"Che Zoo Gah Too?" In His Best Watson

A woman is riding past on her bicycle. Just as she gets within 3 feet of me, she screeches to a halt, grabs my arm, and says, "Che zoo gah too?"

I think she's propositioning me. I say my words for 'hello' and 'goodbye' in Korean.

"Annyang ha say o," I say. "Ann yang ka say o."


She laughs. "Che zoo gah too?"

I walk hurriedly away.

Private Investigator Log, Febraury 3rd, 6:30 PM

Jim and I are fairly convinced it is a proposition of sorts. I run with hooker. Jim decides prosleytizing is more probable.

"You sure the old woman didn't say anything about Jesus?" Jim asks in his best Sherlock.

"I don't think so," I ponder in my best Watson. "I don't know. All I got was 'che zoo gah too.' What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

We decide to ask SY, Jim's girlfriend. She is a native Korean. We figure she can help.

Private Investigator Log, February 3rd, 7:40 PM

"It doesn't mean anything," SY tells us in an officious manner. "Nothing!"

"So it's not Korean?" Jim asks.

"It's nothing!" she says with finality.

I decide to store the idea in my private investigator memory bank for later. SY has officiated. There is no need for more discussion. I will have to deal with the problem during down time.

"Good idea," my memory bank decides.

Private Investigator Log, February 5th, 1:34 AM

Tonight as I lay in bed, I decide to play a bit of Motzart on my belly to calm my nerves. As I play, my mind sounds out each word:

Che zoo gah too. Che zoo? Che zoo? What is che zoo? Then it comes to me like a free pinball game : "Jesus!!!"

'Che zoo gah too?' is 'Jesus got you?'

Mmmm. If I had known this, I would have said the Korean word for 'yes.' Of course, saying 'hello' and 'goodbye' in Korean works just as well. I may just stick with that. I might even take it with me to the states.

"You got (fill in the blank) ?"

"Hello," I nod. "Goodbye."