Koreans think cats spread disease, and some harbor superstitions about cats and spirits. Adults get uneasy in their presence, and seem to avoid getting near their claws and looking into their eyes. A western teacher in Korea may find that his or her Korean friends are reluctant to visit if he or she adopts a cat. Cat food and litter are scarce and expensive, and many vets aren't equipped to properly treat a cat.

Margaret got one anyway. She bought this kitten from a street vendor, who had him in a mesh bag (destined for who knows what if someone else had bought him). One of Margaret's more cat-friendly Korean friends told her that Nabi is a common name for cats. It means "butterfly." So that became his name.

Curiously, few Korean children share their parents' aversion to cats. Soon Margaret's apartment became a favored destination for the neighborhood children, who took great delight in playing with Nabi.

Perhaps Korean attitudes toward cats are changing. Late in Margaret's stay, she began seeing more pet cats being kept by Koreans.