Korean elder buying food relationships
I think that the dynamic of relationships are interesting in Korea. For example, I recently went to go get Cellar with Seong Hye Teacher and Angella. When we arrived, our teacher insisted that she paid for our meal. Though I insisted back to her that I would pay for her meal because it was her first time, she refused. She explained that as the oldest of us three, it was her duty to take care of us and treat us. I thought this was a novel concept because this relationship dynamic around age does not exist as much in the USA.
I think that as both Korean and American, it is a challenge for me to pick which side to go with. In the USA, it is polite that if a friend buys you a meal, you also reciprocate by buying the next meal. However, I wonder if this dynamic in Korea is not the same way in different age relationships.
Despite this internal conflict, I overall appreciate Seong Hye Teacher’s gestures because it showed us that she wanted to take care of us. I think that this experience taught me more about how to handle social settings in these circumstances. Though my American instincts may feel the urge to insist that I pay, it is also important to respect the other individual’s cultural values. I appreciate my friendship and teacher-student relationship with Seong Hye Teacher, and I want to respect and learn further about the dynamics age brings to a social relationship.
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