More Observations of the Korean Way

Like I said last time, the next day was not a pleasant day. Maybe I'm just not understanding their way of thinking, or I misunderstood her (our agent). She speaks pretty well, I didn't think I misunderstood her at all. I finally understood why once Jesse explain to me that night the reason why but I still think it is wrong.

Before Jesse left for work he asked me to go and pay the lease on the apartment. Sure, that's not a hard thing to do, it is a walking distance I can do that. I wrote the amount for a 1 year lease (I've never written that much amount of money in our checking account before). I left the payable to blank since I was going to drop it off at the Realty office then I can asked who it is payable to once I get there. Our agent didn't give me a who so I just wrote the company's name and gave her the check. Then the unpleasantness started, she said, "no, no, no, not personal check, make it cashier's check. I said okay, I'll just go to the bank inside the Base and get you a cashier's check. She said okay. So I walked to the bank inside the base, not that far, and the base is across the street but it is pouring rain and it is humid. I got to the bank and they made me a cashier's check, then went back to the realty office, once our agent saw the payable to part of the check, she started telling me no no no again and I asked her why not, she said, payable to the owner of the apartment or cash, but they prefer cash and I asked "Cash?" She said,"Yes, American dollar," I hesitated and said to myself, I am not walking by myself with that amount of money from the bank, but I went back to the bank anyway. By this time, I was scared and fuming at the same time. Why didn't she tell me from the beginning she wanted cash? I could have at least discuss it with Jesse, (I could not call Jesse because he can't received any phone calls when working). I am not walking out of the base with that amount of money. When I got back to the bank, I told the bank teller my problem and she can see and sense my apprehension, reservations and frustration and she must know the history of the company because once she saw the name on the check, she said that this realty company do this all the time and I said I am not walking out of the base with that amount of cash. The nice teller tells me to have the agent come inside the base and give her the cash there so that the bank camera can take our "pictures" so I have a proof that I gave her the cash I still had reservations about the whole cash thing and I need a receipt. I called our agent to come inside the base at the bank and I want a receipt. I had to go back to the Base gate to escort our agent in as a visitor. Went back to the bank did the transactions and our agent gave me the original lease as my receipt. I wasn't sure if my frustration showed, I was fuming all day and did I say it was raining hard and I was hot and soak at the same time. As soon as Jesse walked in I broke loose. Jesse explained that they want cash because they maybe paying the owners in Korean Won and they wait until the exchange is high. I don't know, I still think it is wrong.

That was a day in the life of Mila, in Korea.

The next day was Great! Stay tune.......