Will South Korea start influence American baby?

Jon Rabiroff's wife and son, right, pose with women in traditional Korean attire during a recent visit to Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul. Rabiroff, a Korea Times copy editor, wonders whether the fact that his son has spent the first nine months of his life in South Korea will have any impact on his personality and habits after the family moves to the U.S. in the near future.

By Jon Rabiroff

For the nine months since his birth, my American baby boy has been exposed to the best and most unique things about South Korea, and in a couple of weeks we will be moving to the U.S. where, presumably, my son will live the rest of his life.

So I wonder what, if any, impact his time in Seoul will have on his character, perspective and habits as he grows into a young man?

Will he take with him some of the more interesting habits of the locals which, while perfectly normal in South Korea, might seen unusual to Americans?

For example, will be force his way into elevators and subway cars before those inside have gotten a chance to get out?

Will he start eating out of other people’s bowls at restaurants?

Will he instinctively take his shoes off in doorways, bow when he greets people and hold his wrist with one hand as he hands people things with the other?

And, will he eschew bottles of wine or flowers, and instead show up at holiday gatherings bearing large quantities of Spam as gifts?

Or will my 9-month-old grow up practicing some of the best things he has seen, heard and experienced while in South Korea?

Will he give his seat up on public transportation for those less agile, and go the extra mile to make visitors feel welcome?

Will he treat his elders with an abundance of respect, and the children of others with the warmth you would expect from a member of one’s extended family?

And, will he live life to its fullest no matter what outside pressures he might face, much like South Koreans have managed to do for decades despite the constant concern that North Korea might someday finally act on its threats to turn Seoul into a “sea of fire.”

Obviously, at this point, there is no way of knowing if my son has picked up any Korean tendencies.

Yes, he does not wear shoes inside, but that’s only because he is not yet walking so footwear would be strictly ornamental. And, while he does bow to his elders, it is only as he loses his balance when he sits up or tries to kneel.

Whether or not my son remembers anything from his time in South Korea, I am going to make a point of reminding him from time to time as he grows up about how amazingly well he was treated by the people here ― something I am not so sure will be the case when we get to the U.S.

At his Korean-run daycare, my boy was welcomed every day like a member of the family. On subways, virtually everyone we sat near tried to engage my son by waving, making funny faces or producing that odd clicking sound with their mouths.

But, by far, the highlight of my family’s time in Seoul has been when my wife and I have taken advantage of the nice weather to have a beer or a meal sitting outside bars or restaurants, and dozens of the Korean passersby have treated our baby like some kind of rock star ― squealing and pointing at him, coming over to lavish praise upon him and asking to have their photos taken with the boy.

After living here for more than six years, it has been great to see South Korea as something more than a place where people work hard ― perhaps too hard ― in school and at their jobs to get ahead and contribute to the country’s astonishing rise from the ashes of the Korean War into one of the world’s leading economies.

By looking at things through the eyes of my baby boy, I saw the best of South Korea, where it seems most believe that it takes more than a village to raise a child; it takes an entire society.

I will never forget the kindness shown to my son, and he will grow up being proud to tell anyone who asks that, while he is 100-percent American, a piece of his heart will always belong to South Korea.

Jon Rabiroff is a copy editor at The Korea Times who has written an occasional column about being a first-time father at the age of 55.