Other Odds & Ends

One curiosity I had before coming to South Korea was what using the restroom would be like. Although it is legal to drop your pants relieve yourself in public, I have only seen it once. And the one time I saw it was when a father let his daughter go pee on the sidewalk. She was about 3, I’d say, and part of me was like, ‘Well, they’re out and about, public restrooms are not readily available in this area, and like Little Orphan Annie says: “When ya gotta go, ya gotta go.”’ I have not yet dropped my pants to pee on the sidewalk, and most likely, that won’t happen. But I have had interesting experiences behind stall doors. Most toilets in my school are recessed pots. Anyone who knows me better than they probably wish they did, knows I am not a squatter! I don’t know why; it just is not a talent with which I have been blessed. So, anytime the single western-style toilet has been on the blink or occupied, I’ve had to utilize the squatty pot. About a week ago was the first time I said aloud my procedure in this style of restroom, and since I’ve told a few people already, why not tell it to the entire WWW? When I use this style of toilet, I have to completely remove my drawers, hang them on the hook, “go,” then of course put my pants back on. The thought of “missing” and my pants getting in the way is just too much of a chance to take, so I take charge and bypass the opportunity to develop my most embarrassing moment. ☺ For the record, it really doesn’t take me but a few seconds longer – I’ve gotten to where I can quickly strip and quickly dress in the bathroom stall. ☺

Public drinking is also okay – however, like the fecal matter, I really don’t see many people walking around with alcoholic beverages in their hands. The two or three times I’ve seen it, they have not been Korean people; they’ve been Western guys. And no, I don’t walk the streets with one in my own hand, although it has tempted me a couple of times. ☺ Kinda like Vegas – if it’s legal there, why not do it just for the mere sake of taking advantage of it due to being restricted from it my whole life. ☺

Just because I haven’t seen any Korean men carousing about with cans of Cass or bottles of soju, doesn’t mean I haven’t seen the result of alcohol consumption in large quantities in their facial expressions and body movements. It’s common to see men in business suits stumbling through the streets, any day of the week. Many times, they have a buddy who is either yanking them out of the way of an oncoming bus, or shoving them into a cab against their will.

For the most part, I think the kids like me (and that feeling is reciprocated – for the most part - ;) ) but I will ashamedly tell you that I made two students cry in the same day! (Two different classes) It was awful!! The first boy cried because we were going around the room doing an activity where the students had to stand up and speak, and I think he just didn’t want to do that. Tears welling-up in his eyes were a strong indication of his frustration. When I noticed, I said, “It’s okay, we can come back to you,” but I was too late ‘cause he put his head down on his desk and began sobbing.

The other situation, I feel MUCH worse about. We were doing a unit on “Who is She?” and I was playing a game with the students sort of like “I Spy” where I was describing students and then I’d say either “Who is he?” or “Who is she?” after I gave a few clues. When I was describing one particular girl, after my three clues, I said, “Who is he?” and the uproar from the students made me realize it was a SHE not a HE. She was so embarrassed and started crying. I don’t remember ever feeling that bad about something that happened in my classroom! In my defense though, yesterday, that same girl came into the classroom to give something to Linda (we share a room) and after she left, I began telling the story to Linda, and she said, “No, that’s not a girl. That’s a boy.” So…apparently I’m not the only one who thinks that. Needless to say, I’m so glad that that unit is over!