Questions we might be asked and what it all means

Today in one of my lectures, I learned some super interesting stuff about the Korean culture. The speaker, a native Korean who spoke impeccable English, told us about questions that we will undoubtedly be asked during our time here; phrases that could be perceived as impolite or come off as totally confusing. For example, when I was in England and everyone said "Are you alright?" as a greeting, I thought for the first couple of months that I must look seriously depressed or sick for people to keep asking me that question. Come to find it simply meant "How are you?"
Anyway, so the Korean (sort of) equivalent of that are:
1. Have you eaten?
2. How old are you?
3. Where are you going?
4. You know how to use chopsticks?

1. Koreans apparently will ask this question either because they genuinely want to know that you are eating and not starving in a foreign country, or they will ask it merely to say something. They won't necessarily be interested in what you are or are not eating; rather, it's just another type of greeting.

2. The age thing is very interesting to me. In Korean culture, your age determines where you fall in the hierarchy of interaction. If you are older than someone that means you are permitted to give them advice and act generally sage-like. You take on the role of authority and strength. On the other hand, if you are younger than someone, you take on the role of a weakling or someone in need of advice and counsel. Every person in Korea plays both of these roles--as an authority, and as a subordinate. We were told that if no one asks our age during our entire time in Korea, that is a bad sign; it means we haven't been invited into the inner circle of Korean life.

3. As with "Have you eaten?", "Where are you going?" is also asked to just say something when at a loss for words. It's perfectly acceptable to not tell the person or respond with "Yes, it's true, I am going somewhere."

4. This is apparently said with complete sincerity and disbelief. It seems that many Koreans do not realize that (some) Americans have been introduced to chopsticks and that we are able to use them. So, if we are met with this question, we should not take it as insincere flattery, but rather as an honest question that is backed with a bit of happy surprise.

So, that's some of what I learned today, amongst many other things: Japan and Korea's fraught relationship; North and South Korea's equally--if not more--fraught relationship; Comfort Women (check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_women); and the tug of war for Dokdo Island.

I feel like I'm overflowing with new knowledge. It's awesome. Tonight is our (Joe is coming along) first Korean language lesson! Yay!