33) Mass transit

The other day I was going to meet a friend, and was running a bit late. I needed to take both the bus and the subway to meet him. So when I stepped on the bus I caught a weird vibe from the driver, and didn’t quite know how to read it. So I just sat down in one of the only available seats, which was right across the isle from a guy carrying on a loud conversation. And then I realized this guy is what the look from the driver was about. The guy was carrying on a very load and animated conversation, and when I look to see whom he was talking to, I realized that it was no one; he was having this conversation with just himself or the person he imagined. It was pretty weird because he went through the full range of emotions- he was happy, annoyed, angry, sad and etc. and he wouldn’t stop talking. Eventually I had to look around and see what other people’s reactions were, and everybody just tried to ignore this obnoxiousness. I then realized why the kids at my school get a little offended when they are called crazy- because I think this is the image they have in their minds.

Then when I got on the subway, it sat for an unusually long period of time, which felt even longer because I was already late. When I finally got to my destination I couldn’t get out of the gates. Apparently something was wrong with my card. So after repeatedly swiping my card to no avail, a janitor let me through and told me (presumably) to go to the ticket counter. Once I got to the counter I realized how impossible it was going to be for me to explain the predicament I was in. So as I stepped back to think about the best way to explain this to the worker, I saw that the little boy (who I would guess was between 7 and 8) who was watching me fail to make it through the gate followed me over to the ticket counter. He could plainly see that I was again in a predicament. So he took my card, gave it to the worker and explained in Korean what had happened, and what the janitor had told me to do. What an awesome little boy! After thanking him he quickly disappeared. And then the worker fixed the card and tried to explain to me what to do next- but I really had no idea what he was talking about. At about this time a crowd started to form. My face probably explained to the crowd that I had no idea what he was talking about, and when I looked at them with desperate confusion they laughed, and then about 5 of them came and helped me out, translating what he had said, and showing me where to go and what to do next. I was so thankful for their kindness, and willingness to help me out.

Yesterday I was running all over Seoul and became a bit confused in a subway station, and pulled out my map. I just needed to figure out which direction I should be going in, and really just needed to double-check the station names. Right away an older man saw this and tried to ask me where I was going. Quickly realizing he couldn’t help me he yells at some girl (about my age) to come over and help me. So he makes her help me (which I felt bad about, because he was pretty abrasive towards her), and then he disagreed with what she told me. But she was right, and I knew she must have been. So I just told the old man thank you, and I understand, then thanked the girl, let her know I understood she was right, and went on my way.