The Seemingly Nonsensical

I want to start this post with a quick apology. My recent posts have been rather long. By the time I get to the end of one, writing it that is, it is about one or two in the morning, and the idea of proofreading seems very obsurd. On with the post!



I DON'T UNDERSTAND why Koreans are so worried about not wearing shoes in the house, but they will not hesitate to hack and cough in eachother's faces. From young to old, day after day, they cough right into the faces of friends, families, and strangers alike. It deeply bothers me.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND why a man in the shower at the gym would think it is okay to sit on the tile floor, stark naked, and bathe himself. I walked into the shower and there he sat, sprawled out on the floor, every inch of his naked body making contact with the wet tiles that have known the hair, sweat, filth, mucus, and possibly even urine of the fellow men taking showers. Who does that? It just makes no sense to me.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND a person driving a car will creep right up onto the heels of a person crossing a street. Even when you are at a crosswalk, they will literally creep their car right on to your heels until they can squeeze past you as tightly as possible. In America I would have something to say.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND why Korean are amazed at the follies of foreigners who are new to their country. The other day some men laughed at me because I didn't understand how to use an ATM that had only Korean symbols and words on the screen. I don't understand why four women would laugh at me like I mentioned in a previous blog, when I fumbled with chopsticks in my first two weeks here. I don't understand why so many people at my academy assume that I have lived in this country forever and leave me to discover so many important things through trial and error.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND why anyone would eat caterpillars. Or why I found out that I had eaten caterpillar without my director, who served them to me, telling me. And it is well known here that caterpillar is not a staple of the western diet.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND why dog soup is a holiday meal here. The equivalent of our Turkey dinner. It is the delicacy of the Winter Solstice.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND why Korean people always try to cut in line and cut in front of me everywhere, even if it means bumping elbows with me. Yesterday, while getting on the bus, two women brushed past me and and cut in front of me as I was taking the first step onto the bus. WHY? When I was entering my gym today to workout and old man bumped in front of me to hand is card to the attendant to be swiped. I already had my arm outstretched to give her my card, and he just treated me as though I weren't there.

These are only a few things of the many that baffle me on a daily basis. I will keep you updated as more come to mind.

SUCKS ASS: I am slowly finding that Korean women have I high expectations of men. If you ask one out to eat. You better call her the next day and text message her several times or she will be deeply insulted (Yet another thing beyond my comprehension). If you date a Korean girl, she will get very angry if you go out without her, like a guys night. You cannot date Korean women casually, or so I have been told, because one or two dates means you are seriously interested. Even after one date, if they find out you have been casually dating anyone else it will make them angry.

KICKS ASS: Anytime that I am not working. St. Paddy's day is on the way and there is a lot of cool stuff on the horizon here with the large population of Western Europeans.