Things I never did until I moved to Korea
As expected, moving to a new country comes with having to make adjustments—both big and small. Some of those adjustments can be good for you, while others are just ways of adapting to make your new life easier or simply because you have to. From the way I greet people to how I take out the trash, here are the habits that have quietly become part of my everyday life. 1. Bowing Bowing is considered an expression of respect, politeness, and acknowledgment of a social hierarchy in Korea. It’s used when greeting someone older or of higher status, when saying thank you, or even just in passing as a polite gesture. The deeper the bow, the deeper the respect. As a way of showing respect for Korean culture, I’ve started engaging in bowing too. At first, it felt a bit awkward—I’d find myself wondering how deep I should bow or if I was doing it at the right time. But now, it’s second nature. I find myself bowing to everyone: my delivery drivers, my neighbours, and even t...