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Mr. Blonde · 03-20-2009, 11:28 AM

Was talking to Sittinondubs on AIM and thought I should move this here:

Blonde: its amazing how few overweight, let alone obese people are here in korea. The only people SLIGHTLY overweight are middle aged+, and i've only seen like 2 obese people since getting here and one was a westerner.

Dubs: Don't they walk/bike a lot over there. Also, whenever I generally think of an eastern diet, I think lots of seafood, and lots of rice. Is this generally the case?

Well, some observations i've had since moving here that are kinda of the fault of good ole' american ethnocentrism and just in general taking things for granted, is that this place is fucking SMALL. An entire country, the size of Indiana. (Ironically, it really is the same size and relatively the same shape and so Indiana is actually used as a geographical reference) There are just over 6 million people in Indiana and about 50 million here, if that gives you any sort of idea of the amount of space, or lack thereof they have. So lots of people have cars, but a LOT of people also walk, way more than back home, but theres also a shitload more people. Agh. Point i'm getting at:

Indiana: Any town thats not Indianapolis, or strictly the downtown area usually doesn't have more than a couple, if any at all buildings taller than 5 or 6 stories high.

South Korea: Unless its a fucking fishing village, there will ALWAYS be many many many ten floor+ buildings in almost any area of any town. You can't see it that well in that picture above because its night and my camera sucks, but those buildings in the background are all apartment buildings that say shit like "12a, 13a, 14a, 15b", shit like that. Haven't figured out the numbers but its pretty crazy...it is almost futuristic with just having the entire population housed in the same types of buildings in different quadrants and shit.

In regard to the seafood and rice, YES. As much as i'd like to blame all the seafood on living in a harbour town its definitely everywhere. Also ramen (obviously) is very prominent here. Some strange american things that are popular: chupa chup suckers, Spam. Spam is huge here, i've never even had it. Actually now that I think about it the latter might have something do with the Korean War. Wiki'ing that shit now.

Also some of you also may have seen my post in the sexbox about squid, and they love that shit. head and everything served (fish are often like this too) in dishes...not sure how the actual eating of it goes yet. I do enjoy squid and eel though so I'm sure i'll eventually come around as well once I get past the head thing. lots of strange fish items for sale in the various groceries too, as well as all sorts of strange vegetables and fungii i've never heard of or seen before. the mushrooms i've had out here are fucking delicious, though, and kimchi is pretty good too...although I don't like it cold at all.

Its amazing how different eastern culture really is compared to traveling in Europe or Australia, or other westernized countries. You obviously hear and see things on tv or movies or magazines or whatever, but it doesn't really sink in till you are here. You almost don't believe it. -- "I ACTUALLY have to take off my shoes to eat out pretty much anywhere? I have to sit on the floor? What the hell is this metal thing, give me a proper cup. What do you mean its rude to pour my own drink? Put my hand on my arm when passing money or something else to someone to show reverence, what the fuck?"

I recently also found out (while asking what the fuck a "love motel"--literal translation-- means, cause I live in between two of them) that most Koreans live with their parents (also found out its mandatory military for 2 years once you turn 18 for...which I would totally support in the States btw...and I'm pretty sure the same guy told me North Korea makes men do 10 years and women do 7 or something...every one...mandatory. insane.) until they are married, so when they are dating someone and they want to fuck each other, they rent a room and hang out in it for allotted time period and have sex or whatever. So yeah, kinda scattered, I know, just really tired. One little gem I happen to be quite fond of thus far is Soju:

Some of you may have had it but I never had heard of it before coming out here. Its basically dirt cheap rice/potato/whatever the fuck else they make it with liquor that doesn't taste completely horrible straight (its traditionally sipped from a shotglass thing as seen in pic) and isn't such a high proof that you HAVE to shoot it anyways. It mixes great with coke, surprisingly...drinking it as we speak. Probably the strangest/most awesome thing about it is that it comes in bottles the size and feel of regular beer bottles. AND you can order bottles at bars because of their size, so you can basically walk around with the equivalent of 3-4 bottles of beer in one hand all night. Its pretty awesome.

