Overlap Operation (#3)

"Will you stop listening to John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads?"  Five times in a row elicits laughter, six times elicits tears, and the seventh elicits laughter again.  In that case, keep listening, Squid."

Such goes my internal dialogue on a lazy Friday night in a place that entertains my emotions.  

I went to Seoul last week, but the city's not important.  

Save that for your imagination.

What is important is that I stayed at a room that was labelled with the below.  In a hotel catering to couples in Gangnam, I was unsure what "Overlap Operation" could mean.  I imagined kinky medical students.  Then, I imagined two scientists with a love of Venn diagrams.

I woke up in the morning thinking it was 6 a.m. but it was actually 2 p.m.  The window turned out to be a mirror so no daylight was peeking in.  It is very strange to be looking out onto the world and realize it is just a reflection of yourself.

I also attempted to turn on a light in the room, but I quickly figured out it was painted on to the wall and not a real lamp.  My fingers scraped the wallpaper.  I kept on trying to find the light switch.  The blue caterpillar asked me who I was and I took a bite of the giant mushroom.

The trip to Seoul featured a visit to the Imperial Palace.

Below is me next to a palace guard.  

My jowls are extending South, and in the attempt to look as unattractive as possible I made him look at me sideways.  I was trying to look as unentertained as he was, and in that attempt the photo came out as puffy as possible.  

The Human Blowfish was hanging out with the blue statue.

"Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy."

What is important is my love for the kids.  Before coming to Korea, I imagined myself experiencing as much of the country as possible.  I didn't imagine that instead I would be falling madly in love with children.  It turns out that the reason I may not have maternal instincts is because I am a child myself.

This week they taught me that the inside of my thigh is jucier than the outside.  When they bit into it.  Blood was drawn and I have two marks that I hope will scar in fond memoriam.  His name is now Vampire, which sounds nothing like "vampire" when said with a childish Korean accent.

We had Event Day last week celebrating my great country.  Here are the kids dancing to a "famous American song."  I never understood that this song was a Korean celebration of American cowboy culture until I came here and it was deemed appropriate for America Day.  I danced at the front of the school with an imaginary lasso and taught the Gangnam-style flailings that day.

Save that for your imagination.

In the video, you may see an "immigration office."  As part of America Day, the children were given American passports and I checked them into our country.  The dialogue went something like this:  

"Passport please."

"Here you are."

"Where are you from?"

"Korea."

"How long are you planning on staying?"

"Two weeks."

"Thank you.  Welcome to America.  Enjoy your stay."

 They all entered proudly and then went to eat their morning snacks.  I taught them "The Ants Go Marching One By One" and we made ants on a log with celery and then carrots.  Celery is expensive in Korea.  Burn-off-more-than-you-eat celery.  In all honesty, it's kind of a boring vegetable anyway.

"If I could have another day I could give you, I'd give you a day just like today."

I am continuing to morph here.  

The days are not always easy, but I am learning to laugh genuinely at hardship.  I am learning to live honestly with the most basic parts of myself, admitting who I am and how I can let the laughter come from the deepest parts of me.

There are times when the tears come too close to the laughter.

In those cases, I ward them away and laugh harder.

I am now no longer Squid.  

Rather, I am known as Bulgogi Teacher due to an unfortunate flashcard incident where I pointed to myself which teaching the kids what 'bulgogi' is.  

Latest Lesson:  Always point to the flashcard instead of to yourself when teaching food items.

With emotions thoroughly entertained, I stand to inhale and exhale in my brave new world.

Signing off with love and laughter,
Bulgogi Teacher