Bus-capades

It seems that I have yet to experience a nice, relaxing, "normal" bus trip to/from SeoSan to the library with James. The first few times were fraught with anxiety, rush, and near misses to catch the bus. Funny things have happened, too...like watching the driver swatting at flies with a flyswatter while he's driving. It was humerous to watch...a fly would make the mistake of buzzing around him. The bus was droning along when "Swat! Swat! SWAT"! Startled people jumped, and the flies died. :)

By the 3rd week, we were starting to get the hang of it, but then nearly missed our bus home...the Korean librarian drove (speedily!) to the station, parked on the street, jumped out and waved down the bus as it was already pulling out of the station.

Let me explain why we run late to catch the bus...it's because class lets out at 7pm and our bus leaves at 7:20. We could have easily walked and caught it in time except for one thing...we didn't yet know the way well enough to ensure not getting lost! So, we had to wait for someone to be able to run us to the station...and that's why we made close calls.

On week 4, we were dropped off late again...this time, we missed it by a hair. So we hung out till the next bus at 7:45. On the way home, I made an executive decision...to stay on the bus past our known drop-off point so that we could find out what the bus route was in DaeSan. Because you see, we hike 15 minutes uphill in pouring rain or beating sun to get to the bus stop, only to watch the bus itself round the corner and come up the same hill already loaded with passengers! So, I figured that there must be a bus stop closer to us that we could catch and I wanted to find it. I'd already asked around for a possible whereabouts, but in vain. So, we stayed on the bus to see where it would loop around to head back to SeoSan.

The problem was, it never did! As it past the landmarks that I was familiar with, I thought, "Surely it's got to be at the next stop!" But as it drove right past the last light & turn-around possible in DaeSan, I felt my stomach drop to my toes. I started thinking fast. It was too long of a walk to get off the bus now, especially in the dark with James. If we were somehow headed back to SeoSan another way, then it would be too late to catch the last bus back to DaeSan again. However...I remembered that I'd been told that there was only that one road to SeoSan...so it gave me hope that if we just remained on the bus, it would loop back around and head through DaeSan again. The bus went on and on. Soon, we were the only passengers besides one other girl. I kept track of the turns the best I could with landmarks just in case. Then the bus turned off on a country road that soon turned into a narrow one-way winding lane. The last stop. The girl got off. The bus driver looked as us and for a horrified moment it seemed like he was expecting us to exit as well. When I didn't move, he asked something in Korean. I caught one word..."oh-dee?"...~"where?" "DaeSan," I replied. He nodded, sat back down and the bus moved on. I was flooded with relief! John was already going to be worried...it was 8:45 and we were always home no later than 8:15.

I guessed we now had about another 20 minute drive ahead of us to get home. I knew (in theory) where we were...past DaeSan in a town right along the coast at a "dead-end" that has a huge refinery (which we went past). A teacher from school, her husband works there and they live in that town, too. Strangely, I felt some comfort knowing she was there, somewhere near. Anyway, just as I was relaxing back in my seat, the bus pulled up to a tiny "mart", parked, and the bus driver motioned to us, "No more...all done." I couldn't believe it! No way! I never guessed that the bus wouldn't go back to SeoSan yet that night. My stomach really dropped out then, and at that point James began to cry as we stepped off the bus. I think if he hadn't, I would have instead! The driver kept saying things, but I couldn't understand a word he said. I just kept repeating, "DaeSan Elementary School...DaeSan Hakyo(school)" James was still crying, and then the driver reached out and began to speak what must have been reassuringly to James. At that point, I began to realize that he must know that another bus was coming. He pointed to his watch and we all sat down and waited...and waited...for what seemed like hours, but I think was only 20 minutes.

A bus did come!!! I can't tell you how fast James hopped on that bus! The bus driver talked with the new bus driver, I think telling him to make sure he stopped to let us off in DaeSan!!! Anyway, the bus went past the refinery, picking up a load of people who'd just gotten off work. Then, on his way back to SeoSan, he did indeed make a special stop to drop us off! Whew! Home safe and sound by 9:30pm. And I've decided that we'll just keep walking up the hill from now on!

And now, lastly, trip 6: today. Korean women use umbrellas to protect from the sun. It's also cooler. I had a fun time shopping around for one and finally found the perfect one for me! Today was my first time to use it. (We have used our regular "rain" umbrellas, but this one's purpose is for decorative and shade, and that's it.) I felt so "Mary Poppins-like" with my umbrella! But I found that it did it's job of protection well keeping me cooler in the shade, for the sun was quite hot today. Anyway, after class today, James and I struck out on our own to walk to the bus stop. We made it with not one problem, but got to the bus just as it was starting to pull away since the university professer had talked to me afterwards and we got a delayed start. "Oh, dear!" I thought! "I don't want John worrying again after what happened last week!" So we paid the extra premium to take the "expensive bus"* rather than waiting another 25 minutes for the next "cheap bus." As we sat to wait, an older man came up and began to speak sharply to me. I couldn't make out his words, so I told him I spoke English. He agreed, spoke again, and I realized that he was trying to speak some English, but is was coming out mostly mixed with Korean. Basically, I got the words "American" "president" and "Bush." As soon as I acknowledged that, he lit into me, nearly screaming and shaking his finger at me. Everyone was staring and I had no clue what to do except to smile and politely repeat, "Sorry, I don't understand." I was thankful when a security man came up and evidently told him to be quiet and leave us alone. I was a little shaken up so when I saw that the bus was in, James and I made haste to get on out to the bus. It wasn't until we got off the bus in DaeSan that I realized I did not have my umbrella with me. In my haste to leave, I had forgotten it at the SeoSan bus terminal. I was quite disappointed! That turned out to be one very expensive umbrella, considering that I only got to use it once!!!

* "expensive bus" vs "cheap bus": The expensive bus is like the regular American bus... with 2 isles of 2 seats wide. The cheap bus is only 1 seat wide with lots of standing room down the middle of the bus and handles & poles to hang on to. The seats are for the older people if there are more people than seats. The cheaper bus is about $1.25 one-way for the 20-min drive to SeoSan. James is half-price.
And so...I am hoping my bus experiences improve before I take one into the airport to pick up Kendra...for I will have to change buses twice and pray I get on the right one each time!!!