JFK and the cabbie

I get in a taxi today, coming back to my apartment. I sit down in the back, and low and behold, this 60 year old cab driver speaks phenomenal English. This is a rare treat here and always makes for a great cab ride. The conversation goes something like this:

Cabbie: Me, I speak English, I was in the Army and stationed in San Fransisco.

Me: Oh wow, your English is really good. San Fransisco is a nice city!

Cabbie: You American? What do you think of Bush?

(Koreans are quite interested in our political views. I learned in a very short amount of time here that if it involves President Bush, North Korea, or any other American politics, to just smile, nod, and tell them I'm Canadian)

Cabbie: I'm studying some English, could you help me pronounce a few things?

Me: Sure, I'd love to!

At this point the old man hands back a piece of paper with a bunch of Korean writing on it, and in between in tiny little letters, is english writing. It says the following:

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but...."

I'm sure you know this as the famous speach JFK gave back in the day. Here I am, in a city in the countryside of Korea, teaching an old Korean man a speech given by one of the most famous American presidents.

This country amazes me every day. The best part is that this entire spiel took place while he was running red lights, blasting his horn, and swerving in and out of traffic....