in the US am certainly not touching it in Korea. Plus Korean fried chicken is the da' bomb!

4. Cold Stone Creamery - Koreans LOVE sweets. Pastries and ice cream are top on their lists.There are so many great local places we haven't had the urge to even try the Cold Stone here yet.

5. 7-11 - This is a little slice of heaven on earth at each 7-11. All the familiar plus a whole bunch of interesting Korean stuff and cheap, cheap, cheap.

6.  TGIF - they are very popular here. It's a different menu a scaled down version to the US menu.

7. On the Border - Again, popular. Mexican food is popular with the young people here.

8. MacDonalds - see KFC note above.

9. Burger King - see MacDonalds note above.

10. Dominos Pizza - Mike says it's very good - not like the cardboard crap they make at home. I haven't experienced it myself yet, but will be doing so tomorrow evening, so I'll let you know!

11. Starbucks -  You thought we Americans loved the "bean". Well, I've got news for you, Koreans love it MORE! There are more coffee houses/cafes per square foot here then there are DnDs in RI. There are so many local favorites serving either imported or native "Korean coffee" that I haven't even missed my beloved Starbucks. Let me tell ya' something a Green Tea Latte in Seoul is nothing like a Green Tea Latte in Vegas. Wow! The Bird and I are addicted to the things. Did I mention that one of the things it is hard to find in Korea is skim milk? So, those lattes are packing a punch in the whole weight control arena, but man are they yummy going down! They'll even draw pictures in your foam here. Yep, artwork in the foam. And the foam is like sweet and thick, oh so good. Next time I order a confection, I'll snap a picture to post for you all to see.

Anyway, that's all I have for this list. I actually am going to write a more serious blog next time about the true cultural awakenings I'm having living here. I just didn't have the candle power to pull it together tonight; I had Korean class today - need I say more?! :)

Peace,
Stephanie
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