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Less Than 24 Hours
02/21/07
Less Than 24 Hours
I am trying not to freak out over the fact that Master needed to copy my passport to fax it to them tomorrow when I told him they needed proof 15 days in advance. Oh well, if the paperwork doesn't go through, I'll just do it again.
I'm also trying not to freak out over the fact that my number, as Master showed me tonight, is four. Dan tests (adults) and poome tests (kids) are split apart. So why am I freaking out? Well, the number order could mean nothing. Or, it could mean that I'm one of the first to test which is good because I get it out of the way but bad because I won't get to watch anyone else. Or, it could mean that I'm one of the last to test, which is good because I get to watch everyone else but bad because it means extra time to be nervous.
Above that, the word used for "four" in this case is the Chinese one, sa. Sa is considered unlucky because it sounds like the same word for death. It's common to find "F" in place of "4" on public building elevators. (This superstition is less and less common amongst younger Koreans, though.)
We had this conversation in English.
"Master. Sa? Sa?" I faked slitting my throat.
He laughed, "Amanda, it's OK."
"Master, fax OK?"
"Yes."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
"Are you positive?"
He paused. "Yes."
"Do you know what 'positive' means?" I was obviously teasing him.
"Um..." He thought. "No."
"What about 'certain?'"
"No, I don't know," he said with a big grin. "But yes, yes. Fax, OK!"
I looked up "certain" in my digital dictionary and showed it to him.
"Yes! Certain, OK!"
OK! 화이팅!
4 comments
Ichi - one
Ni - two
San - three
Shi- four
Shi is regarded as unlucky - attributed to death too. So usually, they say Yon.
So a Yon dan is a 4th dan. And strangely, in most styles, it's the last belt before having a red and black belt associated with being a technical director.
Weird no?
Do a bit of research, you'll get around to learn that's it's very similar to #13 in our culture. Once you demystify these things, they're quite foolish, in fact. Well, to these day's standard.
Best of luck, do your best. You can't do nothing else anyways.
be well
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