Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

I own a small car. After the recent yellow dusting, courtesy of the Chinese, it was in need of a simple wash. I don't wash it very often -- perhaps once every month or two -- and like most people, I consider it a necessary hassle.

Until recently, I travelled far out of my way to reach a small manual car-wash facility between Sangwansimni and the Han River (I hate the extortion prices they charge at some gas stations, as well as their less-than-perfect wash). It was always packed with people, but it was worth the short wait for a cheap wash. Like all busy businesses seem to do in Korea, my favorite car-wash closed for some unexplained reason. It was probably a legitimate business, which I am guessing is why it went under. In its place stands a tall ETLand electronics building, which I find inviting, but not nearly as convenient as my car-wash was.

You can imagine when last week, to my glee, I found a small 3-bay car-wash located within 500 meters of my house on a street I'd never travelled on before. So a few days ago, I drove my car over to this wash and waited in line. My wife was with me. We noticed something odd. There was this very thin little ajumma in her 50s, who was weathered enough to look 70, dodging between the bays and grabbing the spray hose out of the customers' hands. She appeared to be "teaching" them how to wash their own cars. It was obvious she worked there, and the people washing their cars appeared mildly annoyed by this, but they just ignored her mostly.

When it was my turn to wash, I drove in and decided to use the soap brush without putting in any money. The brush was drowning in a bucket-slot full of soap, and I knew there was plenty there to scrub the under-sides of my car down without having to plunk in another 1,000 won.

When the car-wash ajumma saw this, she went absolutely ballistic.

She attempted to rip the scrub brush out of my hands, and began growling loudly in Korean. I yanked the brush back, and told her to "get lost." She grabbed it again, and I noticed some people around the area began to take note, so I let her scold me before she left to grab the spray hose from another lady in the stall next to me, "teaching her" how to wash.

I walked over to the machine and put some money in. I then grabbed BOTH the scrub brush and the spray hose, and within seconds, the old woman was on me -- barking loudly and trying to grab the brush from me.

People began to exit their cars and gather around to watch the 6'2" foreigner try to wash his car as the 5'1" ajumma was pulling on the hose with all of her might.

This prompted my wife to open the door, and a 3-way shouting match insued (my wife was more calm than any of us). My wife interpreted that the old lady was angry because, "using the brush without rinsing first will damage the brush." I replied, "That's Bull-shit, she just wants me to spend more money on a rinse and the soap brush, which I don't need."

My wife interpreted my string of angry swear words to her as, "Why are you being so rude?"

The old woman finally left to hassle yet another customer after I put the scrub brush down.

I was livid.

After the old fart ripped the spray hose out of the customer's hands on the other side, I enacted my revenge. I "accidentally" let a spray loose from my bay over to where she was uninvitingly washing the front bumper of an SUV. It got her, but not well enough from that distance.

I have half a mind to go back there with a camera and a friend to record some good You-Tube footage.

[DaeguKid]

what I got from that is that your cheap. you spent more on gas driving around finding a cheap car wash than on the actual car wash. Do you have old clothes from high school in your closet as well? A dollar, a freaking dollar???
DK

[bassexpander]

[crusher_of_heads]

[DaeguKid]

[cbclark4]

[DaeguKid]

[RACETRAITOR]

This reminds me of the time I went to Outback and ordered bread for 30 minutes until they told me to leave. Cheap bastards.

[Cheonmunka]

You've pretty much gotta give respect to the cleaning lady. It's actually a Korean proverb, a 속담.
She's obviously in charge of the machines and making sure people pay. At the same time she's trying to be useful. If you put the money in she might have come and washed your car herself. Anyway, I know what you mean but I think it's more fighting against the grain that it was ...
Yesterday I parked the way I always do and reversed into a spot in the outdoor carpark at an apartment - facing to the road part to make a quick getaway. The kwali ajoshi comes over and says, "You've gotta go in forwards.' I ask why. He tells me it's because of the damage done to the trees by the exhaust gases when you reverse in with the pipes towards the 'garden' and trees. I look at the trees. The trunks were all black. Miserable looking species. They should be uprooted and put into sawdust. Nevermind though, they were still living (just) so it was a fair enough reason and it was one I'd never have thought of.
I let the system stand, on the most part. I can't be bothered fighting over minor stuff (anymore.) It would often prove me wrong also.

[poet13]

Unlike the washing lady, the parking explanation makes perfect sense, and I would have no problem moving my car. Car wash lady needs a little sexytime to help her relax.

[fortysixyou]

[Bibbitybop]

BassExpander, please post directions to this car wash so a few buddies with a few beers and go there and cheer every time the ajumma snatches the hose. I'd love to see her face as half a dozen whities cheer her on.

[poet13]

Yes please. I would pay a few bucks to see that.

[Cheonmunka]

It seems she was merely doing her job, the one that she is employed to do.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]