US Air Force Dude - Part 6

Here is Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 & Part 5

I log on less frequently on MSN, and when I do AFD apologizes AGAIN for his 'behaviour' (?) at Dunkin' Donuts. He goes on to say that he knows he probably didn't make a good first impression and would I please give him another chance.

Gotta give the guy credit for THAT - that he didn't make an impressive first impression.

I tell him not to worry about it. Everything's cool. I figured I needn't be ugly to him as he was going to be leaving Korea soon anyway.

So one evening, I'm having dinner at my favourite restaurant with my friend Kim. AFD sends a text.

"Will you be online later? We need to talk"

I reply saying I'm out and don't know when I'll be back home.

(I always reply texts)

Later that night - even forgetting about the text - I go online.

A box pops up in the bottom right hand corner of my screen with AFD's pic and a message saying "hi sweetie"

AFD - Can we talk?

Me - I just got in and on my way out again.

I had actually just showered and was in my PJ's.

AFD - Ok sweetie, we'll talk another time.

Me - What's up?

AFD - You go. We'll talk tomorrow.

Me - Tell me now. I have a few minutes.

AFD - We have to talk about us.

Say what? "WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT US"??? Since *when* did HE and I become US?

Me - Go on...

AFD - I'm sorry again for the first time we met. But I think ur really special. I only have a few months left in Korea, and was wondering if you'd want to ... start something?

This guy was not for real. Was he?

Me - I don't think I quite understand you?

AFD - I'm leaving for Germany in June. But I'd really love for us to go out.

Ohmygod! I forgot that I was supposed to be "on my way out" so went on to say:

Me - Thank you, but ... I don't think so.

AFD - Ok, that's totally cool. But can we hang out sometimes? Like over week-ends?

Me - Ye, if I can.

What the hell was that? "If I can?" Even I thought that was a pathetic line!

AFD - If you can??

Me - Yeah, I'm going to start working on Saturdays soon, so I'm gonna be kinda busy.

(Korean school's are open every second Saturday, so this is believable)

AFD - Ok, cool sweetie. Anyways, you go... and we'll talk again.

Me - Sure - g'nite! :)

I logged off MSN. PHEW - I finally got rid of AFD!

But he still sent me a few texts - usually on Saturday nights asking what I'm doing that night, or merely informing me that he was on his way to Seoul. I wasn't particularly interested to know his whereabouts. The more off-ish I was to him, the less he texted.

From his FB status updates, I could tell he had left Korea and was on his way to America before heading off to Germany. He never Inbox-ed, texted or called to say that he was leaving.

While I was in South Africa and relating this story to a friend, I tried searching for his profile to show my friend his picture. But he wasn't appearing on my Friends list. I hadn't deleted him.

He deleted me.
AFD deleted me.

I guess he needed space on his Friends list for the girls (Indian?) he's bound to meet in Germany. Let's hope THEY can satisfy his curiosity. Coz I sure as hell disappointed him ;)

US Air Force Dude - Part 5

Here is Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 & Part 4

I had *nothing* to say to this guy in the cab. And I didn't want to make idle conversation about any random subject.

AFD tilts his head to the side, squints his eys, smiles and says - "Whaddya thinking 'bout, sweetie?"

Ughhh..... Thank goodness we arrived at Yong-san quickly.

So AFD was being stationed to Germany in June 2009. He told me he wanted to buy an entertainment system and blah blah blah and have it shipped over blah blah blah. I was really not interested.

He didn't know his way around Yong-san. But then again, I don't think anyone does. It has 7 levels. To avoid walking around the entire building with AFD, I found the information desk and asked them where we could find what this man was looking for. Right. Go.

To be honest, I didn't want to be seen with him. I didn't want other people to think we were "together" so I pretended to be looking at other things and told him to "carry on with what he wanted to look for"

AFD - How about going for coffee?

Was he kidding? I wanted a subway home. Not coffee. With him.

Me - I really should be getting home. It takes over an hour to get to my place and...

AFD - Ahh c'mon! We won't be long, I promise. 20 minutes?

