So this is the start of our three day holiday weekend. Sunday the 14th of February is known as Korean New Year here in K-Town. It is also known as Chinese New Year in China and abroad (I think just because there are more Chinese than anywhere else). FYI- Don't call the new year- Chinese New Year (I made that mistake- several times) because apparently people in K-Town hate the Chinese and they also seem to have some sort of superiority complex. If all else fails just call it Lunar New Year and your are set.
Back to our Saturday. Erin came home after quite the adventure on the bus. Let's just say this: She fell asleep on the bus (I was home-sleeping), Woke up to the driver yelling at her at which time she noticed that the bus was parked in some sort of bus parking lot in the mountains. Far from any signs of modern civilization. She noticed that she was in the mountains somewhere and there was a lot of snow and a lot of hikers. She panicked and went off to find a bus stop where she could catch our trusted #50 bus home. Her version of this story, I am sure is far more amusing, especially since it happened to her. All I know is that she bangs open my door at noon (I was sleeping- remember?) to tell me her wild adventure. Enlightening, but for future reference: Don't wake me when I'm sleeping. I'm like a grizzly after it's been hibernating. I am an unhappy individual in the morning.
Moving on! That afternoon, at two to be exact, we had appointments for manicures and pedicures at the spa. We arrived at The Foot Shop and received a very warm welcome. The ladies handed us slippers so that we could remove our shoes. We were then given keys for our lockers. I panicked for a minute because I thought that I would have to remove my clothes. Side Note: Do you recall when I stated that most traditional spas require people to be butt naked? Well I remembered, quite well in fact. That's why the moment we were led to the locker area- I started having heart palpitations. Our fears were for nothing because we were asked to change into some mustard brown "shorts" that came to my knees. They were ugly as hell but I thought OK why not? So, we exit the locker room and are told to sit on cushions that were on a raised wood paneled platform. We put our feet inside what looked like sinks that were in the floor. They were filled with some sort of hot yellow liquid. I thought to myself that if urine is part of this spa thing then I am so out. I figured out that it wasn't so I relaxed. As we were sitting in our non-pee water thrones, we were stared at by the employees. They would turn at us giggle and mutter something to the others. I would've been pissed because this is what happens in the States at the nail places (minus the giggles and add hostile rapid Korean/Chinese/etc) but I've become accustomed to it. Erin and I are the entertainment everywhere we go.
So our nail ladies get us and they lead us to the fish tank. it looked like a large sink that was in the ground. As soon as the fish saw us they went frantic! They were hopping out of the water swimming close to the surface. I put me feet near the edge of the water and all hell broke loose. I had a mental flash of the scene in that piranha movie where the fish go ballistic and start jumping out of the water. Erin then said "you go first". I then told her "uh, no You go first". She then sighed and stuck her feet in. All the fish rushed to her and started picking at her feet frantically, desperately as if they hadn't been fed in weeks. Erin's eyes are popping as she says "Oh My God!". I then put my feet in and yelp because I'm shocked by the feeling of many fish just picking at me. They were all over the place! Trying to squeeze between the toes, at the heels, on my legs. My first instinct was to get out but I didn't. I sat through it. I am not going to say that it was a pleasant experience but it wasn't painful either. It was just another layer of weird that I have learned to accept in Korea.
The ladies then led us to get our nails done. People who came in to make appointments or get stuff done just stared. I am very proud to say that I have grown accustomed to this. Now, I just look over, stare right back and shrug (the French shrug that I love). I am proud to say that Erin had her first manicure and pedicure ever! She was whining throughout both the mani and pedi because she thought it would be weird having someone rub her feet. She sat through it like a big girl and came out with super cute toes (I am secretly jealous). She had frogs painted on her toes. They couldn't be cuter! I have jet black nails (I feel like my old me again!) and hot pink on my toes. Who cares! I wear socks all day anyway.
Do you want to know what the best part of Korea is? The absolutely no tipping policy they have. I tried to tip but they shook their heads rapidly saying "no!, no!". It felt weird- the whole not tipping thing but it's another thing that I have now grown accustomed to.
Erin and I make our way over to Lotteria (the Korean McDonald's) where I get my tenders and she tries to be adventurous and order the chicken sandwich (since when is a chicken sandwich adventurous? since it comes with the following: chicken, lettuce, mayo, mustard, and last but certainly not least- teriyaki sauce). The colors and the smells on that sandwich are stomach turning. I tell Erin "Uh, that's not right dude" she takes a bite, chews, swallows and then says "No, no it's not". From Lotteria we make our way around Lotte (it's like a super Wal-mart with groceries, clothes, household stuff) where I buy stuff for the packages that I am sending home.
That's it for now, Tomorrow- Sunday 14th is New Years but it's also V-day so everything is closed. Erin and I will be heading with Christina to the scary spa. The one where nudity is the norm and "sigh"- I am sure will be an adventure all by itself. After the spa, we have been invited to dine with Christina's family. Her entire family. Great! More staring- except this time I have to eat what is offered to me... in front of everyone. Can I remind everyone that I don't eat seafood or unidentifiable foods? "Sigh". OK, heading to bed so adios for now.
You are leaving out a few key pieces to that story.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I woke you up BECAUSE you were still sleeping and it was almost 1pm. Spa Day started at 2, remember?
Second, I came crashing into your room to make sure you hadn't left yet.
Third, it wasn't really crashing, it's just that your door opens that loudly.
And finally, I had just survived a mega scary trek into the mountains, and yeah, maybe I wanted to talk about it.