Amanda Takes Off...

My Odd Korean Life is made up of telling taxi drivers they're at the wrong studios and having them make cell phone calls for me, telling people I prefer my name be written in Korean rather than English, and feeling more nervous interviewing at a new, temporary studio than I felt interviewing for my job.

I went to the studio that is run by Master's friend's friend. It's a taxi ride away, smaller than my studio, matted floors instead of wood. I got there, walked in, bowed at the people there, asked how they were, and asked if Master was there. There was probably a pause of three seconds while I took off my shoes.

Suddenly they seemed to realize that I'd spoken. They bowed, greeted me, and said he wasn't there (I think he was driving the shuttle) then pointed to his office.

While I was waiting for TempMaster to return, I checked out his office. A Yong In University graduate, fifth dan, three years older than Master, trained in physical therapy, earned his poom in 1992 if I recall correctly. Interestingly, he had a bunch of pictures from a studio in America.

When he arrived, we ended up talking for about 45 minutes. He speaks quite a bit of English, and we spoke in English most of the time. Turns out the pictures were from Kansas. He went to Kansas City to help open up a taekwondo studio. People from that studio came here (with some other groups) in July. The name of this studio, KAT, stands for Korea America Taekwondo.

Master told me that TempMaster understood that I needed a temporary training base, so I was surprised that I felt so nervous. I felt not only like I was being interviewed, but that all three men I've trained under were being interviewed.

He asked some detailed questions about my training history, was excited I was working on the 8th tae guek form. He asked me those wonderfully personal Korean questions. My age, whether or not I had a boyfriend ("No." "No? Why not?" "Everyday, taekwondo, taekwondo, taekwondo. Boyfriend? No time!"), and if I was a Christian. I have gotten used to answering the age and boyfriend questions, but the Christian one still throws me off.

A young woman came into the office briefly and if I understood correctly, she goes to his university. (Yes, I am calling a university student "young woman;" she looked like she was 12 years old.) She was wearing a purple belt and asked what belt I was. TempMaster said, "She's red, so you need to show respect to her." Well, after being the lowest belt in my studio for months (excepting Heidi, who doesn't come much and this new blue belt kid that I think changed from an earlier class time) that was amusing to hear.

He asked about my dobok, and I told him I had one that simply said "Tae Kwon Do" without the studio name on it. He said that was fine. Thank goodness, because I was going to run away if he asked me to buy a new dobok.

I am set to train with him starting the 4th of January, an hour a night, for about 6 weeks. He asked me to come four nights a week, I asked why I couldn't come on Thursdays. He said I could, he was just trying to give me a rest day. While his training will be different (and thus, probably more intense since it's new), I think 5 nights a week should be fine. I couldn't see a full class tonight because like my own studio...it was soccer night.

He is only going to charge me for one month, which I find quite kind. I already paid my December bill at my studio. When the blue envelope comes around in February, I'll put January and February's fee in it. I'm not sure if Master's expecting me to pay for January or not, but I will let him tell me if he doesn't want me to.

I admit, I am slightly terrified of training at this studio. It has nothing to do with TempMaster, who was perfectly pleasant and friendly. It has to do with my own insecurity about the speed with which I've received belts here; although Master swears I'm ready to be working on black belt testing, I don't feel like I am. But here I am, walking into this studio, "Hello, nice to meet you, I have a red belt..." Also, I feel like I am representing my whole studio, and TempMaster knows Haan Master, who knows Master...and I don't want to disappoint Master. Or the boys. Or myself.