Urban Green Spaces
To balance the concrete and steel metropolis of Seoul, the government has incorporated streams, rivers, parks, forests and community gardens. The Han River divides the city and the Cheonggyecheon River runs through the downtown area. The Tancheon Stream runs for 35K through my province all the way to Seoul. It has biking/walking paths and in between about every 100 meters you'll find a dog park or a golfing space or a volleyball court or exercise machines. These spaces are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they improve the air quality and provide social hubs for recreation and relaxation. Koreans are very active people who keep in shape and these places allow residents to step minutes from their homes and enjoy nature. It's like having a Greenlake in every community. Everyday I look forward to a long walk outdoors for balance and connection.
I haven't missed car payments, insurance, looking for parking or washing my car and fueling it up! I'm two blocks from a subway station and all I have to do is swipe my debit card to ride. It's cheap, easy, fast, and always on time. Almost every person, even the elderly, are wearing their earbuds and tuning into the web, so the subways are silent. The bullet trains are super clean, quiet and totally relaxing.
Of course they can get very busy! This was a packed car on the ride to the International Fireworks Festival.
Food Courts and Street Food
Unlike in the States where you can find outstanding ethnic food, most of the restaurants serve only Korean chow here and it's difficult to find authentic foods from other parts of the world. People search high and low for a good American cheeseburger or real Italian cuisine. I'm a big fan of the small bites and it's totally safe and fun to eat street food here. My favorite has to be the mashed sweet potato rolled up into a ball, battered lightly and deep fried. The ultimate comfort food. The food court displays look like a cover for Martha Stewart's magazine.
Convenience.
There are challenges for a foreigner living in Korea, but it's also an easy place to live in a lot of ways. Want to shop all night? There's a huge market that opens at 10PM -5AM. Want to see a movie at 2AM in a 4D theatre or sitting in a recliner chair with food/beverage service? Need a massage or a jacuzzi or body scrub at 4AM? The spas are 24/7. There at least four coffee shops and fast food places and a bakery on every block. Mini-marts are practically side by side. Food and drinks are available at every station. Subways don't run all night, but cabs are easily accessible and fairly cheap. You'll never see a Korean carry groceries or large shopping bags home. Everywhere delivers everything within a day to your apt.You can get food delivery 24/7. Almost everyday a business card is put at my door for another delivery service. And if I could speak Korea I'd call and order! The lobby in my building has at least a hundred packages delivered everyday. When you go to the local grocery store you give them your address and your goods are at your door within an hour. Dry cleaners are in the apartment building as well as a small convenience store and a hair salon. This is probably what I will miss the most, especially the spas!
Medical Services
I didn't know Korea was famous for medical tourism. Not just for plastic surgery, but for transplants and other things. Right after I arrived I had to test the medical/dental services in Korea and I am so very impressed. After breaking a tooth I saw a dentist within two days who graduated from Columbia, speaks perfect English and works Saturdays! Yup, office hours are generally until 7PM weekdays and a few hours on the weekends. Prices are considerably lower and it's all high tech. Medical clinics are everywhere and you generally do not need an appointment. Seeing the doctor is $10. If he prescribes X-rays or an MRI or PT or blood work it is all done then and there in the same building and results are immediate. Pharmacies are in the clinics. The international clinics are more costly, but amazing. I had a wellness visit paid for by my insurance that included blood work, mammogram, bone density test, hearing, vision, chest X-rays and it was all completed on two floors of the same building in less than two hours. People here are healthy and the national insurance provides for everyone. The US could learn a lot from the efficient, cost effective services here. And if you're looking for plastic surgery you've come to the right place. I went with a teacher to get her eyes done and it was unbelievable. Brief consultation with the surgeon in a gorgeous street -front office with several floors of services including a hotel. Totally sterile and serene spaces. A few days later she had the work done for a third of the US price and she healed within two weeks. Perfect job. There are over 3000 of these facilities in Gangnam alone catering to both locals and international clients. Before and after shots are advertised everywhere. Surgery is very common to create a double eyelid fold, noses, chins and even shaving bone to change the shape of the face. Women have beautiful skin here and the dermatologists' offices have many beds side by side and a revolving door. Men frequent these places as much as women! Appearance is everything here. Everyone wants to look like a K-pop star or a Korean drama celebrity.
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