Embarrassing Foreigner Moments

Embarrassing Foreigner Moments

The Cell Phone

1. If you have ever gone to a foreign place you know that these little embarrassing moments are just bound to happen. Well, here it goes. Oh, let me add, this could have been 100% preventable if I knew anything about technology.  So my phone's 3G network hasn't been working on my smart phone.  Everyone elses seemed to be working just fine and it has been like this all week. So I finally had time to make it to the phone store to have them fix the problem for me.  I walk in and say "3G no work" and show them my phone.  The guys takes my phone and is trying to figure it out for about 5 minutes and then starts giggling. He hands my phone back to me and says "Turn on 3G button." and shows me how to turn it on.  So so stupid. I had accidentally turned off the button for my 3G network and have had to suffer without it all week. The phone guy was really nice but we both knew that I just had a stupid foreigner moment. I couldn't help but laugh and walked out of the store with my head hung low from my ignorance.  I'll be honest, I would've done the same thing back in the states.

Hot Pink Maddness

2.  To add to the hilarity that is my life. Just after the phone incident. I go around looking for new running shoes. I knew previously to this venture that it might be a bit challenging because Koreans have smaller feet than I do. It certainty doesn't help that there shoe size is different than ours in the US making my shoe size seem even bigger at 260mm. Okay, so here we go. I walk into the first store and I ask if they have any shoes in my size for women.  This guys looks at me like  "Are you serious? Your feet are that big?" Then he is showing me rows of shoes and saying shoe sizes that I didn't understand. I tried to look like I understood what he was saying but there was no way I was going to by shoes there, they were way to expensive. I leave the store and venture to another shoe store just down the street. Every time you walk into a store you are instantly greeted, and I asked if they had any shoes in my size.  The sales girl couldn't speak English, but we managed to figure it out with lots of pointing and hand gestures.  She was also surprised to find out what size shoe I wear (this known by a small giggle when I told her). I chose a pair of black shoes and she went to the back to find them.  She came back with a pair of hot pink shoes that were similar style. She made gestures that these were the only ones she could find still left in my size.  I had a decision to make. By the hot pink discount shoes or die! Well, that's what it felt like anyways. Since my run yesterday just about killed my feet. I decided to by them and am now a proud owner of  hot pink Adidas.

I know 2 posts in one day is a bit excessive. I probably won't happen to often don't worry:)