Amanda Takes Off...

I went to taekwondo tonight, with Diana's encouragement.

We're learning some very weird Special Forces-style forms. I asked if these were written down anywhere. We practice them maybe once or twice a month, and that's not enough to get these into my head.

Special Forces Instructor said that he does have them written down, in Korean. Sure, give them to me in Korean! 화이팅!!

I'm also talking to some 15 year-old kid in class about learning Korean. Some friends of his from school are trying to teach him, but I think if he actually wants to learn, he should learn to read. Next week I'm bringing him a book to get him started on the alphabet.

After class, Special Forces Instructor and I looked at something in an old taekwondo book of mine. I got this book from my studio in Atlanta, and it's a staple in my bag. I pulled out a piece of paper that Master had given me. I'd written "연습(하다) practice" and "공부(하다) study" on the paper. I remembered writing these things early in my time in Korea, and my elementary Korean handwriting confirmed that.

The paper I'd written my notes on was something from the studio about the benefits of taekwondo. I started reading the sheet and I was shocked by how much I understood.

It was a little surreal. Sitting in a new studio in America, coming across a piece of paper from my studio in Korea, tucked into a book I bought at my studio in Atlanta.

I'm glad I went.

I'm also glad I don't have to go again for a week.