"They Will Always Try Not to Pay"

When I first started working primarily in the office of the school the Headmaster explained to me about the different payment options for the different programs available for students.  So, being used to having a range of freedom as to how my clients can choose to pay I take these guidelines and go go go.

Unfortunately, I was unaware that the payment options were no exactly what they seemed.  So for example a 1 year plan where a person can pay a certain amount each requires that they write 12 checks on that first signing of the contract, or they must give the debit card number otherwise the monthly charge is more; and cash is completely frowned upon.  So the person who wants to pay cash is completely out of luck even if they sign the 1 year contract, they don't get the 1 year discount cause they pay cash.  

I still cannot understand this kind of logic.  If they SIGN A CONTRACT that says that they are to pay $X dollars each month, it shouldn't matter how they pay as long as they pay each month for 12 months in a row.  

"They ALL  always try not to pay" says the Headmaster and the Co-master while we are discussing how to handle different contract situations.  They use this to make me understand the importance of getting a card number or 12 checks all in a row (I refuse to make somebody ever write 12 checks). I actually think its so that they can charge it whenever they feel like it.  

"Credit Card-uh Number", seems to be the moto of the Co-Master who is like a viper when it comes to expiring contracts, due dates, and other things that need to be payed for.   So much so that she will ask a child for payment, or refuse a child his earned reward as it is being handed to him by the instructor because his parents haven't paid yet.  She actually tries to make me ask the 7 yr old when her mother will bring in a check. At this point is where we always bump heads since I don't ask children for money, and she doesn't seem to understand the problem with it.  

I don't like to believe that ALL people try to get things without paying.  Most people understand that they have to pay for things.  But that must be just me and my naive American thinking.

Until Next Time

Gal-Keh-Yoh! (I'm going!)

"Yes Sir", she says, No Matter What She is Thinking in Her Head.

Very early in my fulltime employment, the Headmaster told me he wanted me to help more with the business side of the school.  This was exactly what I wanted as instructing alone can really take its toll, not only on my fragile body, but also on my schizophrenic voice.  Both the Headmaster and I agreed that my talents were truly stronger behind the desk than on the matt.  We agreed and I began to put all my energy into organization, charts, payment databases, student rosters, and communications of the company.

One day after my efforts had began to pay off and finally show through the Headmaster tells me he wants to have a "proven system" for his business.

"We must-uh hab-ah dah simplest-uh way ob a plooben system" (We must have the simplest way of a proven system"), the headmaster tells me as work is just beginning.

"Yes sir", I reply even though I know that although I could pull off a simple system for their company, if they gave me full reign, I'm sure that a "proven system" will take not only many years to perfect and prove, but also it will take much more than the efforts of a Korean Headmaster and an average college graduate.
Not sure if this is true but sometimes I think he might add an English word into a sentence just because he likes the way it sounds and not because he knows what it means.

I wish I could produce a proven system for the headmaster to use for his business, but, unfortunately, his helicopter boss wife, the co-master, is unwilling to let go of the old ways that she likes or to even bother learning the more modern ways that I suggest.  I can understand this, it is her business and she is ultimately responsible for it.  But her stubbornness and my stubbornness and a headmaster who likes his own way of doing things as well find me doing things 2 or 3 different ways.

For example, the headmaster likes to have all the contract information in the computer and the hardcopies are put somewhere out of the way to never be looked at again.  I like this way but I think that even though we hardly look at the hardcopies of the contracts, they still need to be organized and readily available.  But the co-master, likes to have everything in one place in one big notebook and nothing in the computer.  She keeps changing the organization of her big notebook as well.  First she organized by type of contract with a special type of invoice number.  Then she decided it should be organized by having who was still paying tuition in the front organized by data and just have the invoice numbers all in a row, no matter the contract type.  So I am stuck processing each new and expiring contract in the following ways: 1) the way I think it should be done that makes it easier for me, 2) the way the headmaster likes it for when he comes in to look, and 3) the way the Co-master likes it because she is constantly hovering over what I do.

Therefore, instead of having a simple system, we actually have a more complicated way of doing things, thanks to the haywire need to constantly reorganize things, the stubbornness to only think that your way is best, and no time to sit down and decide like professional adults which way is best and use that way without having hurt feelings.

