I am perpetually amazed by the kindness and helpfulness of the Koreans I have met in my first 11 days abroad. I know we all fear being ostracized and abused while traveling in a country whose language we don't speak, but Korea never fails to floor me with their kindness. The following is one of latest examples of how Koreans go above and beyond for others:
As with many mornings so far I found myself at Hongcheon bus terminal. I was fumbling through the anglicized Korean the former EPIK teacher had left behind to get me where I needed go. I had arrived around 7:30am, having heard that the bus ride to Samsaeng Elementary School takes about 50 minutes. I managed to get the correct ticket and even find the right platform to wait for the bus. After asking 3 bus drivers in broken Korean whether or not they were going to "Sehn-Gohk" (where my Friday school, Samseang Elementary is located) I was informed by a nearby Korean that the next bus to Sehn-Gohk was leaving at 8am. So I tweedled my thumbs and waited. At 10 minutes to 8am, two buses came by, but both drivers stepped out of their buses for a coffee and a smoke. I was patient and waited for another Korean to get on one of the buses, I asked hopefully "Sehn-Gohk?" gesturing to the indecipherable Hanguel spelling of Sehn-Gohk. The boy waved his arms in a manner I took as "no" so I stepped off the bus and waited for the other driver to finish his cigarette before asking if his was the right bus. While waiting, the bus I had inquired about left. I was assured I had found the right bus, but I inquired anyway.
The driver gave me a funny look, and shook his arms in a manner that indicated "no!"
At this point I was reasonably certain I may need to learn Korean in the near future.
The driver got ready to leave with his bus, but several other bus drivers and workers discovered my gaffe. I was briefly the subject of a much animated discussion (to which I have no clue what was said, again with the needing to learn Korean). But I was placed on the bus I had been assured was not going to Sehn-Gohk. The driver kept me nearby, trying to explain something to me about the bus system as he began his route (having refused to take my ticket). Needless to say, I think he tried to tell me he wasn't going to Sehn-Gohk, and that I need to check the Hanguel names on the front of the buses. I smiled nervously and nodded in an empathetic manner. The driver took us out to the highway and began to fly down the road, I still wasn't sure if I would be making it to Samsaeng Elementary or if I would be hopelessly lost in one of the largest of Gangwon-Do's remote districts.
We were not on the road more than 10 minutes, when the driver veered off the road and pulled up next to an identical bus, the bus that I had missed earlier this morning.
The bus officials had called ahead and had them hold the bus for me in mid route.
I could hardly believe it! I quickly hopped off the bus, stammering a "Gaam-sam-hida" to the driver as I hopped onto the correct bus. The new driver looked at me nonchalantly and took my ticket like it was nothing. I sat and we were on our way to Sehn-Gohk!
I have never heard of any bus system holding a bus mid-route for a mixed up foreigner. That would NEVER have happened in the United States. We even made it to Samsaeng Elementary with 10 minutes to spare! Unbelievable! I've been impressed by Korea's bus system so far, impeccably efficient, but today's experience is a complete surprise!
Though I hope I never miss the bus like this again, I just have to say that I am so pleasantly surprised by the character of the Koreans I have met. They are wonderful!
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