Random Meetings

So I jumped on the subway this evening to head home after my Bible Study and there was a scruffy looking foreigner surrounded by luggage, obviously newly arrived in Korea. I was feeling anti-social so studiously avoided making eye contact, but peeking at his luggage I suddenly noticed the tag AKL. So of course I had to talk to him :-)

Turns out his name is Anton and he's from Christchurch - but has been living in Queensland for the last 6 years so has missed all the earthquakes. Is in Korea for a Holiday, (with a huge amount of luggage for just a holiday, more than I bought for an entire year ... but I was good and didn't mention that!) He's looked after poultry for 17 years and decided it was time for a change. Chose Korea because he has friends here. Amazing how much you can find out about a person in just 2 stops.

People really are interesting and I am resolving to talk to one random foreigner per week this year - I'm never going to see them again so it really doesn't matter what happens and I'll hopefully have some interesting encounters ...

Happy New Year Lovely People!!

Bargaining

Did my first bit of bargaining today - accidentally, as is the way that many of my adventures occur ...

Currently I am always on the look out for things to wear to increase the layers of warmth, tending to wear 5 or 6 layers at a time these days. (All that fat I've, lost - everyday I carefully build myself back to that size with multiple layers of clothes!) And, people keep telling me that the cold is going to get worse - I try not to listen, but you can only put your hands over your ears and shout "LALALALALALA" if you know what their going to say ...

Anyway, today I saw a street stall selling some interesting looking ponchos, so I stopped to take a closer look. The lady minding the stall imediately sprung into action, "hand crocheted, special wool, etc, etc, etc!" I tried on a green one and she tried to get me to buy it for 55,000won (around $55 - give or take the exchange rate.) I said "no, I don't like it that much", and was about to walk away - actually I wasn't sure I liked it enough to buy it full stop. Anyway, as I'm saying "I'll think about it," she starts saying "What is a good price?" over and over again. So I decided to be ridiculous just to escape, and said 10,000won. She looked at me as if I was mad and eventually she sold it to me for 25,000won.

I'm such a soft touch - she looked like she was about to cry. So now I have warm shoulders, this is a very short poncho - only covers from the shoulders to half way to my waist ... but its also green, matches my eyes ...
I think I'm glad I bought it ...