Amanda Takes Off...

I love my tae kwon do studio. I feel like I have a growing crew of protective little brothers. They're so funny.

I took my belt test today. I was the only one testing. Now I have a green belt (for the third time in as many studios) instead of my purple belt. After the test, Tired Guy clapped really loud, Cocky Guy (he's 18 I found out today) yelled, "Good, Amanda!"

Then. It was soccer time. I got the soccer ball straight to the face, smack on my glasses, whap. No damage, but glasses here are cheap and I should probably invest in a pair before mine break. I asked one of the boys on my team if I could take his glasses because he was holding them in his hand. I asked in Korean and he looked shocked and smiled and said, "Korean! Good!"

We had a break and played more soccer where we were all mixed up, teenagers, kids, and the few adults there and I ended up playing against Cocky Boy, which was my worst nightmare but I ended up doing some good high kicks to the ball. And I smacked my foot hard into someone else and I'm sure it will be bruised tomorrow.

I ended up staying after class and learning some names, ages and phrases. I met a new guy who was breathless that I could read his name in Korean. Tall New Guy shocked the hell out of me by answering Breathless Guy's "What's your name" before I could. The whole name! He got one part of my middle name wrong. I corrected him, he fixed it, and got the P right, too! I gave him a high five and then he asked if I knew his name. Nope, buddy. You may have all seven bits of my name memorized (which would actually become something like nine characters if I wrote it in Korean), but I don't have your three characters down.

I think that hurt his feelings. Until I wrote down his name. Then he wanted me to guess his age and I refused until he told me and guessed mine (never got it). I wrote down "Tall New Guy" next to his name in my little book. Then he wanted to know what that meant and followed me around the studio, right on my shoulder, asking questions and striking poses until I finally explained what it meant, as well as "short, slim, fat, big, small." I tried to get him to say "short" correctly and finally wrote it in Korean, complete with blends (sh/rt) which DO NOT exist in Korean but he got it right after that.

I use easy Korean phrases and they throw praise on me. Someone new comes and the boys turn into protective brothers, sharing my name and occupation but smacking little kids that don't quit staring at me. They give me water, chairs, benches, and watermelons first, teach me Korean, practice Korean and English with me, and tease me about soccer.

They make me feel like I'd be missed if I weren't here. I'll sure as heck miss them when I go home.

Oh, I'm pinning my belts to the wall as I retire them.