So, I have to laugh out loud about this, because it's just such an experience... Anyone who knows me knows I run - I'm ridiculously vocal about it - and I've written here before about my new running path along the Sincheon. But this post isn't really about running, but what happens to me every night when I run.
Staring is a common practice in Korea - it's not socially awkward or frowned upon, and native born Koreans gaze with reckless abandon at foreigners. I'm not going to lie, but that's one reason I dyed my hair red here - to stand out a bit more...a blonde friend of mine gets free stuff all the time because people are so in awe of the color of her locks.
And by "gaze" I mean looking up and down, pointing, following with the head as one passes by on the street. I mean, it's really funny, as well as being a bit uncomfortable. But I never get stared down in public like I do when I run. I mean, it's like they've never seen curves before!
Tonight was particularly laughable, which is why I'm writing. I had one guy who looked like he was actually walking across the path toward me. I got several thumbs-ups tonight; one man, walking with friends, started pointing vigorously, then gave me the thumbs up sign - not sure if that's because I was running well or because I was wearing running knickers. Lot's of men wave. And twice now I've had a little old wrinkly man clap for me when I run into the tunnel that leads back to my apartment complex.
It's all enough to give me a complex!!! But I'm laughing about it, and waving back. It's just all kind of hilarious.
Staring is a common practice in Korea - it's not socially awkward or frowned upon, and native born Koreans gaze with reckless abandon at foreigners. I'm not going to lie, but that's one reason I dyed my hair red here - to stand out a bit more...a blonde friend of mine gets free stuff all the time because people are so in awe of the color of her locks.
And by "gaze" I mean looking up and down, pointing, following with the head as one passes by on the street. I mean, it's really funny, as well as being a bit uncomfortable. But I never get stared down in public like I do when I run. I mean, it's like they've never seen curves before!
Tonight was particularly laughable, which is why I'm writing. I had one guy who looked like he was actually walking across the path toward me. I got several thumbs-ups tonight; one man, walking with friends, started pointing vigorously, then gave me the thumbs up sign - not sure if that's because I was running well or because I was wearing running knickers. Lot's of men wave. And twice now I've had a little old wrinkly man clap for me when I run into the tunnel that leads back to my apartment complex.
It's all enough to give me a complex!!! But I'm laughing about it, and waving back. It's just all kind of hilarious.
I'd run a bit more if I had a wrinkly old man cheering me on. Can't wait to see how vigorously they point come summertime!
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