Interesting recent encounters.....

About two weeks ago, I had a student correct my spoken English---Ouch! The students often add "eee" to ends of words. So when they say a word like "finish" they will say "finishee." I had a student make up a test, as he was gone the day before. He was a newer student at the academy, and I told him, "when you finishee, come back to class." He responded, "teacher, it's finish." I laughed, agreed, and left. Wow. All I could do was laugh.

The concept of "bali bali" is one I will never forget the rest of my life. "Bali bali" means "quickly" and Koreans will often say it and live it, scampering around to and fro.....especially the Ajumas "middle aged to older married women." I was at the bus terminal a few weeks back, and witnessed an Ajuma in the "bali bali" mind set decide it was time to get on the bus. Unfortunately, she forgot there was glass between her and the outdoors. "Thunk!" I'm not sure what was funnier....the actual collision or the chorus of laughter from the older Koreans that were watching. I appreciated the humor, and the Ajuma took it in stride, found the doorway, and got on her bus. No one was hurt, though all of our guts shook a bit.

I recently bought a cross to wear around my neck. It's cool because it says "I am the vine and you and the branches" in Korean. Unfortunately, despite the lost weight, it fit a bit tight. My kids all told me I looked like a dog with a collar. I took the hint. I opened up my pocket book, spent 2000 won (or $1.80) and now have a different necklace for it. I love the honesty most of the time.

Getting a haircut in Korea is always interesting. The barber actually speaks some Spanish, but my Spanish is pretty foggy. My Korean is better. Between English, Korean, and Spanish, we find a way to communicate. The last time I went in, he barely cut anything off. This time, he apparently got the impression I wanted more off and really cut it shorter. I got cold today. Thankfully it will grow. I always get a kick out of him trying to ask me what to do with my sideburns too......especially when I change my mind after telling him the first time. Oh well. He seems to like me, so that's good.

On my recent hike in the mountains, I came over the hill to see some fields I never had before seen. I got closer, and planned to go on, until a bunch of yip yip dogs came bounding toward me. Thankfully, the ajushe (older married korean man) hollered something at them and they "stood their ground." It just struck me as funny, not really sure why. I doubt that farmer has seen too many Americans before. He was probably as surprised to see me as his dogs were.

Well, that's it for this week. God is good, always. Hopefully we don't get hit too hard by the yellow dust. China has it a bit rough now I guess.

Later,

Jay