Shoes and "water closets"

Not having a car has unexpected consequences. I thought that it would be fun to take public transportation and be a cool, city girl! I pictured myself wearing adorable but relaxed outfits, sipping coffee, swiping my subway card, and stomping away like a model. These are the types of shoes I thought I would wear. They are cute, moderately comfortable, and neutral enough to compliment many looks. Well, that's not how it has actually turned out. I don't know how Koreans do it, because I see some women wearing every uncomfortable footwear from high heels to flat sandals with no arch support.

These are the shoes I actually wear 90% of the time. Since we don't have a car, we have to walk or bike everywhere! Even taking public transportation doesn't help because there is so much walking to and from the station. I don't want to complain, but I arrive everywhere with hurting feet, frizzy hair, and a blushed complexion. Don't get me wrong, I really love biking and I know that the exercise is really good for me! But is it wrong to want to look cute?

And now, introducing the worst shoes ever to be worn in Korea. I made the mistake of wearing these to church when we visited Seong's extended family. They look nice, right? These are the same ones we bought for our bridesmaids at the big wedding. The straps are interchangeable, so they are really versatile! The reason they were such a bad idea in Korea is that Koreans take off their shoes a lot! You can never wear your shoes in the house and some restaurants are "no shoes and sit on the floor" type places. The entryway is actually lower than rest of the apartment or restaurant and you leave your shoes on the lower part. We visited multiple apartments of family members and each time I had to pause on my way in to bend over and untie these lovely sandals. Then on the way out I had to hold up the entire procession of family to bend over and retie. It was such a hassle and embarrassment!

Lesson learned: if you come to Korea, invest in comfy slip-ons!

These shoes are public slippers found in the bathroom of a "sit on the floor" restaurant. Apparently, the floor may be slippery, so you should wear these so you don't slip! Family bathrooms in Korean apartments may also have a pair of plastic slippers. Did you know that some Korean family bathrooms don't have shower curtains? When they take showers, the whole bathroom gets wet, which Seong explained to me makes it easier to clean. The problem is that the whole bathroom gets wet! Hence, the communal slippers.

Speaking of bathrooms, you have to watch out for public bathrooms. I have found that they are mostly clean, but you have to make sure you don't end up in one of the stalls on the right. Yup, that's a hole on the floor that looks like a urinal and yup, it's for squatting! Luckily, there is usually a an icon on the stall door indicating which kind of "water closet" it is.

I have also been to one bathroom where you are supposed to get your toilet paper from one roll outside the stalls and bring it into the stall with you. Interesting, to say the least!