Tonight, I made my third trip to the Earth, Wind and Fire sauna. I skipped the hot tubs, though, and only stayed in the sleeping area for 20 minutes. What I really wanted (and paid 8000 Won for) was the hot shower because, since my gas had been turned off, I may or may not have taken one over the past weekend. It’s those notices that have been left on my door for the past coupla weeks; I knew what they said despite not being able to read them. Problem is, I don’t know how to pay and I have been too lazy to ask the managers at my school. Plus, part of me thought the gas company wouldn’t really cut me off. I mean, I was fortunate enough never to have this problem growing up in my parents’ house but perhaps I would have taken care of the bill quickly had there been more lean years. Let’s be clear now that I’ve been washing, just not taking a shower — and I’ll let whatever imagery you create sink in for a moment. Be thankful (regretful?) that I haven’t supplied my own.
So what has happened since the last post? Found a store importing Western foods for double prices. Paid $30 for Quaker Oats, a box of Oreos, chips, salsa, PAM cooking spray and maple syrup; the price is WRONG, but the oatmeal cookies I made were so right. Ah, got the toaster oven and it works well. Had a work party where my inebriated boss told me he loved me. I take it to mean he thinks I’m a good employee. Attended a Halloween potluck and a Halloween party dressed as Aquaman. Met a cool Black guy (I thought I was seeing things) who teaches in a separate town but seems like a good connection to have. And, holy shit!! I got HOME INTERNET ACCESS!! I’m totally typing this lying on my bed! It’s okay, though…the initial shine has already faded and it won’t cause me to remain in the apartment every hour I’m not at work. Maybe.
Today, I made my way around parts of town I hadn’t seen before and I was thinking of the incongruity between some Korean behavior. Some people are so polite and helpful, while others are shockingly and irritatingly discourteous. You’ll have to trust me, though, on the examples of politeness because I really want to talk about the shit that makes me want to fucking assault someone. The little kids running wild through stores and restaurants, for instance. I’ve seen it often enough that I believe the reluctance to discipline is a cultural rather than individual family thing. I’m annoyed at cars parked on sidewalks and in crosswalks. Today, and old man and I approached a crosswalk from opposite sides; he on foot and I on the bike. A taxi came up and we waited for it to roll through, but the driver stopped in the middle of the crosswalk to let off his fare. And, of course, the passenger took her sweet time getting out of the cab and the driver his sweet time back out of the fucking crosswalk. No acknowledgment, no half-hearted apology, just totally interrupting the progress of two other people. But that’s not all…
I’d read and heard about the literally pushy old ladies of seemingly all East Asian countries…”ajamma” they are called here. First few times I could brush off, but the most recent time…I was the one who had hit the elevator button when no one else was around and I was the one standing in front of the door as the number counted down to the first floor. Why did you barrel past me when the goddamned door opened? I was gonna let your rude ass on before me, anyway! And everyone else pretends like they saw nothing?? Age is not an excuse for treating someone like a bowling pin. I never played football, but someday I want to masquerade as a linebacker in the department store and shoulder check the next old woman who touches me into the cosmetics counter. And understand that I’m only in that part of the store because they force everyone to walk through it.
The worst, however, was earlier tonight. Remember the sleeping area of Earth, Wind and Fire? I had gone for the shower only, but I decided to lie down and listen to the iPod for a while just to make it seem like I was taking my money a bit further. Place is dark, dozens of people sleeping…you know how it is…then a strange screeching. Maybe it was from outside? But it continued and it was loud and distracting and finally compelled me to remove my headphones and sit up to make a bleary-eyed investigation for the source. And I could hardly believe it when I found it. Some fucking BITCH across the room with his mobile on speakerphone!! I mean, this is in a place where, except for snoring sounds, you could hear a pin drop. How can you have an extended conversation on speakerphone when there are complete strangers sleeping and resting in your presence? It was a young guy, too. I wanted to knock the phone out of his hand and knee him in the head but I just sat there dumbfounded and looking around to see if anyone else was witnessing what I was witnessing — the pinnacle of rudeness. But I couldn’t do anything…different language, plus I can’t imagine it would go well for a foreigner to tell any Korean person how he or she ought to behave. At last, another person gave a semi-loud shout to the kid to STFU; even that guy was being considerate of others in chastising the speakerphone boy.
In any event, it’s time to hit the sack before my blood boils from rehashing all of these incidents. No complaints, though…these are as much a part of the experience as anything else!
