every morning, i wake up at 4:42. why? because 42 is my lucky number, because 4:30 seems too early, 5 seems too late, and 4:45 is too generic. so i get up at 4:42. my alarm goes off and i curse myself for taking a job that requires me to be there by 6:30. i roll out of bed, wash my face, get dressed, make espresso and cereal, make my face and hair look presentable to the world, check my email, leave. i am out the door by 5:55. (god, that is too early) i walk to the bus stop and am on the bus by 6:05.
i take the 143, 150, 160, 161, and 273. now, i understand that none of this means anything to you. (well, unless you are my stalker, and in that case, really, im not that interesting.)
today was no different than any other, except that i wore a new pair of heels (very cute, btw, some new jcrews ive been waiting to break out...but wanted my students to feel comfortable with me before i became a vrai giant on them). i strutted to the bus stop, listening to some french pop, wearing my black beret. i felt so french in a rather, um, korean city. at the bus stop, i saw a different message on the marquee (normally it says how long it will be until each bus arrives). the message, of course, was in hangul, and as i cannot yet read hangul, i hoped that a bus would still come. i saw the 151 and thought, 'sweet, there's my bus...haha i dont need to read hangul!'
i got on the bus, feeling quite happy with the current state of my morning.
then i looked up at the bus map, which has a large '151' next to the stops.
please consult above list of bus numbers that take pussycat to and from school. there is no 151.
panic set in and i jumped up, pushing the stop button and swiping my bus card, hoping that the bus would stop at a place where one of the correct buses would come. no such luck. the bus turned down a weird street and i was a tad lost. my area is pretty navigable, but at 6:15 am, it is dark and hard to figure anything out. i crossed the street and tried to grasp my bearings. again, no such luck. i saw one of the correct buses coming my way, of course passing me and continuing down the street. i figured that i could ruin my new heels or try to get a taxi.
said necessary taxi came and like a new yorker, i hailed that baby down, saying 'jongno samga' as i entered. i got in, made sure i had enough money for a cab (they're quite cheap here, but i am not one to keep cash on me...that is so 90s), and then had a good little chuckle at how silly i had been. every morning when i see the 151, i have to catch myself from not going on it, wondering where i would end up if i made the mistake and got on. i nearly found out this morning.
i strolled into work, telling my coworkers at how dumb i had been. i do believe that i had far too much excitement before 7 am than should be allowed in korea. this is a conservative society; fun should not be had at such an hour (unless, of course, it is still being had from the night before).
classes were fine, nothing overly exciting today. it is pepero day today. pepero is a cookie company in korea. they make these little stick cookies that are dipped in chocolate, sometimes in almonds, too. i think they are called poky in america. you are supposed to give pepero to your bf/gf. some of the other teachers got pepero; haha i got none. i did get a chocolate and a cream puff from one class. i find it so entertaining that america isn't the only country that makes up holidays to sell products (ahem hallmark). the reason that this day is pepero day is because it is november 11 (11/11). the cookies are sticks and they look like 11/11. genius.
i do believe that one of my students has a little, teeny crush on yours truly. he is darling, but brought no pepero for class. he did show up late, however, due to him not being able to fall asleep last night, as he was tossing and turning because he was lonely and needs a girlfriend. he may be darling, but i dont think that i work well with needy man. ah c'est la vie.
after class today, i opened up a korean bank account all by myself. it was amazing, the girl took my alien registration card (IT FINALLY CAME! NOW I REALLY EXIST IN KOREA!) and passport and within 20 minutes, i had a bank book and a bank card. i even got to pick my own pin number. it was weird being able to just have a bank card handed to you. very efficient.
tomorrow, i will get a phone. and maybe get internet set up in my name. babysteps.
and i will not get on the 151 tomorrow.
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