Pink…and Korea… March 28, 2008

One of the first things I noticed when I came to South Korea, was the prevalence of the colour pink.

Pink is my favorite colour.  When I wear pink, I instantly feel happy.  But shopping for pink last summer was hard because pink went out of fashion.

So to see all this pink on girls, boys, men, women, is amazing.  Obviously I am unable to purchase anything pink here to wear because God has blessed me with a western sized chest and butt.   Still, the stationary, the pens,  its all so wonderful to me.  I think everyone needs a little pink in their life.

So tonight, when I am wearing pink, I will have a bright smile.   And hopefully will make those around me smile as well.  Its friday, time for a laugh or two.

Tonight..I’m going out… March 28, 2008

this is a shoutout..to let you know I am doing what most foreigners are doing,…..going out for a drink or five..and I’ll be wearing pink.  If you see me, say hello :)  Scavenger hunt of people…what a novel idea.  Can’t tell you where I am or what I look like..that would spoil the fun.  Look for a whole blog about pink later today.

Providing entertainment on the subway part 2 March 27, 2008

About a month ago,  I was travelling on the subway and there was a man sleeping on a whole subway bench except for enough spaace for me to sit by his feet.  NOw by western standards this would be considered rude, especially during busy periods where there are not enough seats.   I am not expert enough about Korean standards.  But as the subway filled up, and looking at their faces, I could see at least annoyance at this man.  

So…I decided to induce some humor into the situation.  What did I do?

First, I made eye contact with several koreans standing and sitting down.  This is important if you want to make them laugh, you want to make sure you have their attention.

Then, I help up my arm with my elbow to the man, and pretended to poke the sleeping man.  This got some smirks.  So i did it some more.

Next, I took my hands and pretended to push.  This got some laughs.  Some Koreans even encouraged me to really do it by nodding their heads enthusiastically.

Finally, because I am sure some Koreans think westerners are rude, I decided to give a reason why.  As i was leaving the subway,  I leaned into the guy’s ear and yelled WAKE UP!.  I got some laughs.  And left the subway.

I don’t know about the Koreans, but I was thoroughly entertained and i certainly wasn’t crusty after the crowded ride.

Providing entertainment on the subway….. March 27, 2008

Thank goodness I don’t live in Seoul.  I have heard how crowded the subways are and I am claustraphobic.  With that being said, there are times on the Busan subway line when i feel just a tad uncomfortable.

There are two things I could do, be grumpy and crusty.

Or I could make light of it.

I choose the second.   For example:  the other week, some man was selling american music cds on the crowded subway, I was standing up because there were no seats.  He would play samples of the songs.   So I decided to start dancing to it, and all of a sudden the subway didn’t seem so miserable.  Koreans were laughing, or at least smirking and that made me feel good.   But i guess the man selling the cds didn’t like me stealing his thunder because he soon packed up his music and moved along.  Oh well…you can’t please everyone.

Now I know why there is little crime in Korea….. March 27, 2008

I find it hilarious..never really pondered the thought.  But tonight, as I was walking home…I got a thought I just had to write down.

For the last few weeks I have been walking home from Motgol subway area to Namcheon.   Every time I go past the police station near the Kyungsung University area, someone has had their car towed there due to an accident.  Well tonight, there were at least two accidents that happened that were being worked out at the station.  And after returning from the bank another four cars in an accident.

If there was any crime, the police wouldn’t be able to take care of it.  They are too busy with the accidents that happen.  Either that or…and it is possible…that I have some ultramagnetic  aura that causes cars around me to crash…..in which case I am sure I would be deported for being a danger to koreans. 

And now for something completely different…. March 27, 2008

When I first arrived in South Korea, the first week I was here, I decided to walk along the beach.  It was early morning as I was having trouble sleeping.  I met two older Korean gentlemen along the beach.  One of them approached me and introduced himself.  He wanted me to teach his brother english.  I said I could not but I appreciated the offer.  This man wished me a good day and I walked away.  Then he started following me.  He was very persistent.  I became weirded out.  So I walked faster and he was walking behind..I decided to go up this hill.  I made a decision if he went up the steep hill I was in big trouble.  As I went up the hill I couldn’t see him any more, but I decided not to chance it.  I walked along dug in doorways to avoid being discovered.  I can laugh about it now, but I was freaked out then.  I was hoping that day wouldn’t sum up my Korean experience and it has not.    To me this day was funny, an example of western meets eastern culture.   But then I have a bent sense of humour.   Many more funny stories to come.

Left you hanging with the last post. March 27, 2008

Loneliness is a strange concept.  I have everything.  I am in need of nothing.  I am content for the first time of my life here.  I enjoy going off on adventures on my own.  I enjoy hiking, and appreciating the views Busan has to offer.  I enjoy talking to random Koreans who come up to me on the street.  I walk the beach and nod in respect to the people whose country I have borrowed to get out of debt, to resolve some issues and to enjoy traveling in.

I have great friends, I have enjoyed great times taking day trips, dining out, great conversations and great laughs.

I have a great cat I brought with me from Canada.

Truthfully, I would take content over happy anyday.  Content is the foundation for being able to be satisfied no matter what the circumstances are.

This loneliness I feel is a challenge.  The loneliness is the lack of opposite sex contact.  I’ve hidden away too long.  Oh I have been going out every weekend, hiking, eating out.  But…I have been avoiding foreigner hangouts.  I have recently started to enjoy them, but…..

I am not a drinker, I am a conversationalist, a semi comedian (discovered to take myself myself less seriously and now want to make every korean laugh, even the cranky ones.), a bad singer, an even bad dancer..I am a person who loves to laugh at herself and with herself.  Now……

So almost 8 months in South Korea… March 26, 2008

So here is a simplified summary of my life in South Korea so far……unsatisfied with Korean food, love seaman’s club, discovered drinking can come to easy, discovered frat boy attitude is prevalent among all ages of men here, been naked in front of women more times than I can count and enjoyed it, love the many different views of the same scene, love the no snow here in pusan, enjoy the laughter of children, enjoy the ridiculous questions of South koreans who can’t speak very good english, walk gwangali bridge every day, discovered God’s presence powerfully among the beach and mountains.  I learned how to not take myself seriously and make even the most serious Koreans laugh.  I opened my heart and got hurt again but handled it better than in the past.   The downside is…I am lonely. 

Hello world! March 26, 2008

A big shout out to all the foreigners who took the risk to coming here, not for running away from something, or fear of landing a job in their home country and not for the love of korean people….but just because life is an adventure and you never know who you’ll meet on the road to Pusan.