Plumbing Drama

Hello...

I have a funny little story to tell you guys...I couldn't help myself, just had to share it. (Well, it was quite funny this morning, at least.)

Korean plumbing leaves a lot to be desired....this is well-known here. It is for this reason that they don't flush toilet-paper down the toilet! Hence, very smelly bathrooms, due to the bins piling up with urine-soaked loo-paper. Gross, I know, but bear with me....please.

Well, I have held onto my Western hygiene very firmly, thank you. I still flush everything. So, I was a bit concerned when I ended up with a blocked drain in my bathroom. But rest assured, it's not the toilet! Well, I hope not.... ;) On that note, another SA friend of mine clogged her toilet system, including the neighbour's. They had to get a specialist in to unblock the plumbing. And she was very firmly told to NOT flush the paper!

Anyway, this morning I had to inform the admin office about my problem. My co-teacher had to translate for me, and afterwards he had a jolly good laugh cos now the entire admin office knows about my blocked drain. Anyway, remember the new admin guy I told you all about? The one who after a beer or two, couldn't stop professing his love for me? LOL! Well, he's the one who ended up under my bathroom sink, unclogging my drain! A tad bit embarrassing, I must say! He has been back a second time, and now the head admin guy is going over to check....apparently there's "a big problem". They had to call a plumber!

I wait in suspense.....teaching away while everyone's trooping through my home, inspecting the plumbing! Here in Korea, of course, it's quite ok, cos people are supposed to be honorable and you can generally leave your doors unlocked. I'm gonna need to have a lot of security re-training when I get back home, I can tell you!

On a happier note, remember Geoff? The loud American? Well, he's going back home to the US on Saturday. The Korean English teachers in the county of Gunwi have had weekly meetings with him, but now that he's leaving they have started meeting with another American in a neighbouring town. They don't meet with me, cos I'm not available on Wednesday afternoons when they meet. Anyway, this morning one of my co-teachers told me that she struggled to understand the new guy. She has gotten so used to my South African accent! LOL! But actually, he's not confident enough, doesn't speak clearly and is deaf in one ear, so even he struggles to understand/hear the teachers. (What's going on in his classroom, I wonder?) My co-teacher told me that she really missed me yesterday! Isn't that just so sweet?

I'll let you know the outcome of my plumbing drama......Speaking of drama, I'm looking forward to getting my actors' tongues tied up in knots. It's tongue twister rehearsal time!

Ciao for now!

Much love,

Andrea