Amanda Takes Off...

Friday night Master said that we'd have demonstration practice yesterday at 2 and did I want to come? I said I wasn't sure as I had to move my stuff out of the old apartment. He asked me to call him one way or the other.

The studio is two hours by subway from where I currently am, my old apartment two hours as well, and the distance between them about an hour and tenty minutes. I knew it would be a long day on the subway and in a taxi van, but I wanted to go.

On the way to the studio, I called Master to tell him I'd be coming. He said no, I should come Monday. I thought perhaps I was confused but he said they were having practice but I shouldn't come. I finally said, "I'm coming," and hung up.

Blue Kicks as Tired Guy and Cocky Watch

Practice was fun because people from all of the classes were there. Sweetheart Suwon Girl was there, at the top of the steps, when I arrived. "Amanda! Amanda! Hello!!" The girl next to her, a student I've never seen, asked who in the world the foreigner was.

She was a bit shocked when I answered in Korean, "I'm Amanda. I'm a teacher. What's your name?"

Cocks Sizes Up His Opponent

More than 24 people were there practicing, including Studious and Grin. (I haven't seen Grin in months. He and Studious both said college is boring and tiring.) My classmates made up the last three rows.

It was interesting to see that the students in other classes, all young, most seemingly under 12 Korean age, were very formal. Bowing more deeply than we do and using -sumnida form to answer every question. He had to tell them that for the demonstration, they were not supposed to answer everything with a "yes, I understand." When we were told to sit down, my class flopped into a crossed-leg position right away. Yet the other classes sat on their knees until Master said they could sit down fully. It seems he is much stricter with them than he is with us. I think he has sympathy for the older kids because of their school and hogwons schedules.

Cocky Strikes

We practiced lining up properly and a punching routine. Then we did lots of target practice. After the younger kids practiced their taekwondo to music routine, they were dismissed. My class stuck around for the fancier kicking demonstrations and striking practice.

Master wants me to break five tiles at the demonstration. He set up four rebreakable tiles. I broke two. He set up three. I broke two. He gave me some advice. I broke two. He gave me some different advice. I broke two.

"Amanda, every day you practice before class, OK?" He paused. "Maybe demonstration you break three."

After class I asked why he'd told me not to come to class. He said in English, "You very far now. So I think maybe Amanda tired, so only come regular."

I said in slow Korean, with him helping me along, "I've been with my friends since Saturday. They are nice. But I only have one book. It is interesting and it is not interesting. You understand?" He nodded. "I have studied Korean a lot. But it is hard. I was sick and I wasn't working and I couldn't come to taekwondo. So I was bored." I thought of every "very" word I know in Korean. "I am very bored. I am extremely bored. I am too bored. I am truly bored."

He laughed, "Ah, Amanda, shimshimhayyo?"

"Nay, shimshimhayyo. And stir-crazy." I looked up stir-crazy, gave him the dictionary, and continued in Korean, "Last night you said, 'Tomorrow, at 2, we have practice.' And I thought, 'Assa!'"

He laughed. "Amanda, you can come to six o'clock class, too."

I tapped my fingers against my cheek. "I think...now I am not bored. Wow!"

We both laughed.

Before class, H had called and offered to help me finish packing (just dishes and things in the fridge) and load up the van taxi. I was mostly packed and didn't really think I needed the help, but he pushed a bit until I agreed. We chowed on tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), fried mandu, fried rice, and jajangmyeong while talking about what had happened with my job.

H ordered the food. He had to say my address 6 times, too. See? It's not just me.

The taxi van driver got totally lost and I was so glad that H was there. Poor boy has never been to my house before. I gave him one major landmark and he was off, wandering around in circles trying to find the van. The driver was nearly deaf, as well. H was shouting directions at him. I couldn't've done it.

Eventually, we loaded up the van.

The driver agreed to drop H off at one of the subway stations. On the way there, H said that I would be living far away where my new job is, about three times further away via subway than we were. Did I still want to meet?

I stared at him. Maybe it's having lived in Atlanta, but I don't mind taking time out of my day to see friends. "Yes, of course. Why wouldn't we meet?"

"OK, good. Because we are perfect, right?"

Exactly, buddy.

Today I met YJ. I told her what happened with the job in Korean. We read another one of my stories together (the same one Crybaby and I read together) and finished our session fairly early.

So we went and saw the movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer together.

I know the movie has gotten mixed reviews, but I was impressed. The movie was a feast for the eyes, absolutely beautiful. And I actually felt sympathy for the main character—serial killer or not. Perhaps that simply means I'm twisted. And while I expected part of the ending, the way it was done...I was impressed.

YJ had read the book (I haven't) and liked the movie, too.

Although things are nowhere near normal, it was nice to get to go to taekwondo and see H and YJ this weekend. It seemed almost normal...

Blue Terrifies Brave's Brother