03-20-2009, 11:28 AM	#41 (permalink)
Mr. Blonde Spice Master Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 17,969 Internets: 284106	Was talking to Sittinondubs on AIM and thought I should move this here: Blonde: its amazing how few overweight, let alone obese people are here in korea. The only people SLIGHTLY overweight are middle aged+, and i've only seen like 2 obese people since getting here and one was a westerner. Dubs: Don't they walk/bike a lot over there. Also, whenever I generally think of an eastern diet, I think lots of seafood, and lots of rice. Is this generally the case? Well, some observations i've had since moving here that are kinda of the fault of good ole' american ethnocentrism and just in general taking things for granted, is that this place is fucking SMALL. An entire country, the size of Indiana. (Ironically, it really is the same size and relatively the same shape and so Indiana is actually used as a geographical reference) There are just over 6 million people in Indiana and about 50 million here, if that gives you any sort of idea of the amount of space, or lack thereof they have. So lots of people have cars, but a LOT of people also walk, way more than back home, but theres also a shitload more people. Agh. Point i'm getting at: Indiana: Any town thats not Indianapolis, or strictly the downtown area usually doesn't have more than a couple, if any at all buildings taller than 5 or 6 stories high. South Korea: Unless its a fucking fishing village, there will ALWAYS be many many many ten floor+ buildings in almost any area of any town. You can't see it that well in that picture above because its night and my camera sucks, but those buildings in the background are all apartment buildings that say shit like "12a, 13a, 14a, 15b", shit like that. Haven't figured out the numbers but its pretty crazy...it is almost futuristic with just having the entire population housed in the same types of buildings in different quadrants and shit. In regard to the seafood and rice, YES. As much as i'd like to blame all the seafood on living in a harbour town its definitely everywhere. Also ramen (obviously) is very prominent here. Some strange american things that are popular: chupa chup suckers, Spam. Spam is huge here, i've never even had it. Actually now that I think about it the latter might have something do with the Korean War. Wiki'ing that shit now. Also some of you also may have seen my post in the sexbox about squid, and they love that shit. head and everything served (fish are often like this too) in dishes...not sure how the actual eating of it goes yet. I do enjoy squid and eel though so I'm sure i'll eventually come around as well once I get past the head thing. lots of strange fish items for sale in the various groceries too, as well as all sorts of strange vegetables and fungii i've never heard of or seen before. the mushrooms i've had out here are fucking delicious, though, and kimchi is pretty good too...although I don't like it cold at all. Its amazing how different eastern culture really is compared to traveling in Europe or Australia, or other westernized countries. You obviously hear and see things on tv or movies or magazines or whatever, but it doesn't really sink in till you are here. You almost don't believe it. -- "I ACTUALLY have to take off my shoes to eat out pretty much anywhere? I have to sit on the floor? What the hell is this metal thing, give me a proper cup. What do you mean its rude to pour my own drink? Put my hand on my arm when passing money or something else to someone to show reverence, what the fuck?" I recently also found out (while asking what the fuck a "love motel"--literal translation-- means, cause I live in between two of them) that most Koreans live with their parents (also found out its mandatory military for 2 years once you turn 18 for...which I would totally support in the States btw...and I'm pretty sure the same guy told me North Korea makes men do 10 years and women do 7 or something...every one...mandatory. insane.) until they are married, so when they are dating someone and they want to fuck each other, they rent a room and hang out in it for allotted time period and have sex or whatever. So yeah, kinda scattered, I know, just really tired. One little gem I happen to be quite fond of thus far is Soju: Some of you may have had it but I never had heard of it before coming out here. Its basically dirt cheap rice/potato/whatever the fuck else they make it with liquor that doesn't taste completely horrible straight (its traditionally *sipped* from a shotglass thing as seen in pic) and isn't such a high proof that you HAVE to shoot it anyways. It mixes great with coke, surprisingly...drinking it as we speak. Probably the strangest/most awesome thing about it is that it comes in bottles the size and feel of regular beer bottles. AND you can order bottles at bars because of their size, so you can basically walk around with the equivalent of 3-4 bottles of beer in one hand all night. Its pretty awesome.