Topic for 1/29: Cultural Pet Peeves (SORRY!!! for being late)

[Richard]

CULTURAL PET PEEVES

A pet peeve is something that annoys or irks you. In this discussion topic cultural pet peeves refers to characteristics of a culture that may annoy or bother you. I hope you don't get the wrong impression. I've been in Korea for over a year now and I love it. The people are warm, caring, fun, intelligent, and generous. I've also been traveling around the world to many other countries and have found differences that require some adjusting to.

Korea is a vastly different culture compared to America. It seems that almost completely opposite. Even our emergency numbers are backwards; 911 in America versus 119 in Korea. When Koreans play cards or any circular game they take turns going counter-clockwise where Americans go clockwise. There were some behavior patterns that required getting used to when I first got to Korea such as people walking up escalators, bumping into you without an apology, and eating rice after a big meal of barbequed meat (I blame my weight gain on this and round after round of drinking and anju).

When traveling to Europe I found it was strange to ask for ice with your soda. This was horrible because often they do not refrigerate their sodas so I ended up drinking luke warm soda in humid summer weather. Traveling to other countries can also help to show you parts of your culture that you have pet peeves about that you didn't notice before. For example when you go shopping in Korea the sales agent will come and ask you if you need anything and follow you around. When I went back to America I discovered that maybe I had been in Korea for too long because I was disappointed when someone didn't come running to ask me what I was looking for while I was shopping.

In conclusion it is important to respect cultural differences. It helps you identify parts of your culture that may need changing and forces you to think about why these cultural behaviors developed. Darwinism suggests that all species adapt to suit their environment and humans are no exceptions. Koreans are busy-bodies because of the fierce level of competition. Americans are relaxed because they can afford to be. Being in Korea has given me a deep respect and understanding of my roots. I hope to continue learning and growing in this new environment.

1. What pet peeves to do you have about your own culture?

2. If you have been traveling to other countries can you tell a story about a cultural pet peeve?

3. If you could change one thing about your culture what would it be?

4. Has traveling abroad given you a new respect for your own culture you didn't have before? How?

5. Dating is a huge part of culture and each one has its own idiosyncracies. Can you name one thing about your dating culture that you like? Can you name one that you don't like?

6. Marriage is another important cultural element. In Korea the process is quite complicated. Can you list one thing you like and one thing you dislike about the process of getting married

[Kelly(박현희)]

좋은 토픽 감사합니다~~

[scott(박범석)]

와우~ 직접 작성하셨나보네요 형님!! 수고하셨어요^^

[Kate(허소현)]

수고하셨습니다ㅋㅋ

[코알라]

이번주 topic가 두개 올라와 있는데요 두개 다 알고 가야 하나요ㅜㅜ

[Nick(이이슬이)]

네 토픽은 두개고요.
스터디 할때 첫번째 올라온것 하고,
두번째 올라온것도 합니다.(읭?)
적고나니 이상하네요 ㅎ

[Nick(이이슬이)]

형 감사해요~!

[Christopher(강경헌)]

수고했다 ㅋ