It's War, Shave Yourself!

For as long as anyone can remember, Korea has gripped in a cold war. A battle of ideals. A war that questions the stability of the social structure. A feud that goes back decades and has separated the peninsula into a society of 'haves' and 'have-nots.' A war that is only amplified by the more recent appearance of American capitalist imperialists, such as myself. A fight that has intensified in the past few days to levels unknown in recent decades.

...and no, I'm not talking about North Korea.

What I'm talking about is something that I've mentioned many times before in this blog. What I'm referring to is what I have hereby dubbed the Great Beard War. In some ways it is a battle between the North and the South (as in the top half and the bottom half of my face), but it's a fight that I still can't seem to get my head around. Why does everyone have to have an opinion about my choice of facial hair?

First, let me premise by saying that my beard is well-kept. I keep it short, clean (gotta shave the neck if you want to look respectable), and never shaggy. I'm no Thoreau by any means, and I'd neverbe seen as being out of place at home. But for some reason, in this country, people take one of two stances. Either they like it or hate it, and they never hesitate to inform me, somehow expecting that I will value their opinion (aside from the select few) and accept it as my own.

So the recent events are such. I work for a company. One of the general managers of my company personally doesn't like the beard. Every time I've ever seen her, she has gone out of her way to make some sort of casual-sounding comment like, 'Oh, why did you do that?!?' and in the interest of avoiding conflict and uncomfortable situations, I've been forced to invent a variety of on-the-spot excuses. First it was that it kept my face warm, but after winter passed, I needed something else (can't remember what it was). I don't really have to worry about what she says, but given that she is a higher-up for the company that employs me, I figured it best not to make a scene.

Fast forward to yesterday. I get a call from the company, saying that I need to meet them on Wednesday morning (notice my word choice and that the discussed time was outside of working hours) to be introduced to the principal at my new school. Not a big deal, but still. Anyway, at the end of the conversation the employee who I'm speaking to (not the same individual mentioned earlier) awkwardly adds:

'And make sure you wear nice clothes'

'Ok, yeah' (Do you really think I wouldn't?)

'Oh, and will you shave?'

'Uh....' (pause) 'I don't know. Should I?'

'Well, since you're meeting your new principle, I think you should'

(someone begins to cackle in the background)

'Um...ok, we'll see'

Yes, there was CACKLING. It's no mystery that there was someone sitting next to the one I was speaking to, listening and pushing an agenda. And it's no secret to me who it was. I'm not one for cursing, but seriously WTF?

So I'm left with another choice: 1.) I shave, 2.) I ignore them completely, or 3.) I clean up my beard a bit more than usual and play dumb.

I think I'll go with 3. I know that's what they think of me, anyway.

If the new school principal disapproves, I'll shave with no problem. Otherwise, you can forget it. Sorry.