Top 6 reasons you know you are a pampered Canadian

With the three month mark on the horizon, and Christmas just around the corner, we've been feeling the loss of the many comforts we left behind when we moved to Korea. Having only each other to complain to we thought that we would unburden our sorrows on you. So here's a list of the top six things we miss most about Canada. Yes, I know that a better number would have been five or ten, but this is Korea and things work a bit differently here.

Number 6: Bath Towels

Back in Canada I guess we were used to the over-abundance of terry cloth, and lavishly swathing ourselves in over-sized towels after every bath or shower. When we arrived in Korea, however, we were provided with bath towels that would barely pass for hand towels back at home. Perhaps this is due to the scarcity of Korean cotton, or perhaps Koreans are simply more utilitarian than Westerners, but we have nevertheless been thankful for the two full-sized bath towels we carted with us across the Pacific.

(Shayne trying to wrap himself in a Korean bath towel. Shayne wanted the shot to be more realistic and go au naturel, but I prevailed. You're welcome.)

Number 5: Candy

We've received a couple of care packages since arriving (props to our respective mom's), and among the more coveted items has been the candy and junk food that we just can't get over here. Pictured above is one of these items: a package of licorice. Of course, since getting this package, it's been all I can do to prevent Shayne from eating them all in one sitting. The result has been a strict rationing, and me doing guard duty whenever Shayne's unsupervised.

(Sometimes even the thread of a plastic BB pellet to the head doesn't stop him)

Number 4: Sidewalks

While this picture is a particularly harsh example, one thing we have found living in Korea is that you can't really enjoy the scenery while taking a walk around town. Well, you can, but only if you're prepared to risk tripping over loose paving stones and cracked concrete, or falling down perilously graded driveways.


Number 3: Running Water

Okay, we do have running water per se. It's true that water runs to taps in our apartment, but how exactly it arrives there, and how useable it is when it gets there is a completely different story.

Meet our kitchen faucet. He looks a little sad and beaten up, and well, the picture doesn't lie. He provides us with a steady stream of water at the rate of about 2 cups per minute. Also he's either cold or scalding hot, nothing in between. When the hot water's on, we have to cart cold water in a jug from a tap in the bathroom whenever we do dishes (thankfully not often). Yes, running water indeed. This is in no means indicative of Korea as a whole but since our apartment is Korea for us, it's on the list.

Oh yes, and I forgot the best part. We cannot drink it. Whenever we're thirsty, cook, or brush our teeth, we use distilled water from our water cooler. Oh Canada, how I miss you.


Number 2: Milk

We never really considered this before we left Canada, but dairy products are fairly new on the Korean scene. Above is the only brand of milk we have found here that isn't full-fat. Really, we have no idea what the percentage of milk fat is, but we've put our faith in it for the sake of morning tea and breakfast cereal. Also, today we heard about some strange skin disease that doctors say comes from milk, so now we're wondering if it's even being pasteurized. Well, we're not giving milk up no matter how shady it might be, so if we end up dying of some strange skin malady, you'll know why.


Number 1: Rice

Yes, that's right. The number one thing we miss about Canada is rice. In Canada's grocery stores you can get long grain, medium grain, basmati, jasmine, sticky, black, and wild rice. In Korea you can get sticky rice. Only sticky rice. While it in no way tastes bad, you just can't make the fluffy rice dishes from back home, and it was the last thing we expected to be lacking here. A lack of rice...in Korea...where it's considered blasphemy to go two meals without eating it. Apparently Koreans just don't like any other type of rice.

(Me holding a few grains of Korea's staple)

Well there you have it, the things we miss most about Canada. I suppose it could be a lot worse and we could be saying we miss electricity, flush toilets, or worse yet, English TV shows. Despite the superficiality of our complaints, however, one thing is guaranteed: When we come back home we will definitely appreciate life in Canada more.

Until then,
Jo