I was really pushing it with this guy. But I kept thinking - Ok, I bet this is going to make for a good story for my friends! So we found a very crowded Dunkin' Donuts with an empty table with 2 chairs. I offered to pay. And I did. I ain't a cheapskate like that. Full stop.

Again, I have absolutely no idea what we talked about at Dunkin' Donuts. But he started yawning a lot. And rubbing his eyes.

Me - Gee, am I that boring?

AFD - No no no no ... it's not you, but I'm just suddenly very tired.

Again with the yawning. Eye rubbing. Damn. This guy was anything but subtle.

Me - Umm, I think I really should get going now.

AFD - I'm really sorry, I don't know why I'm so tired like this -maybe it's just really hot in here?

Whatever man!

We took the escalator downstairs and walked outside.

AFD - Are you going straight home, or you going somewhere else?

This sounds like a normal question, but with his cheesy tone and smile - I was pissed off.

Me - I'm going home.

So now we're outside the subway station. A tall guy (foreigner) approaches us and asks AFD how to get to a certain army base. AFD tells me that it's easy for army dudes to spot one another - even if they are strangers.

He thanks me for coming out to meet him. He apologizes for his 'sleepiness' (?) in Dunkin' Donuts. He wants to hug me to say good bye.

Fine. If I like you, I'll give you a damn good hug! But with AFD, sadly - he got probably a quarter of a hug from me.

I walk away from him *very* quickly, not turning back to wave or anything. I reach into my bag for my MP3 player and try to drown the afternoons events with a Justin Timberlake tune.

When I reach home, he sends a text thanking me for coming out and meeting him. He asks again if I went straight home. I reply saying - Hell no, I went out! He sends a reply saying Ooooh I'm so cheeky. He said something else which I didn't understand.

I had to turn to Uncle GOOGLE for a definition on the word. After finding out what he meant, I decided at that very moment that I was *not* going to speak to this idiotic pervert ever again.

But he was still on my MSN contact list...

US Air Force Dude - Part 4

Here is Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

This is something I *never* do, but at the time I was rolling around Asia like a free spirit, having recently visited Singapore and missioning to Malaysia from there alone. I'd also just been to the Philippines. I was a tough cookie. Ain't nothing could knock me down!

Fine. I agreed to meeting AFD for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in Itaewon. I really don't like going to Itaewon. It's swarming with foreigners, mainly US army folk. But I agreed to meeting AFD at the Hard Rock Cafe. If anything, I knew that it would be a story that would entertain my friends back home. Or you - reading this - for that matter!

He sent me a text while I was on the subway heading there saying he's starving and that he was on his way.

We met in Itaewon, in front of Burger King. He wasn't subtle about looking at me from head to toe - sizing me up? Did I "have it going on"in the flesh as I apparently did in my FB photos?! He, on the other hand seemed to be one of those people who photograph very well, and whose personality seems to shine through in their photographed face. But in reality? ....

We went to the Hard Rock Cafe, which has stairs leading underground to the actual restaurant. Once inside, it's like you've escaped Korea. Everything about it is American.

I ordered a vegetarian starter as my main meal while AFD ordered a burger. He wanted to know something about an item on the menu, and was confusing our waitress. He went on to speak s-l-o-w-l-y as if she was a retard. This already pissed me off. I hate it - hate it- when people do this to non-English speaking people.

He sat slouched in his chair. This didn't sit well with me.

AFD - So tell me more about yourself?

What am I supposed to do? Memorize my CV (resume) for when people ask me this question?

Me - What would you like to know?

This seems to always be my response to that question.

AFD - Well, what did you do before you came to Korea?

Me - I was a journalist.... and

AFD - Really? (He takes out a motoring magazine from his bag) I've got this really great idea I wanna tell you about.

Ummm... I wasn't quite finished with what I had to say ?!?!?

He rambled on and on about something to which I'll admit, I just shut down.

For the next hour, the conversation was crumbling. And as I write this, I can't even remember what kind of topics we covered. But I can remember this: Thinking that I need to get the hell out of there becaus this guy is 1) obnoxious and 2) keeps cutting my answers to his questions with something else HE wants to talk about.

