Another Bad Cab Ride

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More fun in Yeongcheon today. There were no classes, since the children were taking exams until noon, and then leaving school early. At noon, I ate lunch with the middle school grade three teachers. We had fried mandoo (fried dumplings with pork and veggies inside - delicious) and seafood in spicy sauce. I picked out all the shrimp and left the tentacles for the other teachers :D

Around 2 pm, they told me I could go home. I did a little happy dance! I needed to do some stuff at the bank and post ofice before they closed, anyway. I got my bank stuff done, then did some shopping. I found these hilarious stationery sets and decided to get them. They have the cutest pictures with poorly written English sentences all over them. I'm not trying to make fun of their English, I just thought it was really cute.

Anyway, so I sent a test-letter to Edward to see if it would come back or not. I wrote the address in English, so we'll see! After the post office, I caught a taxi home. The driver kept tryng to talk to me, but I didn't understand what he was saying. I noticed he started driving the wrong direction, so I said, in Korean, "YeongHwa Elementary, right?" He said, "Yes."

After a few more minutes, I realized were were going the exact opposite way of where I live. I figured he thought I said YeongCHEON Elementary, so I tried to clarify. I said, "YeongHWA Elementary, yes. YeongCHEON Elementary, NO." I pointed in the direction of where I believed my apartment was, but he ignored me and kept driving.

I had another brilliant thought. I would type it in my phone, and translate it for him! I typed, "wrong direction" and showed him. He grabbed my phone and started to look though it WHILE HE WAS FREAKING DRIVING. The curvy roads circling the mountains, in addition to his swerving, made me think this might be my last cab ride.

He gave my phone back after a minute or so. I put my phone up. No more playing with my phone, old man! Yet another brilliant idea occured to me. I got out my Korean phrases book to look for a phrase that might help. Before I even opened it, the damn driver pulled it out of my hands!

This dude started FLIPPING THROUGH THE PAGES. It wouldn't have bothered me if he hadn't been driving 60 mph over mountainous terrain with traffic on either side of us. I closed my eyes and waiting for my impending doom.

Well, it didn't come just then. He stopped at Englishtown. Again, I said, "ANIYO." That means no in Korean. I repeated myself. YeongHWAChoDeungHakKyo! (YeongHwa Elementary). He seemed confused, then took me to the right place. It was a 5 - 10 minute ride. We finally get to my apartment, and he says, "Ohh. YeongHWAChoDeungHakKyo." ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH!!!

He charged me the entire fare, which was about 5 times what I would have paid if he hadn't messed up. I paid begrudgingly. He shook my hand and I shot him a dirty look. He smiled and said, "Goodbye, beautiful girl." I was about to punch him in the throat, but I was too tied and decided to let him live. This time.

I need a drink. And I'm going to get one! Jean invited me to dinner with her and DongYun. We're having sake - Japanese liquor. That's right, Japanese liquor in Korea. I still love this place.

That reminds me - Jessica Thomas and Mai Dow, I have an announcement to make... I found a perfect place for our girls' days. Please see the attached picture ;)

Have a good one, y'all!

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