English Church

I didn't think I'd be posting two days in a row, but since today turned out to be a rather special Sunday I thought I'd tell of mine and Kristen's adventure. I mentioned yesterday how I've been trying to find an English speaking church in Gwangju and last week I contacted one of them to see what they were about. They seemed to be what we were looking for so we figured this morning we'd check it out. On their website and in an e-mail the pastor sent me, I figured I knew how to get to the church. Or at least in the general area of the church. Turns out the World Cup Stadium they are across from isn't the stadium I thought was near our place. This is the third time Kristen and others have taken a bus based on my research. This really should have been a lesson, but like a true blonde, she followed me blindly and I led us on a goose chase no where near the World Cup Stadium. After missing the stop we thought was the right place, we walked about 15 minutes to the stop we should have got off. Then we walked, and walked, seeing nothing that said Vision Hall or Mission Building. See, the church is on the fourth floor of the mission hall so looking for a church didn't help. Since we didn't want to be late, I asked the first Korean I saw. Now when I speak in French I can convey generally what I want to the francophone and they'll understand. In Korean I know hello and thank-you (well, that's all I remember at least!). So I tried reading the English lettered Korean words that the pastor gave me and the guy eventually understood. Then another lady came by and called the phone number for the church that I had written down. She got directions, hailed a cab, then sent us on our way. We figured 5 minute drive tops. HA! The whole way this cab driver, who could speak a little English, went on and on about my "beautiful gold hair". No matter how much Kristen corrected him to say blonde, he called it gold. We got dropped off at this building and he said go up. Ok... so we stood outside like the waygooks (foreigners) we are and we like...uh.... so we walked into this hair salon where the lady and her kids tried to decipher what our destination was on the sheet. Eventually she too got out her phone and called the number we had. Elated, the lady and her kids practically dragged us out of the salon and into the next building which turned out to be the right one. Due to all the phone calls along the way, they were expecting us (15 minutes late mind you!) and shooed us up stairs where we met in the elevator another western woman who is now our best friend (you'll see why in a minute). So we came in late, but since it's very informal no one noticed (not like Sauble girls...). Everyone did notice though when they asked us to stand up and talk about ourselves when they found it was our first time to that church. Joy. But it really was joyful because for being new we got presents! Turned out to be these hand clothes with the church name stitched in. They are really nice and it means I don't have to buy one! We also arrived the Sunday they were having a potluck with some amazing food and even some western-ish desserts! Delicious. So, this lady we met ended up giving us her map of Gwangju and the bus system and pointed out all the buses we need to take to get where we want to go. She also told us about the Costco in Korea and offered to take us next month! apparently it's pretty much exactly like the ones in Canada with only a few differences. I was so excited! Since only my Mom has a card though, we're getting in with this woman's card (I forget her name...). She even got us on the right bus back home and is taking us to get these Mybi card things to make busing easier. She's a lifesaver! We had been so stressed from getting lost and were convinced we wouldn't find the church, but God prevailed like he always does and it all turned out better than we could imagine.
On the way home, we got a little lesson in Korean robbing. Yes, robbing. We were waiting for our bus transfer at the terminal and some fat guy eating chips comes up to us and starts muttering in Korean (actually, it didn't even sound like Korean). He looked like a bum begging for money because he had about 2,000 Won in his had and held out his palm to Kristen. She said no, but he persisted, took her left hand and put in 1,000 Won. So she thought he was trying to get change from her since she had two 500's and he gave her ten 100's. He grabs her right hand and takes her money. Ok, fair trade right? uh, not quite. He then tries to get back the money he gave her, when she pulled her hand back he practically grabbed her to get it back and starts making these whinning sounds. So she opens her hand, he takes the money back and who knew a fat man could disappear so easily? So it was only 1000 won ($1), but he still stole it. We were like, did that just happen? Thankfully we still had enough money to get home, but if I ever see that bum again... he'll be sorry he met us. Shouldn't be too hard to pick out either. Very few Koreans are fat and none are as fat as he is.
Don't worry Mom, that was our first "trying to be nice in Korea, but getting skrewed over" event and now we know that even if they don't speak your language, don't let them take money out of your hand. Unless of course they're a cashier and you're just too stupid to realize how much you're supposed to be giving them :)