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Chopstick Lesson from Korea


Street of Korea is an extremely beautiful place to explore. They not only produce beautiful faces but also smart minds. One can obviously see the quality of work done and the punctuality of people for their work and subways. Public toilets are so good everywhere. Advancement in technology and automobiles are extremely amazing and fascinating to watch in and around the cities. 

However, more important is knowing their culture and way of life. More importantly, when you are in a big city like Seoul, one needs to be careful and cautious about your presentation. It matters a lot to cross the traffic to how you look at someone. However, I have some embarrassing and baffling experience of Chopsticks odds in some Luxurious Korean Restaurant to take home and learn again.

Although, I have started using chopsticks quite early in my childhood days. However, I left the idea before I became confident due to a number of reasons. One it could be due to different cultures and the way of life. 

However, today I am in the land of chopsticks without knowing what to do, -quietinnocent and louche. But, nevertheless I am trying my best and harder everyday to adapt around different foods, people, traffic and culture, etc...

On 8th of June, we had a visit to Korean Folk Village in the outskirts of the Southern end of Seoul City. It's almost one-hour drive from the place where I live (Park Hotel). The guide we have had was amazingly beautiful, rich in history and an out-spoken lady in her early 70's. In fact, ladies of substance in Korea. Throughout the journey, she entertained us in the best of her capacity. She has shared not only the interesting facts but also many difficult times faced by Korea and Korean people from Japan, China, Russia, Vietnam, etc... She even has shared some unwritten and secret history of Korea in the entire journey. I feel lucky in a thousand ways. 


Entrance to Korean Folk Village, Seoul





Beautiful show by Korean Village Girls

Live show by Korean Village boys

Everything went as planned except for –Lunch and Chopsticks.

Time for lunch. We all were seated. I and few other friends have chosen Korean Village Life Style Seat (it is exactly very same like how traditional Bhutanese eat in circle, seated on mat). As we took our table, our guides have served us our individual lunch pack from the canteen. I have Korean Grounded Beef and rice in front of me. Chopstick was the only means of eating our food, no hands (laughs). Although, before we guzzle we were briefed about the chopstick usage but not very useful. We tried our best but only to end up funny and odd. Anyway, we tried and finished all the food served and perhaps, it was memorable in Korean Style(laughs

I don't know about others but after I leave Korea, I have to learn more to eat with chopsticks. It's my personal home assignment I am taking from Korea. Thank you Korea for the chopstick lesson.

My heartfelt request to anyone planning trips to Korea must know how to eat with chopsticks. It's their culture. Every restaurant has chopsticks system. You must give it a try. They would feel happy, proud to see non-Korean eating with Chopsticks. It's simply a matter of practice. 



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