So when I walk home from school, or walk anywhere for that matter, people like to stare. Maybe because its a small town and not many westerners live here, or maybe because I look strikingly similar to George Clooney, I know I know I am trying to be modest here. But people like to stare, like you have monkeys dancing on your head. Well regardless if they mean it to be rude, which I dont think they are, or they are just intrigued by my dashing good looks they gawk none the less. If I notice them looking my way with a puzzled look I try to be nice and give them a quick bow and say hello in Korean. Most of them time they just nod back and say Yes back in Korean, which is the same as saying hello back. Well this gentlemen knew who he was gazing at and wanted to get an even better look so he said something but I couldnt hear him so I walked over and ask him to repeat. This is the conversation went:
Me: (walking down street and see man staring at me) Ahn-yung-heey-se-yo (hello)
Man: Ne (yes) (mumble mumble)
Me: Huh?
Man: (walking over) Beautiful, your face bery beautiful
Me: Kam-se-hom-knee-da
Man: Name?
Me: Fernando (then recognizing puzzled look at the letter F) Pur-nan-do
Man: Ahhh Purnando! Me Ee-gey-mun
Me: Nice to meet you Ee-gey-mun
Ee-gey-mun: Where you go?
Me: Home. Jeep.(Korean for home). Paleche Obbicetel (Korean way of saying Palace OfficeTel.)
Ee-gey-men: Okay okay, good bye
Me: Good bye Ahn-yunh-he-gye-se-yo
I then walk off and return to listening to my music, but not far down the road I hear some commotion behind me and see that Ee-gey-mund is chasing me down wavhing his hands motioning for me to stop. When I do he asks me if I want to drink. Now let me remind you that I know about 10 Korean words, of course one of them is beer so I understand what he wants to drink. Other than that I am lost, so whats the logical thing to do when random stranger, that just called you beautiful, asks you to go drink beer with them?
Of course, say yes and let them pay. I was raised by amazing parents. (shout out to Mama and Papa LOVE YOU!)
So we walk to a local chicken joint, and he orders two pints of beer, shrimp chips and then reveals what is in his little tote bag. What any normal Korean would carry with them, Dok, or some type of rice cake. This one was flat like a pancake and had nuts and some sort of brown dust that looked like cocoa on it. It was bland and tasted like dry wallpaper paste, as if I never tried dry wall paper paste before (once again I had amazing parents). After drinking some and eating some amazing rice cake. I figured out that he has lived in Cheongyang for most of his life. He is married with two kids, he works hard during the week and then works more on the weekend. He is mid 40's and that he wants to go out drinking again. I plan on gonig out again with him, but bringing my fellow English teacher that speaks Korean, so she can translate for me.
My Korean friend Jessica helping out with translations and exchanging of phone numbers.
The dok is on the left, then the shrimp chips closest to me, and the empty plate of chicken balls closest to him.
My new best bud. CHAN! (cheers)
My Kinders watching ABC videos.
The littlest one on the left, and hellion on the right, stealing paper.
My one student that never pays attention and sits doing nothing.
Okay maybe saying "sitting" was an stretch of the term.
Alright, he doesnt sit at all, he just thinks English class is breakdance class for him.
JUNE!!!! showing off his half Korean half English Alphabet.
My students sitting watiting for me to read, If you give a pig and Pancake.
My 1st/2nd graders working hard on their name tags. Welcoming Jeremy, Beth and Sophia to the bunch.
More ABC videos.
My 3rd grader Kim figuring out on her own in English that, 25 blocks + 26 blocks is 51 blocks!
Her proud of her work.
Paparazzi in my class room confusing me for George Clooney again. Damn them ruining my class room.