Amanda Takes Off...

Photos from Hong Kong as well as Friday's mass soccer game are up in the photo gallery.

I've got two language exchange partnerships going on now. I've met one, YJ, a woman a few years older than me, twice. I've met the other, H, a guy one year younger than me, once. I get along with both of them, but the main problem is that their levels of English are so high that I don't want to speak Korean. However...I know I need to. I'm sort of viewing them as tutors while the taekwondo studio is more the language practice. This weekend I met with both of them (separately) and learned the future tense, some banmal, how to combine verbs in sentences, some vocabulary, and directional words.

Today I reviewed the first story in my Korean reader with YJ. In honor of 설날 (New Year), this is a retelling of the first story in the reader. (Retold in simple English because the story is in "simple" Korean.) This is one of several versions of how the animals of the Korean Zodiac came to be.

Once upon a time Rat was sent on an errand for the Divine Spirit. He quickly came back. "Hey, Rat! What happened? Why are you back so soon?" asked Cat.

Rat said, "Divine Spirit told me, 'Tomorrow is the new year. The animals that come and greet me on the new year will get a reward, and their order of arrival will determine the order of the zodiac.'"

Cat said, "Rat, we should go together tomorrow."

"Yes, that's a good idea," agreed Rat. Rat ran off to tell the other animals the news.

Cat thought, "I should be the first to arrive tomorrow."

Ox listened to Rat's story. The Ox thought. He said, "I am very slow. I should leave early." Rat saw this was true. Rat jumped on Ox's back for a ride. He forgot his promise to Cat. Ox set off, and the rest of the animals left that night. But Cat waited for Rat to show up.

Ox walked all through the night. When Ox and Rat arrived at Divine Spirit's house, the gate was closed. So Ox and Rat waited in front of the door. Ox fell asleep.

In the morning, as soon as the gate opened, Rat jumped off Ox's back and was the first animal to greet Divine Spirit. Next Ox greeted Divine Spirit. They were followed by Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Those were the 12 animals.

Cat still waited for Rat, but he didn't show. Finally, Cat left alone. When Cat arrived at Divine Spirit's house, Divine Spirit had already welcomed the 12 animals. Cat was angry.

"Oh Rat! You tricked me!"

And that is when cats began to hate rats.