Amanda Takes Off...

Tonight's class was awesome.

We have a new white belt student. She was shocked that my name was Amanda when I told her two weeks ago. Chatty talks so much.

"You talk a lot," I said in Korean.

"I know. It's true."

"In America, me too!" I said.

She also listens. "Please don't call me 'foreigner,' my name is 'Amanda.'" Immediately I became "Amanda-eonni" or "Eonni" (Big Sister).

Last week she was prattling off some questions and I said, "Honey, I don't speak Korean. Speak slowly. Easy. Then I can understand."

Unlike adults, who can't seem to adjust their language half the time, she does! I can't believe it! She is awesome! "Amanda Big Sister...Japan..." I nod, "Japan...you know?"

"Yes. I have been there."

"Oh." She froze.

I whispered, "But I can't read anything. I like Korea because I can read a little."

"Ah! Good!"

Then Ghost said, "I hate Japan!"

I went to teaching kids who were (sometimes) taught to hate whites in the South to training with kids who are (sometimes) taught to hate the Japanese.

That wasn't why class was good though. Only eight people were in class tonight and after 9 pm it was down to five. (One of the schools is on a camping trip and it was pouring rain.)

So Master gave us a lecture on point-sparring. Finally some things I have wondered about were explained and best of all, I understood 90% of it without needing to look up any words. And it wasn't just understanding because of context or watching him; I actually knew the vocabulary. And I got to ask more detailed questions based on things I've seen because I've been watching tournaments.

Assa!