Oh well, I must say, I am very glad that I'm just a "paid student" who says "Yes sir, Yes Ma'am" no matter what she may be thinking in her head about how ridiculous a request may be.  That way if their systems fail it won't be my fault because I only did it the way they told me too.

"American-Style Cool!"

The other day my 73 yr old. grandma told me that my outfit was "off da chain gurl!" I was so jolted by her use of this highly hip-hop, and highly teenage remark that I did not know what to do but to laugh and say thanks.  I'm sure many people can think of this type of instance when an older person says something typical of a person belonging to a much younger generation.  Pretty funny right?   It is even funnier when that old person is also a Korean whose number one cultural goal is to be "Amedikan styll kool"(American-style cool).

Similar to the previous discovery of the phrase "give him a big hand" (most of us know what happened with that one), the Head master always finds himself in situations where he will miss-learn the pronunciation of a word to the point of disaster and total confusion. 

"Dats-uh Kohl" (Thats Cool) the master, says when he figures out how the new air conditioning works. 
"Wow dat is-uh sooooh unique" (Wow that is so Unique), he says when something is presented to him that he has never heard of before. 

Of course, the headmaster is most often aware of his all-too-often misfortunate pronunciations and has a humorous way of navigating them when they occur.  One such occasion was told to me by the Headmaster himself. 

It was toward the begining of his teaching TaeKwonDo in America and he had been trying to learn different ways of praising children.  He had grown bored with the traditional "Gooh Jah" (Good Job) and was looking to mix it up a bit.  He came across a new word, learned it, and the next day he used it in class. 
"Wow!!! You are TEDABLE!!!" (terrible) he says with a big, huge, proud smile of his face to a 5 yr old yellow belt student.  Nobody made any comment, the kids were confused as usual but since he had such a nice smile on his face and his intonation was "exciting" as he would put it, they continued class like nothing. 

"You are Tedable!!!" (terrible) he continued to shout out to students in each of the following classes throughout the day.  Each student continued on without question.

The headmaster tells that he did not realize that Terrible was the opposite of what students want to hear when they are first learning.  He finally realized he was saying it wrong when an adult student took the word for what it meant instead of deducing that it was meant to be good based on the smile and intonation of the headmaster.  After he went back to his English notes he approached that same student and learned that the new word he had been mispronouncing all day was actually pronounced ter-if-ik (Terrific). 

The headmaster now uses this story to teach new instructors the importance of intonation and facial expression when teaching children.  He was telling children all day that they were terrible but they didn't cry because he said it with a smile. 

This is one perk of my job here.  Comic entertainment when the Headmaster ventures outside of the normal instructor script and talks to the class, or when he trys to be "American-style cool". 

Imagine... the "Big Picture"

Ever notice that you don't see too many "part time" instructors working at your local martial arts studio?? Me either, and if I do see them, they are either on their way out or just starting on their way down a long road of what the Headmaster will call the "Big Picture".  Unfortunately, this "Big Picture" will not materialize until their 4th or, dare I say, 5th year of complete and total servitude to the headmaster's every need. 

See, I have come to realize that working at your favorite place to work out, presents the need to find a different place to work out.  Once you become an "employee" and not a paying student, your needs and your training get placed on the back burner; as now your life's goal is to serve the Headmaster.  But, you won't notice that the Headmaster's promises of more intense and accelerated training are actually imaginary until the 4th or 5th month of working.  Then, when you do realize it, you will feel like an impatient complainer who doesn't see the "Big Picture".

Oh, but wait for the best part.   You will soon learn that your monthly paychecks are no where near worth the blood, sweat, and tears that you lost while carrying out their every demand; they miss a few multiples in their calculation if you ask me.  Upon giving you this measley envelope though, the headmaster explains that a new instructor must climb up the ladder (which makes sense), and be preparing for that "Big Picture" that he keeps saying is coming.  After a few months of working for scrap, however, you will start to realize that this "Big Picture" is synonymous with that "extra training" that you're gonna get.  IMAGINARY!!!!!

