Discussion
I came to Korea as an exchange student from Russia. In Moscow State Linguistic University I study international relations and Korean language so I`m really interested in learning new cultures, their relations and meeting new people. So I came to Kyung Hee University to improve my skills and to get unforgettable emotions. To be honest, I never was into k-pop or k-dramas, that`s why I expected this exchange program in Korea to expand my horizons and break down the stereotypes. It turned out that I was right. Russians know Korea mostly because of its culture. A lot of young Russian people like watching k-dramas or listening to k-pop. Apart from that, Korea is associated with the latest technologies and amazing inventions. As soon as we landed at Incheon airport, my expectations were met. Cute robots that speak several languages travel around the airport, which help you navigate the building and tell you about the nearest flights. Passengers are happy to approach the electronic assistant to find out the necessary information. This is a very useful thing that makes our common life easier. Of course, while living in South Korea I was comparing it with my home country Russia. I realized that Koreans and Russians are similar in many ways. Some of our character traits or behaviour are completely the same. For example, we all like spending time with our friends or family on weekends. Also, decent education means a lot to us. By the way, I was very impressed when I saw how much time and efforts Koreans spend on studying and work. When I came home to Russia, I told my friends a lot about how my Korean classmates sat in the library until the morning to prepare for tomorrow’s classes. Feeling this atmosphere, I myself several times spent time in the library until dawn and (would you believe it?) got a real pleasure! So one of my favourite traits of character in Koreans is hardworking. One of the main problems for me, when I arrived in Korea, was food. In Russia, I rarely eat spicy food, so in the beginning, it was difficult for me to get used to new dishes and tastes. However, soon I liked Korean dishes so much that now, being in Russia, I even miss them! In Moscow, we have restaurants with Asian food but it`s much tastier to eat Korean food in Korea where the whole atmosphere helps you to understand the culture. However, one thing that impressed me the most was the weather. I don`t like winter that much and cold itself so for me Korean weather was just perfect. Of course, there are rains, cold wind and even snow but here it`s just softer than in Moscow. Moreover, Korean nature with its beautiful mountains and the wonderful sea is awesome! Every day I could see that beauty and realise how our planet is rich in breathtaking views. Especially, Gyeongju was an invention for me. I advise all people, travelling to Korea to visit this city. You`ll enjoy not only beautiful landscapes but also can learn more about Korean history and culture. Korea is a different world for every person who comes to Asia for the first time. Each unusual difference will cause a huge number of contradictory emotions. You can fall in love with its incredible landscapes, or you can hate its spicy dishes. Everyone will find something different here: atmospheric karaoke nights and noisy festivals, or maybe calm mountains or an original sense of style. I am sure of one thing — South Korea will never leave you indifferent. Korea will help you break your stereotypes and expand your consciousness.
I never thought I’d be in this part of the world. Asia seemed to me to be something cosmic. I confirmed my theory, but made one mistake: there is no attraction in space, but Korea manages to attract thousands of people with its culture, direct emotions and impressive history.
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