telc students and teacher: Monday November 21

Yunmi Choi
I sometimes feel freer here because in N.Y, most people act their own way. They don’t care about other people’s eyes .But in Korea behavior is influenced by other people’s eyes. So we aren’t able to have our way in everything.
Since l came to the U.S.A, I have had many experiences about freedom, especially sexual freedom. For example, in N.Y couples usually give a kiss or hug in public places such as roads, subways, parks, or restaurants. I was surprised because I rarely had seen in Korea. If a couple give a kiss in a public place, many people would stare at them, some people would blame them. We think it is shameful to display there sexual activities. And also when we say hello to someone, we usually make a deep bow. That’s why we aren’t familiar with a kissing culture.
In Korea, appearances are influenced by our ages. Hairstyle of women over forty are very similar. They have a short hairstyle and a perm style. A hairstyle is determined by their ages. Moreover, their clothing also is settled. Old women usually wear a long skirt or a suit. If an old woman wore a short skirt or a pair of jeans or a colorful jacket, she would be criticized foe not dressing pertinently for an older woman.
When l lived in Korea, I couldn’t see a woman who was smoking on the road or at school. We think a woman ought not to smoke. So a woman who smokes should hide the fact that they smoke. Korea women should be pure. In N.Y many women are smoking in public places and on the road with their friends, even with men. America women and men are almost in an equal position.
I think a reason for the difference between Korea and N.Y is that we have a long history and just a single ethnicity. We have Confucian ideas and many stereotypes.