Amanda Takes Off...

During our break in class, Master told me that I could buy a winter training suit by Reebok. The studio gets very cold during the wintertime and I have cold-induced urticaria and Raynaud's Disease, so I think it's probably a great idea.

He was showing me the ad, explaining that the spokes model/man is some French soccer player. A French soccer player who's black.

I spoke in Korean. "Unh! Unh! Master, this guy...uh..." I wracked my brain. "He's a black person!"

"Yes," he said, nodding.

"Have you ever met a black person?"

He cocked his head and looked at me. "Why?"

"I was watching TV and saw Korean people, but black people. Um. Korean people, paint, face," I said, gesturing. He nodded and I went on, "In America! Oh my gosh! No! So I was talking with [Good Man]. And [Good Man] said he'd never met a black person. I said, '[Mr Good Man]! How is that possible?' I was very excited." I wrinkled up my nose and looked at him.

"Surprised," he corrected me.

"Yeah! I was very surprised! All of my students in America were black!" (A slight exaggeration, I usually had 2 or 3 Latino students in my class, and some of my kids had a white parent.) "It is impossible to not meet a black person in America. I think. Well, maybe possible, but..." I just shook my head.

Master shook his head, "No, I've never met a black person."

I looked at my studiomates and 11 pairs of eyes just stared at me. I didn't have to ask. They haven't either.

I said, "In Korea, it's very hard, I know. There are not many black people here, but...I was surprised, Master."

He understood. "I know."

I am starting to wrap my head around this country. Starting.