Without a doubt, my perspectives on Seoul have been colored by my experience in Shanghai. The first thing that was striking was just how low this city is. After the massive sky-scrappers of Shanghai, I was expecting the same here. Rather than massively tall buildings, the Koreans seem to shove every conceivable kind of business into a twelve or thirteen story building.
The buildings are usually constructed something like this:
Floor 1 – Galbi and/or Samgyeopsal Restaurants. A GS 25, Family Mart or Buy the Way (convenience stores with beer). Hair dresser and, in my neck of the woods (literally, I’m so far north, one of the exit’s for the metro points the way to the Mountain I see from my window), Outdoor Wear.
Floor 2 – Minus the convenience stores and outdoor wear, more of the same of Floor 1 and usually a bar of some sort.
Floor 4 – Offices
Floor 5 – PC Bang (Korean "Computer Room" a.k.a Seedy Internet Cafe). This may also be located in the basement.
Floor 6 – Hogwan (Korean private academy). Usually for English.
Floor 7 – Something in Korean that I can’t read
Floor 8 – Another English Hogwan
Floor 9 – Norae Bang (Korean “Singing Room” a.k.a. Karaoke)
Floor 10 – Something else in Korean I can’t read
Floors 11 – 13: Don’t have signs. I’m assuming Office-Tels.
Office-Tels are the Korean solution to “working from home”. They’re designed so people are able to live and work in the same space. My office-tel consists of an entry way with a “galley-kitchen” on one side (sink, fridge and a 2 burner gas range) and large closet, pantry and bathroom on the other. Pass that and you enter one large room with my bed, kitchen table and oversized orange chair. Not to mention the wall of cupboards I have just below my ceiling to mid-wall windows.
I’m still waiting for this place (and the rest of Seoul) to start to feel like home.
Floor 1 – Galbi and/or Samgyeopsal Restaurants. A GS 25, Family Mart or Buy the Way (convenience stores with beer). Hair dresser and, in my neck of the woods (literally, I’m so far north, one of the exit’s for the metro points the way to the Mountain I see from my window), Outdoor Wear.
Floor 2 – Minus the convenience stores and outdoor wear, more of the same of Floor 1 and usually a bar of some sort.
Floor 4 – Offices
Floor 5 – PC Bang (Korean "Computer Room" a.k.a Seedy Internet Cafe). This may also be located in the basement.
Floor 6 – Hogwan (Korean private academy). Usually for English.
Floor 7 – Something in Korean that I can’t read
Floor 8 – Another English Hogwan
Floor 9 – Norae Bang (Korean “Singing Room” a.k.a. Karaoke)
Floor 10 – Something else in Korean I can’t read
Floors 11 – 13: Don’t have signs. I’m assuming Office-Tels.
Office-Tels are the Korean solution to “working from home”. They’re designed so people are able to live and work in the same space. My office-tel consists of an entry way with a “galley-kitchen” on one side (sink, fridge and a 2 burner gas range) and large closet, pantry and bathroom on the other. Pass that and you enter one large room with my bed, kitchen table and oversized orange chair. Not to mention the wall of cupboards I have just below my ceiling to mid-wall windows.
I’m still waiting for this place (and the rest of Seoul) to start to feel like home.
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