The Weird and the Wonderful: Where Am I?

Sunday I went shopping at Myeong-dong shopping district in Seoul. I went here for two reasons: Forever 21 and H&M. Myeong-dong is actually the only place in Korea that you can find these stores, so I was willing to make a bit of a trek. Although shopping in Korea is basically everywhere, from streets, to subway stations, I needed to get to a western store. First of all, most places--because they're basically just stands--you cannot try anything on. This is intertwined with my second problem, the sizing. Most things look like they will fit, but don't. I end up looking like an awkward pre-teen who just had a huge growth spurt without enough time to get some properly fitted clothing.
Myeong-dong ended up being kind of a strange place. There were--no surprise--loads of foreigners everywhere. Even if I hadn't seen all of them, I would have known they had been there. They left their stamp on the racks at Forever 21...all the large sizes were gone. More than the foreign presence, what was strange was the amount of English that was spoken. I heard virtually no Korean. I walked up to some information women to ask where Forever 21 was in broken Korean, expecting directions in Korean and hand gestures, and they responded with perfect English. The store employees: English. As I was walking into the dressing room, one of the Korean workers goes, "Ugh, it's too busy for me today!" I was wondering if I was delusional and constructed that encounter in my head. Forever 21 does always make me feel kinda light-headed...
In H&M two employees were speaking to each other...in ENGLISH. I was totally freaked. I was by myself and therefore looked around for someone that I could share this moment with. No-go. This is because most foreigners do not find it strange when people are speaking English, they expect it. Well, I think it is weird when I am in Korea, an employee says "how many" and I reply in Korean. What is wrong with this picture?
I snapped a few pictures in between the bouts of pouring rain.

There are times when I realize just how populated this country is. Like, for example, when I float on the subway, or am continuously bombarded by a sea of umbrellas on a rainy day, or when I have to stand in an amusement park-like line to get into H&M.