Charpie's Travels

The Good - Sleeping later than 8am - Church - Lunch in Buddha's Belly - Three variations of rice in one day - Post-lunch vanilla frappe - Pre-dinner caramel macchiato The Bad - No unni visit today - Complainer Quota exceeded - Watching drunk man collapse after being kicked out of restaurant The Stellar - Coconut beef curry - Coat-free temperatures - Clear blue sky - Exploring downtown with Bethel - Dinner with Amy - Mouse (rat?) scurrying through floor-seating restaurant - Being given a rose - Hearing two people say "shimmy" in one day

Between my house and the subway station, there is a small bakery. I stop there sometimes...mainly for mocha bread. When I went in a couple weekends ago, a new girl was working. "Helloooo!!" I rarely am greeted in English and, with the exception of a few pre-kinder kids, no one sounds that excited when they see me. She asked the usual questions about where I'm from, informed me that English is very hard, and picked out an extra pastry for me.  "Service-uh," she said as she stuffed it in my purse. That's Korean for "this one is free."  Sunday morning I stopped again for mocha bread and a coffee. Same worker, same enthusiastic greeting. Well, possibly more enthusiastic. She even remembered my name! I realize I don't exactly blend in here, but I still thought it impressive that she remembered my name. Among other things, she established that she is my "big sister." In Korea, you are friends with people who are the same age a...

The couple sitting beside me is perfectly stereotypical. She uses her baby voice and whines. They each ordered a coffee and waffle, but he still feeds her his food. Partway through, they break for a cute cellphone photo op. It occurs to me that, of all the solo patrons here, I am the only female. And while the others appear to be doing important things on their laptops and cellphones, I bet you a latte at least half of them are just putting on a good show. Like me. The guy in the corner quit pretending a while back and settled in for a nap. A group of women occupies a few tables in front of me. Their conversation is animated but incredibly quiet. As they sign back and forth, they pause occasionally to pass stacks of Won across the table. If I ever write a mystery novel, they'll be in it.