impatience

Having a Korean girlfriend now, there are a couple more aspects of Korean life that I've become exposed to. Perhaps you think I'll now write about how they approach relationships, or that I'll provide insight into what life is like for a Korean girl in Korea's current male-dominated society, or maybe something about my experiences thus far being a minority in a country and dating someone from that country. But, no, I'm just gonna write about getting drunk and ordering food.



First, the food. I believe I've mentioned before about the ubiquity of the delivery driver in this country. Thousands of them zip around each city on their motorcycle-scooters, hauling ass down every street, flagrantly disregarding traffic laws such as "stop at red lights," or, "don't drive on the sidewalk" in their never ending quest to deliver food. Now that I spend time with someone who is capable of ordering food over the phone I've actually come to appreciate these guys, rather than simply observing them throughout town and trying not to get run over by one as I walk to work. These guys get food to you quick. So quick that it almost seems worth the scores of lives they endanger each day.

Another thing is that when they bring you your food, they don't give it to you in a disposable container. It comes in a dish. Then, when you are finished eating, you simply put the dish and any leftovers outside your apartment door. Sometime later, the delivery driver returns to your apartment, picks up the dishes, and returns them to the restaurant. It's a minor detail, and something common to Koreans, so when I'm incredulous about it the girlfriend kinda looks at me like I'm retarded.

Now about getting drunk. The ladyfriend (by the way her name is Mi-Hyun, I'll just refer to her as such from now on) has a car. She's a good driver, unlike most of the people in this country who drive like lunatics. If I drove a car in this country, I would get into a fistfight everyday. Mi-Hyun has had to restrain me from yelling at people pretty much every time she's driven with me. Everyone drives in the most selfish manner possible. They are the least conscientious drivers I could imagine, they cut each other off without a second thought. As long as they get to where they want to be, they don't care how many near accidents, or actual accidents, they cause. Wow, this paragraph didn't end up anywhere near where I was planning. Let's try that again.

Now about getting drunk. Mi-Hyun has a car. Sometimes she will drive it somewhere, and proceed to imbibe some alcoholic drinks. However, despite being a Korean driver, she doesn't feel comfortable endangering people's lives by being behind the wheel. Luckily, there's a service provided here that accounts for this. She can call a number, and someone meets her at her car, and drives her to where she wants to go. Now, I'm sure there's something akin to this is the States and many other countries, but the most impressive thing about it is that this service seemingly places someone on every street corner, ready at a moment's notice, to drive people home. I've seen her call people from all around the city, and within 90 seconds someone has shown up.

One of the first things I learned in the Korean language was how to say "hurry up." It makes sense, because it's all about speed in this country. It's not just about being able to provide a service competently, you have to do it at a breakneck pace as well. (This is also congruent with their aforementioned driving habits.) I suppose it boils down to impatience.