Thank [insert deity name here] for the Internet. Or Al Gore. I'm currently filling out reams of paperwork for a government security clearance, and I have to provide things like my Selective Service registration number -- the card for which I lost (read: disposed of) long ago. But thanks to the World Wide Web, I can find that sort of thing in just moments.
That's why I don't think I'll survive an assignment to some place with poor-to-no Internet access. Tahra seems to think we're going to get one of these three: Gaborone (Botswana), Lusaka (Zambia), or Auckland (New Zealand). Guess which one I'm hoping for.
As far as the foreign service life goes, I guess I'm still on the fence. It's been really cool to be immersed in such a different culture, and it's given us the chance to do and see things we never would have otherwise. But once you get past the wonderment of the different culture, you begin to really notice that it's a different culture. Social norms, language barriers, and different approaches to just about everything make even the smallest task a huge undertaking.
For instance, we needed to get the propane tank for our grill refilled. The place on base that used to do it stopped the service, but they provided directions to a Korean place that could do it. However, those instructions said things like "the sign has Korean writing on it" and other incredibly useful information. Do you know how many signs in Korea have Korean writing on them?
OK, so that example is partly (mostly?) the fault of the stupid Americans trying to help the other stupid Americans. Which is rampant. So how about some other examples:
At times, I've rung up a total of, let's say, 6,000 Won for something. I have tried to hand over a 10,000 Won bill and a 1,000 Won bill, with the thinking that I'll get one 5,000 Won bill back. The Koreans apparently never try to "economize" wallet space, so they look at me quizzically and hand back the extra 1,000 bill I gave plus four more. The fact that I had to get a new wallet to accommodate the gigantic Korean bills -- and the fact that I have like five different ID cards that I have to carry around -- makes me work that much more to save space. I don't want a Costanza incident.
And how about those left turns? Korea doesn't allow them -- except at certain left-turn-arrow-signal-having intersections. But what they do have are designated U-turn spots. So if you want to get to that place just ahead on the left, you have to go (usually way) past it, find a U-turn spot, wait for your opportunity, and then go back to the destination where you can turn right.
Oh -- and while I'm on traffic: Koreans stop at crosswalks when the pedestrian walk signal is on -- whether or not there are any pedestrians! I'm guessing there's a law for this, but it has caused plenty of grief when I'm blocked by one of the stoppers and thus prevented from getting where I want to be before the rest of traffic closes up the intersection. The best part about this one is that pedestrians usually just cross whenever (and sometimes wherever) they like, merely holding up a hand to magically stop the vehicles hurtling toward them.
But hey -- it's not all bad. Next time: the goods.
2 comments:
Boston has something similar to that law in effect for pedestrians and they enforce it with cops on motorcycles. I witnessed at least one person pulled over for running through an intersection designated as a stop area for pedestrians.
I vote Auckland. Although I love the word Botswana. It just kind of sounds good.
Tough choice. Civilized city in New Zealand, where you are marginally familiar, or two over-diseased, AIDS infected cesspools. Make no mistake, Africa the country is probably the most beautiful place in the world. But when I think of Africa (and Botswana, S. Africa's friendly neighbor), I think of immunization shots, disease, kidnappings, ridiculous murder rates, famine (and not the kind you see at the Mexican border), etc. That, and Michael Crichton's Congo, where big ass diamonds can become bad ass guns.
So have you and Tahra decided to have another two year go? You'd both be braver than me if you were willing to go to Botswana or Zambia.
Considering I remember you getting sick every other week at Northern, I just cannot imagine you trying to stay healthy with all the exotic bugs, viruses and bacteria in Africa.
In any event...good luck on that roll of the dice. I hope you end up in Canada, where you can conceivably be visited!
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