The day I learned the Korean question, 'Ul mae yo?' will
be forever engraved in my memory.
One Sunday afternoon in April, Sunmi and I decided to
stroll along Haeundae Beach. Although it was very
windy and cool, walkers, joggers and sightseers lined
the beach. As we were waiting for the light to
change, a man standing on the opposite corner wearing an
oversized winter hat caught my attention. His poor posture
indicated that he was physically challenged and he kept
screaming to pedestrians and motorists.
"What's he holding?" I asked Sunmi.
Sunmi responded, "I can't see because of traffic. Oh!
That's baung khwaja. He must be selling it."
Baung khwaja, a popular Korean snack, is a round, flat
cookie about the size of a saucer consisting of puffed
rice and a little sugar. Since it is really light,
vendors sell big bags of baung khwaja. The name comes
from the onamatopoeia 'baung' which is the sound you
hear when a cookie pops out of the cooker. Khwaja means
cookie.
We crossed the street to get a closer look. "What does
that sign say?" I asked.
Sunmi glanced at the words, "They are raising money for
people with special needs."
Although he seemed unable to control his motor skills and
his posture was awkward, the man on the corner persistently
petitioned pedestrians and motorists to buy baung khwaja in
support of his cause. My heart marveled at his
determination. It was windy, his voice was straining from
all the yelling, exhaust fumes filled his lungs and to be
honest, everyone kept passing by him.
Nevertheless, he kept going and going.
We also walked by until I stopped and turned to Sunmi.
"You know, honey. That man is doing what any other
person in his situation would be doing. Don't you think
so?"
"Sure", she responded. "People sell food on intersections
all the time."
"Right", I exclaimed! "But have you noticed that nobody
has stopped to ask the price of a bag of baung khwaja? We
always see people eating and selling these cookies here but
nobody is buying any from that man. I don't think people
want to approach him."
She raised her index finger to her chin, "Sure. Everyone
is afraid of those who are different."
Being a foreigner in a monocultural country, I have
experienced many negative reactions when people see me.
Since we are an international couple, Sunmi and I often
receive long, cold stares in public places like subways and
restaurants. In attempts to display kindness, strangers
often say hello or tap me on the shoulder. Once, an
elderly drunken man attacked me simply because I am a
foreigner. In the case of this man trying to sell baung
khwaja, people were responding to his difference by avoiding
him.
"Well", I said taking a deep breath. "Aren't we all
different? Isn't every individual unique?"
Sunmi looked puzzled, "So what are you saying?"
"I am saying that we should treat this man the same way
we would want to be treated". I paused momentarily,
"We should not pretend he doesn't exist simply because of
his appearance. I am saying that we should buy cookies from
him just as quickly as we would from any other vendor around
here. Let's go."
"Ul mae yo?" Sunmi asked but there was no response.
"You had better speak loudly, honey", I suggested. "He
can't hear over traffic."
"UL MAE YO?" Sunmi bellowed drawing the man's attention.
When the man turned around, the sight of a foreigner
surprised him so he gave me a double look. "Iichan Won
imnida", he replied.
"2000 Won?", I responded. "Lets get two. Du gei
cheusaeyo."
After taking four thousand won, he smiled, removed his
hat and bowed to me.
"Komatsumida", he said.
The cookies were 2000 Won but the lesson from that event
is priceless. So many times, Sunmi has repeatedly told me
that misunderstandings about not right and wrong; they
are about differences. The man selling baung khwaja,
like you and I, was unique. What was this experience really
worth? The answer is a lesson in positive living.
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