외국인 (Foreigner)

I've been able to meet many foreigners here. Folks from the States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, England, Wales, and Ireland I've all come to know. I semi-joined a foreigner soccer league, so we tend to gather every Sunday or so for a match against various Korean teams. I must admit that I'm a very sorry soccer player, but I focus my energies on one main task: not messing up or doing anything embarrassing. I've already failed at my simple task.

That being said, there is a growing population of foreigners here, so it's not altogether unlikely to see one walking about on any given day. I usually see at least one foreigner per day on my travels. However, not all Koreans (especially not Korean kids) are accustomed to seeing white, black, or hispanic people. There have been a few occasions where a little girl will stop dead in her tracks, look up at me, and simply gawk. Jaws dropped, eyes wide. I just smile, wave or say "hello." One time this exact thing happened when I was in a convenience store, waiting in line. The little girl looked up at me with such intensity. Her eyes honed in on mine. I mustered up an embarrassed smile and was about to break free from her gaze. She paused a moment, still staring so curiously and then cried out "아 빠!" This sounds like "appa" and means 'dad.' I guess I sort of frightened her, since she'd probably never seen someone with light brown hair, pinkish skin and blue eyes.