It was suggested by someone that I should point out some of the ways that living in Korea is different than living in the United States. Here are a few things that I recognize right away.
First fast food here is much different than that in the US. Korea has McDonalds with the Big Mac and Burger King still has the Whopper, that's not what I am talking about. The difference is that here in Korea, fast food really is fast.
In the states if the que at Burger King had three people in it, I knew that I could count on at least 5 minutes before I would be able to place my order. After that it could be as long as ten minutes before my product is thrown carelessly together and dumpped on a tray. If there is more than five people I just leave the restruant.
At almost any fast food franchise in the states you must specify that you want the product to be made fresh if that's the way you want it. I know that's not what thier operations manuals say, but if you have eaten at any of these establishments you know it's not what the book says but what the staff does that matters. If you want fresh product, asking for it that way increases your chances even if it's not by much.
In Korea it is much different. At Burger King at Coex Mall for instance I have seen more than 40 people in the que but was so desperate for some american food I decided to wait the hour or more that kind of line would mean in the states. With the language barrior what it is I did not specify fresh, I was willing to take whatever ended up on my tray. Not even five minutes after entering the que a Whopper with Cheese was carefully presented neatly placed on a tray with french fries, drink and two napkins.
The cashier had been polite, I am not sure what she said but I doubt it was the Korean version of "What do you want." because she did not seem sassy at all. I got the sincere feeling that these people wanted me to be in thier store. As a matter two of the people who were cleaning the dinning room had both taken a moment to welcome us to the store.
One problem we did have is that the typical american restraunt has an abandoned dining room. That's not the case with the Korean version. But we only waited about a minute before one of the people cleaning the tables led us to a spot that was going to be empty and cleaned it off for us.
Now the big kicker, the food was hot, fresh and made exactly like a by the book Whopper should be. The french fries were right out of the fryers and perfectly salted. The coke even tasted better and I don't even like Coke. I was amazed by this one occurance but what is even more amazing is that every time I eat at Burger King I get exactly the same outstanding service, the sandwhichs are alway hot and fresh, made by the book and as I said the food is Fast.