At work it was quite busy last week. I still managed to find some time to meet friends for a nice dinner on Wednesday. Faye booked us a table in OKitchen. We had delicious octopus ceviche, beet ravioli, amzing lamb with pistachio crust. Their butterscotch budin was divine. Thursday night was a "office dinner" with a Korean BBQ for a visitor from Sing. I like non-marinated kalbi – but they did not have it.
Friday was a balut night. Roos came from Ulsan. It was great to see her after few months. She moves to Malaysia in few months. For balut dinner we used a voucher for Alsaba which I had from AWC since December. The food was surprisingly good. I got home with balut price. Actually everyone got a price: it was only six of us.
This week I said goodbye to Exit-T. Their last night was yesterday. It was great. I’ll miss them. Given crowds on their last two nights I am not alone.
Yesterday morning I took a taxi to UN Village. The taxi driver was in his 60ties and spoke some broken English. For about 15 min he was badmouthing Korea. He said there is too much alcoholism, people are rude and aggressive, there is a lot of corruption, everything is congested … He proudly showed me his Californian residence card and driving license. I asked him why he did not stay. He said his English is not too good. If I would hate it so much here I would learn a language. Anyway –I was pleasantly surprised how outspoken this taxi ajashi was. There is a first time for everything – including that on Wednesday night coming home with a taxi a driver went out and opened a door for me.
I was taken away with that gesture.
This morning the weather is beautiful. A bit too hot for Bongo. Every 50 m he lays down to rest and cool. We came to a small park and as on Sunday there are many kids playing I kept Bongo on the leash. About five kids and one woman were sitting on a little wall. Kids were eating chips and ice lolies. Bongo approached them. One of the kid seeing Bongo started stomping with her feet. The woman told me “She is scared of a dog”. “I see." was my response. The woman repeated “She is scared of a dog”. There was something in her tone which irritated me so I told her “The dog is not scared of her. As I control my dog, you should control your daughter and help her with her fear”. Then woman told me “But you could move as there are scared”. Well, that got me: “Why should I move? It is your daughter who is cared. So do not shift a responsibility for her fear of a dog to me. Why should I feel bad because of your daughter is afraid of my dog and move? Look at my dog. He does not bark, he does not bite. He is on the leash. He is calm and friendly” The woman told me “ You embarrass me with your anger.” Well, not only should I feel bad her daughter is scared of Bongo, I should also feel bad because I am angry! At that point the girl throw some chips to Bongo. That additionally fueled my anger. I told the woman: "Look what you daughter is doing! She should ask can she give some chips to a dog. Chips are poison for a dog.” I was really mad. At that point Bongo was laying down. Resting and panting. One kid asked me in English why he has such a long eyebrows. I told him I do not know. He than asked why Bongo coughs and I explained it is too hot for him. He wanted to give Bongo a bit of ice lolie. I told him not to. In short kids are nice and curious about Bongo. Instead of helping kids to overcome their fear the woman reinforces it. If I would have a big dog or Bongo would be off the leash charging towards kids I could understand the fear. But to be hysterically afraid of 4.5 kg doggie miserable looking from all the heat on a short leash – well this I do not get. The women did not hug her daughter, or asked me anything about Bongo. Instead she requested I and Bongo leave. Well she got this one wrong. And I doubt she will ever speak to foreigners again. In this country where people eat dogs to improve their stamina (dog penises are special delicacy) dogs should be scared of people. If anyone wants to read about dog meat market please go to KAPS website: http://www.koreananimals.or.kr/english/
Friday was a balut night. Roos came from Ulsan. It was great to see her after few months. She moves to Malaysia in few months. For balut dinner we used a voucher for Alsaba which I had from AWC since December. The food was surprisingly good. I got home with balut price. Actually everyone got a price: it was only six of us.
This week I said goodbye to Exit-T. Their last night was yesterday. It was great. I’ll miss them. Given crowds on their last two nights I am not alone.
Yesterday morning I took a taxi to UN Village. The taxi driver was in his 60ties and spoke some broken English. For about 15 min he was badmouthing Korea. He said there is too much alcoholism, people are rude and aggressive, there is a lot of corruption, everything is congested … He proudly showed me his Californian residence card and driving license. I asked him why he did not stay. He said his English is not too good. If I would hate it so much here I would learn a language. Anyway –I was pleasantly surprised how outspoken this taxi ajashi was. There is a first time for everything – including that on Wednesday night coming home with a taxi a driver went out and opened a door for me.
I was taken away with that gesture.
This morning the weather is beautiful. A bit too hot for Bongo. Every 50 m he lays down to rest and cool. We came to a small park and as on Sunday there are many kids playing I kept Bongo on the leash. About five kids and one woman were sitting on a little wall. Kids were eating chips and ice lolies. Bongo approached them. One of the kid seeing Bongo started stomping with her feet. The woman told me “She is scared of a dog”. “I see." was my response. The woman repeated “She is scared of a dog”. There was something in her tone which irritated me so I told her “The dog is not scared of her. As I control my dog, you should control your daughter and help her with her fear”. Then woman told me “But you could move as there are scared”. Well, that got me: “Why should I move? It is your daughter who is cared. So do not shift a responsibility for her fear of a dog to me. Why should I feel bad because of your daughter is afraid of my dog and move? Look at my dog. He does not bark, he does not bite. He is on the leash. He is calm and friendly” The woman told me “ You embarrass me with your anger.” Well, not only should I feel bad her daughter is scared of Bongo, I should also feel bad because I am angry! At that point the girl throw some chips to Bongo. That additionally fueled my anger. I told the woman: "Look what you daughter is doing! She should ask can she give some chips to a dog. Chips are poison for a dog.” I was really mad. At that point Bongo was laying down. Resting and panting. One kid asked me in English why he has such a long eyebrows. I told him I do not know. He than asked why Bongo coughs and I explained it is too hot for him. He wanted to give Bongo a bit of ice lolie. I told him not to. In short kids are nice and curious about Bongo. Instead of helping kids to overcome their fear the woman reinforces it. If I would have a big dog or Bongo would be off the leash charging towards kids I could understand the fear. But to be hysterically afraid of 4.5 kg doggie miserable looking from all the heat on a short leash – well this I do not get. The women did not hug her daughter, or asked me anything about Bongo. Instead she requested I and Bongo leave. Well she got this one wrong. And I doubt she will ever speak to foreigners again. In this country where people eat dogs to improve their stamina (dog penises are special delicacy) dogs should be scared of people. If anyone wants to read about dog meat market please go to KAPS website: http://www.koreananimals.or.kr/english/
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