a rose by any other name..

“I think I’ve stumbled into the periphery of wisdom..”

Today was a  girls’ day out in the nearby major city of Gwangju with Mel 1 and Mel 2, my Canadian friends. We drove over an hour to go to a hairdresser Mel 2 recommended. (A recommendation from another foreigner is a must, when choosing a hairdresser here. We all have too many horror stories!) We spent hours in the hair salon, having weird and wonderful things done to our hair, with all kinds of weird and wonderful apparatus. (apparati?) So not like the hairdressers at home!  We didn’t get offered a cup of tea or coffee. Oh no. This is Korea! We were served with cigarettes and lollypops. When the hairdresser offered me the cigarette and lighter, I kept saying, “Now? I can smoke now?”  He and the other two stylists were all nodding and saying yes. I just sat there with stage fright, saying over and over, “Now? You mean, right now? I can smoke? Now? Like, light up right here and now?” 

Driving home, after the hairsalon:

Mel 2: He’s gay, you know.

Me: How do you know?

Mel 2: He’s Bone Suck.       (That’s what it sounded like, anyhow.)

Me: Really? I couldn’t tell.  How can you tell if guys are bone sucks anyhow?   

Mel 2: (Laughing her head off)  Noooo! Bong Sook is his name!

—————

Ahh.. Korea.

Frustrating though it is sometimes (who am I, Yoda?)  I must admit, it’s cool living here.

Very cinematic, baby.