Visiting Seoul is both familiar and foreign experience for me. Below are some things that made me feel like a foreigner and a local at the same time.

On restaurants

Most restaurants have a bell on the table so that you can holler at the waiter or waitress whenever you need. Along with the friendly bell, there’s also a water pitcher, a utensil box and tissue box on the table so that you can help yourself. There’s something very efficient and smart about the process, but also lacked the level of anticipatory service that I was used to.

Franchising is a huge business in Korea, with almost 4,000 food brand franchises that are in business. Because they are so big, I feel the extra need to avoid at all costs, but I end up going to them because food is reliable and they are convenient.

My husband and I went to Paris Baguette every single day because of their coffee and breakfast bread choices. Nothing was good and bad. A total middle of the road type of place.Read More »