Oh, thank Jebus- Rachel returns tomorrow. It's a good thing, too, since I was starting to lose it. Apparently, I'm not the only one: On Friday, while I was waiting my turn outside a busy ATM, I was approached by a 50 year old Korean woman. She motioned for me to remove my headphones and, in pretty decent English, asked where I was from.
"USA," I said, and pointing to myself, "megook (American)."I made it to the ATM, payed the bills, and found my way home to a long, hot shower. The sooner my wife arrives in Mokpo, the sooner life can return to normalcy- or what passes for normal in this strange place.
"Oh, meegook," she responded excitedly, taking my hand in both of hers "How long Korea?" she asked.
"One year."
"You teacher?"
"No," I said, "my wife is a teacher. I play Halo and clean the house." This, I think, went over her head, though she did seem a little disappointed to hear I have a wife.
"Oh, wife-oo." Still holding my hand.
"Neh," I said- Korean for yes.
"You come have copi (coffee)?"
"No, I'm waiting for the ATM, then I have to pay some bills. Sorry." By this time others had skipped past me to use the machine, and I was stuck waiting a bit longer, still holding hands with this strange little person.
"Okay," she said and stared longingly(?) at me. Finally and gently she dropped my hand. Then she leaned in towards me- I saw it coming and wished I had a sneeze or something ready- and puckered her lips. "Kiss me?" she asked.
"No!" I didn't quite shout it but I felt bad for denying her. Hey, she just wanted a little loving, but there was no way in hell she was getting it from this white boy. "I am married," I said, hoping she would think I was just a shy, devoted married man- and not that I was grossed out by those cracked, dessicated lips.
She took it alright. Gave me a big smile and said, "Okay! Bye-bye." She walked off and blended with the busy sidewalk traffic.
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Listening to: Frank Black - [Teenager Of The Year #01] Whatever Happened To Pong [foobar2000 v0.9.3.1]
via FoxyTunes
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*** I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all my great friends, here in Mokpo, for keeping me company and keeping up my spirits while Rachel was back in the states.
Bryan, Travis and Bella, Lola the Dog, Dave and Camille, Sally and the staff at New York, Colorado Mike and the guy at the kim-bap shop who saw me every day... thank you!
Special thanks to Cary and Jamie for all the midnight Halo matches; to Lacey for putting up with Cary playing into the wee hours every night; and Leah for lending me her man for Soju and Hite fueled video game marathons.
I love all of you crazy bastards!
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