During the Spring & Summer 2016 semester, I studied abroad in South Korea as an exchange student for 6 months. Since it was a complete cultural immersion, I wanted to learn more about the history of South Korean cuisine, and how that history reflected the overall Korean culture. While there, I also learned another thing: cross-cultural communication is hard. There are language barriers, cultural ignorance, or plain nervousness as reasons why I was hesitant to interact with Korean people. Learning how to operate inside another country’s culture and how to overcome challenges in said foreign country are just a few of the many lessons I learned during my time abroad. But after interacting with international students and being an international student myself in South Korea, I realized that activities can help one supersede many barriers. Some of my fondest memories of Korea surround mealtimes, where I laughed, joked, and grew closer to my friends in Korea. Additionally, while eating, I learned about different customs, and about the names and traditions of different foods.
At mealtimes, I took pictures of the types of meals eaten, whether it be at both special occasions or just in daily life (While everyday food might not seem that interesting, it represented a part of Korean culture as well). This allowed me to keep a brief record of the food I tried. I also asked questions and researched some foods’ history. Below, I’ve included select foods that I believe give insight into Korean culture. Click on the photo to learn more!
At mealtimes, I took pictures of the types of meals eaten, whether it be at both special occasions or just in daily life (While everyday food might not seem that interesting, it represented a part of Korean culture as well). This allowed me to keep a brief record of the food I tried. I also asked questions and researched some foods’ history. Below, I’ve included select foods that I believe give insight into Korean culture. Click on the photo to learn more!