Dictionary

It's amazing how incredibly simple things can become so complicated living in another country. In Korea I have been able to read and write for years, but I remember visiting Taiwan and being unsure where I could purchase soap. And then if you can find the store is this the soap for clothes (they also sell bars of soap for clothes) or is it for your face/hands? And then you see a bottle of toothpaste with a black man in a top hat. At least it is toothpaste, right? And as a side note my friend was shocked that I said it could be considered offensive. "But why?" was the response. "It's the best toothpaste in Taiwan!"

Well since I've living in Korea for a combined three years now, I have those basics down. I can get toiletries, I can get books and import magazines, I know where to find Taco Bell (on the US military bases and they are opening one in Itaewon soon), but some things continue to remain a challenge. My dictionary broke. I had it for 2 1/2 years. I used it almost everyday. I used it so much I wore off the serial number and a bunch of the paint. Well the screen broke and I needed to take it in.

But where to go? I tried to search online and just couldn't find it. I asked a friend and they gave me directions. I went there and they had since moved to another part of town. With the address they gave me I was able to locate it on a map but it was in a nondescript building behind a security door.

From the screen breaking to finally being able to drop off the unit took almost two weeks. I had spent tons of time, asked various people on the street for directions, and was finally victorious.

I was elated. Telling this to a friend who has never been overseas their response was of confusion; "Okay, so you dropped it off at the repair center. And why are you so excited?" But talking to a friend who has lived by herself for years, aka someone who understands how complicated little things become, truly understood.