When we're nearing the end of the meal, he asks if I'll go with him to Yong-san (a mega digital store near where we were). I REALLY didn't want to. But I figured, I'd just catch the subway home from that station. And maybe a change of scenery would do good for our conversation - or lack thereof.

I reached into my bag to pay for my meal but he said lunch was on him since he invited me out. Ok. Fine. Score 1 point.

He walked with a typical guy swagger, with a backpack on his one shoulder - giving off an impression of "I'm the man"

Ohmygod, was I really out in public with a person who I always vowed I'd never been seen out with? And we caught a cab to Yong-san.

US Air Force Dude - Part 3

Here is Part 1 and Part 2.

AFD and I began chatting quite often, almost daily. We talked about his life in America and Europe. We talked about what kind of things there are to do in Seoul over week-ends. He said he found me very interesting and open-minded.

Of course, this is a compliment I can accept quite gracefully :)

He was about 29 years old, and didn't drink alcohol.

Me - But you're always going to hoff's (Korean bars) when you're out.
AFD - I have Coke. Or OJ (orange juice)

This guy was turning out to be quite nice, and I almost thought he could be placed on my list where only Brian's name lived - the list is: "Americans who defy stereotypes" In other words, they're not obnoxious, arrogant and actually KNOW that South Africa is, in fact, a country.

One night, AFD said we should play a little game.

AFD - We both ask each other 3 questions. It can be anything.

Me - Hmmmm, Ok...

Right now, I can't remember the questions we asked each other exactly, but they were along the lines of:

- What's your favourite dessert?
- If you had any super power, what would it be and why?
- Who's your role model?

It was fun, and got me thinking. Till he wanted to play it again. One of his questions:

- Do you kiss on a first date?

My answer? I'm not replying.

He asked me something else that I won't write on here, and since I refused to answer he said he was becoming more curious about me.

AFD - I'm curious about you.

ME - Why? I'm just a regular girl.

He went on to tell me about the time he lived in London. There were Indian girls all around, but they tended to stick in their cliques. He said he's always been curious about Indian girls in particular.

So I thought - Ok, I know where this is leading. And I hurriedly made an excuse that I had to log off, and I left the chat. Turns out, he was no better than the other American's I'd met while in Korea. American guy (in the army) interested in one thing.

I went to the Philippines for a week, and didn't have to chat to him. I was hoping he'd forget about me, eventually delete me off FB and find someone else who could satisfy his curiosity.

Because I knew for sure - It ain't gonna be me.

When I came back to Korea from the Philippines, we chatted again for about 2 weeks. I was off-ish with him at first, but then he was coming 'round to being decent again and not talking about being "curious" and whatnot.

AFD - Have you been to the Hard Rock Cafe in Itaewon?

Me - No, is it good?

AFD - I had lunch there the other day. I wanna go back there.

Me - Mmmm, sounds good.

AFD - Let's have lunch together tomorrow.

US Air Force Dude - Part 2

Before reading this, here is Part 1.

AFD and my FB chats moved over to MSN. We began chatting often, and I was beginning to enjoy his online company. He was sharp and witty.

He kept mentioning that I should let him know when I'm in Seoul so that we could meet up. I agreed to. But of course, I knew I wouldn't. He also claimed to make the "worlds best pancakes" and that I should definitely "try it out sometime!"

One Saturday night, my friend Kim wanted to go clubbing. The club we usually go to is *always* packed, but on this particular night it was almost frustrating being there with so many people. You almost couldn't dance and had to rely on being moved around by people around you to the hip hop beats blasting away.

Kim met a foreign guy (Kim's Korean, so foreign to her would be anything BUT Korean) and as usual, I was bored. I didn't want to go out that night in the first place. I'm not that big of a clubber, but Kim really wanted to go out that night. I wanted to go home, but my friend begged me to please wait a big longer. Of course I would. We arrived together and we'd leave together. No question about it. So while my friend was being charmed by an American (!) I was left leaning against a wall watching Korean guys in hip hop gear (baggy pants, over-sized hoodies, bling & shades - yes - SUNGLASSES) dance to some of the latest in Korean pop.

