Elevator rides

I have been meaning to write about this in several emails but now I will write it here. There are very few Koreans who own pets, or even like them. As some of you know they actually breed a kind of dog for food, yet they also have another breed of dog that is considered very intelligent and not for eating. In October a man was fined and later imprisoned because he ate his neighbors "smart dog", and his neighbor asked him to compensate him. When he couldn't, he was jailed. Now I am getting off topic.

I live in a 15 story building, and I am on the 10th floor. I have to take the elevator to take Oscar for a walk 5 times a day. I always dread having other people in the elevator, because if they are not trying to play with Oscar (which is fine) they fear him. Oscar is a Shi-tsu and about the size of a fat cat. I have had varying reactions from kids gluing themselves to the wall of the elevator, to a woman and her child actually squealing and leaving the elevator yesterday (I had to laugh out loud just to show her how ridiculous I thought she was being). My dog was on a leash, by my feet, minding his own business, but there you have it! People will even cross the street to avoid him- at least I think its him they are trying to get away from....maybe it's me?!?!?!

So as I see it, this culture is full of contradictions, as is any culture really. I picked up Oscar from the street too. He was somebody's pet at some point, but Koreans generally like tiny dogs that they can carry in bags. They also like puppies, so when they get too big, they sometimes just put them out on the street. I do believe Oscar was one of those dogs. He had no leash, but he was very well trained. He is my favorite Korean.