Sora-chan, a young woman with a penchant for adventure, plopped down with a refreshing glass of Calpis, ready to spill the beans about her year in Korea. She had fallen head over heels for many aspects of Korean culture—the vibrant street food, the K-pop scene, the friendly people. But like any traveler, she had her fair share of "Wait, what?" moments.
"I loved Korea, but there were a few things that had me scratching my head," Sora-chan giggled. "And today, I’m going to spill the tea – or should I say, Calpis – on the quirkiest surprises. It’s not that I disliked them, but they definitely made me go, 'Huh?'"
She took a dramatic sip of her Calpis, the sweet and tangy flavor reminding her of the many delicious things she had tried in Korea. "First off, the smoking situation. I don't smoke, never will. But in Korea, it felt like I was in a smoky jazz club from the 1920s! My parents never smoked, and my town back in Japan was practically a no-smoking zone. So, dealing with cigarette smoke in public spaces was like being in a fog machine at a rock concert. I'd walk into a café and be greeted by a thick cloud of smoke, like a scene out of a film noir movie. But hey, at least I learned that Korean smokers love the great outdoors!”
Sora-chan continued, “And then there was the alcohol. When I first got to Korea, I was 18, but according to Korean age, I was 19. Magic! I started exploring the world of drinks, but finding anything beyond beer and soju was like hunting for a unicorn. In Japan, we have all sorts of sweet and fruity concoctions—melon soda, peach, strawberry, you name it! I missed those flavors so much! Now, I’m a soju fan, but back then, I was like, ‘Where’s my fruity paradise?’”
She took another sip, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “And the bathrooms! Oh boy, the bathrooms. Imagine my shock when I discovered that most apartments had a combined bathroom and shower. No bathtub! In Japan, a bathtub is practically a national treasure. I love soaking for hours, adding bath salts, lighting candles, the whole ritual. But in Korea, I had to master the art of the 10-minute shower. It was like a speed challenge on a game show! I’d have to run through my routine as fast as I could, trying to squeeze in all my favorite steps—the face mask, the hair conditioner, the body scrub – in record time. It definitely took some practice, but I got pretty good at it. And then, I'd have to quickly air-dry my hair, hoping I didn't look like a drowned rat.”
Sora-chan chuckled, "Then there were the taxis. In Korea, taxis are like rare Pokémon—hard to find, especially at night. I’d stand on the side of the road, waving my arms like a madwoman, but sometimes it felt like the taxis were just driving past me! I'd even try waving my phone around, hoping the bright screen would catch their attention. In Japan, taxis are expensive, so they’re like luxury rides. But in Korea, they’re affordable and super popular. I felt like I was in a never-ending queue for the latest iPhone! And sometimes, when I did finally get a taxi, the driver would be so fast and aggressive, it felt like I was on a rollercoaster ride. I'd hold on tight, praying that we wouldn't end up in a ditch!”
Sora-chan continued, "And the pedestrian crossings! In Japan, drivers are like, ‘After you, dear pedestrian.’ But in Korea, it was more like, ‘Cross at your own risk!’ I was half-expecting to see a game of Frogger unfold every time I crossed the street. I’d cautiously inch forward, looking left and right, praying that a speeding car wouldn't suddenly swerve towards me. But hey, I got pretty good at it – I’m practically a street-crossing ninja now! I learned to quickly scan the traffic, judge the speed, and make my move with the precision of a seasoned street fighter.”
She grinned, reminiscing about her adventures. "And driving in Korea? Oh boy. It was like being in a real-life Mario Kart race! Drivers were so aggressive, I half-expected to see banana peels and turtle shells flying around. I learned to just relax and let them zoom by. It was like watching a high-speed chase from the safety of my own car. And the parking? Oh my goodness, the parking! In Japan, we have these tiny little parking spaces, so we're all experts at squeezing into tight spots. But in Korea, the parking was crazy. I'd have to drive around for ages, trying to find a spot. It felt like a never-ending puzzle! But hey, I survived!"
Sora-chan sighed, shaking her head. "So, yeah," Sora-chan said with a smile, "those are some of the things that made me go, ‘What the heck?’ about Korea. But even with the quirks, I had an amazing time! It made me appreciate Japan even more, and it reminded me that the weird and wonderful differences are what make travel so exciting. And I still love Calpis, even if I can't get a perfectly blended strawberry Calpis in Korea."
She raised her glass, "To new experiences and hilarious surprises!”
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