Korea

I'll write a blog about my trip to Gyeongbokgung Palace soon, but for now, I need to get some random happenings down on screen paper before I forget.

After lunch and Starbucks in Insa-dong with Hesang and Lilith, I went to the Kyobo book store. While peacefully browsing in the history section, this guy starts talking to me. At first I thought, oh he's very friendly. 30 minutes later...I'm ready to scream and run away.

Robert is a Seoul University English teacher from New York. He's 37 but looks 28. He happens to be obsessed with Texas. He refused to believe that I didn't know Jailbreak was filmed in Dallas, or that I didn't watch X Files and Walker Texas Ranger growing up. Seriously, he asked me MINIMUM 3 times if I had ever seen Jailbreak, X Files, and WTR. He also went into detail about how Dallas was a good area for prisoners to escape because of the small towns and different racial groups. Why was he telling me this? Why was he telling me about the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, and football? I'm the one who said "I'm from Texas". Why was he going on and on about these things? Why did he ask me 5 different times if Friday Night Lights is a true depiction of Texas culture? Were my first 3 answers not sufficient?

Did I mention he has never been to Texas? Did I mention he told me he used to wear a cowboy hat during college (in Long Island, NY) because he liked Garth, George, and Clint. This is a SUMMARY of the 1st book store encounter.

2nd book store encounter: I am now in the classics, holding a book, when an old man walks up to me and asks "Is that easy for you?" pointing to the book I'm holding. I had no idea how to answer the question, but I said yes. Immediately he pulls out his English homework. This guy has to be at least 60. He then proceeds to have me check every single one of his answers. I can't just walk away...this is a sweet old man. But geez I was about to scream at this point!

On the subway ride home, a vendor lady is in my car. She is selling a massager for your arms or neck. Two old ladies buy one after testing it out on their arms. Then she walks by me and I see her cart. There's something written in Korean, and below that is the word "orgasm".

One more before I fall asleep...Friday night there was a free salsa lesson nearby. On Facebook it had about 25 white people attending, and I went with two other teachers I met the previous weekend. We get there, and there are only 2 other white people. The rest are Koreans, and they are all dressed to the 9s. We, being grungy westerners, are wearing casual skirts and flip flops. The lesson is in Korean. Toward the end of the lesson we have to rotate partners, so I have to dance with 3 different Korean guys (not young and not cute). Whatever, that's fine. Then the instructor starts bringing out girls to dance with him as he's leading the class. After two different girls, he points to me. I nod my head..no, no,no...he points and motions me to come, then grabs my arm and pulls me into the middle.

I just want to take this time to say sorry to all of the girls at the lesson watching my steps!