English speaker going to Seoul (and speaking Korean?). . .?

Question

I'm going to Seoul this summer with a Korean friend. We'll be staying with her family for a few weeks. I've been studying Korean for the last eight months, and can speak, read, and write really basic things (greetings, ordering food and drinks, asking how much something is, etc.). I have a few questions and would be really grateful if native Koreans or English speakers in Seoul could answer them.

1) What are nice gifts to take to my friends' parents?
2) How can I be a good houseguest in Korea?
3) Considering that my Korean is really bad, would it be better to try to order food/services in English? My Korean friends say I'm kind of hard to understand because I put the emphasis on the wrong syllables.
4) Any other tips for not offending the people around me? I'm going to stick out anyway, because I'm a tall redheaded Caucasian, but I really want to be a good guest and tourist.

Thanks!

Answer 1

1. Gift -- something slightly expensive that represents where you are from. Make sure it is not something they can get there and it LOOKS expensive.
2. Just smile a lot and do whatever they ask. Eat whatever they give you. That will be enough. If you are happy, they will be happy.
3. Better to try to speak -- they will appreciate it even if they can't understand completely. Try putting the emphasis at on the last syllable of what you are saying. It will work wonders.
4. Unless you are in a reaaaally small town, you won't stick out that much. There are lots of foreigners there now.

Don't worry much, keep your sense of humor and you'll have a great time!