today on my way back from the Seoul Drum Festival - which was awesome btw, even more awesome than forgetting to bring my SD media card, grrr! - i had an experience unlike any other.
it was about 10 pm and i was walking down a dimly lit alley that stretched a few blocks. a 20-foot tall barrier wall (separating construction) is along the one side, and many little 50 year old one-story hut-like houses are along the other. i see a car coming my direction - it's pretty big; the headlights are spread far apart so i know i will have to stand to the side of the road, close to the homes to allow the vehicle to pass through the narrow alley. i stand off to the side as the now more visible van pulls through but instead of zooming by like most koreans do without any regard to pedestrian safety the van stops, right next to me. i'm at the driver's side, standing about where the front wheel is and i see that a man's hand is hanging out the window dangling like a limp, dead fish which is actually the standard korean "come here" motion. i assume the man is about to ask me for directions, he must not realize i'm a miguk. so i stand there and lean closer to get out from under the shadows and show him my face, he's sure to drive off when he sees that i'm not kroean. and that's when reality took a sharp u-turn on the road called 'my expectations'.
SURPRISE!
as i look at his face i see that his head is tilted up a little and his eyes are rolled back (like he's having a seizure), but wait, what's that jerking motion he's doing in his lap, oh ... oh no ... is that what i think it ... ahhhhh ... don't look, don't look, you'll be ruined by his perversion, get the hell out of here, this guy's a total freak! then he tries to grab me with his now lively outstretched hand, but it was no match for me because i left him in my dust! anyway, this guy wasn't in any shape to catch me. he couldn't catch a bus if he wanted to. it was kinda like that trick where you try to pat the top of your head repeatedly while at the same time rubbing circles continuously on your belly with your other hand - it's hard to coordinate; it was clear this guy let his one hand take priority of the task it was performing over the task of the other hand.
Byeontae (변태) is the Korean word for pervert. Just a quick lesson from the Land of the Morning Calm to where ever you are!
PS: i haven't forgotten about my 365 days in Korea post ... i'm not done with my
4 comments:
Susie! Ok....thank God that's ALL it was (even though it's GROSS!) But you need to stay out of those DARK ALLIES at night...it could have been something far worse, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that now, do I??? (Sorry being a mom here).
More importantly...woke up to the news of nucleur testing in Korea - how has this affected you, are you anywhere near this? I am quite concerned!!!
What a shame you didn't have your SD card. You could have photographed him and his number plate and taken them to the cops.
just another crazy adventure...reminds me of the time when i was in high school and i was walking along mochican road with one of my girlfriends and this guy drove by in a really beat up green car with a torn roof and stopped right next to where we were walking and when we bent down to look in the car, yep...same thing...barf!....needless to say, he ate a bit of my dust too! way to move those little legs of yours soo! I love ya!
hi tracie: yeah, i made a mental note of that - no more allies at night - stick to the main streets. :-)
annon: that was the absolute farthest thing from my mind ... but a good idea nonetheless!
mom: although i was totally creeped out by that experience i still LOVE LOVE LOVE the new place that i live for all of it's charm, character and conveniences. seems really odd that such a sleazy thing happened in this area because it feels so neighborly. but don't worry - i'm always looking out for my safety. you are not the only one who doesn't want me to get hurt! ;-)
bib sis: yes, i do remember that happening, and like you, i will ~always~ remember that, ahem, "experience"
Post a Comment