There is more to learn in Korea than just languages (though you read the language page, right?) (and the opportunity page, right?) The picture above was taken outside a palace in Seoul where a Korean changing-of-the-guard ceremony was taking place. And the country boasts dozens of palaces, all living museums that offer great cultural insight into what the country is like. And the number of actually museums are almost uncountable, with the highlights such as the War Memorial Museum and the Seoul National Museum (but really, if those aren't your cups of tea, there are animation museums, dinosaur museums, kimchi museums, golf museums, Korea-in-the-1960's museums, and even a toilet museum).
Sometimes people come to Korea to taken classes in the universities, or learn how to cook or make Korean pottery in the cultural centers and folk villages. There are also numerous English publications about life in Korea, such as newspapers (example: The Korean Herald, in English and Korean), magazines (example: Groove, the Korean music magazine and full of flashy pictures) and blogs and vlogs (example: Eat Your Kimchi, which is a popular blog/vlog, but is also a bit annoying because of its flashiness) that are great ways to learn about Korea and the Korean expat discourse community and its interests.
Not all learning is formal though. Korea is a place where you can...
Sometimes people come to Korea to taken classes in the universities, or learn how to cook or make Korean pottery in the cultural centers and folk villages. There are also numerous English publications about life in Korea, such as newspapers (example: The Korean Herald, in English and Korean), magazines (example: Groove, the Korean music magazine and full of flashy pictures) and blogs and vlogs (example: Eat Your Kimchi, which is a popular blog/vlog, but is also a bit annoying because of its flashiness) that are great ways to learn about Korea and the Korean expat discourse community and its interests.
Not all learning is formal though. Korea is a place where you can...
![Picture](/uploads/3/7/5/3/37539437/430087901.jpg?250)
...eat cut, squirming octopus while your friends cringe and shout
![Picture](/uploads/3/7/5/3/37539437/660619120.jpg?250)
...share stories with you coworkers about bathing in communal bathhouses
![Picture](/uploads/3/7/5/3/37539437/272457231.jpg)
...watch a K-Pop concert (with tweens and adults alike)
...sleep in a line outside to get tickets to Asia's largest film festival
![Picture](/uploads/3/7/5/3/37539437/258843843.jpg)
...visit a fish cafe (there are also cat cafes, dog cafes, sheep cafes, and bird cafes)
![Picture](/uploads/3/7/5/3/37539437/972968898.jpg)
...or walk out to an island when the tides are just right
All of these things (above) are cultural experience, and experiences important to being an expat in Korea. It's also no mistake that most of the above pictures involve people or groups of people (OK, so imagine there are drooling people surrounding that plate of freshly cut octopus). Living in Korea is a social act, and the longer you stay there, the more experiences you have that makes you a stronger part of the Korean and expat community.
If you've only been in Korea a month, you probably won't know much hangul. You probably will only just have figured out the subway or bus systems, and there isn't a chance you have been to any of the major festivals (film, island, mud, fireworks, independence, liberation). You probably won't be accepted by most of the expat community so early on, because after all, you haven't "put your time in yet" (i.e. been pushed by enough ajjumas!) But stay six months, or a year, and you'll become part of the community. You'll have picked up the lingo, everyone will want to ask you for advice, and your social life outside of work (and inside of work, because after a year you'll probably be promoted to head teacher or something after a year) will be so busy you'll *almost* wish you were back home.
Almost.
The above picture is from the outside of the War Memorial Museum. It's one of the single best places to learn about what Americans call "The Forgotten War," and it's one of the most heartbreaking place in the country. The soldiers embracing on top of the dome represent North and South Korea, and the crack represents how the two countries are split. Stay in Korea long enough, and the often-used word "reunification" will take on an all new meaning. A whole website could be written about reunification, or several volumes of books.
To really learn what Korea's like though, you're going to have to travel there. And if you do, make sure to check out some of the great places I wrote about, as well as the amazing expat discourse community. You won't regret it, even if you only stay a week. After all, you may end up deciding to stay for longer.
To really learn what Korea's like though, you're going to have to travel there. And if you do, make sure to check out some of the great places I wrote about, as well as the amazing expat discourse community. You won't regret it, even if you only stay a week. After all, you may end up deciding to stay for longer.