A Note on Personal Space

" Personal space" is something we are accustomed to in the US. We try not to stand too close to others in the elevator, we leave one seat between us and the next couple at the movies, and we teach new drivers to leave a car length between them and the next car. However, this idea of personal space is not the standard in every country.
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Since we've been in Korea, we have been crammed, stuffed, and corralled into some extremely full subway cars. I'm talking so tight you can smell the breath of the person next to you (and he had garlic for lunch!) Here, pushing and shoving are not considered rude but are instead a means of survival in a place where there are too many people for too little space.
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Texas is a land of wide open spaces, giant SUV's, and an appreciation for personal space. For this, I am thankful!