Today, I took a break from painting (nothing exciting....STILL prepping panels because I'm terribly behind, although the writing is done) to go to Naju City and retrieve a package from the post office. Again, THANK YOU, GRANDMA! She sent me coffee, a scarf, and lots of long shirts to wear under my clothes at work. ASAH!
After I got my package, I was trotting around the outskirts of the city, enjoying the beautiful mountains and being out of my apartment. I'm spatially inept and although I've passed it a bajillion times on the bus (going in the opposite direction), I now know how to get to a local art museum. I'll be visiting THERE in February (I haven't got time right meow!!!!AH!). AND, I stopped at a kimbap* place to throw back a roll and take two home with me.
*I think I've mentioned it before, but kimbap is like sushi, but with vegatables, egg, ham, and crab in the middle rather than the raw fish and whatever-else in its Japanese counterpart.
It was my first time communicating "to go" and that went pretty well. There were a bunch of 10-year-old boys sitting across the room and they had fun trying out their English phrases on me. And I had fun trying out my Korean phrases, haha. And the four ajushis (older men) in the place thought this whole thing was hilarious. And while I enjoyed my roll of kimbap and complimentary kimchi, the woman working there brought me some broth and a class of Coke! When the boys left, two of them said "see you next time" at the same time and yelled the Korean version of "jinx!" It was super cute and I laughed (rather loudly, as I tend to), which in turn made the Koreans giggle.
When I went to pay the woman who served me, we had a VERY confused interaction for a good 8 minutes. I kept gesturing to my wallet and she kept pointing to one of the men across the room. I'd go over to pay him, but he'd shake my hand, speak some Korean, and say "good bye!" Repeat two more times. FINALLY! I realized that HE had paid for my kimbap! When I figured this out, I bowed VERY deeply and said "thank you" as excitedly as I could. Well, first I actually clapped my hand to my forehead and said "ohhhh!" Then the bowing and the thanking. And he bowed right back, just as deeply. It was silly and great.
Oh, Korea. Nothing here is a "to don't." And that's why I love you.
