Amanda Takes Off...

On a TV show I quickly changed, I saw a man trying to shove a live octopus into a hollowed out onion in a boiling pot of soup.

Yesterday, rushing to taekwondo, I passed one of the dozens of fish shops in the market. The proprietor was whistling away, a blue plastic watering can in his hands. He was watering his dead fish.

Tonight's taekwondo class was a test, but it was an unusual one. We met our new Sabumnim since New Sabumnim is now in China teaching the women's national team. She's 20 years old, a 4th dan, and this is her first job as a sabumnim. She's a student at the police academy! I have never seen a female police officer in South Korea, so I think that's pretty neat.

After class I took Crybaby out to dinner. We went to the restaurant I used to take the boys to all the time. The owners said, "Long time, no see!"

I blushed, "I know...I'm sorry, I've been busy."

While we were eating, Crybaby made what I thought was a rather astute observation for a 6th grader. She said, "Amanda, you used to talk to Master after class all the time. But now you don't. Why?"

Well, first, Master isn't in class a lot lately. I don't know why, but he's been leaving a lot of class to Goalie. But I didn't say that. Instead I said, "When I was working at the hogwon, I could stay late. I didn't work until 10 am. And I wasn't getting paid. So if I was late, it was OK. Now I am working at a public school and have to go to school at 8. And I can't be late." She nodded and I got to the real meat. "When I was working at the hogwon, I wasn't getting paid. She still owes me 2,500,000 won."

Crybaby's eyes got very big and she double-checked my numbers. When she was satisfied that she understood, I continued. "I missed home. I didn't like my job. I didn't have a house!" I use my dictionary to look up "evicted" and show it to her. "I loved taekwondo. Only taekwondo. And Master's family was my family. But now I have a nice job. And I like my house. And I have [Good Man]. So I like Korea more."

"Ah," she nodded.

"I think Master understands. He is a smart man. And he's met [Good Man]. He knows I am happier now."

"Ah. I understand," she said.

I think I was right, I think Master understands. But coincidentally, last night after class I said, "Master, we need to drink soju. It's been too long."

"When was the last time we had soju?"

"I think in May, when my parents were here."

He glanced at the calendar. "Ah, and with [Good Man]!"

"Oh yeah, but that was in August. We need some soju. How about the night before the election, because I don't have school?"

He gave me a thumbs up, "OK!" A few moments later, "Oh, Amanda, [Good Man] come too? Ask him."