I have gotten so used to this city regularly making me dislike humanity - people shoving on the streets, always trying to be the fastest walker, selfishly scrambling for open seats on the subway, and generally not caring to make life easier for anyone else. So it makes my heart feel extra warm when a stranger does something that's nice.
It was nothing special, but the situation was this: I was wearing a backpack on the subway, because I was carrying my laptop. At one of the stops, a woman stood up and left the train, leaving her seat empty. I opted not to take it, since I only had one more stop to go, but an old man tapped me on the shoulder and gestured to the open seat, offering it to me (probably because I was carrying heavy stuff). I thanked him but explained that I was getting off in one stop (holding up one finger just in case he didn't speak English), and he chuckled and said, "Same."
I don't know why this interaction made me so happy. It shouldn't have, because offering a seat to someone is such a simple act. But so is holding a door open for someone else, and probably 5% of the population of Seoul actually does that.
Anyway, there's a little Christmas cheer for you - people, even in a busy (and often selfish) city, can be nice.
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2 comments:
Maria, tell us more about decorations, shopping, religious impact, etc. of Christmas in Seoul. Tradition similarities and differences to US? Keep up the writing, I look forward to your mundaneness.
aww, that's a good story :)
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