Philippines - Culture Shock

My 5 months in South Korea has been great and I have met a lot of great people. What I have realized about Korea, and this is only my opinion, is that people mostly want to mind their own business and they won't see or hear you. They have isolated themselves from their surroundings and are not really interested in getting to know new people. I feel that this is something that South Korea and Finland has in common. Minding our own business, but there is still a lot of stalking and gossiping. I feel that both countries population has a fear of walking up to a stranger and just say a simple hello. Eye contact is also rare in both Korea and Finland. Of course, people look but they won't look you in the eye or make you realize that they are watching you. In my opinion, it's easy to feel invisible in both countries, especially in Seoul and Helsinki.

I had totally forgot the fact that there is people in this world who wants to know everything about you and has interest to talk to you. In the Philippines, everyone will greet you and pay attention to you. This came as a shock to me, after has lived in Seoul for a while. I prefer the philippine way of living their life, being happy and friendly. Even young kids will run towards you and say "Hello, whats your name?". These kids are 4-8 years old and they seem to have better english skills than grown up koreans.

Just to end this, and also something that came as a little shock. Wherever I go, whatever I do, whoever I speak to, they always call me Mam one hundred times in each conversation. I mean I don't mind, but after a while its a bit too much, like "Hello mam, can I help you mam, how are you today mam, anything else mam, are you sure mam, that would be 150pesos mam". Mam this and mam that. I think it's funny though!

Something that the Philippines and Korea has in common, is that they both are obsessed with whitening products. I assume that this is something that is popular all over asia, but since I'm from a country with plenty of pale people, these products are new to me. In Finland, the more tanned you are, the more appealing you look. On the other side of the world, a white pale skin with pink chins is beautiful.