Sol Choi

10/07/13

ESL 100

Final draft

Let’s Ordering in Tonight

Have you ever tried to adapt to new culture? Every country has different culture, For example, food, clothes and even education. Also, as a foreigner, adapting to the new culture is difficult. Since moving to Chicago, I have had the experience of adapting to new culture of food delivery. Korea has a lot of delivery food. It is one part of Korean culture that is open all night. The delivery culture is so important that is seeped into my life. Once I got to Chicago, I realized adapting to America delivery culture was hard for me. The work hour, types of food and tip culture have been different and hard to me to adapt to culture of food delivery.

Chicago has only one kind of food delivery. Before I came to Chicago, I usually enjoy ordering food for my lunch or dinner. I could ever eat sushi at midnight. In Korea, the delivery culture is common and a lot of Koreans like it, because they have varieties of food. For example, they have a sushi, pizza, hamburger even Thai food. However, after I came to Chicago, I couldn’t enjoy ordering, because they have a only pizza. When I came to Chicago for the first time, I couldn’t imagine about delivery food. I thought I can enjoy to ordering at home like in Korea. Moreover, even if I found have a special food that I wanted food, I have to order early because the restaurant usually close at 10pm. It is one of most surprising fact for me, especially for a big metropolis.

Another problem is that if I order food, I have to wait for a long time. In addition, sometimes, when I order, I have to wait at least an hour. Basically, Koreans have a impatient character, and they usually like to rush. For example, in Korea, when I order I only have to wait for20 minutes. Also in Korea, if someone ordering pizza, they can wait for 30 minutes. If the delivery over 30 minute, the customer don’t have to pay for it. It is one of the delivery rules. However, in Chicago, when I was order delivery food at first time, I was surprised about the wait time. I ordered pizza, but I had to wait for an hour. I don’t know why they work slowly, but now I have adapted to the time. On special days, like birthdays or an open house, when I have to order food for friends, I usually order early to ensure the food come on time. 

Finally, I had never experienced tip culture until I came to Chicago. When we order delivery food, in the US, we have to pay delivery fee and food fee. It is at least $3.00 and the price can be higher. In Chicago, the tip culture has seeped into their culture. When I  experienced tip culture at first time, I was confused about it. I didn’t know how much tip to leave. Especially, when I pay for tip I usually pay 20% of tip. If I get a $20 on bill, I have to pay$4 tip. In the US person always pay tips everywhere. Even when I take a taxi, I have to pay tip, Also, pay for tip is difficult to foreigner, actually, in restaurant, before I leave the place i have to pay for tip. Even, if we don’t get any service, but we have to pay the tip. It is most confusing fact to foreign. However, we have to pay tip, when we order delivery food with delivery fee. Sometimes, when we order delivery food, the price is can be higher than visiting the restaurant.

In conclusion, adapting to new culture is difficult. In my experience, when I came to Chicago the first time. I had a hard time adapting delivery methods or culture because it is very different from Korea. The typed delivery food in the US has a delivery food but it is only pizza or Chinese food. Also the work hour is short they usually close until 10pm. At first time, it was surprising to me but the culture has already seeped into my life. All of new culture is difficult in the beginning, but after more time, people who foreign can adapt to the culture easily.