Korea....Dan-Style

Dan has managed to break the hearts and crack numerous smiles from every ajuma he comes in contact with.  (Ajuma:  Older, married Korean woman.  Generally the top of the heap and everyone clears out of the way for the Ajuma.  If you don't, they're gonna knock you out of the way--your choice).  Obviously he is a pretty good looking fellow, therefore ajumas swoon?  Maybe?  He just has such a kind, open demeanor that I think, even across cultures, he is giving off a very trusting, gentle vibe.  However, Dan thinks it is because they think he is Mark Harmon (lead actor from NCIS).  NCIS airs 24/7 here.  I have never seen an episode before coming here, but since my English channels are very limited, I have now seen a disturbingly large number of shows.  I actually hate the show, so it pains me to admit it, but YES he really does look like that guy!

A paraphrased quote I recently read:  "It is your job as the foreigner to be laughed at.  Often, you have no idea why they are laughing at you, so just go with it."  I have found this to be incredibly accurate during my time here.  People laugh at me all the time and I really am completely clueless as to why.  Dan has managed to break my record though.  It's great.  :)  When he is being laughed at he generally does something kind of comical which kicks the laughter into high gear.

Today we decided to go on a bus ride through a coastal, rural part of Ulsan, just to see where we would end up.  Well, after several miles of beautiful countryside, we ended up at the end of the bus line (pretty anti-climactic).  The doors opened up and so we think we are pretty much being kicked off the bus.  So, we get off and walk up the street a few blocks, decide we're too tired and lazy to do much exploring and go sit at the bus stop and wait.  Well, the SAME bus comes over the hill and we get back on it and there are about 5 Ajumas on there roaring with laughter at us (because they were the same ones that were on the bus with us on the ride up, but they stayed on the bus while the bus driver took a 5 minute break at the station--smart ladies).  Anyway, we are both laughing at ourselves too, but mostly laughing at them laughing at us.  It's a little unnerving, yet very comical to get on the bus, in another country and have every passenger on it laughing at you!  Dan gave them a huge smile, waved at them and said in a sweet, goofy voice, "Hiiiiiiiiiya".   This caused them to laugh even harder and a few of them said "hiiiii" back to him.  Once back in town the ajumas were the first to get off the bus.  When they passed by our seats to exit, they bid us farewell with the Korean, 'anyeounghegayseo' and another chuckle for good measure.

The other day we went to a market nearby to buy two 6-packs of water (the 2 liter bottles).  Needless to say, they are rather heavy, but in a much appreciated, chivalrous fashion Dan keeps carrying both of these back to the apartment for me (I am beyond thankful as I have grown to detest carrying water back to my apt).  Anyway, as we were walking down the alley to my place, we were behind a couple of old ajuma-farmer women, each with a huge bundle of goods balancing on their heads (very common sight here).  The handle on one of the 6-packs snapped and the water fell to the ground, and it startled the women in front of us and they kind of laughed it off in an "oooopsy daisies" kind of way.  We end up taking a few more steps and the other handle snaps off, causing that 6 pack to crash to the ground.  This time the women turned and sort of laugh at our misfortune, so Dan picks up the fallen 6 pack and gestures at them and sticks it on top of his head, mirroring the way they had their bundles balanced on their heads.  Oh my word, they thought this was sooooooo funny, as they both just died laughing at this ridiculous foreigner with water perched on his head, mimicking them.  It was quite a sight.

He doesn't have to be doing something ridiculous to get laughed at either.  There are moments when he is giving money to an ajuma street vendor and for no apparent they start chuckling at him during the money exchange.  When we are walking down the street they sort of look at him and start laughing too.  I think he is probably bowing his head in respect or giving a friendly smile which just seems to tickle them pink.  Ajumas can be pretty aggressive (at least with me and every other human being on the planet), so I have been very surprised at this side I have not witnessed the entire time, prior to Dan's arrival, in Korea.

Dan has also managed to win the heart of my Kimbap lady (Son Myong-ai).  I think she has an innocent crush on him, because her eyelashes start batting and she gets this overwhelming smile that she can't control when he walks into the room.  It is such a lovely interaction.  Dan introduced her to Google-Translate, which she opens up every time we go there now.  It has been great to be able to "converse" with her on a somewhat deeper level.   We are planning on going there this evening for the last kimbap dinner, because he heads back to the US on Monday.