Amanda Takes Off...

From the newspaper. Abducted Fisherman Escapes N.Korea After 31 Years. Read it, it's a great story.

After Master left his message on my Cyworld page, I wrote back a ~50 word message entirely in Korean. Since it was original content and not similar to what I've learned in my Sogang books so far, it took work. And then I threw on his Cyworld page, where anyone can (maybe) read it.

I'm entirely brave, entirely stupid, or just not easily embarrassed...

At the end I wrote, "Whew, Korean... So hard! My head hurts. T.T Do you understand?" (T.T is an East Asian smiley for crying.) Master wrote back ㅋ ㅋ ㅋ ("kk-kk-kk" is sort of like laughing, it's the aspirated K) and a message about how my Korean has greatly improved ^^. He used the -네요 ending, which is sort of like saying, "My!" or "Gosh!"

Then he got me back by writing a message of the same length of my Cyworld page. I understood most of it (with the help of a dictionary) and then decided to run it through Babelfish for fun. I have no idea why "bedspread" keeps showing up, but other than that, my thoughts seemed to be spot on (if you can ignore the horrible translation job that a computer does about "room gymnasium song thing").

The end of his message was "아만다 화이팅! 통일 화이팅!" Amanda fighting! Tongil fighting!

Which came back as (wait for it...) "Oh the anger which rolls up thing! Unity anger thing!"

Unity anger thing?

I laughed long and hard over that.

Class was fine tonight, very small, no children, seven of us total, excluding Sabumnim. We did kicking practice. Some things never change. I need to twist my supporting foot more for roundhouse kicks, and I need to twist my waist more for jumping alternating (double) roundhouse kicks.

The jumping double roundhouse kick is really hard for me. If you're starting with the right leg, you start in fighting stance with the right leg back. You then jump straight up in the air and do a roundhouse kick with your right foot (which means you're twisting and kicking toward the left) and then twist and kick toward the right with your left foot before landing.

I am actually afraid to twist my waist. When I was 9 years old I broke my foot doing a cartwheel and for some reason, this kick makes me feel like I'm going to break a foot again on landing. I know logically that this chance of this is very slim, but for whatever reason I associate this fear with this kick, especially since my studio has wooden flooring. (Never mind the fact that the only time I've ever fallen on the ground doing a kick was doing a jumping front kick in my American studio. It was my highest kick up to that point and while I "landed" it, my landing didn't stick and I ended up on my butt.) I need to use the padded floors that this studio has to my advantage and just start twisting, however I can. "Unity anger thing!" and all that.

We did some more poomse work and Sabumnim tried to make some more stylistic changes. I just said, "I'm sorry, I can't." We worked together for a few minutes after class and I noticed that she had very short fingernails. A few weeks ago, Master told me I needed to cut mine because I was breaking them so much. I've never kept my nails super long, but I have naturally pretty nails and I sort of pouted over his suggestion for a few hours. I did cut them, because he was right, but sighting her short fingernails made me smile.

After class I asked Sabumnim if she wanted to eat dinner together. TempMaster heard us and gave us 20,000 won, which wasn't my intent at all, but it was very kind of him. He also gave me a gift, a book and a CD about Taekwondo Park that will be opening around 2013 in Muju. It's supposed to be a "mecca" for taekwondo. I knew nothing about it, so I'll read about it this weekend.

Sabumnim speaks very good English and if I understood her, she's from Jeolla province, though north or south I'm unsure. Since I was pretty sure I understood where she meant, I told her I'd been there. Much later in the conversation I mentioned Boseong (with the tea fields) and she understood exactly what I was talking about right away. She's the first Korean to not tell me I was mispronouncing Busan, so I think she is from Jeolla.

She told me her family was "very far away, like five hours" and I grinned and said, "Mine is 19 hours by plane." Her eyes got big and I was afraid she didn't know I wasn't trying to one up her. She said I must miss them and I said, "Eh, I lived 3 hrs away by plane for seven years, so I'm kind of used to it."

I also found out that her kwanjangnim in her hometown was also this kwanjangnim's (TempMaster's) kwanjangnim. He's ten years older than her, so I'm not sure that they ever trained together. If my math is right, he should have been starting university about the time she was starting taekwondo, but in any case, they're from the same area. And Muju city is in (north) Jeolla province, which could help explain why TempMaster gave me the information about it. Jeolla is sort of seen as the Alabama or Mississippi of South Korea. Traditionally very poor, strong accents. South Koreans are very, very proud of their regions and that area has been dumped on for a very, very long time so the fact that a city in the area was chosen for this park would be a big deal, especially to someone from that region.

