#6

Here we go. I have been in Korea for over a month. It seems like such a crazy thing to say. Mainly, because a month is a decent amount of time, but I still do not feel like this is where I am really living. It feels more like an extended vacation, where I work and pay the bills. That is no vacation now that I think of it.

Stories are fun and so are pictures. I would like to share one story that makes me laugh every time I recall it. This story is entirely true, and it shows me that I am indeed a foreigner.

Once upon a time, I was heading back from church. It was around 8:00 pm. The subway trip is about an hour back to my apartment, and it is one that I am completely sure of the way.

As I make my way down the stairs at the subway station, I begin to look at a map out of pure curiosity. And so it began, a man in his late 50s approached me. It was evident that he thought I was lost and needed help. Which was so kind. This was our conversation in very broken English.

Man: “Where you from?”

Me: “Oh hello, I am from America?”

Man: “Where in America?”

Me: “Minneapolis, Minnesota”

Man: “I don’t know there, closer city?”

Me: “It is near Chicago.”

Man: “Oh I have brother there!”

Me: “That is great.”

Man: “But he is dead.”

Me: “I’m so sorry.”

Man: “How long you be in Korea?”

Me: “About one month!”

Man: “You speak Korean?”

Me: “A little, I start my Korean class tomorrow.”

Man: “So, you no speak Korean?”

Me: “Not yet, but I start a class soon.”

short pause

Man: “Where you going?”

Knowing I should never give my address to strangers, I said a station a stop down from my place.

Me: “Jeongga.”

Man: “Oh, Jeongga. Okay okay. I help you.”

Me: “Oh. Okay. Sure!”

He then proceeds to point at the map and shows me the way I should go home. He then shares how he will accompany me to my first transfer. I couldn’t say no. The subway pulls up, and we enter. In Korea, there is a section in the front and the back of each subway car reserved for the elderly and pregnant women. This man asks me to come sit in this section.

Me: “No, that is okay. I can sit here.”

Man: “No, come sit here.”

Wanting to be respectful. I do as he said. I sit in the section clearly not reserved for me.

Man: “How old are you?”

Me: “I am 22.” (why did I tell him my age?)

Man: “You married?”

Me: “No I am not.”

Man: “You have boyfriend?”

Me: “Yes, I do!” (I do? I thought to myself.)

Man: “Ohh, he Korean boy?”

I thought, he’s neither Korean nor American. He’s not even real.

Me: “No, he is American.”

Man: “Ohhh, he live in Korea.”

Me: “Yes, he lives in Sunae.” (This is a stop close to my station.)

Man: “When you marry him?”

Me: “Oh maybe 1 or 2 years.”

Man: “Maybe?” (He said it as if there was a possibility that we wouldn’t get married.)

Me: “Actually we will get married next year.”

Man: “Ohhhh, okay.”

Me: “Yes.” (Liar, liar pants on fire.)

long pause…

Man: “Okay this is your stop”

Me: “Thank you!”

Man reaches to shake my hand.

Man: “I am your Korean lover.”

Me: “I’m sorry, what?”

Man: “I am your Korean lover.”

Me: ... (no words come out of my mouth)

I do appreciate this mans kindness. However, his proclamation to be my lover will not be accepted. I am clearly getting married to an imaginary boy in Sunae.

Much love,

Reebster

Tea time!

We checked out this neat tea house. The picture of tea house name is actually what it is called. At this tea house, you can decorate a napkin and hang it up on a wall.

What's a hike without exercise equipment along the way?

Baseball in the park! So much fun to watch these little champs.

Apples are super expensive here. The top apples are about $12.50...for 3 apples.

In a subway station.

There are fruitstands galore here!

This picture is old. I recently had 2 students added. Yes, 3 + 2 = 5. I have 5 sweet and sassy kids.