Small victories

I've finally managed to ask for things in stores (and it only took four months!). The word order is different from English, so it's like saying "Paper towels, there are?" And I can ask how much things cost, though I still can't understand the answer unless it's written or the person holds up five fingers to indicate 5,000won, etc.

I can also order a few things in restaurants and read street signs and names of businesses, etc.

Fortunately, people continue to be very helpful and very polite. Although strangers don't smile at one another on the street, once I actually approach someone they're always helpful, even eager to engage in conversation. A few days ago I was hiking at the Hwasong Fortress and I stopped at an information center to ask directions. As I was leaving, the man working there came outside to ask where I was from and proceeded to tell me about his vacation trip to Boston, NY and D.C. His English wasn't great, but he was so glad to tell me he'd been to the U.S. It was kind of endearing.