Amanda Takes Off...

Good Man: I had a dream about you last night.

Me: Yeah?

Good Man: You were wearing a hanbok. It was...this color [points to something lilac].

Me: Did I look good at least? Usually I look like a mushroom in a hanbok.

Good Man: Yeah, you looked good.

Master missed class a few weeks ago to go to a military training session. Good Man has to go this week. Military service in Korea is mandatory for all men for approximately two years. Then they have to continue training for a few days each year for several (seven?) years post-service.

At Sincheon I asked, "What are you going to do at this training session?"

"Go hiking with guns."

Last night in class I asked Master why he invited Good Man out rather than talking to me. "Master, you know me, not [Good Man], so why didn't you talk to me?"

"Because it was my first time talking to [Good Man]. In Korea, two men meet, they drink soju. Or coffee. Or eat," he said, imitating drinking soju or coffee or eating in turn. "But we not meet yet, so we need to meet. Everyone, Amanda, not just Master and [Good Man]."

"I understand. Master's family, [Good Man], Amanda. I know. But Master. You know me. Not him. So why did you talk to him?"

Master stared at me blankly. "Because I know you. I don't know him. So I invite him."

I realized that I was dealing with a cultural gap later confirmed when I retold the story to Good Man. He wasn't trying to be rude by working around me, quite the opposite. I simply said, "OK. When?"

"I'll talk to my wife."