Two Taxi Rides!

Ok folks, hang on for the ride because this is a dusey! Also, be warned, there's converstaion about VOMIT.. so if you have a weak stomach, refrain from reading!

In the past two weeks I've had to take a taxi home because the subway's stop running at 12 and the buses stop running at 1. Now, I've been meeting with friends for coffee and at each meeting the time seems to just slip away from us and before we know it... it's past 12. I find this slightly frustrating because it feels like I have a curfew... which I don't appreciate!

Now, last weekend, I had been out to dinner with one of my adult students and she and I had dinner at a restaurant and then I had left to meet up with friends from church. The longer the night went on, the more my stomach started to hurt, and the less comfortable I felt. But, I don't often get to see these people, so I just sucked it up and went on with my evening. But, by the time I finally caught a taxi to go home, I knew something was wrong... as in I had food poisoning and a bathroom was going to be needed in an urgent way, soon!

Now, I'm uncomfortable folks. Like, I'm focused on not barfing, but this taxi driver was just chatting away at with in Korean. I just kept saying "Ne, ne." (this means yes in Korean) but I had no idea what he was talking about. Soon, it's clear to me that he's circled the block... several times, to rack up my fee and it's also clear that, if the taxi ride lasts much longer I'm going to loose it all over the back seat. (Not to mention that this man drove like a bat out of hell and anyone would have felt sick after riding with him!)

Finally, 13 dollars later, he pulls up to my street, I pay him and get out. I'm half way up my road when dinner decides it doesn't like my stomach, and it lands all over the street. Now, I know it sounds (and it looked) like I'm drunk! But, honest to goodness, I had no liquor in me, just poisoned food.

To finish the "sick" story, I called one of my co-teachers and she came and took me to the hospital. She took good care of me... I think she treats me like a niece... I like her very much. And, I got better.

Now, last night, I had to take another taxi home. I was visiting with my friend, Rachel, and, again, the time just got away from us over coffee. However, this taxi ride was the SO MUCH FUN!

Almost the entire way, this taxi driver and I are speaking to each other in my broken Korean and his broken English. He taught me new words, he corrected my bad pronunciation, he told me when the buses stop running... he was GREAT! I told him that I was a "Hakkyo Sungsamnim!" (School teacher) "Ahh... Sungsamnim! Chweyo!" (Oh, teacher! Good!) And then, after a I learned a few more Korean words, I told him "Nonun, chweyo Sungsamnim!" (you are a good teacher!) "Ani, nonun chweyo!" (No, you are good!) *Sigh* It was just fun. I never knew taxi drivers could be so amiable. I think I have a new friend!

Well, that's all for this time! I hope and pray that you are all doing well and are safe back in the U.S. I miss you all and love you more than words can say!

Hil