A couple of tips

Not much energy to write anything special today. I would love to take a relaxing shower after a long day at work, but showers have become remarkably less appealing to me since moving into my apartment. Having to hold the shower head while standing in front of the sink and inevitably soaking the entire bathroom is not very soothing.

So, I will just offer up a few tips about Korea from my experience thus far:

1) Chopsticks go on the right.

2) Bare feet are out of the question (I'm waiting to see how this plays out come summertime).

3) Mealtime is for eating. Don't expect more than a dixie-cup size beverage. Unless of course Soju is on hand in which case you will have a shot glass size.

4) The little puffy mats in front of the shoe shelves everywhere are for you to stand on as you take your shoes off. Let's call them transition mats. Step out of your shoes, onto the mat, then into the room you are entering.

5)If you don't know your blood type, find out! They will ask you.

6) If you don't like your age, be prepared to give a different one... often. And, in Korea, you are 2 years older than you thought you were. Sorry.

7) Don't be put off if a Korean tells you you'd better do something. You'd better leave early for work. It would be better if you took this route. This is thought of as a way to make a polite suggestion in English. Clash of cultures here.

8) Don't put your rice in the soup bowl.

9) Like sweet coffee. The little packets of instant coffee that you just add water to are convenient, but 75% sugar here.

10) Be prepared to sing. I haven't had to yet, but sooner or later I will have to sing for my students. Karaoke is popular to say the least.