Why didn't we think of that?

I have been living here for almost a year now (in August) and I have been able to see some pretty unique things. This post is going to be about those unique things, that I have never seen before and things that America should do too. 

By now you all should know that I love lists, so here is my list:

1. Lockers: I do a lot of traveling here, so whenever I go out on the weekends I have to carry my backpack and all of my bulky things around with me. It is not very fun having to carry your luggage around with you when you want to go shopping, watch a movie, go to church… etc, you get my point? Now this is where Korea is so smart. They have lockers in bus, train, and subway stations, and shopping malls. All you have to do is pay about $1.20 and you now are free as a bird not having to worry about carrying your things around. Sounds good to me!

2.Escalators: Ok, you are probably thinking, Justine we already have escalators that is nothing new. Yes, but here in Korea they have escalators for their shoppings carts. A lot of their department stores have multiple floors so without having to find the elevator and going up that way you can now just use the escalator. So convenient!

3. Call buttons: This is also a very convenient invention. When you are at a restaurant instead of calling across the room, waiting forever to make eye contact or waving your hands in the air to get the waiters attention you can just press the call button that is on every table in the restaurant. Quick service, that is what I like.

4. Electronic Bus Cards- Instead of having to insert your coins and bills or having to show the bus driver your bus pass, over here in Korea we have electronic bus passes. You just upload your card with money and swipe it when you get on the bus and you are set. So simple.

5. Extra Cell Phone Batteries- When you buy a phone here in Korea, you automatically (for free) get an extra battery with a case that you can recharge. So no more worrying if you are going to run out of battery because you can now have a backup at all times.

Things that really should not be done:

1. Korea likes to overpack everything. Especially when you go to a fast food restaurant for take out. They individually pack each item. If you ordered a burger meal, you will get a burger wrapped in paper and and in it's own plastic bag. French fries in a paper bag and put in a plastic bag and then your drink with tape across the lid and you guessed it it's own plastic bag… and wait there is more. All of your individual items are then placed into a bigger plastic bag so you can carry it to your destination. Oh man, what a waste of plastic.

2. Trash cans. There is no trash cans on the street so what do people do? Throw it on the ground of course. People would probably throw trash on the ground even when there was a garbage but at least there was no more excuse for them right?

So to sum it all up, Korea is pretty cool and sometimes I think to myself, " Why didn't we think of that?". ^^