Uncle Tom McElmeel's email inspired the genesis of the blog, so I am basically going to answer his questions in this...and I'll try to be creative on my own after that.
First of all, no matter what I try to say in korean, nobody seems to even begin to understand me. I even have this supposedly handy dandy Korean phrasebook by Lonely Planet (they're supposed to be good), but it's utterly useless. After I say something, the person just looks confused. So I say it again, and then they still look confused but apologetically confused. Then we both stand there for a few seconds and I come up with the great idea to just point to the phrase in my little book. Then the person is like "ooooh! 주팢ㄷ!!" and then I say "ne, ne, do you speak english??" My Korean is coming along great.
They call Korea the Land of Morning Calm, and I know why. Because morning is before all the young people start playing their computer games in all the internet cafes. Yesterday afternoon I ventured out to find one and thought I had stepped into a video arcade at first -- or a war zone. I actually left, thinking that I was in the wrong place...but the next three that I went to were the same story, so I finally stayed. But it was so loud, I could not even think straight. Now it is morning, and it is calm. And that is why they call Korea the Land of the Morning Calm.
The other teacher I flew here with has basically nothing and I brought a lot, so I will try to pawn some stuff off on her. Start making some won right away, you know. I can already tell that I will be a successful and prosperous Korean!
I have not had any kimchee by choice yet, but they had put some in my little kimbap the other day so I was forced to eat it. They also bring a little bowl of it to the table wherever you go, but I pretend not to see it. But who wants to eat cold, mushy, spicy cabbage? Not I, said the fly.
Well I better run; the morning calm ends at 11 (15 mins!), at which time the kids come in armed with their won ready to let the bullets fly.
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1 comment:
yay i love your blog! it brightened my morning. that's cool you are trying to speak korean. i bet you are fluent in a month. i'd be jealous. this comment thing is in german so i am going to press the blue button which i think is submit...keep up your travel blogging hilarity! love you!
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