UNDERSTANDING OF KOREAN POP-CULTURE
NUR FARHANA BINTI RAZALI
2016905040
‘How Korea Has Changed Me’
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been in Korea for nearly four months now. I still remember how happy and sad I was when I am about to leave my home country. There are so many things in my mind at that time because as far as I know my own country is totally different from Korea. But studying abroad for one semester really gives me the excitement. During my stay here, I think I have changed a lot in certain things. The first and obvious thing is that my Korean language is improving. I took a few Korean language classes organized by the International Office and really, they help me a lot. Although I still have my broken Hangul but I still can survive when communicating with Koreans here. Even now, whenever I watch Korean dramas, I am shocked that I can understand few words without looking at the subtitles. Next, my taste in food has changed. At first,I barely could not stand Korean food, especially bibimbap. It has a mountain of vegetables and the size of the food is so huge. But now,I am used to eat it and no longer a picky person I used to be. I can eat a plate of vegetarian tteokbokki just like any Korean does. And also, I now prefer to eat some Korean dishes with chopsticks instead of using spoon. It is a bit difficult at first because most restaurants use steel chopsticks rather than wooden stick but I can handle it well now. Moreover, I really like the idea of getting side dishes every time I order food. I am so into kimchi. I love it seriously. I have tried kimchi in my country but there are huge differences between both of them. I will be missing kimchi after I go back to my own country. Furthermore, sharing food has become a part of my everyday life because obviously when you are in Korea,your own plate is not really your plate. Maybe some people are going to take a while to get used to that but I have no problems after experiencing it. I also have a few good habits after watching Korean people act in their everyday routines. I bow my head to greet someone older than me and sometimes I hand things to someone with two hands. I also learn these gestures in some of my Korean classes and believed that it is a kind of respecting actions to other people. I think I might bow to someone even after I go back to Malaysia. Another interesting thing is, I learn how to walk for hours and not depending much for public transports. I have this beautiful memories with my friends when we walked for almost two hours just to find a Homeplus store. I also been used to walk to my class as there is no bus in the campus. Unlike at my university in Malaysia, we will wait for the bus to go to the classroom. I had so much fun during my stay till now. Though everyone has highs and lows in their single year, me too sometimes are facing difficulties in Korea. I honestly think some of my Korean classmates are not that friendly but there are still some of them who are very helpful. From this situation, I learned not to depend on the others and learn how to interact and enjoy time with people of almost any age and social standing in almost any atmosphere. I train myself to always open-minded in some cases. Living abroad means you have to let your mind wides open because there will be things you see differently. Korea sure gives me sweet memories physically and mentally. I thanked God for all the happiness I received here as I met generous and amazing lecturers, professors, and my international friends. I do enjoy every single thing I learned in Korea and makes me wants to visit Korea once again. And thank you Professsor Jackie for letting me express my idea in this essay.
xoxo,orked.
*excuse my broken english
