My boyfriend and I are going to Korea on September 1st! That is, South Korea, for those that aren't aware of North Korea's hostility, especially towards Americans. I'm nervous, but very excited. I'll get to take a tour of the border [the 38th parallel?] that will be terrifying. My boyfriend also says there are a lot of museums and, you know, old stuff [his words ] to see. His giving me his camera, so expect a lot of pictures.
Mostly, I'm worried about not being able to talk to anyone or communicate anything. Boyfriend speaks Korean pretty well, so we aren't totally deaf, but even if some of his friends there speak English, it'll be very hard to understand them because the accent will be so thick. And the culture is so different, I'm afraid I may accidently insult or offend someone. Like bringing a bowl of, say, soup, up to your lips. Or sticking my chopsticks in my food. Which reminds me...
Food. I'm going to starve. I don't eat meat, and it's going to be difficult finding enough food. Rice. Lots of plain, boring, white rice. But I guess there's a Taco Bell! So maybe I'll come back very fat, lol. On the other hand, I don't know if I'll actually be able to use the chopsticks, so I may not be able to eat anything. They don't give you forks there like they do in the Asian restaurants here. I really need to get a pair... set? so I can start practicing.
And the flight! It's a long, LONG flight! I can only watch so many movies before I get restless, and I'm not very good at sleeping on planes. I figure I'll go to the library and get about 5 books. That should be enough for the flight there and back. At least I hope so!
Sorry, I know I'm rambling a bit, but I'm very excited. It's coming up in 9 short days. We'll be gone from the 1st through the 13th. I'll still have internet though, I know you were worried. =]
Mostly, I'm worried about not being able to talk to anyone or communicate anything. Boyfriend speaks Korean pretty well, so we aren't totally deaf, but even if some of his friends there speak English, it'll be very hard to understand them because the accent will be so thick. And the culture is so different, I'm afraid I may accidently insult or offend someone. Like bringing a bowl of, say, soup, up to your lips. Or sticking my chopsticks in my food. Which reminds me...
Food. I'm going to starve. I don't eat meat, and it's going to be difficult finding enough food. Rice. Lots of plain, boring, white rice. But I guess there's a Taco Bell! So maybe I'll come back very fat, lol. On the other hand, I don't know if I'll actually be able to use the chopsticks, so I may not be able to eat anything. They don't give you forks there like they do in the Asian restaurants here. I really need to get a pair... set? so I can start practicing.
And the flight! It's a long, LONG flight! I can only watch so many movies before I get restless, and I'm not very good at sleeping on planes. I figure I'll go to the library and get about 5 books. That should be enough for the flight there and back. At least I hope so!
Sorry, I know I'm rambling a bit, but I'm very excited. It's coming up in 9 short days. We'll be gone from the 1st through the 13th. I'll still have internet though, I know you were worried. =]