I was referred to a new cafe by a Korean friend. It recently opened and proprietors were eager to meet people and have guests at their cafe. It doubles as an art studio, bookstore, place of community, and cafe.
I intentionally avoided the larger opening party, hoping to miss a largish crowd, so I decided to pay a visit a few days later on a Sunday morning just after they opened for the day at 11am. My friend had pulled up the location on the map in my phone, so I knew where to look. Actually, I walked all around the neighbour trying to find this cafe and was getting frustrated because the map showed I was at the right spot, but there was no sign of a cafe. That is until I looked up. There it was on the second floor above a pizzeria. No signage on the street level.
Like many shops in Korea these days, as soon as you step in, there is a temperature scanner and a sign-in sheet. While I was fiddling with my phone and registering my presence on the sign in sheet, the staff noticed me. He dropped what he was doing and rushed over to me. We had few awkward words in Korean where I explained that I didn't speak Korea, then he thankfully switched to passable English. There was only one other person in the shop at that time, and it was a middle school girl who likes to hang out in the cafe. She also came to greet me and was literally jumping up and down with excitement. I suppose they don't get a lot of customers, let alone foreigners, and I felt somewhat like a celebrity at that moment.
I explained that my friend had referred me to the cafe so I thought I'd stop by for a visit. They already knew of me from my friend. They knew that I was a teacher at a particular local school, and they were expecting me at their open house party. Word gets around when you're different.
I had a list prepared with some books that I hoped they could order for me, and then I wandered around the cafe look at the books (all in Korean) and the artwork (interesting but Greek to me). It was then that the second staff member came into the shop and immediately introduced himself. They said they'd search for the books online and contact me, and they explained a few of the art displays and their ideas for the cafe/bookstore/art studio/community place.
They asked if I wanted a coffee and while they prepared it, I sat on one of the couches near the middle school girl. She was pleased as punch to speak with me, although it was difficult to communicate. She was using her online dictionary to find the right English words. I'm glad she made the effort because I wasn't using my dictionary to understand her Korean.
The staff soon joined us for coffee on the couches and we talked for about an hour. I asked if the middle school girl enjoyed English class. She proceeded to pull out from her pocket a crumpled and ripped piece of paper. She unfolded her report card and showed me her final English grade - 36/100. She then laughed hysterically. Well maybe she's not much for studying English, but she was wonderful to chat with (through the interpretation of the online dictionary).
On my way out, I bought some postcards designed by a local artist. They wouldn't let me pay for the cafe latte and they invited me to come back again.
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