Having a Korean dinner is the first step in approaching Korean culture.

The proper table manner represents one’s family education and personal attitude. There are several important table manners to follow when eating in Korea.

According to Korean culture, the role of elders is very important. Initially, at the table, the eldest person present begins eating first, and then you follow them.

Also, you should remain until the eldest person has finished eating even though you have finished already.

During the entire dinner time, a conversation at the table is free.

While having a meal, chat about daily life at will; however, you ought to listen to the grandfather or elder people when they want to speak to you.

Even though you do not agree with elder people’s advice, you might as well answer ?Yes? very shortly when they ask you to do something.

In the meantime, you are not allowed to provide your opposite opinion or criticize their opinion. If you do so, that is considered as a rude, poorly educated family behavior.

In addition, you’d better avoid gossiping or talking about sordid topics such as feces and pornography. Usually, everybody is busy giving compliments or encouraging each other in this time.

Some people are reluctant to leave their comfort zone where they can speak mother tongue or talk to their family. However, nowadays, why are many foreign students leaving their comfort zone, and coming to the USA  for study?  Although studying abroad  usually causes culture shocks, some aspiring students who passed the adjustment period can improve their lives because they can learn another culture and language effectively; moreover, they can make friends world-wide.  Especially, in this article, a Chinese journalist, Liu Zongren, who spent two years living and studying in Chicago will be criticized.

The Chinese student, liu, is experiencing culture shock. Because of this displeasure experience he almost gives up and goes back to China although later he decides to  study.  According to W curve  of the adjustment process, he has just entered initial adjustment stage.

W curve: Beyond Language by D. Levine and M. Adelmm, PP. 198-199, Prentics-Hall, inc., 1982.

Lie describes in detail culture shock in American home and school.  He missed his wife and child and feels depressed.  For instance, some energetic, merry young American students provoke his to have generation gap and cause extreme homesickness and grief.  Also, one day, he is, tempted to speak out in class.  Unfortunately,  his question is ignored by his professor.  Liu is furious at being treated so shabbily by American professor.  Therefore, he is frustrated the host culture.  This culture shock is common to who left home country.  For me, honeymoon stage was very long.  Everything is new and exciting.  In particular, Disney Land captured my mind.  I was font of huge land, romantic beaches and sweet, affectionate people.  After two months,  I was experiencing homesickness and was think of what each of family members are doing at this hour.  Sometimes, I was dreaming that I was still in Korea with my family. 

Even though studying abroad will induce culture shock, there are a number of foreign students overcome it and accomplishes their dream in the USA.  According to Liu, the passes culture shock and penetrates initial adjustment period. He feels hopefulness and have ability to perform well with his country’s people.  Although he is still missing ?back home,? feeling somewhat connected to people in new culture.  Despite his new adjustment which makes his much more comfortable that before, he realizes where he would find the chance to speck English when leaving Mcknights’ home.  That is true.  He gave up his good opportunity to learn English and host culture because missing his comfort zone.  On the country, many foreign students who has their strong aim and wants to learn host culture spontaneously are trying to involve  American meeting, find American friends instead of looking for home country’s people. For example, when I came to Unites States at first, I was very ambitious to achieve my goal.  Fortunately, I met someone who was eager to learn new culture.   As the result,   we was had a opportunity to spoken each other in English although we were same nationality.  Whenever I had I chance to meet American I had never hesitated.  Moreover, I could have American host family who have taught American culture  and helped me like my parents.  For me, it took six months to adjust a new culture due to my enterprising behavior and many host country’s people.  

There are another advantages as well as achieving   one’s goal.  One can learn new culture, language and make friends from another country.  As Liu admitted that the language used in daily life was quite different form that used in books, many phrases used in daily conversation can be learned only trough exposure to an situation in which native speakers speak one constantly.  According to recent studies, one who lives with host country’s family can receive more input form native speaker than one who lives oneself  or with home country’s people do.   In addition, culture such as proper manners or body languages is taken for granted by the person in his own country, so it is required to learn if he goes overseas.  For example, when one wave hand, it implies homosexual in the USA while it indicates summons n Korea.  Moreover, the biggest merit of studying abroad is giving a chance to make friends world-wild.  Thus, one can learn their culture and establish a deep friendship step by step.

Life is challenge!   For Liu, studying abroad brought his travail culture shock; nevertheless, it help students make better lives since they can learn a new culture, and language; besides, they can make various international friends.

How to use the tableware also is a confusing part for foreigners.

Pick up the spoon at first because Koreans like to have jjigae (meat, fish, vegetable and bean curd stew) for almost every dinner. The basic daily foods in Korean families are rice, a variety of kimchi, meat soup, broiled fish along with soy sauce, red pepper paste and bean paste, bulgogi(roast meat); however, jjigae represents the cooking skill of the hostess. It is very important; therefore, to taste jjigae first as a guest in order to be courteous even if the taste is terrible.

After tasting jjigae, eat your meal as you want. When you first taste jjigae, say ?Who made it? It’s really good flavor? with satisfied smile. If you ask her for the second serving the hostess will be very happy.

As for dining utensils, the spoon and the chopsticks are picked up with the right hand. Also, chopsticks should not be left in the rice or soup bowl during or after the meal. Next, the rice or soup bowl ought not to be held in hands while eating, unlike in Japan. In addition, you should not tear food into pieces using your fingers. If you want to cut up food, ask the hostess for scissors instead of a knife. Besides, you must not take a bite from a piece and return it to the serving dish. Also, your left and right arms should not be placed on table while eating.

Even though Korean table manners are complicate, they represent an essential value of Korean. The respect for senior people and being on time are the main concern for Korean people. If you keep these manners, you can be treated as a polite person at the table in Korea.