When we were eating dinner I found out that she didn't know I was only there for a month (which makes me wonder what TempMaster said last night) but that she'd been told that I really like taekwondo. So my reputation precedes me... She's only been at this studio as an instructor for one month. She's 20 (as of Jan 1st, I am 28) and she's been practicing taekwondo for 10 years.

We spoke mostly in English because I'm really uncomfortable speaking my poor Korean with Koreans who speak good English. At one point though, while the waitress was near, I said in Korean that my brother is a firefighter and he's in Iraq right now. She said he was brave and I said about our president, "부시 바보예요." She laughed and the waitress asked her what I said. She told the woman in a different way, using a politer word, a different word, or a more correct word I'm not sure. The waitress laughed as well.

About midway through our meal, TempMaster briefly showed up. We invited him to sit down but he declined. We chatted for a short time, he said he'd see us on Monday and started to leave. On his way out, he stopped by—or was stopped by—another table and I heard "taekwondo...American...six months...teacher..." We were eating Korean food and while the restaurant had Western-style seating, we were sitting Korean-style (she offered Western style, I asked for Korean style) and when I took off my shoes the people at that table looked at me approvingly. A foreigner sitting on the floor to eat impresses far more Koreans than it should... When we left, all of the waitresses came up to us and asked me/her how long I'd been here. When I said six months I got the "Oh, your Korean is so good! You use chopsticks so well!" thing. Compliments are declined in Korea, and besides, I disagree about the language part, so I just said, "Oh, aniyo, aniyo."

I think I just made another friend here. And she understands taekwondo! I'm very happy.

Sometimes I am reminded that I am a movie star in Korea.

I had my first class at the Temp Studio tonight. It went fine for the most part. When I got there, TempMaster shook my hand and gave me one of those half-American-shoulder-hug things. It wasn't uncomfortable or inappropriate, but it was very American and very unKorean and so it surprised me. In being here for six months, I've gotten used to the conflicting ideas of having no-personal space and yet having virtually no casual, friendly touch between opposite sexes.

I was so nervous that at the beginning of class I was practically shaking. I don't recall feeling that way at my studio the first night, but that could be a matter of gups, as in entering a new studio as a 6th gup vs a 1st gup. TempMaster told me to wear my regular belt, and I told him I had a generic dobok without my studio's name on it, but I just wanted my belt to be any color other than red tonight...

When I first got there, college-aged woman approached me and said "Hello," while everyone else stared at me and then hit each other (to avoid pointing, perhaps?) and stared at me. I lined up way in the back because I'm merely a guest there and let myself be moved as necessary. TempMaster started talking about "the foreigner." If I didn't know the word foreigner, I would've known he was talking about me by the way they all turned around to see if I knew what he was saying. He called me up front, introduced me and explained why I was there, and we were off.

Like my own studio, most people were black belts. There were nine "adults" there and probably 6 kids. Of the adults, the college-student seemed to mostly be in charge of the kids (after warm ups, he separated the kids from the adults). I'll call her Sabumnim (teacher) although she's probably not technically a Sabum in Korea yet.

Sabumnim and I were partnered up for some of the work. She spoke English the whole time, but I'm not sure how much English she really knows. TempMaster helped open a studio in the States and was giving commands in both languages. I didn't need him to do so most of the time, but I appreciated it. And I didn't want to make him lose face by telling him I understand the Korean.

In class I listen for key words—numbers, names of stances/punches/forms/kicks, directional words. So I missed that he said to count in English. Sabumnim was counting in English, I was counting in Korean, and this super cocky teenage guy whined that he didn't know English while looking at me. (He is cocky but not at all nice/friendly/cute cocky the way Cocky is. He was cocky in this showing-off insecure kind of way.)

We started with sprinting drills, and TempMaster told me to yell louder. I was already counting louder than anyone else in my sprint group, so I didn't take it personally. I figured he was talking to everyone else by criticizing me. Or maybe I was being too loud. Fair enough, but I decided it was probably a case of the former, so I just shouted louder. And then he thanked me.

We did more drill/floor work than we typically do in my studio here. It was more like my American studio (moving across the floor while punching, doing blocks, etc) in that regard. I was on that, reminded of my American studio's five-step. At the end of that he came over and told me I had the best stances of anyone there and I declined the compliment and shook my head, "No, no, no, aniyo, aniyo" while making the arm-X-thing. Of course, the whole time we'd been doing it, Sabumnim had been telling me to lower my punches two inches, straighten out a certain foot.

