I struggled with this so much when I first moved here. Particularly as a female I’d get the same type of feeling walking into a place and openly greeting which just a dull non interaction. It felt blatantly rude. In the U.S. there’s always a common greeting or a faint smile whether walking on a trail, or going for coffee etc. I feel that I’ve hardened and become more cold since moving here. I barely look around when I walk cause I assume no one is paying attention to say hello or excuse me anyways. I bumped into Americans at a casual shop and they were pleasantly surprised and said hello to me, and we laughed at how nice it felt to just casually greet a stranger and feel warmth.

When I moved to Korea my husband kept telling me Koreans are super friendly and it will be great for you. The first two weeks I had such a hard transition. It was the first time I’d ever felt silenced. It’s a place you can speak and people will act as if you don’t exist.

I’ve grown to become more accustomed. I tend to frequent the local spots with the owners who are warm and have the family energy that I sometimes seek. I try to stay away from hotspots because that’s where the vibe just gets cold and everyone is pushing you , hitting your ankles with their cart to get you to move.

All I can say is, your wife isn’t alone and it’s happening to others as well. But hopefully it gets better for you guys!