katy brought her neighbor, who i met last night, to go to hongdae with us.
we started walking to the subway station
and i was dying
dying
i just was like "...um....i don't know if i can make it...tonight"
as in, like, i don't know if i will survive
but they didn't want to go either!
i still felt like a real partypooper
we ate noodles and i felt a little better
i don't think i like the neighbor guy, matt
but i've never known a matt who wasn't bad news
this matt talks too loud
and brags
and lumbers
and picks at his teeth with chopsticks
and isn't funny but thinks he is
but maybe i just don't like him
because being around him made me feel like i was gonna toss my kimchi
on the walk back from the noodle place he goes:
"koreans think their hair will fall out if it gets rained on"
at this point, i was so annoyed that i was just like
"no! I don't believe you!"
"oh but koreans will believe anything."
"no way"
"your hair won't fall out"
"yeah, i know. i just don't believe that they all really think that"
"well, not all of them...i mean, i was just SAYING"
and then he pouts!
i hate calling people out on their ignorant bullshit
i always feel petty and mean after
but sometimes the temptation is TOO GREAT!
i must restrain myself.
my social skills are just so rusty.
i have conversations like
"hey...so! what's up? what's....happening?"
and when people compliment me, i laugh
i have lost all social graces
anyway!
all i could think as matt talked and talked was
"this is why koreans think americans are clumsy and loud and gross"
i basically felt like an asshole the whole time because he was actually nice
and there i was hating on him even as he dished out helpful ilsan tips!
he just had such an offputting presence!
and so i hated him even more because i resented that he made me feel guilty for hating him.
get it?
3 comments:
it's true that some koreans (and i think some japanese) try to avoid the acid rain (http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/health.html). as small countries both have been struggling with environmental conditions and dealing with pollution. but the reason moms usually tell the kids that their hair is going to fall off is to just get them to wear an umbrella. and maybe some people actually believe it. it's like any other urban legends. koreans have funny sayings about how hair will grow on your bum if you do such and such, etc. haha i think matt was trying to over-generalize to impress you girl. maybe he liiiikes youuuu...or maybe he's just a misguided guy.
"So, we went off out into the rain, and despite me already being wet she forced me under her umbrella telling me that Koreans believe if they get rained on their hair will fall out". Ha, this is from a blog of another American who is teaching in Korea. I think Matty likes Claire teacher.
It sounds likes the poor boy just needs a little guidance -- if you know what I mean. Straighten him out, Claire!
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