Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kurva anjad]

I work in a ritzy new development outside of Seoul, and riding my motorcycle to work this morning, a 50-something Ajumma is yakking away on her handfon while jaywalking. Gaudy red leather jacket, leopard-spotted purse in hand she is oblivious. Because I am still paying attention to cross traffic I don't see her jaywalk in front of me until the last second.

I had to jerk my wheel hard to the left, causing me to dump my bike at about 30 KM/hr, laying it down, craping the pavement along the bikes' side. I missed her by perhaps 10 or 15 centimeters. I wasn't injured, as I've had to lay bikes down in the past, and know how to do it, BUT, the amazing thing is, the lady was on her mobile phone, and after sliding and scraping and almost killing her, you would think it would merit her getting off her phone for a moment or at least breaking stride.

But no. She never even took the phone away from her ear. She simply turned to look at me sprawled on the pavement for about 1/2 seconds, kept right on gabbing it up on her handfon, and kept right on jaywalking.

By the time I picked up my bike, she was may 25 meters away from me and moving away. It's like nothing ever happened. Not until my thrown motorcycle helmet landing close to her did she even turn around. She never stopped walking away, still had not taken the phone from her ear, but was giving me a half-look like I had just farted.

By this time I was outraged, she about 50 meters away, me cursing in Afrikaans at her, but now she was sort of looking over her shoulder and quickening her pace (but still gabbing on her phone). At this point, I start walking in her direction. She walks even faster. My bike is laying on the side of the road, as I launched my helmet before I put up the kickstand. I wasn't gaining ground, so I began a dead run. I caught up to her, started screaming at her, she just looking wide-eyed, along with about 20 Koreans. She is STILL on the phone though!!!

That's it!!! I grabbed her phone, a flip phone, broke it in two, and threw the pieces onto the roof of the two-story we were by. I'm still livid, screaming in Afrikaans, English, Konglish. She now doesn't say a word, as she has no phone.

Foreigner 1 Ajumma 0.

[Fresh Prince]

I hope the bike was OK. I only had to dump a bike once. Not fun.

[PimpofKorea]

You are my hero...even if you are from South Africa......

[merkurix]

Wow what a story. For those of us who are ultra curious (and the Dave's swear filter not having taken into consideration to blot out non-English profanities) what exactly did you yell at her in Afrikaans?

[captain kirk]

I can totally see that happening. What happened next? Did she hang around, did bystanders intervene? Did you pick up your bike and drive away?

I've never had to deliberately dump a bike. I've dumped it at five mph once, but landed hard left knee left elbow. Can you talk about the procedure. I assume you cranked the wheel hard left and got the left side of your body out of the way and sort of 'rode' the right hand side down to the ground? Dunno. I met a guy in the bar once who recommended learning to do it, in case it's necessary, but I'm not a stuntman (in fact, I barely like getting out of bed).

[Thunndarr]

[ruffie]

Wow!
She probably still doesn't know why you were angry, and just figures it was one of those reprisals for Virgina Tech.
Please make a video of your next adventure.

[whatever]

Please tell us what happened next!

[Roch]

[Col.Brandon]

The problem with just hitting the silly b!!tch is that you then become liable for damages because you hit her. Why are you liable? Because you were there. If you're not insured it could get pretty messy. It sounds to me like dumping the bike was the best option. Chances are that woman's luck will run out eventually, and she'll step out in front of some equally-moronic compatriot who's talking on their phone and not paying attention and it'll be game over. Darwinism at its best. But it's best not to be the other party when that event occurs.

[mrsquirrel]

So you lost your temper and attacked an old lady who stepped out in front of you.

One of the many risks of riding and should be accounted for at all times are pedestrians.Especially out here in Asia where they have less road sense than the west .

You weren't paying attention. Simple as that. You have every right to be angry that you had to dump your bike. You should be angry with yourself.

[ajgeddes]

[djsmnc]

[kurva anjad]

[SuperFly]

I'm really curious to know who would have been at fault if you'd hit her. And that doesn't mean on purpose. Suppose you were unable to make the adjustment, for example.