30 minutes later, I'd had enough of people pushing me over and having drinks nearly spilled all over me. I convinced Kim that it was time for us to leave. Her new American friend wasn't happy about this and was getting irritated with me, till I glared at him with my big eyes. "We're going now!" And we left.

The next evening (Sunday) after recovering from a late night, I was online as usual. AFD logged on.

AFD - What did you get up to this week-end?

I didn't wanna lie.

Me - I ended up going to Seoul with a friend.

AFD - Yeah? Me too. I was cruising solo.

Me - Do you like going out alone?

AFD - I prefer meeting up with people, but doing my own thing.

Me - I see...

AFD - So where did you go?

Me - We went to Gangnam.

AFD - No way. I was in Itaewon with some friends, but ended up in Gangnam (alone).

Me - Really?!!

AFD - Yeah! Where did you go in Gangnam?

Me - Oh we went to this club, but I was really bored. But my friend wanted to go, so...

AFD - Which club?

Me - NB

AFD - WHAT??!

Me - Have you been there? I didn't enjoy it, it was too full.

AFD - I WAS THERE!

Me - You were at NB?!

AFD - YES! Ohmygod... I can't believe this! I wish you told me you were there. But it was too packed, so I left and went home.

Part of me was relieved that I hadn't bumped into him. But the other part of me wished I had told him I was going to be in Seoul that night. If anything, at least I wouldn't have been bored to death waiting for Kim to finish playing with the American.

US Air Force Dude - Part 1

Every now and then, I get a random Friend Request on Facebook.

"So and so would like to add you as a friend"

Accept? Decline?

Usually, I'd send a message to the person to kinda screen them before hitting 'Accept' (I share *way* too much on FB for just anyone to see) It makes it a bit easier if the person and I have mutual friends.

I got such a request a few months ago from someone who we'll call Air Force Dude. Or AFD for short.

AFD and I had no mutual friends. His "Hello & introductory" message seemed decent. He said he found my profile randomly on Facebook and that "I had to add you... you're gorgeous."

For some reason, I don't take compliments like I'm "gorgeous" very well.

As you can tell by his "name", he was in the US Air Force and was stationed in Korea for the second time. He said he'd lived all over America and Europe for a while. He was going to be in Korea for a few months longer before being stationed in Germany.

He Inbox-ed me with messages of "hey, what's up?" and that I should go up & visit him in his city, where it's apparently "happening" thanks to the large foreign community. In other words, the US army community

NO THANK YOU.

Put bluntly, US soldiers have a bad reputation here in Korea, especially over week-ends when they're let loose on the streets of Seoul. Some clubs in an area called Hongdae even have signs outside saying "No GI's allowed"

One night, AFD caught me online on FB chat. He didn't come across as an arrogant and obnxious soldier - much like others I've encountered here in Korea. He told me I was beautiful. Now, I'm not one of those girls who go weak at the knees when I hear this line. In fact, I'm like *yawn* - "Try another line, brother!"

I'll never forget one line he used on me, "I don't think you know it, but baby - you got it going on!"

Judging from his FB photos, AFD wasn't too bad on the eye. He was African-American, bald, well-built with green eyes (I know - green eyes on brown skin? Probably contacts, but they looked good!) with a smile that - dare I say it - was pretty sexy, I won't lie! I kinda liked his dressing style - waistcoat, hat, scarves. It looked like the brother could dress! Which girl doesn't appreciate this, right? What struck me most was that even though he loved going out and having a good time, he said he didn't drink. Or smoke.

But the fact still remained that he was 1) an American and 2) in the US Air Force. And from past experiences, people I've met who fall in these categories *always* disappoint - with the very big exception of my friend, Brian (also an English teacher) who I met when I just arrived in Korea.

So as much as AFD asked me "When are we going to meet? I'd love to meet you", I always made some excuse to get out of it.

After a while, my excuses were becoming a bit lame. Even if I have to say so myself.