Also, regardless of any cultural implications I just think it's creepy to have someone servicing your feets. I don't know how pedicurists do it since most people's feet are just horrifying. This also just reminded me of the time that a foot/shoe fetishist approached me in a card shop.
While I love me some mani/pedis, I always do tend to come away with guilt for making someone else deal with my manky hands and feet. And while white guilt is a powerful thing, the complexities MHKC gets into seem way worse.
…. Except for this one time when I had legitimate reason to believe that the woman doing my nails had just been trafficked into the country. But that is a totally different story.
first of all, "manky" AMAZING. second of all, YO I was in LA one time and I had the same thing. I got a mani from a girl with "just trafficked into the country" eyes and it was unbelievably haunting. had to have a second glass of wine with lunch and everything. um. i'm gross. sorry. but yeah, that was awful and you just reminded me. good morning!
Really. To think, missing a preposition and an article incites such a rant in someone. But really interesting read! As a Hangook myself, found it quite humorous, though I wouldn't be able to bring myself to get a mani/pedi, I think. My mom would be astounded at me spending $20 to get them did when I should be saving that money.
I wondered aloud, about this very subject, to a manicurist and she said that she would rather do her job than some others she could think of because 'at least I know where your feet have been.'
One of my favorite MHKC's yet!
(insert my humble request for How to Make Fucking Kimchi by MHKC here)
YES.
(and yes.)
Very much enjoying these. They're gentler somehow? It really suits her (sounds like I am talking about a haircut or something but really, it does.)
Yay! and HK food writing too!
Outstanding.
Mary makes me tingly in my demilitarized zone.
So good.
Also, regardless of any cultural implications I just think it's creepy to have someone servicing your feets. I don't know how pedicurists do it since most people's feet are just horrifying. This also just reminded me of the time that a foot/shoe fetishist approached me in a card shop.
Hey, nobody forced you to walk into the STC Hallmark Card and Pedicure Emporium.
He left me with an overpriced card, PTSD and hammertoes.
Mary, you really *should* make your own lunches.
While I love me some mani/pedis, I always do tend to come away with guilt for making someone else deal with my manky hands and feet. And while white guilt is a powerful thing, the complexities MHKC gets into seem way worse.
…. Except for this one time when I had legitimate reason to believe that the woman doing my nails had just been trafficked into the country. But that is a totally different story.
first of all, "manky" AMAZING. second of all, YO I was in LA one time and I had the same thing. I got a mani from a girl with "just trafficked into the country" eyes and it was unbelievably haunting. had to have a second glass of wine with lunch and everything. um. i'm gross. sorry. but yeah, that was awful and you just reminded me. good morning!
that was a really lovely piece MHKC!
the comments over at the times – so many jaw-dropping lulz!
Jacob in DC sounds like he'd be super fun at a dinner party!
Really. To think, missing a preposition and an article incites such a rant in someone. But really interesting read! As a Hangook myself, found it quite humorous, though I wouldn't be able to bring myself to get a mani/pedi, I think. My mom would be astounded at me spending $20 to get them did when I should be saving that money.
Maybe a backroom fish pedicure at some place in Queens would ease the anxiety a little?
I want a fish pedicure so bad I can't even talk about it.
'Doctor fish' – ME TOO.
I wondered aloud, about this very subject, to a manicurist and she said that she would rather do her job than some others she could think of because 'at least I know where your feet have been.'
And yet she still touched them?
Mary H.K. Choi: love it, love it, love you!