Amanda Takes Off...

Tonight's class was interesting, primarily because of the teenage boys.

First, Master's great plan was foiled because nobody around me has classes later than 6 pm. And why not? Because they all cater to kids. Master's studio is unusual in that it features people over the age of 12. At any rate, he wrote me a training schedule for January and the first two weeks of February and demanded I keep training notes for him to read. You know I intend to do this as much in Korean as possible. He says he'll call and change it up sometimes.

After class, some of the (middle school and teenage) boys were playing around, and I was practicing poomse. (Class ended early so the boys could go study for their finals.) Cocky asked me what crossing the fingers meant. I said it was good luck or wishing for something.

Then Powerful, Cocky Guy, and Studious started talking about some movie and acted out a kissing/wedding scene, with Cocky holding his fingers behind his back. It was terribly amusing to watch Cocky and Powerful lean in for a fake kiss. They were so serious out it, and Powerful was still in his school jacket. I wanted a camera.

I explained what it meant to cross your fingers as a way of breaking a promise and faked Cocky telling me to keep secrets from Master about eating out together. Cocky used this as a chance to ask if I'd take them out for dinner again.

I laughed and said sure.

Cocky looked up 부담(하다), which means, among other things "a burden, a load, a responsibility" and "foot the bill." I laughed and said I had money. He then said, "We, no money. So sorry." I said, "I know, student, student, student, student..."

Then he told me that they held me in 존중, or "respect, esteem, deference" and that I was a good, nice, kind person.

I looked up "helpful" and "homesick" and said they were helpful with my Korean and when I was homesick, they were all like my little brothers. Cocky said, "Oh! 정!" This was the root for affection, love, heart, and warm-hearted. I nodded. I said my little brother was in Iraq. All of a sudden, they understood that he was in the war. That caused some excitement for a bit.

Somehow, in the mess of getting ready to go, we talked about American vs Korean TV, smoking (they were imitating smoking and holding their fingers the way we would imitate smoking pot, which caused an interesting dialogue), and which countries I've traveled to. The boys decided that I must be rich since I've been to six countries other than America and South Korea. I shrieked, "NO!" and they asked how I could travel then. I said I'd had jobs since I was 16 and saved my money.

"Ohhhh!"

We all bowed out to Master and the boys taught me that they bow in and out with the honorific forms of "hello" and "goodbye." Ahhhh, so that's it. At least now I know what they're saying, so I can say it correctly.

When we were walking to the restaurant, I asked why I couldn't tell Master. The boys started beating on each other, acting like Master would. I said, "I know, but why?" Cocky looked up 거지. Ahhh, a begger, a mendicant, a panhandler. Well, I don't think they are, but Master would indeed beat them up.

Dinner was nice, although Powerful couldn't join us. Cocky, Grin, Studious and I ate some gimbap, noodles, pork, and whatever else they ordered. Although I kept trying to get them to share my noodles with me, they wouldn't. When I claimed I was full, however, Cocky and Grin attacked the bowl to the point that I called them vultures.

They're sweet kids, they make me want to teach middle school or high school here. However, I know much of their sweetness comes from the fact that I know them in a very different circumstance than if I were their teacher. If I do eventually look into public school jobs on their side of town, I will specifically not teach at their schools. I would hate to teach any of my studiomates—no matter what their age!

Finally, your dose of hilarious K-pop. This is MC몽/MC Mong. He's a rapper who cracks me up. "Everybody scream if you're ready for some ice cream." This one is subtitled in English! When you ask for his CDs at your local CD shop, be sure to get it right. It's "Em Shi Monge." The C is a Shi and the O in Mong is long. Enjoy.