just another American teacher in SK

As I was walking back to my apartment today, I came upon an elderly man pulling a cart loaded with stuff.  I approached him, offering to assist by putting my hand on his cart, but he slapped away my hand and marched forward.  I waited for a minute, and approached again ~ this time replacing his hand on the cart with mine and gesturing that he keep walking.   We were at a stare-down-stand-still for a few seconds, but then he started walking … and kept walking … and continued walking (at this point I’m thinking what the hell did I get myself into)  until we finally reached his home, about a mile up the steep hill from where we started our journey.  ( I’m thinking “Holy Christ!  This dude appears to be about 150 years old, and he was hauls this cart up here?”)   After I unloaded his cart, he grasped my shoulders and said, “Miguk?” (America?)  “Sho shank you.  Shank you.  Gomap-seumnida!” (thank you!)   To which I offered the deepest bow I can manage and responded, “My pleasure. Cheonman-eyo.” (you’re welcome)    And I went home, satisfied with my limited ability to speak polite Korean phrases.

That was a week or so ago … whatever … I didn’t give it much thought, I guess.

Today, as I was walking home from school, I encountered a group of elderly ladies who were eagerly chattering and gesturing for me to come to them. After a few minutes of pantomime and wild gestures (and a few key words in Korean), I figured out that they were trying to tell me that I must be the American woman – they kept pointing to my apartment building (where I have my flag prominently displayed) and waving at the hill – that helped the man with his cart. A happy bunch ~ clapping and laughing and chattering.

Actually, I don’t know if they are laughing and clapping because I am an ignorant foreigner who was “duped” into carrying the load, or if they think that I am OK.   Worst case scenario, I suppose, is that they may expect me to be their new “delivery person”  …

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