Amanda Takes Off...

I'm going to Hong Kong tomorrow, so tonight was my last night at the studio. I told TempMaster this on Monday, and he asked again tonight before class started. He told me I was welcome to come to his studio any time, which was kind.

Then he asked when my black belt test was. I told him and we got into a five minute "It can't be on a Thursday, black belt tests aren't held on a Thursday/I thought it was weird, too, but I asked Kwanjangnim several times" conversation.

"I don't know why it's a Thursday, but it's Ee hwol eesipee il. I know, because it was three 'ees' in a row." I laughed.

"I don't think that's right, Amanda. Not right."

TempMaster shifted his focus, asking how much black belt tests in America (I have no idea).

Then asked how many students Master has. I said, "Usually 16-20 per class, sometimes smaller, around 12, sometimes really big, 24." He started questioning my answer, asking if that was children, too. I explained that my classes are about 60/40 children/"adults" and that more adults show up around 9. He asked about Master's kids' classes. I have no idea, I don't go to the kids' classes, but of the 11 or 12 kids at the tournament in November, and I only knew three of them. I thought about soccer days. Often we have four teams of four. The last class of December there were 16 students there (excluding me). Late Boy showed up late, making it 18 total, and still people were missing (and all of the people there were normal to my class).

He didn't seem to believe me. What can I say? My studio has been around for about 30 years. When I got some photos developed, I found out the people who owned the shop were Tall New Guy's neighbors. And the patriarch of the shop, if I understood him correctly, had earned his black belt under or with Master's father. My friend Daniel claimed to know where I was training when I showed him the business card.

He went back to the testing date. I finally said, "Do you want to call him? Handphone?" It came down to me text messaging him. "How are you? It's Amanda. Which day is the first degree black belt test? It's February 22nd? It's on a Thursday?" I sent the message (in Korean, of course) at 8:06. At 8:06 I received a message, "Yes, Thursday."

I'm sure he was wondering why I was asking. Again. When he's told me at least three times.

TempMaster then said something in Korean that he couldn't explain. Then he shook his head over and over and said the test couldn't be the 22nd. I wanted to scream. I don't know why it's on a Thursday. I HOPE that Master isn't wrong. In any case, this, much like my first night in this studio, didn't seem to be about me.

Class itself was great. Lots of kicking practice while the people who tested yesterday were tested again or something.

At the end of class, TempMaster took some photos for me. A larger one (with nicknames and ages) can be found here or by clicking on the photo below. This photo is blurry, but shows TempMaster in the back row; the larger photo is sharper but lacks TempMaster.

TempMaster reminded me that I could come to class any time and told me to come every night.

I thanked him and smiled. Hey, I think I learned how to do the I'm-smiling-because-it's-easier-than-saying-no Korean smile tonight.

Really, despite my frustration with some aspects of the place, I did enjoy training there. I think that the cultural/stylistic differences would not have mattered were it my first studio, and I think given more time, I could've gotten to know the boys better. Purple Belt, Sabumnim, and a new black belt young woman and I all got along at least. I'll miss Brown Belt, as lazy as he can be, he's a sweetie. And I feel for him, he gets picked on by HR all the time. I like that TempMaster does more floor drills and poomse work than my own studio. I would tell people to check his studio out, especially foreigners because of the English levels of TempMaster and Sabumnim.

I truly do appreciate him letting me train there for a month. He was kind to tell me I could to drop-in and train there. My loyalties just lie elsewhere.

After class I told Sabumnim I'd call her, and that we should go see a movie at COEX together. She looked shocked and said, "Oh! OK! OK! Good!" I don't know, I thought of her as a friend, I didn't think tonight would be the last night I'd see her...

Speaking of friends, Heidi wants me to bring "extra luggage" so I can bring some things back from Hong Kong for her. I have no idea how much luggage she thought I was going to bring, but I'm only going to be there for a few days...!