Since Friday, I've been pilfering someone's wireless signal because my land line internet was not properly functioning. On Monday, I told Hyunjoo my problem and she arranged for someone to come fix it last night. Forty-five minutes late, two young hipster Korean men arrived at my apartment. They encountered my busted modem and were unprepared to fix it. They didn't speak hardly any English and since most of the Korean I know involves food, it was very difficult for us to communicate. After a few successful attempts to understand each other using Charades, they spent a couple of moments looking at the pictures on my wall before they left. They told me (via a phone call to Hyunjoo) that they would be back with a fully functioning modem tonight. Mr. Fix-it (only one of last night's duo showed up tonight - the one with the hipster-stache, in case you were wondering) just left and now my internet is back in business. But, not without a few awkward moments. Behold:
On the second attempt with a new modem, he leaned over the arm of my couch to fiddle with my computer. I invited him to sit on the couch where he might be more comfortable in messing around on my computer. Upon realizing that all of my computer was in English, he uttered the stock phrase that it seems every Korean knows, "Oh. My. God." (My girls have perfected this expression, complete with a little sassy attitude. I'm so proud.)
Next, he clicked on the Internet Explorer icon, which is only used by me when I have to peruse Korean websites for whatever reason. (Korean websites do not work in any other browser but Internet Explorer.) It took forever to load. While it was loading, the following conversation ensued:
Noelle: (pointing to my computer) It's very slow! And old!
Mr. Fix-It: Yes. Very slow. (laughs)
N: (pointing to my computer) Five years old!
MFI: How old you?
N: 23 (holds up two fingers on one hand and three on the other)
MFI: Oh? (points to himself and holds up two fingers on one hand and four on the other)
Awkward silence ensues as he looks at the display of pictures on my wall.
MFI: American?
N: Yep!
MFI: Chicago?
N: Close.
MFI: Friends?
N: Yes.
MFI: (points to himself) Friend?
Noelle = confused - was he asking if the two of us were friends, or if I had a boyfriend? This language barrier makes for some pretty great situations...
Just then, Internet Explorer successfully loaded. He cheered and put his hands in the air in triumph. I laughed and he ran out the door, bidding me good night as I thanked him for fixing my internet.
Oh Korea.
Haha, my girls say "Oh my god" dramatically, too, and I laugh every time.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that Korean students always say Chicago when they are prompted to name a US city for whatever reason.
That was really awkward, haha. He was probably really shy, especially since he didn't know a lot of English. Though, the mention of a hipster-stache, on a Korean male no less, makes him sound a bit creepy, lol.