Amanda Takes Off...

"Master, what is a 'small face?'" I try asking in Korean.

"What?"

"My students say 'small face, big face.' But we don't say that in English. What is it?"

He points to the fattest kid in class, a kid with a very round moon face. "He, big face. Everyone else, small face."

"Small eyes" and "big eyes" are similar. "Big eyes" are Western-style round eyes. "Small eyes" are the most common Asian style eyes, almond shaped. I think "small eyes" are beautiful, but apparently they're not.

Last night's class was great. A lot of poomse work, kicking drills, and freesparring with gear on (light contact—we weren't wearing head gear). I freesparred Master and ended up doubled out in a fit of giggles because he was kiyapping like a girl. I also sparred Brave's Brother. We ended up fighting dirty in a friendly way. He kicked me and I hooked his leg with my arm. Later, while I was bending slightly to block him, he roundhouse kicked my head. He looked shocked, and I was shocked, too. But it was a great hit (not painful, mind you, but well placed) so I gave him a high-five. He kept apologizing and looking at Master to see if he was going to get in trouble. But seriously, it was a good hit, he deserved the high five. And I need to watch myself when I'm blocking, obviously.

Tonight's class was also good. We ran around the track 13 times (not a giant 1/4 mile track, I have no idea how far it was) and then did drills and poomse. I didn't do freesparring because I was working on my side kicks.

Last night Amanda Eonni (this girl just whines "Amanda Big Sister..." all class long) was playing with a plastic beetle. She was making me crazy, so I handed it to one of the guys who was on the bench. She kept asking for it and I told her I'd give it to her at 9. At 9 the guy said that he'd thrown it in the trash. While she was sniveling and moaning, he slipped it in my hand.

I gave Amanda Eonni a big hug while putting the bug in her hair. It slipped but didn't fall out. I brought her to the mirror, then gasped and pointed. She screamed, shook her hair frantically and ran clear across the studio. Oh man, I wasn't expecting that response. I sat on the floor laughing, and Master and all the boys laughed and tried to figure out why she was screaming. I held up the toy and said, "This! This!" She kept back, hand over her heart. I thought she was really mad at me and was thinking Don't cry, don't cry, please don't cry. Luckily, she started laughing and said, "Oh! I was so surprised!"

There were actually thee big wasps in the studio, so it's not too surprising that she dashed off like that.