I wanted to talk about some of the nicest people I met in Korea at a passing chance. It warms my heart to think of these people and how I was treated in South Korea. This is all about the strangers in Korea, of course, I met some of the best people on earth as my friends and colleagues as well.
To the worker at 이공김밥 the absolute homiest restaurant, I went to in Korea. She was always at the cashier counter and took special attention to Kimberly and me when we ate there 2-3 times a week. She would give us free soda secretly every time we went there and start small conversations in Korean. We gave her a free doughnut because in a way she felt like a constant in my life in Korea, like a guardian, someone who cares. I know it seems very small, but having a stranger in Korea truly cares about you and shows it helps a lot when you feel alone. When it was my last week in Korea, we went to the snack shop for "the last time" and told her this. She said NO and told us to come back at least once more and we did (:
To the group of old men hikers on Bukhansan (mountain), when we were getting lost and I was losing faith this group of 6-7 old men came to the rescue. One of them was an English teacher and two others knew English enough to ask us all kinds of questions while we hiked in one big clump of a group. Where we are from, what school, what we study all types of things. They were so kind and even took pictures of Kimberly, Verena and me to have mementos of the hike! The path was so hard to follow sometime because I swear there are no signs on the mountain but they led us up to the top! When I took a break and stayed on a little lower level from the peak one of them stayed with me and we enjoyed the view. They made sure we were safe and helped us have a great hike up Bukhansan.
To the worker at the dwaeji gukbap restaurant in Haeundae Busan. We were feeling sick and tired from the trip and wanted to try the soup of healing. It is a rice and broth soup with pig intestines, tastes great but the texture was definitely not for me. Our waitress was from Chicago and talked to us about what to see and do near us. She made us feel welcome in the city (sometimes you don't feel super welcome if this seems like a common theme) and started off our trip well.
To the children on the beach in Yeosu, who waved and came up to us to talk in English. Yeosu was one of the prettiest trips we took BUT we rarely talked to any Koreans and felt a bit excluded from the city. On the beach, we played with rocks and tanned and a family was also around us. The children slowly came up to us and introduced themselves and said hi and ran away. It was so cute to have the little conversations with them and see their confidence grow to talk to us. This was the best day in Yeosu except I burned a circle on my back from the sun.
To the couple who noticed when a bee started harassing Kimberly and me at a cafe. They made us not look dumb and he tried to swat the bee away, but it did fall into Kimberly's tea (it was a fail). They apologized and another person got the worker so Kimberly could get another free drink. I cried laughing so hard during this entire event. Happy that others were looking out for us and our fear of bees.
To the girls in the club bathroom, and many there were, that helped us escape the men that were creeping on us at the club. We almost always felt safe in the clubs because there was a network of people looking out for you. If you know the bartender it makes it safer. The people you meet help you watch your drink or wallet. And nice girls will push away the creepy men!
To the woman that works at the Korean Health Insurance headquarters. Thank you for helping me discontinue my $50 payments. I went in ill-prepared for my appointment but she was so patient and helped me. I also was not able to do what I first expected so she altered the requirements and helped me save $300! I always appreciate someone helping me save money.
There are many other great stories but these stuck out to me. Nice people exist everywhere and we should remember the kindness shown to us!
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