Welcome to a new series I’d like to call, The Life of Anonymous Celebrity. It will be comprised of short scenes that have taken place so far. As a foreigner, I already look different. But the fact that everyone in this country worships English makes me even more conspicuous.
So, without further delay:
Life of Anonymous Celebrity Part 1 (will from here on out be referred to as LAC)
One day I was at Hyundai Department store, Basement 1 where all the food is, with Kenny’s mom. I was sick (again). So she asked me if I wouldn’t like some gelato. Seeing as I had been in the country for over 2 months without a DROP of ice cream, I figure why not. So we step up to the counter and the girl behind it immediately dips a popsicle stick into two different kinds of chocolate based gelato and hands it to me to try. I pick just regular chocolate.
Two weeks later, I walk into the same Hyundai Department store, Basement 1, with Kenny. We are in search of the lovely gelato I’ve been raving about ever since I had it the first time. 4 counters away, the girl behind the gelato stand spots me and immediately begins waving frantically, smiling, and yelling, “Annyanghaseyo!” Oh good grief. I’m across the store and already a walking “stare at me because I’m white” sign. When we walk up, she treats me like royalty. There’s no waiting to see what kind of samples I would like. She just starts shoving popsicle sticks at us. She’s so very happy to fulfill our every gelato whim.
I've been twice and the gelato girl “knows” me. See? Immediate popularity. The pros: it’s nice to see a friendly face, even if she’s just smiling because she knows the chubb-o will give her money in exchange for a small amount of chocolate goodness in a cup. The cons: it’s a bit embarrassing. Why can’t the fresh fruit juice lady remember me? Or the mandu lady? Like something Korean and not particularly calorie laden.
The kebab guy knows me, too. Eh, what can you do?
5.12.2008
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Yeah, I know what you mean about that "race sign". It sucks, doesn't it? But look at at the bright side: At least you get treated like royalty and not one of the following:
ReplyDelete1- Someone likely to blow us all to smithereens.
2- Someone who is undoubtedly oppressing that covered-up lady whos' with him (nevermind that that "covered-up lady" is my mom and SHE bosses ME around all day.)
3- Someone from a "third-world" country who probably has lots of cash and not much else.
4-All of the above.
ok what was I then ? a transparant man?
ReplyDeleteYep, that's the hard life of a displaced citizen!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, by the way. Your adventures in Korea are so intriguing!
My husband thinks I'm stupid for chatting up our oil change guy.
ReplyDeleteEh, what can you do...
I didn't mean to laugh out loud at this blog, but you referred to yourself as chubbo-o, which caught me off-guard....By the way, chubby v.s. thick: 2 completely different things. You should be able to tell them apart by now, especially when speaking of yourself.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry. Does that make me thick or chubby? And Chubb-O or Chubs, is different that just plain chubby. It's when your chubby has become a part of you that you love and nourish. Thankyouverymuch.
ReplyDeletedifferent "than" not different that. Ah, that's what I get for asking questions!
ReplyDelete