P's Bank Account

I had finally opened my son’s bank account today! I had been trying to do this task for months now since his small coin bank has been full. We tried it twice at Shinhan but until last week, we barely made it to filling up the application form.

At first, after checking the document that I had prepared (Kajok Kwange), they said that the boy need his “dojang” aside from that. So I had to reschedule that one again and just had his “dojang” made by myself without him seeing how is it done.

We came back to the bank a few weeks later with the previous document and the dojang this time. When we got to the teller, she again refused us and told us that there’s something wrong with the document. The National ID number should be shown and should not be in asterisk. I was already getting pissed off by this time and asking why they didn’t check that one in the first place the first time we were there. Lousy business.

I dragged my son to Woori Bank with barely a few minutes to spare before the banks closes. We managed to get in and get to fill up the form. The thing is the same asterisk thing came up when we submitted it to the teller. This time, however, the pretty teller wrote down the list of documents we need in a cute note pad. Not only we need a Kajok Gwange but also a Dong Min Junrok.

Even though she didn’t mention, my husband reminded me to prepare the one with my name on it. Base from our previous experience, the Dong Min Junrok (Family Register) doesn’t usually include the foreign wife unless specifically requested at the Dong/Office. One would hardly notice my foreigner’s name at the bottom of the document as if it was added as an after-thought.  It bothers me to see that there’s plenty of space between my husband and son’s name and mine. Oh, well. Somebody ought to explain how that form works. :D

Nonetheless, the teller was pleasant enough to deal with even though I know that it was a trifle hard for both of us. She still had me fill up another form even though my son had already filled up the application and a privacy disclosure of sorts. Stupid me just filled up and signed another document which I think is something like a “parental document.” I do hope that will not get me in trouble later on. :D

I gave her my son’s paper bills and coins after I thought that she is already finalizing the papers. She also asked if it will be a passbook or card account. (All of these was in Korean of course.) I only tried to guess what she really meant, along with the gestures and all. Since it will basically be a deposit account, I opted for the regular bankbook account. I have to really study a bit more about banking terms, as well as filling up a form. (Tong Jang is bank book, Ibkum is deposit, Jeokum is savings.) There’s more to learn though and it is imperative that I should be familiar with these since it is a very vital part of anyone’s existence here.

I breathed a sigh of relief when the transaction of opening my son’s account was done. Good thing that the teller was pleasant and patient. I was delighted when she gave me the bank book with the Thomas Train cover on it. My son will surely be delighted as well. :D

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Noted Stuff

It is getting hot in the peninsula and I cannot help but notice things around me like plants that are almost as happy as I am with the sun shining hot above. One thing that I’ve noticed is that the leaves of most plants here are usually small compared to the ones back home. Indeed, tropical plants tend to have bigger leaves than the ones here. It just shows how nature adapts to the availability of sun at this part of the world. We get more sun in the tropics so the leaves are usually bigger to catch more sun. Isn’t it a funny observation? On the other hand, fruits like strawberry that are grown in a limited part of the Philippines are smaller than the ones around here.

Oh by the way, I have a seen beet for the first time at the open market under the subway track today. There was also an interesting plant called “birum” which I might try to make into  namol one day. I asked the old lady selling it and she answered me with a lot of other information but of course it was all in Korean. I only understood about less than 20% of it. As long as I got the name and the idea that it can be made as namol, it was good enough for me. I didn’t buy though. I was not brave enough to try to make it yet.

I also got to taste a cherry on my way to the Jumin Center when I happen to pass by a truck that sells them at 7000  W.

Me: Can I taste?

Cherry Ajussi: Only one.

Me: Of course.

Cherry Ajussi: Are you from the Philippines? How old? (He asks while he was choosing the cherry for me.)

Me: Yes. Seorun dol. Thank you. (And off I go as I bite into the unwashed cherry. It isn’t that sweet for my taste.)

I am so used to being asked my age here in Korea at this point but still it sounded strange to me. I only wanted to taste some cherries and I get ask how old am I? Oh, well. This is Korea.

So what else have I came across today? Ah! I tasted and finished a bibimbap serving at the Gimbap Nara today. I even managed to ask the ajumma to make sure that the gochujang is on a separate plate. Next time, I’ll ask her not to give me any kimchi and only one banchan (side dish) for me. It’s such a waste coz I hardly touch the other banchans.