It was about the year 2000 when I remember doing my first trip to Korea. Using my limited Korean, I had lots of trouble asking for basic things like where the train or bus were, and even what the way was to places. I remember lots of people responding to me in English, and while I was pretty relieved at that, I’ve gotta say: people in the country right next to us, speaking a language from peoples on the other side of the world! It’s only when you look at it in that objective state of mind that you realize how strange that is.
２０００年頃はじめて韓国へ行った私は覚えたての韓国語で四苦八苦しながら道を尋ねたりバスや電車の行き先を聞いたりしていました。たまに英語で話してくれる人がいるとほっとするのですが、逆に、隣の国なのに地球の裏側の国の言葉で話している自分を、客観的に見て不思議に思ったものです。