crazy Troy

For some reason Korean kids get an enormous kick out of calling someone crazy. So, just today my 2:00 class called the supermarket that they just finished "Crazy Troy's Supermarket". They love the name. One of the kids drew a balloon - which hardly looks like a ballon - and wrote on the arms (?!) "This is Crazy Troy". All good fun.

If this ain't crazy enough (!) try this. I've recently started teaching a few adults at the school where I teach. It's a private English language school which was set up strictly for kids. But somehow my boss signed a deal with a local exporting association to teach some of the members. I teach them three nights a week and it's by far my favorite class. Even more enjoyable than the little little kids who are so adorable.

Well, yesterday my boss told me that they're going to have a seminar today. And that they've invited my boss and me "to participate". My boss couldn't go but he said I'm free to go. He wanted me to go. And I was more than happy to get out of class, and, to go to the seminar.

He told me that I should quit my 4 pm class at 4:40 and get to the seminar about 5 pm. There'd be a dinner at 6. I couldn't see why I should go to a seminar that I'm not going to understand but I was happy enough at the thought of getting out of class, and, of being at this thing, just for the hell of it.

Then today I went in to work and my boss told me to go after the 3 pm class. The seminar started at 4. Why and how would I participate?! Well, I was thinking it'd be rows of seats and that I could sit in back and read my Korean language textbook. (I've been studying quite a bit lately.) No such luck.

I looked inside the room where we'd be and saw that there were half a dozen or so tables. Chairs all around. Damn.

The president of the association wanted me to sit at the front table. But I chose to sit at a back table with one or two of the students who come to class.

So for nearly two hours, I just sat there, looked around, meditated a little, went out for the bathroom and something to drink once, and, well, just sort of absorbed things.

The president explained to me that I'm really important to the goals of the association. That's why he invited me. I suppose that's the case. He's a nice guy.

The students who come to class know I eat only vegetarian. And that I eat mostly raw foods. So they weren't so surprised to see me eat all the salad stuff.

Thing that happens sometimes when you are in a new country is that you eat something you don't expect. I saw a plate with some shredded cucumber that had obviously been prepared in some way. I grabbed a bunch of it. Then seconds. It was on the second helping that I realized a fishy taste. I asked what it was. Jellyfish. I didn't go for anymore.

One lady told me it's okay. It's vegetarian food! Yeah yeah yeah.

During dinner, we sat at the table and had a nice meal and some good chit chat.

Though it seemed a bizarre thing, it actually makes lots of sense.

My boss wanted me to go and represent the school. I guess I made a positive enough impression on the 30 or so people who attended. I introduced myself very briefly and talked very briefly about the class.

And, since this is an exporting association, it makes sense that the more English these people know the better for them. There are I'd say at least 50 members of this association but only 4 or 5 attend class regularly. So, promote the English language class by having the teacher attend your seminar even though he's sitting there like a guy who is obviously a fish out of water. But even fish on dry land can have a good time.

We've talked about going out for dinner soon. As a class. As a classroom lesson. At a local restaurant that I mentioned. They have some Korean food that I'm interested in trying out. And it'll be a good way for them to apply restaurant language in a real life situation.

Enough,
Love at ya,
Troy.