Amanda Takes Off...

We were doing an activity in class, and a boy was supposed to give the pointer to "a girl from a different table."

He was wandering around, looking so confused. My coteacher and I, and the students, were yelling at him in Korean and English, "A girl. Different table! Hurry up!"

Finally he turned around and thrust the point in my hands, "Here!"

I laughed and my students turned the tables on me, "Amanda Teacher! 빨리 하세요!" Hurry up!

I stood up, mock ran over to the board and drew an imaginary line between "zoo" and a picture of one. My kids whooped and cheered. Thank goodness I know "zoo" in English, eh?

I made it to taekwondo for the first night in a long time tonight. I still have the very last bits of my bronchitis, but it's not too bad and I took it easy. Class was good, but Master was only there for the last five minutes or so. He greeted me kindly, told me he hoped I would feel better.

Most of the older boys that I so adored last year—Cocky, Powerful, Brave, Tired Guy, Cheater, Studious—don't come to class anymore due to studying for their college entrance exam or hogwons (or being in university now). I miss them. The class now is mostly middle schoolers and even though I love those boys, they're a bit obnoxious.

One of the boys tried to say my name tonight but somehow "Amanda" came out like "han beon do" (one more time). The boys laughed at him, but I didn't. When I first got here, for the first month or so, hanbeondo said quickly enough did sound like Amanda said entirely with soft as. I tried explaining that to him. "Little same, I thought. I didn't know. But yes, they do sound similar." He looked relieved. I was telling him the truth.

"End of the journey, Korea."

Beyoncé came to Korea for a concert a few days ago. Good Man said, "Is she not popular in the US anymore?"

I laughed, "Why? Cause she's in Korea?"

"Yeah. Korea is where everyone comes when they are no longer popular. It's where they go when they're dying." He shook his head, "End of the journey, Korea."