In this field note, I will be sharing my observations about how the average Korean child in Seoul lives. Of course, not all children grow up in the same environment or with the same experiences. Hopefully, this will allow you to reflect on your own experience growing up in New York City or elsewhere.
For breakfast, many Korean children eat what we would consider as a hot meal that resembles lunch or dinner more than breakfast. The traditional Korean breakfast always includes a bowl of rice, numerous side dishes (beans sprouts, seaweed, kimchi, other vegetables and meat, etc.) and a soup. Lunch and dinner are similarly hot meals with many plates. It's important to Koreans that adults and kids alike have a variety of foods to eat at every meal.
In Seoul, houses and apartments are similar to those that I've experienced in New York City with a few exceptions. There is a living room, dining room, bedrooms and bathrooms. In many kitchens, you will find a separate refrigerator, just for kimchi. Kimchi smells so sour, and Koreans eat so much of it that they need a special place to store it.
