Thursday, July 27, 2006

Today's Local Freak-Outage (or is it Freakout-age?)

Can someone forget how to write? If such a feat is possible, I think I just might have done it. Oh well, time to relearn what I’m unlearnt (or unlearn what I’ve relearnt?) and hunker down to practice. Just like riding a bicycle, right?

A good portion of my day (and my week) was spent realizing that yes, I am actually really-truly going to Korea in two-and-a-half weeks. (Is it really that soon? Can we legitimately call it three? Let me check my calendar...) The realization was catalyzed by today’s purchase of a non-refundable plane ticket, and many other frustrating logistical thorns in my side. Luckily, those have, for the most part, run their course and now I just have to prepare myself.
I dealt with the freak-outage much like I would deal with a power-outage: I started collecting all the essentials, only instead of canned foods, batteries, and bottled water, I fled towards Korean language books, sugary drink (a Slurpee from 7-11 to be exact), and peanut-butter crackers. I also sent Paul frantic text-messages and emails as if the world was ending imminently.

A few hours later, I can semi-proficiently read hangeul and I know four verbs (ka-, to go, iss- to be/exist, sa-, to buy, and ha-, to do), and I feel no more confident about anything (living in Korea, being a teacher).

I think the best words of advice came from Paul: “Prepare yourself to be unprepared.”
I can’t teach myself Korean in two-and-a-half (or even three) weeks, and I can’t teach myself to be a teacher without any students. But I am, I think, pretty good at being unprepared, so here we go.

On a completely different note: I’m in the Boston Public Library and a while ago a security guard came up to me and told me I had to sit up straight. I didn’t even realize I was slouching! My head had just started to hover towards my shoulder. I guess resting your head too close to the table is a security threat.

1 comment:

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