I've mentioned E-mart before - the Korean equivalent of Wal-Mart - and I promise that someday I'll post pics and description, especially of the long aisle of rice cookers and the extensive food court. But today, I have to relate my effort to find a curling iron.
Picture it - a country of short, straight, dark-haired people. One might think that, therefore, they would be interested in purchasing a coiled heating element to help hair go from straight to curly. Sadly, you would think wrong, as I did ALL DAY on Friday. E-mart was the last stop in an effort to find a new curling iron for me. $60 later, I'm leaving with what appears to be what I need, that conveniently comes packaged with shampoo/conditioner to help STRAIGHTEN one's hair. Still, I thought I'd give it a whirl. [Sadly, I arrived home to find out it was not a curling iron, but a hair dryer with some interesting attachments. It works, but I'm still on the hunt!]
As we try to leave E-mart, I'm quickly accosted by a lovely looking Korean woman who appears to want to give me coupons and a discount card. I've spent enough money at E-mart, and totally intend to spend more in the future, so I'm thinking "Sure, why not!" Its not until the woman hands me an application and asks for my passport # and government ID that I start to wonder...what in the world am I signing up for?!?
Thankfully, after running off with my Gov ID and no explanation that I could understand (seriously, she WAS trying hard, but at one point she sounded like she was speaking !kung and was ending sentences with her tongue sticking out at me!), she returned with a hand-gestured explanation of "Don't call me, I'll call you" and one 10% off coupon.
I'll consider myself lucky if a new credit card does NOT arrive in the mail!
Picture it - a country of short, straight, dark-haired people. One might think that, therefore, they would be interested in purchasing a coiled heating element to help hair go from straight to curly. Sadly, you would think wrong, as I did ALL DAY on Friday. E-mart was the last stop in an effort to find a new curling iron for me. $60 later, I'm leaving with what appears to be what I need, that conveniently comes packaged with shampoo/conditioner to help STRAIGHTEN one's hair. Still, I thought I'd give it a whirl. [Sadly, I arrived home to find out it was not a curling iron, but a hair dryer with some interesting attachments. It works, but I'm still on the hunt!]
As we try to leave E-mart, I'm quickly accosted by a lovely looking Korean woman who appears to want to give me coupons and a discount card. I've spent enough money at E-mart, and totally intend to spend more in the future, so I'm thinking "Sure, why not!" Its not until the woman hands me an application and asks for my passport # and government ID that I start to wonder...what in the world am I signing up for?!?
I'll consider myself lucky if a new credit card does NOT arrive in the mail!
Congratulations - you're now a credit-holder in two different countries! :) Not only that, you're about to be bombarded with as many American-made curling irons as there are female Americans reading your blog! :) 'Cause my first thought was - I'll send her one with Jim! :) Would love to be the Customs worker when they find THAT in his baggage! :) xo, K
ReplyDeleteSounds like things are getting interesting Kristina! I LOVE this blog, thanks for keeping all of us up to date. It is something I look forward to seeing each day. I love that you are keeping your cool head when things are coming at you literally at 100 miles an hour in a foreign land. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteYea - what's the voltage situation over there? Can we send you a curling iron? That must be a stupid question since I'm sure you packed yours, right?
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo - let helpful peeps know!
Voltage is 220 here, while US is 110 - just another one of those wonderful things about us v. world:) Thinking that I could just "easily" purchase a 220 one over here, I gave my iron to my friend before leaving. So I'm out and still looking!!
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