Random Koreans and Mockoli

So, my weekend finally consisted of some new Koreanesk things that my blog has been lacking in recent posts. Not much mind you, but a bit.

One day while walking to work someone ran up from behind me and asked if he could walk with me. I didn't realize he was a secretary at the school I worked at at first because I assumed the guy at the school didn't speak English. I found out that he took the job so he would get a chance to practice English. His English name is Shane and I don't remember what he said his Korean name was. He's a nice enough guy and I've invited him to hang out with me next time I head down town.

On Friday, it was supposed to be trivia once again at communes, but after work I decided to make what seems to be my daily trip to McDonald's. I ordered spicy chicken strips and as if that wasn't hot enough for the Koreans it comes with spicy chili dip sauce. I didn't take a straw because I don't usually use them but the guy next to me in line thought I had forgot and brought me one and sat down beside me.

He then asked why I didn't get a burger and showed me the coupon book that came with them. He was talking in English, and it was not half bad, clearly he sat beside me to practice. I answered him and eventually he asked if he could ask me some questions. We talked for the whole meal, taking turns telling each other about work and what not. When he found out I was a teacher at a hog wan he made a comment that I didn't understand at first.

He said I must be very what I thought to make out as popular without exact 'p' sounds. I didn't understand how popular fit in the context so I got him to repeat. He repeated and wrote it down. He did mean popular...and then he said "you, very handsome" in which case it made sense. I don't think I have ever heard another man say I was handsome...and mean it. I thanked him regardless, got his contact information before I headed home to prepare for trivia.

On my way home I got a text message (not sure if I mentioned I got a cell phone yet...its hard to use cuz it's all in Korean!) that informed me that it didn't look like trivia was going down. Not with the usuals anyways. Instead I went to a restaurant to meet a friend and some new people. Here I tried mockoli. It's a Korean rice wine, it wasn't bad. I thought the taste resembled medicine. I'll have to try it again sometime...and more of it as i only had a couple cups. Two guys at the table beside us also made a comment on my good looks. They apparently really liked the shape of my nose.

The taxi ride home sucked. The drivers didn't understand me and thinking I was good enough to get home I didn't bring my sheet with directions. The first guy started driving me and eventually I got fed up with him asking where Sin Dang Post office was I got out of the cab because clearly he didn't know where he was going. The next cabbie took me to the wrong post office! I was steaming at that point and I may have yelled at him and he tried again. I was breathing heavy the whole way trying to contain my rage. His second try was on the money and the cost came to a little over 10000 won...but he gave me 1000 back from the 10000 I gave him because of his screw up...even if it was partly my fault because my pronunciation sucks.