Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Qinella]

I love talking to random children in Korea. Today I got the chance to talk to two. One of them, a really tiny kid maybe in 1st grade, saw me outside smoking a cigarette and stopped to look at me. I smiled and waved, so she came toward me and stopped at a safe 6 feet away and didn't know what to say to me, so I asked her where she was going (and yes I put out the stoge ). That opened her up, and she was asking me if I live around here, if the building I'm in front of is where I like to play, what do foreigners call "hagwon". I told her we just say hagwon and she was stunned! Yeah, I explained we have several Korean words we use: Taekwondo, waygookin, etc. She had a little drawing in her hand and turned into a defensive ball of smiles when I asked to see it. It was just for fun! Not a good drawing to show you!

So then she started telling me about someone (I didn't catch the subject) talks about how people from other countries sound. She imitated the person, speaking absolute nonsense at a rapid pace, and finally ending the crazy sentence with "대머리". Huh? Who is 대머리? Me? "아니에요! 머리카락있잖아요! 그냥, 다른 나라 사람..." Man I was so confused, but she performed her little spiel two more times for me. Hilarious. The passing ajumas and halmonis were staring at her and me like we were insane.

The other youngin I met today was at Carrefour. I was at the lockers getting my bag, and I looked over at this little guy looking eagerly at the dog cages. I asked him if there's a dog, and he looked hopeful. But, no dogs. He asked if I'm a foreigner, and I was like.. No, can't you see I'm Korean? He was a little confused, but seemed to almost believe it. Then I asked him about cats, and taught him a new Korean word (간사한) before his mother yelled for him and looked at me suspiciously.

Anyway, I find that the kids around kindergarten to second grade are so fun to talk with. They're usually very polite, and oh so curious. And, they'll believe almost anything. I've gotten a lot of random children to believe I'm from Mars. Hey, it could be true!

Q.