You might be a very patient person, or you may feel like you have no other options at this point. Maybe you're in school, maybe the job market is just not interested in you at the moment, or maybe you are just a die hard who will do anything to be involved in some way.  Either way, you may stick around to see if this "Big Picture" is of any benefit to you.  But me???? I do not think so.  Sure the check has gotten fatter as a result of my tireless toil both on the matt and behind the desk.  But each month, more promises are made and less work gets done. 

So, I spoke to the Headmaster....

It might be the Korean in him, but I think it is just human nature to realize just how much you need something, or someone, when faced with the possibility of losing it forever.  I explained that times are changing and my current situation may not allow me to waste time at TaeKwonDo anymore.

"Buh, Sa-boo-ree-nah, yuh hava-tooh undastand da "Biig Pichuh" (But Sabrina, you have to understand the "Big Picture") the Headmaster begina, in his attempts to guilt trip me into staying. 

Although he was not happy, he did understand my situation and reluctantly allowed me to drastically change my schedule in order to continue helping him as much as I could (my persuassiveness has improved since working for him).

"Ah Kay AhKay, Sa-boo-ree-nah, Of courrse I undastand yuh hava-tooh help-uh yoh daddy"m (Ok, ok, Sabrina, of course I understand you have to help your dad) the headmaster says finally realizes that, though he may want to, he cannot put his own needs above my family's.

"Big Picture" aside, there is one thing I value and highly respect about the Korean culture: Family is #1 no matter what, and each member will do whatever it takes to ensure the welfare of his or her own family. 

Until Next Time:
Ahn-Yuhng Ha-Seoh!!!! (Aloha!!!!)

One Foot On the Matt, and One Foot Behind the Desk

An aspect of the job description (if there was one for my position) would be the need to have the ability to transition from teaching classes and working with the kids, to signing contracts and taking payments from parents.  This is quite challenging since teaching classes requires a very minimal amount of words that don't need to be grammatically correct, but talking to parents in the same syntactical style would not get any contracts signed, ever.
One such occurrence, not too long ago, it was a Friday, and I was alone in the busiest, most visible of the three studios.  While teaching a class full of students ranging from white belt to black belt, about 3 people came in (at separate times) wanting information and class schedules, and needing to be convinced to sign up for our special trial program.
"10 jumping jacks ready GO!" I say and I sprint off the matt to the visitors
"Hi, how are you, would you like some information?" I say hurriedly, since the time it took for me to get to them, and say this short line took already 5 of the jumping jacks.  Normally I would ask the person "how I could help them" but there is no time in this particular instance so I have to jump right to the kick punch.
"Push -up 20 ready GO!" I command from behind the desk, since the visitors answer used up the remaining five of the jumping jacks.  Push-ups take a little longer, so I relax and turn on the professional charm as I pull out schedules and guarantee that our trial program is a win-win situation for them.  Once they agree to fill out the registration for our trial program I excuse myself and sprint back to the front of the matt just as the last slow student is shakily finishing up the last 2 push-ups.
"Wow, nice push-ups!!", I say, "Everybody STAAAND UP! Now Jimmy (not a real student) line up here! (up to the front of the class where I usually stand) Who can count and stretching better than Jimmy, I'm gonna check!!!, Jimmy say, 'hold your knees' and Jimmy count first--Hannah...Dool... Set.... Good job!" Jimmy continues counting and leading the stretch, as I sprint back to the desk where my visitor stands watching the class and ready with a (hopefully not an American Express) credit card ready to have her little 5yr old son try Tae Kwon Do.  I run her card through and get her child set up with a uniform and giving new student advise to the student and parent.  All the while commanding the class when Jimmy forgets what stretching technique comes next.
"Would you like a receipt", I ask, "Ok, well then you are all set, thank you very much, and I'll see you on Tuesday at 4:20.  Don't be late!" I say as my visitor leaves with her son and nice new uniform.  The repetitive counting has stopped and Jimmy is now a frozen statue in front of the class.  I sprint back to the matt and change hats.
"Aaallll right! Nice Stretching! Everybody face Jimmy, Charyut, Kyung Nae (Attention, Bow) say 'Thank You Jimmy'"
"Thank you Jimmy" the class repeats, and I resume teaching.
"Thank you, Jimmy, back to your spot.  Now, EVERYBODY 10 Jumping Jacks READY GO!!!"

