Super Self Conscious

I walked home from the subway earlier this week and a man walking down the street was harassing another man in Korean. I think he was a little crazy. But, when I walked passed him to get to my house, he started laughing. Then in the best English he could muster he screamed out BIG MAN BIG MAN!! I gave it a chuckle and walked on my way.

This weekend I decided to "go on a hike." To all of the English teachers in Daegu, apparently a "hike" means mountain climbing. I was not aware of this double meaning. A hike where I'm from means taking a stroll in the park, maybe on some woodsy trails...not scaling a mountain! I'm trudging up this mountain, while my little group climbed with ease. I didn't want to slow them down so I let them go ahead while I took a rest. All the while little children, parents, and old people, out for some light exercise, stared at the winded white guy on the sidelines.  I found a friend walking down the mountain who wanted to catch the cable car to the top...she decided the rest of the mountain was worse then what we already climbed. We went all the way down to find out the cable car wasn't in service today...ugh. So we left. I filled my failure with some dinner and a tasty waffle...lol.

I met my third graders today....super cute. In one class, a boy just kept staring and staring...which is not really that abnormal. Until...I walked down the rows to check their pronunciation of the day's key expressions. I got to his desk and that's when I followed the boys eyes from his desk in front of him to my knees, my thighs, my waist, my belly, my chest and then his eyes landed on mine. And with complete sincerity and honesty he asked..."Umm...are you a giant?" To which I smiled and gave him a quick "no."

Fast forward to later today. I got off the bus and hopped into "Pitabono" to get a tasty miso chicken pita sandwich....yum yum. A cute old woman spoke in fast Korean and when she saw the "I-have-no-idea-what-you-just-said" face she motioned for me to get a chair. When my turn came, I told the lady behind the counter what I wanted and gave a man some money. Out of nowhere, a man came and asked me in descent English if I would like to come to the opening ceremony tomorrow because this is his wife's new  shop. I said...maybe. After some small talk, he gave me a look from head to toe and said you are a very handsome young man...I like your round eyes. :)

These stories are a small compilation in a small amount of time of what it feels like to be different. I've never felt fatter, taller, whiter, and oddly...more handsome then when surrounded by Koreans. They each have their different take on what I look like. Some see my eyes and stare at them. Some see my smile and they smile too. Some see my belly and look away. Some glance from my knees to my face and wonder how I got so tall. :)

And now that I've typed out this jumbled mess of thought, of which I hope you are following without too much trouble...I've come to a certain realization. I can't get shorter. I can't get my eyes to change their shape. I can't change my skin color. But, the one thing I can change involves a lot of gym hours...and there are bound to be a few around my house. I'm thinking that will be my new goal...