We were talking quietly, but at one point some of the high school boys heard her say, "Short stance, then elbow block and long stance together." They gasped and said, "Oooh! English!" She looked a little embarrassed, whether for herself, me, or them I'm not sure. I just ignored it.

The adults did poomse work, and that's where my Didn't Happen on Friday Test test really took place. We did each form once with count until the eighth form when I ended up a step off of everyone else because I didn't realize we were doing it without count until after they'd started. I didn't forget anything. Not true—that backstance is still causing me problems, but I mean that I didn't forget the bulk of the form. I didn't stand there wondering what came next. Oh thank goodness.

For most of this work the kids were on the floor watching (I'm not sure why, most were poom holders) and Sabumnim was helping me (maybe that's why they were on the floor). She was very kind and I got some good criticism from TempMaster and Sabumnim (I keep forgetting that blasted back stance on two moves) but some of what they were saying just seemed like stylistic differences (how straight to keep the elbow for knife hand strikes, moving my body punch two inches lower). OK, fair enough, but when TempMaster told me to change my low block I had to wonder if something more was going on.

He said that my low block was "too old-fashioned" and showed me something similar to—but not the same as—my American-style low blocks. I didn't get upset, I didn't defend myself, I just smiled and changed it as best I could in the floor work (I didn't even worry about trying during poomse). It was much easier to change it this time since I'd already changed it (dramatically) to the Tongil way once before.

I must say, Master did it right, introducing his way to me for my not-American-learned stances but letting me do low blocks, body blocks and other things my American way until I asked about it. If I were to change studios here now, it wouldn't be such a big deal to be told I was doing everything wrong on the first day. I'm more secure about my stances and the fact that "the right way" varies from studio to studio, and even from teacher to teacher within the same studio sometimes. But when I first got here, that would've scared me away.

The thing is, TempMaster knows I'm only going to be here for a month, so why was he making a big deal over minor things? Changing a misplaced high punch in a poomse to the correct middle/body punch is major (no he didn't have to do that); changing the obvious middle/body punch to a middle/punch two inches lower is a stylistic difference and thus minor. Why mention my correct, albeit "old-fashioned," low block? Looking at it optimistically, I could say that he wants to help me improve my forms because he knows I'm testing soon, or that he just wanted to show off his own knowledge but...the cynical (or shall I say Koreanized realistic?) side of me wonders.

The university you go to in Korea determines nearly everything for the rest of your life. You can graduate 40 years later than someone, but if you're from the same university, you're the elder's 후배 forever. At least that's how it seems to me. There are a few universities that are well-known for taekwondo, and Yong-In and Kyung Hee are two of the better known ones. I think the taekwondo branches of both universities are even located in the same city. And Korea is competitive. Master and TempMaster don't know each other, they only know a mutual friend. One went to Kyung Hee, the other Yong-In. They're nearly the same age (3 years difference), and they're the same dan rank. One speaks much more English and has opened a studio in America, but the other studio has been around for years and years longer (since his father opened it). One charges a quarter more money for half the class time. I'm not trying to say TempMaster was trying to test me, discourage me or "scoop" me, but I had to wonder if there was something beyond me going on.

After class, I asked Sabumnim what her name was. In Korean. She said, "Oh!" and took three small steps back. She regained her composure, thought for a moment, and told me her name. She excluded her family name the first time, which is atypical. I finger-spelled her name on my palm while one of the younger kids stared at me and TempMaster looked on with a small smile. She said, "Yes! Exactly!" I asked if she was in university. She studies at KNSU if I recall correctly, and she's majoring in taekwondo. I told her that was "really cool" and she laughed.

I went to change and a little girl who'd come late and missed my introduction looked at me, looked at Sabumnim and said, "Does she speak Korean?" in Korean. I said, "Aniyo," and she said, "OH!" and just gazed at me. Sabumnim said, "She speaks a little." The girl just stared at me, so I nodded to Sabumnim and closed the door to change. The whole while I heard "Miguk saram! Mikguk saramieyo!" When I opened the door again, all of the kids were standing there. Sabumnim had to tell them to move out of my way.

TempMaster and Sabumnim walked me to the door and Sabumnim walked part of the way out with me while the high school boys screeched, "Ooooh! English! BYE! BYE!" She shook her head a little and I asked in Korean, "Are they high school students?" She said yes and I said, "I understand." She smiled a wide smile and called out "goodbye, see you tomorrow!" a few more times.

