Here are some of my thoughts regarding my own reactions to my cultural experiences in Korea. Indeed even though some of these are quite uncomfortable revelations about myself I'm glad I'm having them as I think this helps me to understand others better.
1. Language - it is quite disorientating not being able to understand even one letter of the Korean language. Helpfully all the important signs are in both English ( well American English!) and Korean. Not knowing many words means that I am being very careful about the shops I am going into. I am avoiding shops that have no computerised till, indeed I found myself today making a subconscious decision to go into a restaurant purely because I could read the sign and menu in English. This is understandable as I do want to be understood and understand when ordering food or buying items. However, I am glad when someone else can guide me so that I can go into shops and restaurants that are Korean. On my own I am restricted to a small subculture, so to get a full picture I need a guide to help me, and I am so grateful to those who are willing to be that guide.
2. Race- I find myself subconsciously being drawn to people who are white and they are drawn to me as well; most of these people are actually American. Indeed I've had some Amercian's stop me in the street to ask me if I am American, and they seemed surprised to find out I'm from the UK. A white American child pointed to me in he street to her Mum saying 'look she's white too.' I now know why a minority race sticks together, it is though subsciously we feel more relaxed when we around people of the same race. It takes conscious effort on our part not to feel this, I think this especially so when I''m on my own, I don't feel this so much when I'm with others.
3. The shaping power of rules. When I am walking down the street and there is a woman or man trying to sell something be that fruit or veg in a cart my immediate reaction is to walk by quickly. There is something in my British mindset that says these people are breaking the rules and shouldn't be trying to sell things here. The rules of course are different in Korea but I can't seem to get that warning signal out of my mind.
4. The power of history that gives meaning. This became apparent to me when I was talking about the differences between Presbyterian's and Baptist's. Pastor Kong was saying in Korea he didn't see much difference between the two denominations; one Baptised believers the other infants. I was quite puzzled by this, and then he asked me what I thought. I then went into the whole history of UK Baptist's and the essence of church membership as the believers church, and it is the members that discerned the mind of Christ. It became apparent this is the history of Eureopean Baptist's but this is not the same for all Baptist's. What gives meaning for me by the language of being Baptist is not the same for all and it showed me how a particular history gives a particular meaning.
On the positive side here are some things I have warmed to quite quickly.
1. Sharing food- I like that aspect of Korean culture. There is food on the table and we share amongst ourselves, everything is much more community orientated and it does build relationships quickly when you are sharing food together. It seems pretty biblical as well.
2. Respect for one another and elders- bowing to each other when you meet someone for the first time especially someone in a position or older than yourself. This respect seems to be going now from British society, but there is something about showing respect and honour to one another which seems a good thing. I remember as a child my grandparents would talk to me about Mrs whoever, because as a child they felt I should show respect to my elders. Indeed I was taught to always listen and respect older people.
3. Hospitality- people in the church seem very warm and generous to strangers; giving them food or gifts. They seem to have taken very seriously the need to welcome strangers as though it was Christ himself. It has made me think about how other cultures might well see British people as a bit mean in comparison!
So lots to think about from this new cultural experience.