Amanda Takes Off...

Well, I checked for dan/poom grade on Kukkiwon's English website and as of the 4th (a Sunday, weird) I am an Il (1) Dan! No black belt yet, no certificate, but according to the website, I have my own Kukkiwon number now.

I know I'm supposed to be humble and all that, but dammit, this is exciting!

I'm sure I'll freak out all over again when I actually have the certificate and belt in my hands and around my waist.

Tonight's class was good, which was nice considering last night's class wasn't so hot. Master wasn't there and Grin's Brother ran the class. He was being a real jerk to everyone and at one point told me to stop talking. Now, everyone was talking and he only said it to me. I know he's a much higher dan (4th?) but he's also 17 years old.

I said, "How old are you?" 17. "How old am I?" You are my 누나. "That's right, I'm your older sister! So don't tell me to stop talking when everyone is talking." Later, when Cocky showed up to close the studio, Grin's Brother started talking about me while I was standing there and then claimed that he wasn't talking about me.

It actually turned into a true argument with me yelling in Korean, "I don't speak Korean, that's right. But my name is Amanda! Thus, I understand 'Amanda가, Amanda가, Amanda가!' I don't speak Korean but I'm not stupid. You don't speak English but you're not stupid. Everyone was talking. Why did you only tell me to be quiet? And why are you talking to Cocky about me? You hurt my feelings!" Yes, all of that in Korean.

Tonight we sort of avoided each other. Normally I'm pretty good at giving people the benefit of the doubt here due to cultural and linguistic misunderstandings and communications, but yesterday I just lost it. So, tomorrow I'll apologize because of the face-saving and kibun preserving aspects of doing so.

I got to class early and was studying Korean when Ghost walked in. He said in English, "Amanda! Today. Korea. Holiday!" and gave me a Hershey's dark chocolate kiss.

I knew it was White Day, but during our break, Master talked more about it (and gave us all candy, which I didn't even know he kept in the studio).

February 14th is Valentine's Day. Women give men chocolate. March 14th is White Day. Men give women candy. April 14th is Black Day. "Single people? Eat 자장면. And cry." (Says Master. I don't expect to be crying.) May 14th is Rose Day. Apparently there's a "holiday" on the 14th of every month, though Master didn't explain them all. I have a feeling that most of the 14th holidays are celebrated by youngsters more than adults (Valentine's Day, White Day and possibly Black Day being the exceptions).

After he explained it, the kids who only stay an hour left. Ghost left then ran back into the studio and gave me another dark chocolate kiss. Master smiled and said to us, "He's her 남동생 and she's his 누나."

Master asked me about Costco before class, though I wasn't sure why. After class he asked me to come to his office. I did so and he said he'd gone to Costco. He then gave me a bunch Austin's snack crackers. I have no idea why, but I'll happily take cheddar cheese crackers. I love those things.

One of my closest friends, in fact the only person from grad school I stay in contact with, just had a baby girl yesterday. She wasn't pregnant when I left Atlanta and now she has a child.

Sometimes I feel like I haven't been here for any time at all. Sometimes I feel like I've been here forever.

After class I said as much to Master. He counted off my months. "Amanda, you here more than 8 months!"

Already? I spent seven years in Atlanta and I didn't even particularly like Atlanta. I actually like Seoul. It makes me wonder much of my life will be spent here.

Most days I love Korea, I don't miss my family or friends much, and I'm not homesick. Most days the internet and Skype makes up for the distance (through nothing can make up the time gap). Most days I don't wish I were in America.

When I got home after class and called Caro to congratulate her, we both ended up crying.

Today wasn't a Most Day.