Gamsan Hamneda
I have been overwhelmed by kindness since I arrived in Korea and that was just yesterday evening! The ferry was great, mainly other Korean people on the boat and I immediately noticed a difference from Japanese folk. I have to admit my first impression wasn’t great - much less shy and courteous (I thought), lots of spitting and hacking and other noises! - much louder, lots of shouting and singing etc, people pushing me out the way - in Japan everyone bows at you. So anyway, clearly very different and I thought in a bit of a negative way cos I love the Japanese culture of respect.
Anyway, I was clearly looking lost when I arrived at Busan port and this family helped me - the mum spoke great English. I only had about 20 quids worth of won on me, so a bit worried about being caught short so wanted to get a train to my motel. They shared a taxi with me as they were going same way. We got chatting in the taxi and Suim told me that she’d been in Europe about 12 years ago and an English man had been really kind to her and helped her, so she wanted to do the same. So they invited me to stay with them which I did. Her husband’s a doctor and they had a wee girl called Nangong. Their appartment was amazing - on top of a hill with panoramic views over Busan. They then took me out for a traditional Korean meal which was fantastic and wouldn’t let me pay. They promise they are all going to come to Scotland soon so I can repay them.
Today I have been approached countless times by kids talking English - but all really cute and really good. Very different from Japan, where although English is compulsary from age 10 or something, hardly anyone will speak it. So I’m loving Korea so far… and it’s cheap. I want to stay longer.
Gamsan Hamneda means thank you by the way - I’ve been saying it a lot!
