Being exposed to diverse culture since young, I had experienced various cultural confusion between American and Korean culture.
Having grown up among Americans and overseas Koreans, I could see myself changing and differentiating from other typical Korean students
at my age living in Korea. At school, I had to follow their culture, customs and even their living patterns but not exactly knowing
what they were and what they meant to me. Thus, I was a normal Korean teenager at home whereas I acted as all other American students
at school. Without my recognition, I was losing self-consciousness feeling as if I were neglected and isolated by both culture.
My friends at school often spoke about how they believed I “should” learn more about both culture and
that I “should” be able to distinguish them to find my ego. Highly intrusive and presumptuous statements they were,
but statements became a running theme in my life.
American culture is known for its ‘open culture’ compared to conservative Korean culture though
Americans are more of a self-centered person rather than an opened. From the first moment
I stepped into my new school at my age eleven, it was a series of surprise and culture shock.
Mr.Razik, who used to be the principle of my school, greeted me with a big hug as a means of welcoming,
though it quite frightened me at first. Until then, giving someone a big hug meant a way of showing my love to someone
although I got accustomed doing it after a while. Moreover, during lunch at cafeteria, I could find that
they hardly use chopsticks though you would be treated as upper class depending on your proficiency in using chopsticks in America.
Korea is more of a ‘sharing’ culture as there is an old saying to share even one quarter of a pea together.
Being too accustomed to such habits since young, I was familiar with the idea of sharing a single soup bowl and side dishes with friends
or family during the meal until I got used to their ‘take out’ culture where they always take appropriate amount of food out
to individual’s plates. While Koreans regard affection as the most significant thing among people or society,
Americans rather seem to treat rationality as the first thing. In terms of education system, America and
Korea is rather incompatible with one another. Since elementary school, grade is mostly based on your efforts and daily
behaviors unlike Korea where examinations and quizzes take up most of your grade. Furthermore, at school,
I was well trained to give speeches, discussions and presentations in front of the class since elementary school
though I faced various hardships at first. The more I got used to do it, the more my confidence went up along with my grade.
After school activities and exercises have great impact on your grade along with your class works and group projects
which all the members have to cooperate and communicate together to achieve reasonable outcomes. Thus, attaining
high grade is not largely based on your test scores but your everything. It is obvious that in Korea,
education is highly regarded and competitive but highly criticized both for its treatment of students and for the content of the education,
they receive despite its successes in achieving high test scores. With my experience of both education systems,
they contain various merits and demerits although I personally am on the side of reforming the Korean education system.
Living abroad since young was both very advantageous in one way and disadvantageous in another way.
Overcoming cultural differences to adapt myself to new surroundings was not always hopeful or easy
until I recognized and accepted their differences but not forcing myself to understand them.
Having been accustomed to both culture and customs offered me a wider view to the world teaching me the way to challenge myself and
not being scared of going out to a broad world and meeting new people.