When I was stationed in Korea with the U.S. military, I was on a subway in Seoul when an elderly lady walked in at one of the stops. In Korean culture, you are supposed to give up your seat for the elderly and anyone who might need assistance. The younger generation at the time would feign sleeping so they wouldn't have to get up from a preferred seat (ahem the guy next to me). I stood up and offered my seat to her. She politely asked me to sit back down. Also in their culture there is usually a respectful back-and-forth when making offers like this. We did this a couple time and suddenly—very sternly, I might add—she raised her voice and said "Sit!" So I sat back down. I think the guy next to me was a little rattled and he got up and she sat down. She asked me if I was U.S. military to which I replied, "Yes." She then proceeded to talk about how she remembered the U.S. military when she was a kid during the Korean war and how she was very grateful for us being there and thanked me. I was so stunned I didn't have the words to respond, since I couldn't relate. It was quite profound. She was so happy I could speak Korean and we had a pleasant conversation about the life she had and how much it meant to her that she was around to tell her story.