I Thought It Was a Bad Idea Then Too,

Not sure if it's all business owners, or just these ones that I work for.  It seems to take them trial after trial to finally come up with a solution system of doing things that works the best.  Sometimes, the trial methods are so ridiculously terrible that I hesitate to do it.  Of course these are the ones that they are the most stubborn about, and it's only after I do them a couple of times that they realize that it was not such a good idea.
"You shouldn't do it that way," the headmaster says once a contract technique, or a system turns out more problematic than useful.
"This is how you told me to do it," I say with a confused, but respectful, look on my face (and I thought it was a bad idea then too) I think in my head.

Often times I am left with the blame and the task of fixing an embarrassing situation that could have been avoided if the Master would take my suggestion.  I may not have as much experience in the Martial Arts School world, but I do have a Business Degree, that is applicable to all business situations.  I am absolutely sure that if you advertise that something is FREE, that something better be FREE unless there is a little asterisk somewhere saying that it's Free (with the purchase of something else).

"You didn't tell me I have to buy those in order to get this free," an annoyed parent says to me as I am finishing a contract deal, in the middle of which the co-master says they can't get the item advertised as free unless they spend $25 on something else.
      (it takes much sales skill and mediation to get out of this storm that would have been smooth sailing till now that they change the deal right in the middle of it).  I know later that the master will be unsatisfied with the way it was handled but the most important thing, I think, is that the money comes in and we enroll a student right????  

Of course, If it were up to me I would make the deal be, that you get the "Free Item" for the amount of the "$25 purchase required item" marked down from the original price of the "free item" in question.

"No, don't do it that way, that is not the way it is", the master says when I suggested the above proposal so as not to confuse and make parents, who don't want to pay anything anyway, angry about hidden charges.
"Yes, sir, I see.", I respond out loud, (even though I will be doing it my way anyway.  Because, I know, later the master will "think of it himself" later on and tell me I shouldn't be doing it the previous way that was his idea too)
Once he says, we shouldn't do it the way he said to before, I will respond with the usual, "Yes sir, what a good idea."
"How come you did it the other way?" he will ask.
And as always I'll respond"You told me to do it that way, remember?"  (I thought it was a bad idea then too.)

"Give him 'Weekend'!!!!!" Huh??

A confident child, tries his best and, usually, stays out of trouble.  Some parents use sports and other activities as another way of instilling this self confidence, discipline, and respect in their children.  Sometimes children come into our studio with discipline problems at home or at school that their parents don't know how to handle and they bring them to us in hopes that we can "straighten their kid out".
The Headmaster believes that the best way to teach a child discipline is to force them to try their best and to extensively reward them when they do so.  Therefore we have many occasions in which we reward a child for doing his/her best in front of their parents and classmates.
"Give him 'weekend'!!!", says the headmaster at which time those of us who have heard this clever phrase before start clapping and the others follow suit.
"Give him a Big Hand", is a new English phrase that the headmaster is noticeably proud of because his face lights up like a lactose intolerant first introduced to almond milk whenever he says it.  I'm not sure how he learned this phrase or from whom, but, in this case, some really did get 'lost in translation'.  Good thing there are those of us who are able to understand the situational cues and commonalities of the way the head master speaks to his students.  I must say, however, that I miss his old phrase "Give him Clapping", because this one made much more sense and did not cause new-comers of the Korean-English to fall into complete confusion and give up all together.
I wish I could give a "weekend" to someone every time they tried their best!!! Why doesn't someone give me a "weekend" when I try my best???  Wait! Is it even possible to give someone a "weekend" just by clapping.
Oh, I do hope one day I can understand the Headmaster's true, calendar-worthy, wisdom.  :)

All the Master's notes to me... (in KOREAN)

