Ignorance is a universal trait. Ignorant people exist all over the world, even though the populations might be higher in some places more than others (cough cough.. Utah). This is something that did not take a move across the Pacific for me to figure out. I was quite aware of ignorance due to many awesomely ignorant people that have crossed my path over the years. Hell, our country held strong to ignorance for 8 straight years.. or should I say, two consecutive electoral terms. And so many times, probably far too repetitively, I have heard the saying "ignorance is bliss". In fact, I'm quite certain I was assigned a writing prompt in college that asked which statement I agreed with more: ignorance is bliss or knowledge is power? Instantly, you probably think you know which statement you agree with. I always thought I did too. I've always been the "knowledge is power" type, which anyone who knows me well could probably have guessed. I would rather know whats to know and accept the effects than be left in the dark with an empty minded smile. But then I moved to Korea.
Korea is a place, dare I say, full of ignorance. This has taken me some time to learn. However, I would also say with that that Korea is a place of happiness. The old women (ajumma) might seem contradictory to this with their furrowed brows and constant pushing, but if you've ever seen them in their little ajumma clicks together, they're all smiles. And who wouldn't love those outfits?
I cannot generalize all of Korea and say that they are all ignorant. That would not be accurate. Just like it is not accurate that all Americans are overweight, stupid, always drunk and super, super slutty.. or so I continuously try and convince Koreans. But conversations that I have recently had with a teacher in my office have caused me to step back, turn my head sideways in a Sunny-esk confused manner and doubt the fact that she apparently has received a university level degree. Perhaps that is just me abusing the power of my knowledge. But let me explain.
When I first got to Korea, I really liked this teacher. She is another English teacher, but is not one of my co-teachers. Not all of the teachers in my office speak English, so it was nice to make friends with another English speaking Korean besides my co-teachers. She would sit with me at lunch each day and explain to me what things were. Best of all, she did almost convincingly tried not to laugh when something was obviously too spicy for my new-to-Korea taste buds. Every day she would explain to me about the different foods, but I started to notice that every day she would tell me "and it's good for you!" Then one day when she said that about deep-fried fish, I started to doubt her credibility. About 3 weeks later when the weather got a little warmer, she informed me about fan death. If you haven't read my earlier post about fan death, it is basically the belief (widespread belief, might I add) that people can die from leaving fans on in a enclosed room overnight. Yes, I'm serious. Read my post for further details.
So first my teacher informed me that all Korean food, even the deep fried, grease soaked kind, was "good for you". Then she dropped the sincere belief that fan death was a real cause of death. Then, about a month ago, she had a conversation with me about her to desire to have several plastic surgeries to look more Western. She asked me if having long eyelashes effected my sight. I thought fan death was the tipping point, and then this happened. At this point I figured she couldn't top herself... and she did.
The rain has been out in full force the past week or so. Apparently, monsoon season has started. Coming from Seattle, people seem to think that would have prepared me for this weather. Let me tell you, it hasn't. Seattle rain and monsoon rain are completely different. Seattle rain is rain. South Korea has MONSOON FREAKING RAIN. Any way, I'm getting off topic. So, Koreans seem to be terrified of rain. They'll pull out their umbrellas for even a few sprinkles, which I, as a true Pacific Northwesterner, will not do. But when I venture out in the light rain and don't pop open my umbrella, the stares come quicker and longer than usual. I mentioned this to my teacher friend at work one day last week and was bombarded with yet another crazy tale telling me why I'M the crazy one. Seoul has a decent amount of pollution. Not a ton, but as much to be expected in the 6th biggest city in the world. So because of this, she tells me, the rain will make your hair fall out. She then tells me that this is obvious because of how thin Koreans hair is. Yes, you read that correctly. The genetically consistent trait of thin hair in Asians is apparently caused by forgetting your umbrella in the rain. "But what about all the plant life that is healthy and thriving? And the animals? The pigeons on the street bathing in the rain water seem perfectly fine." What I considered to be a logical statement was met with a quick rebutted "the rain only is bad for people. It falls through the pollution and soaks it all up and then drops on us." Right. Of course it does.
I realize that I'm not a meteorologist, but I did pass 7th grade science when we learned about weather and how clouds/rain work. In fact, I'm pretty sure I got an A. I've also been blessed with God given common sense or, dare I say, knowledge. I stopped attempting to discuss this topic with my teacher friend because I did not want to offend her. She already knew that I slept with a fan on and, I'm fairly certain, prays for my safety nightly. But on all these crazy topics, she is 100% certain of herself and serious. So who am I to pop her bubble and tell her that walking in the rain won't kill her? Or that people all over the world sleep with fans on every night and don't die? Or that long eyelashes don't blur your vision?
Remembering the eternal question of which is better, ignorance is bliss or knowledge is power, I think back to how awesome it was as a kid to think that Santa was real. I was stoked when I thought Santa gave me a new basketball hoop from the North Pole, even though secretly it was Jack Hart, who picked it up from Fred Meyer on sale. Some of these people, my teacher friend included, would rather live in a bubble of ignorance than read a scientific article about either suffocation or rain fall. This might seem crazy to you and me both, but I have to be accepting of their ignorance. So, I pop my umbrella from time to time just to appease the looks. And I smile and nod when they tell me "deep fried shrimp with mashed potatoes is good for you!" I might be the type to choose "knowledge is power", but I'm clearly living in a country where ignorance is bliss. Do I mind? No. I was pissed when my Grandma told me Santa wasn't real! So I'll continue to nod and smile. But if these people try and tell me kimchi cures cancer or something like that, I'm on the first plane home.
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