The White Girl Smile

Me in Seoul. (they drive on the right here -- it's just like home!)

Arrived in Seoul yesterday morning after a full days travel (over 20 hours). First impression? Big and hazy. Apparently the pollution here is worse than LA -- it's not the type of thing i can tell from just walking around the city, but you can tell from this picture:



That's one of the views from the top of a hill that we (Ben and I) hiked up today. I like how the mountains have become a part of the city -- there is a Buddhist temple on the hill that we hiked up (the primary reason that hill was chosen), as well as an outdoor fitness center and many other Koreans out doing their exercise -- which is hard to describe, and for fear of offending people, I won't, but I will say it made me smile.

On the way back down the mountain we passed a white girl (not at all a common sight in Seoul); and we flashed smiles at each other -- over which Ben got excited -- apparently the white girl smile is something he's heard about but not witnessed (it's related to the white guy head nod). At this point, coming from New Zealand where everyone smiles/says hello to everyone else, it was only natural to smile at someone crossing my path (altho the Koreans don't seem to smile back....). I have yet to feel negatively alienated because of my skin, but this is only day 2 so there's plenty of time (18 days here) -- not that I hope (or expect, really) to feel alienated, of course.

As with any world travel experience, it's impossible to put into words or photos (or any combination of the two), exactly what it's like to be in another place. Seoul is at once a culture shock and a homecoming for me -- the culture shock part is obvious, since it's Korea (and I'm not Korean, in case anyone forgot); but my friendship with Ben serves as the homecoming. It's so nice to be able to talk to a friend, and a good friend at that. Yesterday we walked along this river (which is man-made, but that's an issue I won't touch on right now):

and I practiced my Korean -- I already recognize a good number of the letters (characters? what are they supposed to be called?) and have started sounding words out -- it takes me some time, but I can do it -- it's nice to be learning something concrete.


This is a street in Sinchon (a neighborhood). I like it here so far. Very different. It's nice to have an example of something being very different and good at the same time.