Having said that, you just have to admire the Asians for their efficiency. They just know how to make things work. When the people need schools, they make education, up to grade 9, free. When traffic on the roads get bad, they build a subway. I'm not even going to go into the level of service we get at shops and restaurants, especially as foreigners, they really go the extra mile.
This is my top ten list of things, in no particular order, that I love and will absolutely miss when I finally say goodbye to the R.O.K. They may not be significant to you, but they sure do make my life easier here.
Here we go
1. Super super fast internet- I'm not tech savvy by any means, so simply put - you can watch you tube videos like you watch TV, Uninterrupted! Streaming and Downloading speeds that are just amazing-Love it!
2. Unbelievable transport system - in my city in particular, I can get to any part of the city with only 1 connection e.g. 2 bus rides or bus ride then change to subway. The best part of this is that, even if I use 2 modes of transport, this will be considered one trip and therefore one fare. All I do is scan my card when I get onto the bus, then scan again when I get off the bus - it will register a time stamp on it. Then, I hop onto my next mode of transport within 30 minutes (but not a return trip) to my destination- when I scan my card, it reads it as one journey!
3. Pictured above is an example of a digital board which can be found at most major bus stops. You don't have to be able to read Korean. You just need to know the bus number (left column) that you are waiting for, then the green column is the number of minutes you have to wait for its arrival - mystery solved.
4. The safety- when we hear statistics in South Africa, we know its bad but because we grow up in that environment, we grow up always preparing for the worse. We are always on the look out, you do it subconsciously. This becomes apparent to you when you live in an environment where you realise not everyone is out to get you and your stuff. This shouldn't give you permission to be careless but I can't even begin to describe how great it is to be able to take public transport at night with money and camera on hand- ALL BY MYSELF, without having to look over my back. I've heard of countless stories of people losing their phones in other cities, but somehow they are tracked down and the phone is delivered to them. I, myself, have forgotten my camera and returned later to find it waiting for me. Not to say this would never happen at home, but let's just say I haven't been that lucky yet.
5. This is a picture of the lockers that you can find at most subway stations. You can safely store your belongings e.g. shopping while you go on your merry way to dance the night away, without a worry. You insert money, choose a locker, choose your own pin code and voila!
6. As the name says, its a bill exchange machine, commonly found right next to the lockers (see no. 5) at subway stations. You slot your big notes (see arrow), in SA terms, say R100. Then the slot below will churn out R10 notes. I guess the idea is that if you want to load credits on your transport card but don't have small change, this is the solution. For me however, this is perfect to make lose change for paying people back the right amounts and having enough money when its time to settle the bill at the restaurant - you know how the conversation goes- you need R20 change but end up walking out with R7 because there was no change. You can see how this can be awkward 2 days before pay day!
7. This is an etiquette bell found sporadically in public bathrooms, the times I have encountered them, I am usually at a department store - think Stuttafords. At first glance, I thought if I press this bell, one of the ladies will be notified and they will kindly bring me a toilet roll. If you thought the same as me, then we are both wrong. I recently found out that this device is used to disguise the embarrassing sounds one might make while using the loo. You press the button and it plays a tune of a toilet flushing for a long enough time for you to, well let's just say, get comfortable. Some have even heard the sounds of waterfalls. Either way, no need to time your cough anymore, wink wink.
8. Now I know a few of you might be creeped out by the idea of a warm toilet seat as this indicates that someone might have been sitting on it toooooo long, but here me out. This invention (with the fancy buttons on the side) is a super idea. Although I have not experienced the height of winter in Korea yet, I can tell you, thinking of my winter nights in boarding school - this bad boy could have come in handy. Take comfort in the fact that the warm seat is not from someone sitting there too long, but rather electronic heating. Phew!
10. Last but not least - Free Gym. Although synonymous with the "grandparents", exercise equipments in the parks are for everyone. Although I have not had the guts to exercise in public, I am quite fond of the idea. It promotes great health and wellness and takes away the excuse that you cant afford it! The life expectancy rate in Korea is 78 years compared to South Africa, 49 years old, and in my heart, I believe these free gyms surely play even a small part towards this.
So there it is! Its the small things really. Its the things that people here probably take for granted but I know and appreciate how they make life a little easier. It is with that in mind that I announce, I'm sold on Korea and have signed a contract to stay another year. Hopefully that means, I will continue to share my stories with you and you can continue to enjoy them.
So raise your glasses, a toast: "To more adventures" Cheers!
Final thoughts:
A traveler without observation is a bird with no wings. - Moslih Eddin Saadi
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