B eing a solamente woman traveller anywhere into the global globe is sold with its quirks. Every nation has certain values and objectives exactly how ladies should work, dress and talk. Southern Korea is not any exclusion. I’m presently residing in Seoul for the semester abroad at Kyung Hee University, however the almost all my training has result from outside the class room.
Brief is okay, low isn’t
The very first thing we noticed about Korean females had been exactly just how high the neckline of the tops is. Spaghetti-strap summer time dresses are used over tees. Oversized sweaters and billowy blouses are everywhere, even yet in the smoggy heat of belated August. One thing explained that this is certainly a lot more than a fashion that is mere, and I’m right.
In Korea, showing the collarbone is known as too sexy, since the feminine upper body is observed to be distinctly distinct from the male upper body. Nonetheless, the shortest shorts, skirts and dresses are appropriate. Another Korean fashion design (and my favourite) is partners that are dressed match, gf and boyfriend putting on the exact same tops, sweaters and color of trousers to freely show that they’re together.
We attempt to dress respectfully, but We don’t always be successful; the majority of my tops, that I brought from home, show my collarbone. I have positively gotten a couple of harsh stares https://www.hookupdate.net/chatrandom-review/ from the older generations while riding the subway. We don’t have actually the standard small Korean frame, and Korea features a вЂone-size fits all’ tradition. If you discover a shop with small, medium and big choices, you’re probably in H&M or even a tourist area, such as for instance Itaewon. And unfortuitously, sweet boutiques that are korean enable you to test clothing into the shop. Buying garments here is therefore a challenge for me personally.
Beauty comes first
In Korea, being stunning is really important. You have to be attractive if you hope to land a job or find a romantic partner. Also males utilize beauty items, including specialty male makeup. In place of motivating variety, cookie-cutter conformity is desired, and cosmetic surgery is common. Whether it is an eye fixed lift as being a вЂsweet 16’ birthday present or a вЂvacation’ that leads to a new look, modifications that produce the nose higher, eyes wider or chin more V-shaped are praised.
Being a high white female in Korea, I have stared at a great deal. Korean’s aren’t afraid to touch upon your look, whether it’s as you aren’t using makeup or they believe your outfit is unflattering. I’ve never been the kind of woman to spend 30 minutes cleaning my face during the night, but I’ve completely dropped for the 10-step Korean beauty routine. It appears absurd, but pampering my epidermis before We go to bed is my brand brand brand new favourite solution to practise self-love.
Toilet culture
That is absolutely the most challenging component about staying in Korea as being a female that is foreign. There are large amount of distinctions in terms of вЂdoing your company’ in this nation. To begin with, rest room paper gets into the garbage can, not within the bathroom. (Yeah, i believe it is form of gross).
While you may still find some squat toilets around, you won’t be hard-pressed to get A western toilet, particularly in Seoul. Some toilets seem like RoboToilets through the future, with selection of buttons to spray your base, dry yourself or play music, dependent on your choice.
Public toilets in subway channels are clean (and they’re able to utilize, unlike various other elements of the globe). Many restaurants share their lavatory with neighbouring companies, therefore it is frequently found outside or up a trip of stairs. The bathroom that is entire my dorm space functions as my bath. There’s a bath nozzle linked to the faucet faucet, hanging over the sink. I have to close the bathroom door and remove anything I don’t want to get wet when I shower. The toilet, walls and flooring end up soaked always.
While things are undoubtedly various in Seoul when compared with life back in Canada, they’re not fundamentally better or worse. We am used to eating with flat steel chopsticks, finding my means across the metro, and spending more hours ( and cash) than previously moisturising my epidermis. Being a female that is foreign we find Seoul to be among the best, liveliest and a lot of culturally-intriguing places I’ve ever lived. Now if perhaps I am able to find collarbone-covering shirts my size.