The heat is on

Some of the locals seem to wear the same clothing regardless of the weather. Today it was quite nice in the AM but it deteriorated as the day wore on. We pine for the good weather all year in Ottawa then are caught complaining about the heat when it starts. My Sweet Thing has been telling me that it has been warm at home. I see men wearing long sleeved shirts underneath a jacket and sporting a tie. I start to perspire just looking at them.

I will grab the 7:25AM bus to Incheon in the morning. With am 10:20AM flight and a 70 minute drive, that is probably the best one to catch. I tried turning on my Rogers cell while here and it could not find the network. Here is what I have learned about the locals from Dizzy, a usually reliable source of information.

1- They are very proud of their country and many systems are so homegrown that one does not see them anywhere outside Korea ... the cell network is a good example.

2- They speak their mind when they interact with each other and will tell you things that one normally keeps to one's self ... e.g., you're overweight if they think you are.

3- They are offended by language that criticizes them or their country. While weygook would like to think we are able to accept constructive criticism, Dizzy believes Koreans reject all comments regardless of their content that have the slightest hint of being negative. I did notice the same in Ethiopia with government people. They object to a suggestion that there was something somone forgot to do, thinking it is an attack by ferenge on them personally.

4- They have little respect for one's personal space. When I was waiting for my luggage on Saturday at the airport, some locals parked themselves between me and the baggage carousel even though there was not enough room for them. I have noticed this in other situations.

With all the above in mind, I for one would take all this into consideration were I to be spending more time here. Regardless of how one judges people in other countries, it is our job as aliens to be sensitive to ways the people work.