Stuff That's Different

Traffic lights are horizontal.

Pedestrian lights are green and red, not white and red.

Red lights do not command the same respect here that they do in North America. I have seen a number of blatant running of red lights.

Almost everything makes noise. Buttons make weird noises, doors talk to you when you open them.

Many apartment and building doors are opened by entering a combination on a keypad.
I was just given the keys to my apartment today, so I guess my building isn't posh enough for a keypad.

Red pepper is almost the only spice they use here.

They say "kimchi" instead of "cheese" when smiling for a picture. Kimchi is pickled cabbage, seasoned with red pepper (surprise). It is the national food.

There is no distinction regarding what kind of food is served at what meal. Kimchi and rice are served with every meal, along with several side dishes that everyone shares.

Children go to school from about 9-2:30, but then they have a whole series of extra schooling in English, Tae Kwon Do, and other subjects I haven't found out about yet. They spend almost all their time on education. They stay up until midnight doing homework, and have very little time for play.

Consequently, children are spoiled before entering school and do very little work in college (so I hear).

Homes are heated through a system of pipes that run under the floors. Hot water runs through the pipes and makes the floor warm, then the heat rises. I recently found out that this water can't heat the house and come out of the shower at the same time. You have to switch it on the thermostat.