Memory Mosaic - Life in South Korea
Updated: Dec 21, 2023
At times, when a city or country pops into my mind, I get a sort of a memory mishmash of places, people, quirky habits, funny gestures, everyday life and special occasions. Feels like assembling a memories mosaic, each piece unique. Yet, when they finally fit together, these scattered fragments always manage to paint a vibrant picture of my personal experience.
Unlike traditional mosaics, my Memories Mosaic lacks a design; instead, it assembles itself organically. Here it is:
Cheerful subway trains
When I first heard the melody announcing the train's arrival, I was genuinely cheered up. What a great idea, I thought! It plays before the verbal announcement, thus giving you a head start to dash down those stairs (disregarding all those subway safety signs) or capture people's attention as they remain glued to their smartphones. Plus, it's language-neutral!
A similar sound is also played inside the subway car, helping you prepare to make your way to the door.
Follow the pink lane!
In Seoul heavy traffic often flows across 4-6 lane roads and merges onto highways. The transition though is quite simple and clear, thanks to the Korean GPS and another simple solution: a colourful stripe, pink or green, added in the middle of the exiting or merging lanes.
The GPS, with the plotted route, knows about these colorful lanes, and literally guides you with: "Follow the pink lane!" type of instruction. Can't get any easier than that!
Street umbrellas
In the hot and rainy summers of Seoul, it's a common sight to see people strolling around with umbrellas in hand. But what if you find yourself umbrella-less, waiting at a pedestrian crossing, dreading a sudden downpour?
Well, there's yet another simple and practical solution: large, patio umbrellas look-alike typically set at pedestrian crossings. They are permanent fixtures, foldable, and winter time they seem to hibernate, closed down. So civilized!
Umbrella dryers
When it rains it pours in Seoul and those shiny tiled floors from malls, shops, and subway stations can become a skating ring. The city has a clever and eco-friendly solution: the umbrella dryers. Picture two rectangular plates resembling the covers of a book, standing freely on the “binding”, slightly open, and lined with a thick microfiber material inside. They are placed at the entrance and, before entering, you slide your umbrella through this handy contraption, and voila! No plastic, no drips!
I do not have a picture, but if you Google “South Korea umbrella dryers” you'll get a visual.
Daiso, the high-end “dollar store”
Daiso, the Japanese store chain of affordable household goods, is extremely popular in Seoul. It quickly became my one-stop-shop for all things practical as well.
Whether it was kitchenware, stationery, toiletries, or cleaning supplies, Daiso had me covered. The quality is quite good and the prices are more than wallet-friendly, usually hovering around 1,000 ₩ to 5,000 ₩ (that's about 1 – 5 CDN$).
To top it up, Daiso's stores are clean and lack that musty odor that often haunts typical dollar stores back in Canada. They're neatly organized, so you can zip in and out pretty quickly.
I'm really gonna miss Daiso.
Puppy strollers
Taking your pooch for a walk in a stroller is a thing in Seoul. It’s kind of missing the point, in my humble opinion, but everyone seems to enjoy it: puppies, owners and passers-by like me.
The "Milk Zamboni"
A familiar sight on the streets of Soul is a cart, sort of a fridge box on wheels, expertly maneuvered by a standing lady. This cart mainly delivers fresh milk in the morning, but seems to also sell some cold drinks en-route. The franchise's name escapes me, but it is in the line of "auntie …. ".
Eddie coined it the "Milk Zamboni" as it kind of takes on a mini-Zamboni for the look, and its tenacious presence on the busy streets. I wouldn't have thought this kind of enterprise could exist in this day of age, but there's must be a need!
Home grocery delivery
Time is precious in Seoul. Home delivery for groceries has become the norm nowadays, either through online shopping or, if the your bill passes a certain threshold, for in-store shopping as well; it's being offered by supermarkets, and some local markets as well.
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Coffee, the “true Korean way”
No matter how many coffee shops are in Seoul, I would still see people in small shops or offices drinking instant coffee the “Korean way”. My friend Stacey demo ’ed it to me one time: take an individual coffee packet, open it, pour the coffee in hot water and use the packet foil to mix it! Yeah … maybe not so hygienic, but hey, does the job, maybe a good camping technique ...
Makgeolli (막걸리) – thank you, but …
Makgeolli is a popular rice wine with a long tenure in the Korean culture. When brewed traditionally, it is unfiltered, unpasteurized, slightly sweet with a tangy twist. It also has a milky appearance, mild thickness, and low alcohol content. Curiously, it has always been recommended to me by women, probably because of all these characteristics.
My friend Arum went one step further - she took action. She had me and another friend of hers go for a taste at a local producer's shop in Seoul. I sampled the classic recipe, as well as some more modern variations, which give makgeolli a clear look, similar to the grape wine.
Let's just say, this has most likely been a "once in a lifetime" experience for me. Nonetheless, it was an adventure worth savoring.
Caviar and Black Truffle
This year, we treated ourselves for Eddie’s birthday with a lavish dinner at Teppan, a fine cuisine restaurant at Grand Hyatt Seoul. While I could fill endless pages recounting the exquisite dining experience, I'll highlight just two extraordinary ingredients I encountered for the first time: the indulgent sturgeon caviar and the aromatic black truffle!
Oversize clothes, runners and crocs, bangs hair roll
I love observing fashion trends, and in Seoul, style meets comfort effortlessly. Oversized clothing, sneakers, and even fancy crocs are the norm among younger people, proving you can be chic without sacrificing comfort. While I'm not sure if it's seasonal or just part of the local aesthetic, the color palette tends to be more subdued, favoring shades of beige, off-white, and black, over vibrant colors.
One beauty accessory that has consistently brought a smile to my face is the bangs hair roll. I've spotted young women wearing it in public places, on the go, as if it were a hair piece. I always thought of it as a beauty trick for "home use only," but maybe, in this case, the destination matters more than the journey.
Soban (소반) craftmanship
Soban, a traditional low wooden table, was once the centerpiece for meals and tea-drinking while sitting on the floor. We ventured back in time during a captivating few hours in Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul. A traditional artist guided us through the history, the diverse types of Soban, the craft's intricacies, materials, and helped us build miniature versions. Time had stopped for us then and since then I look at the Soban tables with a lot more appreciation.
So many mountains, so many forests!
Riding the glass gondola up the mountain in Chuncheon was a breathtaking experience. Surrounded by lush greenery and vast mountains, the scenery took me completely by surprise. It was my first glimpse of South Korea's natural beauty.
Another awesome post on the amazing adventure.
Just a lovely assortment of thoughts and pictures! I wondered about the rolled up bangs look sometimes!!
I really enjoyed the read Cristina, feels like I was there with you! Keep sharing my friend! ♥️