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Published: September 26th 2008
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I woke up this morning and talked to Dad. Mom is apparently having a great time in Missouri and has already found some rocks, although it rained on them. We talked for quite a while, but I had to get ready to go because I wanted to head out to Gaeksa today. I got ready and walked to the main street to pick up a cab. I successfully asked for Gaeksa and the cab driver understood. It’s a miracle! So I took a 10 to 15 minute ride, which cost about $4 total. The driver dropped me off across from the Gaeksa house and I attempted to follow the directions I was given. It has started to sprinkle/rain, but it wasn’t enough to warrant me getting out the umbrella. I walked down the street across from the Gaeksa gate and just kept walking. I saw a bank, but I didn’t know if it was the bank they were talking about. I walked for quite a while and saw a store with three circles and a “1” on the doors, so I thought, “This must be it!” So I went inside. Yes, it was one of the dollar stores, but it wasn’t
the one with three floors, so I still have to go on a quest for that one.
In the dollar store, I managed to pick up many of my school supplies and a few other odds and ends for the kitchen and stuff. I however, didn’t find markers, crayons, a stapler, a hole punch, a case to carry them in, pens, pencils, and Halls for my sore throat. I did get tape, scissors, post-its, paper clips, safety pins, binder clips, and glue sticks. I also got a sharp knife (because all I have is a butter knife), cutting board, and a few other things that I can’t remember. After leaving the small chon won store, I walked all the way down to the end of the street and found another gate-type thing, and I’m not sure what it’s called. The small fence was open, so I walked in and walked around the building. I even walked inside, but there was not much to see. I took a few pictures and then decided to turn back and go to a store that I thought might be the three-story chon won store. I went inside and sure enough, I had found
it. I spent a good hour in there and found everything I needed except the crayons, markers, and Halls.
I left the store and went on my way back to the Gaeksa. There I walked around and took pictures, even though it was raining harder at the time. There were some kids making some kind of straw contraption, and I have no clue what it was for! I left and started walking under the covered walk way toward what Joni refers to as the “Space Ship Thingy” and I went down different streets window shopping. I did some more window shopping down the main street. In America or Canada, these covered brick walks would be off limits to cars and motorcycles, but not here! Every once in a while, you would get a car going really slow because people were walking in front of it. I know if there weren’t people right in front of the car, it would definitely be speeding and swerving because that’s the norm here. I walked for quite a ways passing different specialty shops, and some I even recognized, like the Levi’s store. Soon, I was in a shady looking neighborhood, so I thought
I’d better catch a cab back to the Bone-beyong-won.
The cab driver I got actually spoke some English, and they love getting English speaking passengers so they can practice their conversational skills. Unfortunately, sometimes you feel bad because they don’t know enough to get you to understand what they are talking about. They ask you something and you start talking and then they say, “No, no …” and repeat their question. Unfortunately for me as well, that I don’t know enough Korean yet to communicate back to them. From going into stores and restaurants, I know that “Comsameda” (at least that’s what it sounds like because they say it so fast) means “Welcome” …or is it “Thank you for shopping with us” …yeah, I guess I just know it’s a greeting!
I got home and unloaded my buys. I was so excited too! New school supplies are like Christmas morning for me; I guess it’s a teacher thing. I had forgotten that I didn’t find some of the things I was looking for and remembered I needed to go to E-Mart anyway. I gauged if I wanted to go today or tomorrow, and decided to get it over
with. So I put on my tennis shoes and off to Cart Hell I went.
I remembered to take some E-Mart bags and my Nike cinch bag, so I would have to buy more bags to clutter up my apartment. I now walk there when I’m not pressed for time and it’s a nice walk, only about 10 minutes. I just have to watch out for anything with wheels because they don’t stop! I got to E-Mart and got everything I needed and more. I had a basket and it was over flowing by the time I got done because I kept remembering things I had forgotten to write down. People were starting at me this time, not because I was a Wayguk, but because of my feats of strength with the basket…okay, okay and because I am a Wayguk. I checked out and loaded up my bags and put my liquids in my cinch bag to go on my back, and headed for home.
I got home, feeling as if I had accomplished something because I definitely had a workout with carrying my things home. I managed to pick up some Light Coke to try. It’s Korea’s
version of Diet Coke, and Jino said it’s better. Frankly, when I tried it, it tastes the same. However, if you have one open in your fridge for a while, it tastes flat. So in my experienced opinion, I like American Diet Coke better than Korean Light Coke. I didn’t have anything else to do for the day, so I relaxed with my new school supplies and watched some Scooby-Doo. I ate some chicken for dinner that I had picked up from E-Mart, and it was pretty tasty.
So until next time! Annyeonghikyeseyo!
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Aunt Marshy
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Shop till ya drop!!! What a fun day. You are getting brave going "out" yourself. Take care sore throat!!! HUGS!!!!