Elephant Talk

There are loudspeakers everywhere in Busan: In my office, at the beach, on mobile trucks — even in my apartment. Every couple of weeks or so, a message comes pumping through my apartment speaker. A droll voice will murmur something: “muh-muh-muh-muuuhhhh…. muh-muuuhh-mu-ma…” I never know what they’re saying, but half the time it eventually becomes clear to me. I’ll turn on the faucet and nothing will come out, or my shower won’t heat up, or someone starts drilling into the apartment building.

This morning I got two messages. I haven’t figured out what the deal is today. But it got me thinking: If North Korea attacks, I’ll be blissfully ignorant, munching on a stack of Pringles and watching Battlestar Galactica and then, boom, it’s all over. This also goes for zombie attacks. I should learn the Korean word for “zombie” just in case.