KOREA!

I'm so thankful that there was somebody to show me around while I was in Korea, or else I would've not had the slightest clue where to go and where to be. I know that every vacation is special and unique and it does no justice to compare, but... this one was definitely up there :)

Some things I learned about Seoul:

-Flushing toilet paper in the toilet is a no-no. The plumbing in the city can't sustain the hull if everybody in the city went and flushed TP down the toilet. Thus, you have to toss your business paper in a trash can. 

-Just like China, showers are usually connected to the sink which is also connected to the toilet, with no separations in between. I forgot that this was a thing not usually done in the states. 

-Public transportation freaking rules. I was there for a week, and I basically had the subway system mastered thanks to a trusty app and the fact that they repeat all the stops in English. The bus system was also good, although a little more difficult than the subway. All these forms of transportation, as well as the ability to pay for food and other random stuff could be done through a POPcard. It's like a debit card you load up which can be used on public transportation and other stuff. 

-Kpop idolatry is like a real thing. People literally worship these dude and dudettes and follow their every move. Moreso than I would even say American stars. It's like Michael Jackson: most people say there will never be a musician as widely adored by all walks of life. At least in Korea, Kpop stars are in that echelon, dictating what people eat, wear, etc. through their advertisements.

-I was well aware that Kpop stars themselves don't actually make a lot of money, and that their source of income is primarily through sponsors and such. What I was surprised to learn is that many have their own restaurants, and supporters of these stars go and eat at their restaurant almost as a direct act of support.

-Cosmetic surgery is a big thing, and people strut the bandages on their face as if it's not a big deal. Cuz out there, it's not really. I was told that Chinese people can take a tour called the "plastic surgery tour" and get plastic surgery and explore the sites. Crazy. So every time I saw a girl with double eyelids, I always wondered if they were real or fake lol.  

-The food is as legit as I thought it was going to be. 

-They have awesome socks. For awesomely cheap. 

-Despite the crowdedness, everybody for the most part was extremely polite to each other. My friends attribute it to the fact that they were occupied by Japan. At first I was like "that's messed up!" but then I thought about my time in Japan, and then it kind of made sense... The Japanese are pretty dang polite too. 

-They have the biggest Pentecostal church in the world, with over 1 million active members and 7 services containing over 20,000 people a service.

-A lot of people aren't happy with the Korean president and are still upset at the way the government responded to the Sewol Ferry incident, with protesters on big streets. 

-Korea is not too much cheaper than the states. As with any Asian country (at least the conclusion that I've come to), boutiques and foreign products are way more expensive. Their domestic products were a little cheaper, but not as cheap as I was expecting. The dollar doesn't take us as far anymore :(

Well that's only a snippet of the things I learned, enjoy the pictures!!