the little post office that would, but doesn't want to

wow--trip two to the gong dan post office.
i found this place last week when i went to the bank to get travelers checks to send money home. previously i had gotten the checks, came home, signed the hell out of the , not forgetting to write FOR DEPOSIT ONLY on the back and then the next day taking the bus to the big post office near city hall. BUT i noticed a sign and thought--hey, this will save some time. so i get the checks and walk the 3 blocks (!) to the p.o. walk in, go to the little island and start signing signing signing. guard walks by a few times, expected.
i walk up to the counter with my envelope all ready--i have wrapped teh checks in a piece of paper to disguise them and my envelope does not say anything about a bank or credit union or what have you--in cognito. i say--air mail slowly. dude goes on and on about how i dont want ot send it air mail i want to use EMS--which would cost 17.00 and i would have to fill out a form and then they call when it arrives and they get all confused b/c i can't speak korean and really it's not worth it. and i say no, air mail. conchaneyo (it's ok) he's sucking air and smacking the back of his neck--korean for no no no, this isnt right. she doesnt know what shes doing. BUT I DO!! i have done this before. i don't need EMS b/c they're travelers checks!! if they are lost, i report them lost and they give me NEW ONES! so PLEASE send them air mail for 65cents! no, he wont do it. THIS IS A POST OFFICE!! send my MAIL. no. i call eungyung. she talks to him. she then tells me if its money i should use EMS, i explain what i have just written, she says i dont think so. mind you, i love eungyung, she's my best korean friend and she's great. BUT i want to EXPLODE when she says i don't think so to me when i DO THINK SO AND KNOW SO TOO!! so i say no, really and she says ok and talks to guy again. THEN he lets me send it air mail.
you'd think i wouldn't go back there after that but it's SO close to here!
my friends graham and liz are getting married tomorrow. so of course i'm sending their package-from korea--today. it's sure to get there by the time they're opening gifts....i have the gift prewrapped in the store so it's surely wrapped perfectly. the woman there is a PRO. beard and i go together--mostly b/c i want him to see the PO that doesnt want to send mail. he takes me there on the bike--anohter time saver. we walk in and dude directs us to the island to fill out the EMS form. i WANT to use EMS this time b/c i want it to get here sooner and in one piece. beard tries explaining to the dude that its fragile--as dude is slamming it around the table and shaking it. dude then wants to open in. ANIYO i scream--the packing job in side is wonderful, i don't want him messing with it. all i want is a fragile sticker. i try saying sticker--in korean sa-tik-ah but it's not working. he keeps wanting to open it. i keep saying aniyo, conchaneyo. i fill out the form, i don't have graham's number or any numbers on that coast memorized (stupid cell phones ruining memories) so i leave it blank. another cause for concern, dude thinks i shouldn't send it if it's fragile--mind you we'er in a post office. no, its ok. i want to send it, that's why i came here. i know it's fragile, i'm taking the risk, i just want a SA-TIK-AH!! nope. i then go over, pay for the shipping and beard and i leave giggling.
this is just one of the millions of situations that have helped me conquer my battle with patience.
thank you korea