Here in Korea we are in the midst of ‘changma’ or the summer monsoon season, which usually lasts from middle to late June through late July.
This is my second 창마 and the thing that bothers me the most is not the rain, but the bugs.
I don’t know what most people think of when they hear the word ‘monsoon,’ but when we first moved here I expected torrential downpours and weeks of nonstop blinding sheets of water and wind. What you usually get, it seems, is just steady, strong rain during part of the day (most days, but not every day) and cooler daytime temperatures.
In areas outside of Seoul, the unusual heavy rain over short periods of time does lead to flooding, which is bad. But, the city usually isn’t drastically affected. Also, after the monsoon, it just gets hot—very hot.
But with the wet weather comes that other well-known scourge of the Korean summer—the ‘mogi.’
To the newly arrived, you may think these little bloodsuckers look like the mosquitoes you knew back home. But, the Korean variety are particularly vicious, elusive and hard-to-kill. I’ve tried sprays. I’ve tried the little plug-in repellent thingies. (Somehow I missed this little gem, however.) I still end up averaging three or four bites a week—and that’s with keeping the apartment windows closed.
This season, I have added a new weapon to the arsenal.
Speak softly and carry a big racket.
That’s right. I paid some dude in the Samseong subway station 8,000 won for an electrified mini-tennis racket/mogi-zapper. (I decided to silently reject said ajosshi’s advice that, provided I not activate the electric part, my purchase would also work to discipline our soon-to-be born child.)
The “trap” runs on two AA batteries. When you see the mosquito, you push the button on the handle and a small light on the bottom of the racket turns on—ostensibly to attract the mogi?—then it emits a familiar high pitched whine. Swing racket at mogi and zap! a satisfying revenge for the perpetually targeted.
Mogis! I am ready for you. Bring it.
music, move around a lot, and keep odd hours.
