Nice people, Excellent Service, and No Tip!

Today is my first day in Ko-re-a. Before I left, my mother warned me that I might get sick during the long hours of flying and that I should bring medications just to be safe. I responded by saying that I don’t usually get sick from past experiences. Ohh boy! I got really sick at the end of the flight from the increased in turbulence. I puked 4 to 5 times and spent the last few hours in the bathroom sitting on the toilet. Thank goodness that I didn’t eat anything in the last 24 hours of the flight, so there wasn’t anything that was coming out. What can I ever do without my mom!

I learned that when American people say spicy, it means that the food isn’t spicy. When the Korean people say that the food isn’t spicy, it means the food is pretty darn spicy. Everything I have tried so far in Korea has been spicy. From the wonton soup at the airport to BBQ rips at some restaurant in Jongno-Gu. Spicy food is expected in Korea, so the restaurants don’t warn you in advance. In America, hot chili peppers are added to the item to label that the item is cautiously spicy. In Korea, you get a little nice surprise when you taste your food.

Restaurants serve water without ice. That was a shock for me because their water tastes like Poland Spring in the USA. In America, I can taste and smell the chlorine that has been added into the water to kill the bacteria. Ice water numbs my oral senses; therefore, making me less aware of the chemicals. Bottled water companies in the USA are less regulated than tap water. That means that Poland Springs have more freedom to choose whatever they want to put into their water and test their water. Tap water might taste a little bit gross, but at least I feel safe drinking it.

I learned that people don’t tip in Korea by the hard way. First, I left my cash in the hostel and had to come back to get it or else I couldn’t play. There was a language barrier between the waitor and me because he couldn’t speak English and I couldn’t speak Korean. So a lot of street language was used between us; i.e, using our hands to talk. After I finished the meal, I insisted on tipping for the excellent service, but the waiter insisted on not getting the tip. I’m not sure if he understood my intention or the concept of tipping. At the end, he gave me the money back and said something in Korean that I didn’t understand. I guess my street knowledge of sign language is limited. I wonder how the Koreans feel when they go to places where it is expected for them to tip. Tipping is such an American thing, pssh!

I’m going back to bed. Can’t wait to wake up and go to JeJu island within the next hour.