Not Hilary's Best Moment...

First of all, a big thank you to my parents, grandparents, Aunt Holly, Aunt Elaine, Meghan and Aunt Ev/Uncle Dave for sending me Christmas cards! You guys really helped to make me feel blessed and loved during the holiday season!! Thank you so much!

And now for one of Hilary's stupidest moments in Korea...

So, I took a nap today. Now, some of you know that when I take a nap, it's no silly little short nap... when I nap, it's at least 3 hours long and today was no exception. I fell asleep from about 4 until 7:30 or so. When I woke up, I wasn't hungry, so I just messed around a little, went grocery shopping, had a little snack and that was it.

Pretty soon, it's 3a.m. and I had a mad craving for Bo Sam which is this sort of Korean pork dish here that I was only just recently introduced to. I wanted it SO BAD! So, I looked on this take out order thing that I have here and saw that there's a place that will deliver Bo Sam and I thought I'd just give it a try... what's there to lose, right?

I worked up the nerve to call this delivery place and, to my great surprise, I actually succeeded in making an order and telling the guy where I lived so that it could be delivered...

Or so I thought.

I guess my directions weren't all that clear and this delivery guy kept calling me trying to figure out where I live and I have no idea what he's saying. After all, I am in Korea. I keep thinking that he's at the sliding glass door that you have to have a card to get past... so I keep going down to check... and he's not there.

Finally, he calls again and by this time, I had been down so often to check only to find that he wasn't there, I decided not to put my coat on... and, I forgot to bring my card that lets me into the building.

So, I'm talking to this guy on the phone and I walk outside to check the address on the front of the building and the glass door closes...

The glass door closes....

HOLY CRAP THE GLASS DOOR JUST CLOSED AND I DON'T HAVE MY CARD!!!

Shoot.

It's 4a.m. and I have on sneakers with no socks, sweatpants and a t-shirt outside in the middle of January. I have my cell phone on me, and I have money... so it's not the worst situation in the world... but this is not good, people... not good at all!

I walked down to the Buy The Way and bought a little cup of coffee... I was going to need it. I went back to my apartment building and decide... I'm going to climb up the side of my building and get in through my window...

You all know that's a terrible idea, but it seemed possible at the time. I'm perched up on this little ledge about 8 feet up when my Bo Sam guy finally comes. So, I hop down and pretend like I'm not really trapped outside... every thing's fine. I pay him, he gives me my food, and off we go.

But, I'm still stuck outside and it's about 4:15a.m.

So, I see that someone has a light on in their window and I start throwing rocks up at it and asking for help in Korean.... later I see that they called the police on me and refused to even inquire about who was calling for help. *Sigh* I don't really blame them.

Then, as I'm throwing rocks up at the window, I notice that each floor has these little balconies with windows and I think... if I can just make it up to the first window... I can climb in through the window and I'll be in!!!

So, I can climb on this ledge thing... but I'm still too far away to reach the window. Then, I notice there's this tiny little Evergreen tree right next to where I need to go... if I can climb the Evergreen, then I can make it up to the window!

But, the Evergreen is barely bigger than me, and when I put my weight on it's limbs, they starts to break. So, I'm clinging to the top of the Evergreen trying not to fall down and instead of getting closer to the window, the Evergreen just bends over and sets me back on the ground.

*Sigh*

After this a police car goes cruising by with it's lights flashing.

By now, it's about 4:30a.m. and I finally decide to call my Land Lady. I know... you're thinking that this is the first thing I should have tried.... but once before I tried calling her late at night when I forgot my card somewhere and she didn't have her phone on. And, she doesn't speak English. And, it was 4:30 in the morning!!! I have a real problem being an inconvenience to people... especially when I don't speak the same language.

So, I called her and... after about 80 rings, she answered. I explain to her my problem in my best Konglish and after listening for a minute she says... "Send me phone message. Sorry." and hangs up!

CRAP!

So, I send her this phone message; "I don't have my card. I can't get inside!" .... nothing.

Great! I'm just about to call her again, when suddenly, the door just opens.

So, by 5a.m. my Bo Sam and I made it inside and I discovered a few scratches and bumps on my arms, but for the most part, I made it back inside unscathed!!

Not one of my best moments, but you can't say that I'm not resourceful or creative.


The Bo Sam was delicious!