ONE
Heidi, Holly, Anna, and I took a journey to Yeoungwol to go white water rafting. The trip started at 8am with us riding in the row of four elevated seats at the very back of the bus. We were excited, sharing life, and laughing with joy. At one point the bus pulls over to which Anna says, "Oh wait, why's the bus pulling over?" All of our attention seemed to shift to the shoulder we were pulling onto and then we watched as the bus driver got out of his seat, walked halfway back, pointed at us, through hand gestures told us to be quiet, got back in his seat, and re-began the journey. In the words of Heidi Stromberg, "It's been 15 years since a vehicles been pulled over for my behavior."
TWO
At a crowded museum with the kinder kids and all of Haba in one room, Minseo walked over to me and started saying, "Kara, shit bad. Shit bad. Shit bad." My reaction was to look at the teacher Grace and say, "I promise I didn't teach her that." Unfortunately, my plan to constantly annoy Minseo backfired on me because normally when I don't respond to her it's on purpose so she gets louder and louder. Because I was looking at Grace instead of doing whatever she wanted she started screaming, "KARA, SHIT BAD, SHIT BAD!" I hurriedly tried to hush her and figure out what in the world her problem was. Grace through some Korean conversation with Minseo found out that she was attempting to say, "my shirt won't button will you help me." Unfortunately, for me she knows little English and can't pronounce her 'r's.
THREE
It was Grace's birthday and the kinder kids and I were treating her to the delux party. For her birthday, I had to carry on the subway that morning a cake, four balloons, and a bouquet of flowers. For the school day plans and my after school coffee shop plans I was also carrying my computer, tennis shoes, and an enormously packed purse. At Yaksu station, I know the prime car to ride on to put me right by the only exit escalators. I got off this car and walked to the escalators and had to take up both sides with all my stuff but in my mind I was walking and one of the first on so it shouldn't have been a problem. However, a young Korean guy had other ideas as he ran past and while doing so my long dangling purse strap caught on something of his and I was pulled into an ungraceful fall. Unfortunately, I had the cake box tugged on to my wrist and therefore my hand smashed the cake in the fall and I got to have some Oreo cheesecake covering my hand. One of the four balloons also met an untimely death when in my surprised I opened my hand a bit. I could hear a Korean screaming at the runner--who did not stop--and I felt an ajuma (old Korean) wearing hiking gear help me get up and then she--along with nine others--walked me to a bench. Once I was seated three of the ladies pulled out first aid kids and bandaged up my knees. While the first aid was occurring, one woman was cleaning my cake hand with a wipe. Perhaps, the best lady was wiping my brow in a caressing move in an attempt to comfort me I assume. After all was finished, this lady then escorted me to my subway train (which she did not get on).
FOUR
While at a Korean folk museum in Lotte World, our school hired a tour director to explain to us the museum. I found the whole situation boring as I could understand nothing and had just gone to Suwon folk village which is the same thing but life-size instead of replicas. Minseo and a 3-year-old boy also found the time boring and so they became my responsibility. I was holding the 3-year-old as he refused to walk and I don't speak enough Korean to force him to do so and Minseo was holding my hand (completely by choice which is more surprising than anything else in this story). The 3-year-old was teary-eyed and saying something in Korean to me and since I wasn't understanding Minseo was trying to help by also speaking Korean to me. I was getting frustrated (already in this day the "shit bad" and escalator spill had happened) so I began to smart off in English to both the children as I knew they'd never understand. I believe my responses were to the tune of, "I don't have a clue what's going on this is utterly stupid. Yes, there were naked men with penis' and that was the best part. Shut it children, I'm not understanding you." After my tirade (which I must say I said all with a nice voice so the kiddos wouldn't think I was being mean), I heard a voice from behind: "I know just how you feel." Turns out there was a foreigner behind me the whole time.
Heidi, Holly, Anna, and I took a journey to Yeoungwol to go white water rafting. The trip started at 8am with us riding in the row of four elevated seats at the very back of the bus. We were excited, sharing life, and laughing with joy. At one point the bus pulls over to which Anna says, "Oh wait, why's the bus pulling over?" All of our attention seemed to shift to the shoulder we were pulling onto and then we watched as the bus driver got out of his seat, walked halfway back, pointed at us, through hand gestures told us to be quiet, got back in his seat, and re-began the journey. In the words of Heidi Stromberg, "It's been 15 years since a vehicles been pulled over for my behavior."
TWO
At a crowded museum with the kinder kids and all of Haba in one room, Minseo walked over to me and started saying, "Kara, shit bad. Shit bad. Shit bad." My reaction was to look at the teacher Grace and say, "I promise I didn't teach her that." Unfortunately, my plan to constantly annoy Minseo backfired on me because normally when I don't respond to her it's on purpose so she gets louder and louder. Because I was looking at Grace instead of doing whatever she wanted she started screaming, "KARA, SHIT BAD, SHIT BAD!" I hurriedly tried to hush her and figure out what in the world her problem was. Grace through some Korean conversation with Minseo found out that she was attempting to say, "my shirt won't button will you help me." Unfortunately, for me she knows little English and can't pronounce her 'r's.
THREE
It was Grace's birthday and the kinder kids and I were treating her to the delux party. For her birthday, I had to carry on the subway that morning a cake, four balloons, and a bouquet of flowers. For the school day plans and my after school coffee shop plans I was also carrying my computer, tennis shoes, and an enormously packed purse. At Yaksu station, I know the prime car to ride on to put me right by the only exit escalators. I got off this car and walked to the escalators and had to take up both sides with all my stuff but in my mind I was walking and one of the first on so it shouldn't have been a problem. However, a young Korean guy had other ideas as he ran past and while doing so my long dangling purse strap caught on something of his and I was pulled into an ungraceful fall. Unfortunately, I had the cake box tugged on to my wrist and therefore my hand smashed the cake in the fall and I got to have some Oreo cheesecake covering my hand. One of the four balloons also met an untimely death when in my surprised I opened my hand a bit. I could hear a Korean screaming at the runner--who did not stop--and I felt an ajuma (old Korean) wearing hiking gear help me get up and then she--along with nine others--walked me to a bench. Once I was seated three of the ladies pulled out first aid kids and bandaged up my knees. While the first aid was occurring, one woman was cleaning my cake hand with a wipe. Perhaps, the best lady was wiping my brow in a caressing move in an attempt to comfort me I assume. After all was finished, this lady then escorted me to my subway train (which she did not get on).
FOUR
While at a Korean folk museum in Lotte World, our school hired a tour director to explain to us the museum. I found the whole situation boring as I could understand nothing and had just gone to Suwon folk village which is the same thing but life-size instead of replicas. Minseo and a 3-year-old boy also found the time boring and so they became my responsibility. I was holding the 3-year-old as he refused to walk and I don't speak enough Korean to force him to do so and Minseo was holding my hand (completely by choice which is more surprising than anything else in this story). The 3-year-old was teary-eyed and saying something in Korean to me and since I wasn't understanding Minseo was trying to help by also speaking Korean to me. I was getting frustrated (already in this day the "shit bad" and escalator spill had happened) so I began to smart off in English to both the children as I knew they'd never understand. I believe my responses were to the tune of, "I don't have a clue what's going on this is utterly stupid. Yes, there were naked men with penis' and that was the best part. Shut it children, I'm not understanding you." After my tirade (which I must say I said all with a nice voice so the kiddos wouldn't think I was being mean), I heard a voice from behind: "I know just how you feel." Turns out there was a foreigner behind me the whole time.
Good stories. I'm sorry they had to come from a stressful day!
ReplyDelete