RANT

Ok... so I am starting to notice the culture differences a lot more now that I have been here over a month now. I don't mean to complain... cause I knew that this place would not be all sunshine and lollipops... but there are a couple of things that have started to urk me.
First is the spitting. Anyone who knew me in Canada knew that spitting... let along hacking... grossed me out and caused a sick and nautious feeling in my stomach. Well here, it is second nature to just spit. Korean men mostly, spit anywhere and everywhere... inside and outside. K! EWWWWW! For me, the hardest thing is that I consider spitting vulger and rude... and well it is considered none of that here. To be honest... the terrible air quality and cigarette smoking has a lot to do with the hacking issue... but I don't know... I don't think I will ever get used to seeing or hearing it.
Second is the honesty. Koreans, in general, are brutally honest. I know that they usually mean well... but tact seems like it has forgotten this culture. I mean it is one thing to say "you look tired" or "you look sick"... but for someone to say "you look aweful" or "you look fat".... well it is a tad disheartening. Again... I know that in general the people mean well... and things are not usually said out of malice... but I sometimes agree with Thumper's mother: "If you don't have anything nice to say... don't say anything at all".
Finally... and this is quite trivial and trite (well to be honest all of my complains are pretty trivial in the long run)... but I now understand FULLY how black and asian people feel when they come to a predominently white area. Xenophobia sucks! Sometimes I feel like I am a caged animal or anomoly at the country fair... with all the stares and glances. Though I have to admit, I sometimes welcome the attention and do enjoy when people say Hi and sometimes attempt to practice their English on me... I find myself wanting to say "WHAT?!?" or looking if I have something on my face or if my fly is down... just to find a reason for the glances and looks of disbelief.
To be honest... though I am ranting about the culture differences that urk me and cause a little bit of frustration... I consider myself lucky.. because I know that the problems (for lack of a better word) could be a lot worse.