When I briefly talked to Master on the phone tonight, he asked if anything was different and said, "Amanda, you do 아래막기 Tongil way. Say, 'Sorry! Tongil way!'" I don't feel comfortable disagreeing with Master, but I also don't feel comfortable bluntly saying no to someone who took me unto his studio for a month. If it comes down to it, I'll probably just avoid any confrontation and claim that it's really difficult to change stances. Well, it is. The first time at least...

He also said my test is February 22nd, though he doesn't know the time yet. That's a Thursday and I asked several times to make sure I had that right. A Thursday? Tomorrow I'll tell my boss that I simply can't be at work that day.

I highly doubt I'll get anywhere with these boys, but it would be nice if Sabumnim and I were to become friends. And training here will be good for me, even if learning all of these different styles makes me think that as long as my fist is below my waist, it'll count as a low block in my test. Sigh...

Oh, and on an unrelated note, my side splits (standing and sliding into them) are now at 73.5" apart...

From Master, left on my Cyworld page.

아만다 새해 복 많이 받아요~!~!~!!

2월에 국기원 심사 가능해요^^ 축하~~

태권도 열심히 하고 한국어 공부도 열심히

하는 2007년 되길 바랍니다

It was exciting when he called me on my handphone at work to tell me; it was even more exciting to read it when I got home. My translation, without any help, and thus probably not exactly correct...

Amanda, Happy New Year~!~!~!!

It is possible to take the Kukkiwon test in February ^^ Congratulations~~

Study both taekwondo and Korean hard

I wish you a good 2007

So. It's really going to happen. The countdown to black belt testing almost begins.*

That about sums up how I feel.

And with that—it's time to do my poomse per Master's training schedule. I start with the temporary studio Thursday.

만세!!

* It doesn't officially begin because I'm not sure of the exact date. I think it's the last Saturday or Sunday of February. If I understood correctly (hurdle one) and remember correctly (hurdle two), there are tests in Suwon the first Sunday of every month and there are tests in Gwangmyeong the last Saturday of every other month.

Because my studio is not in Seoul, I will not be testing at the Kukkiwon itself. Testing at my level is done at regional offices instead, although some of my studiomates tested at the Kukkiwon in November (for which dan rank I can't recall). Heck, testing at this level in Seoul may not be done at the Kukkiwon, either. I'm not sure, and as you can imagine, there's not a whole lot of info about it on English-language websites.

The Kukkiwon has regulations about foreigners testing outside of their home country; they must have six months residency before being allowed to test. Normally they go by your ARC (residency card) date, but mine was revoked and reissued when I changed jobs. Hence the worry that I wouldn't be able to test until June (when Master originally wanted me to test in November or December). Master used my passport info and called today, which is why the Cyworld message refers to the "Kukkiwon test." Thank Korea that some bureaucratic offices here have common sense!

My dictionary claims that phrase means "Happy New Year!" though the spam text message I got used 새해 복 많이 받으세여. The rest of the text seems to be New Balance thanking me for my love this year.

Yes, New Balance, let's talk about my patronage or lack thereof this year. Why, oh why, are the shoes I started wearing in August already falling to pieces, with the soles falling off, despite the fact that I've already paid to have them glued back together once? I used to love running in New Balance shoes, now I can't even get a good pair as street shoes. Good thing you guys don't make martial arts shoes.

Alright, so I've plucked three things off my List to be sure to complete this year.

Go to China.

Earn my black belt.

Get through level 3A of the Sogang Korean language books. While understanding it and using it. Using it primarily in taekwondo.

There you have it. Nothing about losing weight, saving money, keeping organized, boring! Boring! Boring!

China! Black belts! Korean!

Happy New Year!

Yes, I actually bought these ankle socks last night. I don't normally like ankle socks, but I'm in Korea...

And today I found these socks for 1,000 won a pair.

There's a small set of two islands called Dokdo in Korean, Takeshima in Japanese, and you may know them as Liancourt Rocks. This is disputed land. They're rocky and basically uninhabitable from my understanding, but Korean school kids will tell you they want to live there. Around the islands there's a rich diversity of sea life and that's part of the dispute.

The dispute is A Very Big Deal.

There's another disputed island, Daemado in Korean, Tsushima in Japanese. I hadn't heard of this dispute until I was looking up words from these socks.

I don't know why there's a ㅋsitting there, but the rest of it reads

And to complete your Random Photo Post, my dobok, folded up after class.