Culture shock all over again!

Culture shock can be experienced just about every where you go.  From across countries to across states, cities, offices, schools, towns, rivers and mountains.  South Korea is only as big as size of the States of Ohio.  However many mountain terrains caused this little country to have 8 to 10 different accents in their language.  You don't have to fly far away especially when you live in United States too.  You can experience slightly different culture when you travel across United States.  Even right here in New York City.

I moved to New York city at the end of my enlistment in United States Air Force from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.  Down south, we usually take our time with just about everything.  For most part, people are very friendly, polite and laid back.  It was an eye opening experience when I hopped on the subway for the first time going into New York city during morning rush hour.   It was hard enough trying to get into the train without having the door closed on me and when I finally got off, people were literally pushing me while I was trying to figure my way out to the right exit.

This is very interesting because its not like I never lived in major city.  Its because I got adjusted to the southern suburban life.  I grew up most of my life in Seoul, which is the capital and one of the major city in Republic of South Korea.  The people there are just as bad or if not worse in the subway or even side walks.  People will bump into you without saying anything.  One of the reasons why I was not afraid of New York City drivers was because I learn to drive in Korea.  Most foreigners think people are rude but its just part of the city life.  If you're not coming from another major city and it can be an eye opening experience.  My parents live their whole life in the city of Seoul and I remember they had such hard time adjusting to quiet suburbs of Fairfax, Virginia when we first moved out here.  However, now they complain about the headaches, traffics and crowded streets whenever they visit New York City or Seoul.  Just like how I was adjusted to the suburban life of Louisiana, my parents were adjusted to the suburban life of Virginia.

I remember I use to have hard time understanding when southern people spoke too fast.  Especially when their accents were heavy and I could barely make out what they were saying.  However by the time I moved to New York, I missed hearing southern accents and when ever I ran into tourist that our from south made me just smile.  Its quite interesting how we can adjust to certain culture and environment when we relocate.

In Korea, its common for same sex to hold hands and walk down the street and no one will ever think that they are gay or lesbians.  I remember when I lived in Korea while I was young that I use to do hold hands my friends.   After living in the United States for over a century, I visited Korea and remember being very uncomfortable when an old friend tried to grab my hand.  In fact, I pushed him away asking him to give me space.  We both laughed but I would have punched him if we were back in the States.

Who is this guy?

What makes people blog?  What gives them motivation to take time out of their precious lives to write about their daily thoughts and activities?  To start this off I have to be real honest. Me being honest, I just want to let you guys know (who ever is out there in the internet space world that is reading this) that I'm not exactly the blogging type of guy.  I remember ever since I was a little boy in elementary classroom that I was not good at keeping a journal or writing about my daily thoughts and activities.  I always knew that it was good practice of putting your thoughts and experiences by keeping a journal but I guess I just had other interests.

You might be asking why is this guy doing blogs all of sudden?  Well this happens to be a class requirement, which will be part of our grade for the semester, but please don't run away because I will absolutely do my best to keep this up and I will try to make it interesting for all my visitor/followers.

So, who is this guy?  To introduce myself, I'm from everywhere! okay thats little exaggerated. I was born in Seoul Korea 1983, moved around all over South Korea (thanks to my father who was an officer in the ROK Army).  Than in 1994 my parents sent me to Puyallup, WA to spend the summer with my cousins family which ended up being more than a summer.  I spent total of 2 1/2 years in little town of Puyallup and went back to Korea in 1996 and did not return to U.S. till late 2002.  But this time it was with my parents, when I returned and we moved to Fairfax, VA.  A year after I arrived in U.S., I joined the U.S. Air Force and shipped out to Texas where I did most of my training and after training I got stationed at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana where I spent most of my time in the Air Force.  I had opportunity to travel to Germany and also did a short tour in UAE.

What brought me to NYC? After successful time I had in the Air Force I was ready to take on new challenges and to see more of the world. It was bit of everything from ambition to motivation of wanting to be successful.

Currently, I am a Intern at JP Morgan and a upper-junior at Baruch College pursuing degree in Finance and Investment looking to graduate in Spring 2012.  I'm still currently serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserves in McGuire AFB in New Jersey.

I think this is a good start for now.  Please feel free to leave any feedback on any advice on how to keep a good blog.   Next week, I'll share little about the title of by blog.  Till then, take care!