Amanda Takes Off...

Taekwondo was funny last night. I completely misunderstood Master. Amazingly, this wasn't a misunderstanding due to the language, this was us being on two different pages. I thought that Wednesdays this month the last class was at 6 and it was a taekwondo dance class. I asked Master what I would do in class and he said running.

So when I got to the studio, I changed and put on my running shoes. I went to tell Master I was going to start running (a little early) but he wasn't there, so I told his wife. When I got back from running I found out that Master meant, "if you want to learn dance, come to the 6 pm class, otherwise come at 8." I had clearly asked if "everyone" was supposed to go at 6 and he said yes but somehow we just talked around each other or something.

While I was running around the track, some high school boys were hooting at me, Korean style. Meaning the first lap I got "Hi!" The second lap I got "Excuse me," and the third lap I got, "Where are you from?"

I stopped, the three 18 year olds froze, and I started drilling them. They were good sports, actually, and we were speaking in Korean and English. One kid was being a real smart ass and told me "go now."

That isn't rude in Korean. It is in English. I said, "갑시다!" Let's go (strongly)! I grabbed his wrist, expecting him to wriggle free.

I have to give the kids props, he knows how to treat an elder, even if she is foreign. We started around the track and he slipped his hand into mine. We held hands, tearing around the track, while I said in Korean, "Next year...you have a college test, right? You must know English for that test right. So...let's practice English!"

He was muttering, "Oh, this is too hard!"

His two friends were running behind us, taking video on their handphones. I turned and gave them a V sign.

When we were done with our lap, I did several more on my own. When I finally left, one boy shyly asked me where I was going. Come on, kid, I'm in my dobok. I said taekwondo and he said he earned his black belt when he was young, but all he did now was go to hogwons.

They were sweet guys, I think.

I told Master about it and he was laughing and laughing, which is good since I was wearing the dobok with the studio's name on the back of it. When I told Good Man about it, he thought it was a good experience for the guys. I don't know, but it sure was funny.

Last night, after class, Good Man and I were supposed to meet. He had one of those dumb forced coworker outings (회식) so he was two hours late. His work likes to do these copious drinking things an average of twice a week.

I was soooooo ticked. I have never let the outings bother me before. I know how it works in Korea, I know he's stuck going to them. He's the youngest in his company. If he doesn't go, it can make life at work hell for him. I know he doesn't want to go.

I know these things.

I didn't care. I've been terribly bored yet stressed at work. I was sort of grumpy and thought seeing him would fix it, but then when I couldn't see him soon enough... So I was pissed.

I was mad at his stupid coworkers and stupid boss for thinking that just because they don't like (or have) their own wives or girlfriends that he must not like his either. I was mad at them for sucking up our time. And since his coworkers and boss weren't in my apartment, since I don't have access to them, oh who do you think I took it out on?

Good Man called from the street and asked me if I wanted anything. I wanted gimbap, but I was angry, so I said I didn't want anything. (Yeah, that makes no sense to me right now either.)

When he got to my house, I told him he smelled like an ajosshi. Cigarette smoke in his hair, liquor on his breath, kimchi from his pores. He responded with an odd sound, one I'd expect from a wounded animal.

But did that stop me? Oh no. I glared at him, ranted about his boss.

I expected him to fight back, but his response just disarmed me.

He curled up next to me (which is amazing, since I was doing my unconscious best to take up as much space as Amanda-ly possible) and whispered, "I'm sorry. I know you are upset. I did try to leave early as I could. But I took job to make money so I can make better future for us. And prove that I can work hard and be good boyfriend and good man for you. Please don't be angry."

Then I started crying because I knew I was acting like a brat. And I was acting like a brat to Good Man. Good Man who makes my life so, so much easier in Korea. Who lets me rant about his country. Who does my dishes. Who adores my nephew even though neither of us have ever met him ("We will teach Liam Korean!"). Who took a job close to me to be able to see me. Who downloads programs and books and movies for me. Who fixes my computers when they're broken. Who is trying to make a better future for us. Who has proven how good he is in ways I don't want to detail on this blog.

He lifted up my glasses and wiped my eyes and said, "But I will not work here forever. Then it will be different!" He said some more, struck a big goofy grin, and said, "And then future will be very good for us."

I really was not happy with or proud of myself last night.

Then, this morning, a Korean friend said that her husband stays out at these things until 4 am and spent 500,000 won at the last one. And another asked, "Does he have other women?" Tea room girls and noraebang "helpers" are common at these things, but I trust Good Man when he says they aren't at his. And I trust him when he says he would leave the moment they showed up.

I looked at her, trying to hide my shock because I knew what she was saying about her own husband, "No."

"Then you are very lucky."