Eleanor and Chuck...

The hardest part about getting used to Korea is getting used to the social cues. In the United States if a man on the streets began talking to me and then asked for my phone number I would assume he wanted to ask me out. If a man in Korean begins talking to me on the street, I don't know if he wants to ask me out, practice his English, is amused by some ridiculous social mistake I've made or is just a friendly guy.

This happened today. A random man just started talking to me. I was walking on the sidewalk and he started asking me questions. (And let me preface... I was not lookin' good. I was dressed to go play with pre-schoolers, so I clearly wasn't looking for attention.) The questions always throw me off... They usually start with the obvious, "How are you?" "Where are you going?" But, then there are the odd ones like, "Are you Korean?" In fact, I've gotten this one more times than I would have thought. I never thought I looked Korean, but a lot of people (at least 10) have asked me if I am Korean-American. I don't mind... Koreans are some of the most beautiful people I have ever seen! Another odd question, "Do you have many Korean friends?" Who asks that kind of stuff? Why wouldn't I have friends? And, why does it matter if they are Korean or Australian or South African? Strange question, right? Nonetheless, these kind of situations happen quite frequently and I still haven't figured out the appropriate social response. Is the guy being nice? Practicing his English? Wanting to ask me out? (Not that I could blame him!) In the end, this guy asked for my number and without a good avoidance strategy, I gave it to him. I also labelled him as "NO!" in my phone so that I'll know to avoid his calls. Of course, I am aware that this is not the best way to handle these kind of moments. Was I being a bit rude and childish? Yes. Should I find a better way to handle these situations? Yes. Do I live by myself in a foreign country? Yes. Do I need to be more careful than I would be at home? Yes. Do I put myself in risky situations by going out with strangers? No.

On a different note... The Office returns this week. I love this show. I love it. Love. Love. Love. Love it. I hadn't watched a single episode for at least five months and I left my Season 1-3 DVDs at home. So, when I watched an episode last night I could hardly breath I was laughing so hard. But, the best part is that I wasn't really laughing at the jokes, I was laughing before the jokes because I remembered how funny they were going to be. Oh, I can hardly wait.

Speaking of things I love... I bought a new pair of Chuck Taylors. I think Chuck Taylors are an understated kind of cool. They are an old-fashioned kind of hip. It's like listening to the Beatles on your ipod. Everybody knows them. They are classic. But, come in such variety that you can pick and choose to fit your mood. And more importantly, they transcend time. Becoming brand new for each generation. Coming with you wherever your destination may be. I think I'm an Eleanor Rigby kind of Chuck Taylor.

I've started to be able to recognize the distance of a motor bike just by listening. There are so many little side streets and blind corners, that I can be walking and just instinctively know to stop and wait for a little delivery motorbike to come speeding around the corner. I think everyone in Korea picks up on this survival skill.

I sang the "Itsey Bitsey Spider" song to my pre-schoolers today with the clever hand motions. Let me tell you... I might as well have been Mick Jagger. These kids thought I was a rock star. And Chloe and Mose were as cute as ever. All the kids are starting to remember my name so all morning long I heard "Jacki Teacher. Jacki Teacher. Jacki Teacher." Good times.