Wang Xiuyan's sharing Experiences:
“First Impression
From Incheon airport, campus, bank to restaurant, the overall decoration style is very elegant. Amenities are very personal, with toilet paper in all public restrooms and help buttons in many stalls. In the whole city, there are few flat terrain, many houses and even high-rise buildings are built on the hill, and the uphill and downhill roads are very common, so bicycles and electric bicycles are not often used by citizens. People are very polite and attach great importance to etiquette. Gentle tone, humble attitude, being kind and friendly spread the tradition of Confucian culture, and share the shame culture with Japan.
In Study
According to my major, I chose some courses under the major of Business Administration and International Study.Western media pay a lot of attention to the development of China, a socialist country that will soon become, or has become, the world's largest economy according to purchasing power parity. In class, students from different countries often discuss China's economic and cultural phenomena.China's high-yield agriculture, diversified manufacturing, and booming high-tech industries make the Chinese economy more stable and underpinned than other countries.Inevitably, there are stereotypes about the Chinese institutions among professors and students.I listened carefully to their views, tried to explain some of the misconceptions, and realized that even in the midst of the greatest of times, on the road to national renewal, we could be doing more, and doing it more efficiently. China has great hard power, but soft power is far from enough compared with South Korea and the United States.In the semester, I attended a lecture by a professor of Yonsei University on South Korea's choice between China and the United States. In the slides, the professor directly used the Chinese character Tao Guang Yang Hui to show the internal philosophy of China's development and explained the close relationships between South Korea and China and the United States from the historical and military aspects.A month later, the presidents of China and the United States had a visual meeting, which made me more aware that as two major countries in the world, the relationship between China and the United States not only concerns the well-being of their own people, but also concerns the stability of the world situation.
Dietary Differences
Korean food is mostly sweet and spicy, such as fried rice cake and fish cake, Korean fried chicken, army hot pot, kimchi soup. Sauce is the common denominator of many Korean dishes. Water, octopus and beef sausage are cooked together with sauce sauce, which is a local delicacy. The cooking method is relatively simple, and the core of dishes is the ingredients and sauce. Korean fried chicken, pizza and barbecue are delicious and cheaper. There are many fried chicken, pizza and barbecue restaurants in the streets, and the average person is about 50-80 yuan. Compared with the domestic price and the income level, it can be said that the price of these three kinds of food is low.
South Korean local Chinese food has fried noodles, sweet and sour pork, steamed buns, dumplings and so on.The Chinese prefer to think of it as Korean jajangmyeon, steamed buns and dumplings with different fillings.Chinese stir-fried dishes such as celery stir-fried pork and spicy chicken cost more than 100 RMB.
Unlike China, South Korea has a very small proportion of vegetables in its food structure.The main course is mostly meat, and the side dishes are pickled spicy cabbage, fish cakes, radishes, etc.I'm not sure whether pickled side dishes are healthy or not.Due to geographical constraints, crops and agricultural products are not abundant in South Korea. However, many packages of vegetables and fruits are printed with the Chinese character, which basically calls on the local people to eat domestic vegetables and fruits. So, the price of domestic meat, fruits and vegetables is generally higher than that of imported meat and fruits. Of course, they include the famous Han niu, which is very expensive as domestic beef in South Korea, about 1000 RMB per meal.That's probably why Pizza Hut in Korea doesn't have steak -- beef is rare and expensive.In general, the price of meat in Korea is slightly higher than that in China, while the price of vegetables and fruits in Korea (per 100 grams) is equal to or even higher than that of meat in Korea (per 100 grams).Food prices are high in Korea, where the prices of clothing, gasoline and beverages are similar to those in China.
Attractions
White Shoal, Gwangan Li, Oryukdo Island, Haeundae beach scenery have their own characteristics respectively. Featuring an organic combination of beaches and colorful, interlocking houses, The Baijantan Cultural Village is the setting for many Korean dramas. It is great fun to sit on the golden beach of Gwangan Li and enjoy the Gwangan Li Bridge on the sea and the surrounding night scenery. Oryukdo Islands is a scenic spot in the southeastern part of the island, which has a wide view of the sea and is the best place to greet the sunrise. When the sky is clear, you can see the Japanese islands on the opposite side.Haeundae beach is the most prosperous place in the city. You can see Oryukdo islands from the beach of Haeuntae, while surrounded by landmark buildings. Compared with Gwanganli Beach, Haeuntae Beach is longer, which is the best combination of natural scenery and the modern city.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of foreign tourists has greatly decreased, and business districts such as Seomyeon and Nampo-dong have been not busy as before. Many shops in the business district are printed in Chinese, and salesmen can also use English and Chinese common expressions. Unionpay and Alipay can be used in some large chain supermarkets, convenience stores and cosmetics stores.
At Parting
South Korea is a country integrating eastern and western cultures. Although the epidemic has restricted most entertainment and cultural activities, the wonderful cultural life of local citizens and students can be seen through art museums, movie centers, and old campus posters. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, it was a great honor to have the opportunity to visit Korea as an exchange student. ”