# Strewth mate, it's good to be home **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341 "2010-01-10T00:57:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/1 "2010-01-10T00:57:27Z")
I spent 2009 living in South Korea. During my time there I noticed that there is no evidence of crime or anti-social behavior. There is no graffiti at all. I saw no evidence of road rage or any sort of aggressive behavior. I was never tailgated while driving. People in Korea walk the streets at any time of night without having to worry about being attacked. It is a very safe, civil society. I returned home to Australia on December 14th. I was tailgated on my first day home and every single time I have driven since. Suburban Sydney is riddled with graffiti vandalism. And last Wednesday, 23 days after arriving home I witnessed a random assault in a hamburger restaurant. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, oi, oi! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/2 "2010-01-10T01:09:14Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/3 "2010-01-10T01:29:01Z")
Just demonstrates the tranquilizing effect of kimchi. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/4 "2010-01-10T01:32:54Z")
‘Tranquilizing’ effect of kimchi? _‘Tranquilizing’?!!_ I think the Koreans are still recovering from it, and when they’re done, watch out! ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/5 "2010-01-10T02:32:16Z")
No matter where you go, you can find at least one upside and at least several downsides. ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/6 "2010-01-10T03:52:52Z")
It’s mainly Sydney. I’m relatively new to Sydney and the first thing I noticed is how polluted it is and how rude and aggressive people are compared to other parts of Australia. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/7 "2010-01-13T03:58:14Z")
> [@mecaenas](#): > > It’s mainly Sydney. I’m relatively new to Sydney and the first thing I noticed is how polluted it is and how rude and aggressive people are compared to other parts of Australia. That could be. Sydney is the only place in Australia I have lived, so I can’t compare. ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/8 "2010-01-13T04:27:00Z")
Canberra’s nice. That’s right, I said it. Don’t make fun of me! I like Canberra! Cleaner, safer and better looking than Sydney by a mile. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/9 "2010-01-13T05:22:54Z")
I changed planes in Seoul once, and the airport was creepily quiet. It was crowded, but everyone seemed to be walking along silently or speaking quietly amongst themselves. The main source of noise was the scuffing of shoes on the tile. It really freaked me out. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/10 "2010-01-13T07:12:40Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I changed planes in Seoul once, and the airport was creepily quiet. It was crowded, but everyone seemed to be walking along silently or speaking quietly amongst themselves. The main source of noise was the scuffing of shoes on the tile. It really freaked me out. That isn’t typical of Koreans. They tend to be loud talkers, especially the middle-aged men. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strewth-mate-its-good-to-be-home/524341/11 "2010-01-13T18:25:41Z")
I had just completed a 13.5-hour flight preceded by a 5-hour flight, so maybe I was in a fugue state. Sure seems like I remember foot-shuffling and muted whispers.