Amanda Takes Off...

Thunderstorms, thunder (천둥) and lightning (번게), are not common in Korea. Last night Korea outdid itself. It was thundering, lightning...and snowing.

Master called me over to the window during class. "Amanda, look! Snow!"

Without knowing why, I texted Good Man. "눈이 와."

His answer? :)

I found out today that it's standard to call—and hopefully meet—your lover during first snow. Good Man doesn't know why. Perhaps it relates to some Korean drama. Perhaps it relates to the flower water (봉숭아물) that Koreans paint their nails with. The water turns your nails orange (like iodine) and if it's still on the nails during the first snow, you'll marry your true love.

I didn't have my camera.

***Tonight, on a subway car with some seats still open, and some people willingly standing I took out my camera.

A homeless woman was taking up two seats. The last seat of the section held her backpack, filthy. The second-to-the-last-seat held her. On the floor around her were multiple plastic bags with newspapers, plastic bottles, and cans in them. She was sleeping, covered in multiple layers of clothing, shoes old.

Next to the woman was another woman's bag, taking up one whole seat. The woman attached to that bag was well-coiffed, well-heeled. Next to her, three salary men with shopping bags, discussing their company's doings.

So, from left to right, we had four well-to-do people, a purse, a homeless woman, her backpack, and a pile of recyclable trash waiting to be turned into a few won (I presume).

And diagonally across the aisle, we had me, with a camera that cost more than one thousand US dollars.

I wanted a picture. I wanted the contrast. Korea has no social net whatsoever. I wasn't trying to exploit the woman's homelessness...I wanted to take a photo to examine it. I wanted it.

But too many people were looking at me. Nobody was looking at the homeless, sleeping woman. Anyone who was looking at someone was looking at me. Or seemed to be.

I didn't dare take the shot. I wasn't brave enough.

Dammit.