In the past week, every day I have gone somewhere kids have been saying hello and hi. Now this is probably the only English some of them know but it has been interesting.
It all started a week ago when I went and opened up a checking account. That was actually fun in itself. Praise God someone was with me who could speak Korean.
On my way home I walked by four teenage girls. As I walked by they said Hi! Now I hesitated....do I say hello back, hi back, or "annyong haseyo"? I choose to speak English, since that was really what they wanted. We had a little exchange and then after I had past I still heard them talking about it and repeating our short conversation. It was very funny to hear them.
I then walked by two more girls, almost the same thing happened. This time however, the girl knew a little more English and asked where I was from. And said she was sorry for bothering me. I let her know that it was no bother, but my pleasure to talk to her. I made her smile when I attempted to say bye in Korean.
Also there are two little boys that I see all the time around the apartment building. These two always smile at me, or at least look. So one day I decided to say "annyong haseyo", they began giggling and as they got on the elevator I heard them say "ajumoni". Which is a polite way to say older women, kind of like in referring to an aunt. But it also means a married women, and trust me you don't want to cross an "ajumoni". I am actually more like an "agashi". At my age I should be the first, but since I look younger and am not married, I am more like the second. I am not for sure how I should have taken this, but hay, these little ones where maybe 4 years old. Just made smile.
One night a bunch of boys were playing and they said Hi, but of course no matter what form of this I use and whether or not it is English or Korean, still gets them amused. They always giggle and I hear them talking about it after I pass.
Last night on the way home as I walked by the park, a little girl said hi. So I said it back and it amused the women who was walking her bike next to me.
On Saturday, us girls saw one of my little boys I see all the time out by himself (which is not unusual to see here), but he only had a t-shirt on. Yes, you could see some little parts that in that setting and place you should not be seeing.
I am going to miss these cute little ones when we move to the new neighborhood. Hopefully, there will be more there to get to know. I still need to figure out if my speaking English or Korean is funnier to them!!
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