Children

I have never seen so many children as I have in this place. There are children EVERYWHERE. It doesn't matter where I go, or what time it is. Kids get up early and stay up late (thanks to the superstudent education system), so there's no time of day I haven't seen them swarming the streets, restaurants, and stores. Even when I think they're supposed to be in school, they're all over the streets. I still haven't quite figured out the school schedules here.



Before I worked at a school in LA, I would literally go months without seeing a single child. Actually, I think I figured something out from coming here. Angelenos don't actually procreate: they just replenish their massive population by enticing people to move there with eversunny weather and the film industry.



I think the family unit is much stronger here than it is in the US (or at least, where I've lived), so instead of leaving the kids home while they go out, parents take their kids along with them WHEREVER they go. Koreans also work longer hours at school and at their jobs, so they really work hard at relaxation when they have free time. Thus, family field trips.