she must be from around daegu...

just a brief little story to celebrate my improved korean conversation skills:

this week while walking in the subway terminal I was approached by not one, not two, not three, but FOUR strangers and was asked questions about directions, if i wanted to join a church, and the subway system.   i'm astounded by how often i am approached by strangers.  seriously, there will be crowds of people passing by and strangers will single me out and ask me for directions.  i must have a sign stamped on my forehead that says, "hey, you!  got a question?  ask me so I can stutter in korean that I have no clue." : ) not only is my korean bad but my directional skills are worse!

but this week...this week was different.  I had four successful mini conversations with strangers like a real daegu local!  granted, i didn't know the answers to all of their questions, but i was able to carry a conversation without using lots of "uhs" and "ahs" and long pauses.  

four months ago i would have turned every stranger who approached me away with a polite, "i'm sorry.  i have no idea."  but now, four months later, i can converse with people and they don't even seem to notice my broken korean.   i'm glad.  it feels good to be seen as a local.

so, to all you strangers out there, keep the questions coming!  but, i wouldn't follow any of my directions if i were you...