English
Talking on the phone with friends and family recently, I realized how awkward my converstation skills have become. I spend a lot of time alone, and when I'm not alone I am usually conversing with Korean children whose English skills are less than stellar. I thought I would share an example of an actual conversation I had with a Korean man that works at my school that speaks limited English to help you understand both how limited my English usage is and the kind of conversations that fill my days here in Korea.
(The following takes place on the cement paddock that sits behind my school. I was on a break and smoking a cigarette as was my coworker. There was a harsh cold wind blowing as we both sucked down our smokes as quickly as we could)
Me: It's cold.
Coworker: Cold?
Me: The weather. The weather is cold.
Coworker: Ahh...Cold.
Me: It is nice. Not hot.
Coworker: Nice?
Me: I like cold. (patting my stomach) Fat man likes cold - no sweat.
Coworker: (laughing)
(At this point I flick my cigarette down towards the back of an apartment building. I regularly aim for this slab of concrete that is inside a large metal cage - today I nailed it and was quite proud of myself)
Coworker: Gas! That gas! (followed by laughter)
Was he serious? The laughter told me that it was either a joke or he found it hilarious that I had possibly just set into motion a series of events that may lead to the school exploding or burning down. To be on the safe side, I don't think I will be aiming for that slab of concrete anymore. Encounters like this one happen all the time. I use a limited amount of English and body language to get across a thought or idea and leave the conversation terrified that I may be blowing up a school (or disgracing an ancient custom or simply coming across as an asshole).
This last weekend I began working out of a book titled "Survival Korean" and I learned the first set of characters. I am excited to learn to read the weird code that everything is written in in this country. If I can start to speak just simple sayings, I feel like I could become a much more effective citizen. And hell, if it helps me get a little ass, that wouldn't be bad either.
Love from Seoul
(The following takes place on the cement paddock that sits behind my school. I was on a break and smoking a cigarette as was my coworker. There was a harsh cold wind blowing as we both sucked down our smokes as quickly as we could)
Me: It's cold.
Coworker: Cold?
Me: The weather. The weather is cold.
Coworker: Ahh...Cold.
Me: It is nice. Not hot.
Coworker: Nice?
Me: I like cold. (patting my stomach) Fat man likes cold - no sweat.
Coworker: (laughing)
(At this point I flick my cigarette down towards the back of an apartment building. I regularly aim for this slab of concrete that is inside a large metal cage - today I nailed it and was quite proud of myself)
Coworker: Gas! That gas! (followed by laughter)
Was he serious? The laughter told me that it was either a joke or he found it hilarious that I had possibly just set into motion a series of events that may lead to the school exploding or burning down. To be on the safe side, I don't think I will be aiming for that slab of concrete anymore. Encounters like this one happen all the time. I use a limited amount of English and body language to get across a thought or idea and leave the conversation terrified that I may be blowing up a school (or disgracing an ancient custom or simply coming across as an asshole).
This last weekend I began working out of a book titled "Survival Korean" and I learned the first set of characters. I am excited to learn to read the weird code that everything is written in in this country. If I can start to speak just simple sayings, I feel like I could become a much more effective citizen. And hell, if it helps me get a little ass, that wouldn't be bad either.
Love from Seoul
posted by Kyle at 10:19 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home