SEOUL, South Korea – The city of Seoul has a population of 10.3 million, much larger than Maine’s 1.3 million.

The hotel rooms exemplify South Koreans’ love of high-tech gadgets, with a digital keypad beside each bed to control everything from the bathroom fan to the digital “Do not disturb” message that appears on a small screen outside every room.

Red Sox hats are visible on the streets of Seoul, and the hotel dining room televised World Series Game 4 live from Colorado during breakfast.

Korean and Japanese culture emphasize hygiene, etiquette and presentation. It is considered impolite to eat or drink while walking in public. When people purchase sodas from a vending machine, they drink and discard the cans before continuing on their way. Gifts as small as fruit are often brought wrapped and decorated colorfully.

When attending a business meeting, it is polite to arrive early and to wear black. Flashy jewelry and brightly colored clothing are discouraged.

English is spoken extensively here, and almost every street sign is written in Korean and English. Many of the stores have English names and some mimic popular foreign brand names. For example, next door to The Body Shop, a chain based in England, is South Korea’s version, The Face Shop. Shoes and purses are some of the most popular wares sold on the streets of Seoul.