So today I arrive at work and both master's are there speaking in Korean with each other. I greet them, they return the gesture, and immediately return to their conversation.
--[Just a heads up.. I recently changed my schedule so that I only work the first couple of days a week and the rest I don't go in at all; a big change since in the several months prior I worked full time 6 days a week including special classes and unpaid overtime.  (I was there so much that I thought about bringing a blanket and pillow so I wouldn't have to waste my gas driving home)]--
Anyway, so I come in and on my desk, in it, and all around it are little sticky notes with my name written at the top (I have learned to recognize my name in Korean letters).
"Check it out", the Co-Master says, as she gestures to the sticky notes that are all written in Korean.
"Yes ma'am", I say and begin to stare at the Korean symbols.
Since I haven't been in the studio for, 5 days, I really do need to know what is going on, too bad I don't read Korean.  Basically, as the Co-master finally realized that I didn't know what the notes meant, she attempted to explain it.  The Head master, realizing then that his wife was having an extremely hard time communicating with me, interjected and explained.  However, something he said to me didn't sit too well with the Co-master and then I got to stand there while they rediscussed their entire business mission statement in Korean.
At least they ended their argument within 30 minutes this time and I was able to get work done before I was sent to the outcast studio where I go to sit there and wait for a call to go to another studio where an angry parent wants to know why they have to pay for their child to learn Tae Kwon Do.
Ha ha, well At least the parent's speak and write in English.

Yes, I can use chopsticks...

It must be a culture pride thing; I have seen traces of it in other cultures.  Perhaps because Korean culture is so vastly different from American "culture" it is more noticeable.
Korean dining habits for example, from what I have observed, are quite different than those of the American counterpart.  Koreans eat with either chopsticks or a long spoon, they use scissors to cut their food into bite size pieces before it has been served, and they are completely comfortable with eating and drinking out of the same plate or cup as other people. Table-side manners are notably different as well, picking food off another's plate, serving others with the same chopsticks you are eating with, and chewing and talking with your mouth wide open are perfectly acceptable.  Eating with Koreans certainly brings a new meaning to the word "bite size"; if it fits it is okay to be put in your mouth all at once.
The masters like to have a "he-shig" (which is a special lunch meeting with all the instructors) where we all meet and eat together once a month.  We eat at a Korean restaurant, of course, and since Korean food is always served family style, the master's order for everybody.  (Lucky for me since nobody within 3 miles of this restaurant speaks any English).  Usually this meal consists of about 3 different cuts of beef, rice paper squares, some type of green salad, and a whole bunch of other strange looking items that I eat, with my chopsticks of course) at least one of each no matter how weird it looks.
Sometimes, depending on the nature of the item, the Masters both expect me to know something clearly after being shown only once, and are shocked when I do.  It is usually in this eating situation where I notice it most.  They always comment on how well I can use chopsticks, or ask how come I know what to do with the rice paper squares, or tell me to try this gross looking thing and laugh out loud when I eat it and say that I like it.
It is during times like these when I almost feel like they bring me along for entertainment. I wonder if thoughts such as: "Lets watch the American fumble with her chopsticks",  "Lets watch her face when they bring the [insert gross looking/sounding Korean food item here]", "Lets see how she handles it when things are put on her plate without her consent" go through their heads as we eat together.  I may be wrong, but who knows, I may also be right.
Just another time for me to be both lonely, and proudly the only American at the table.
 

Just listen for your name and fill in the blanks.....

This week we had belt ceremonies during class.  For those of you who don't know, belt ceremonies are when students who have completed their belt testing receive their new belt in front of their fellow students and parents; a congratulatory aspect of the wonderful sport of Korean Tae Kwon Do.  

Normally on the Monday starting the week of belt ceremonies all the belts are counted and labeled for each student who took and passed their belt test.  This belt order was perfect; we had exactly the right amount of belts, in the right sizes and colors for all the testing students.  The Headmaster and I were very proud of our teamwork on this.  

Some background, the Headmaster owns three studios in various locations in the same town; within 2-3 miles of eachother.  

Anyway, since the belts were all clearly labeled and even separated by class, when the Co-master sent me to a different location for the first two days of belt ceremonies I didn't question it.  I was actually quite at peace since everything was so organized and unmistakably labeled.  

However, on the third day when I returned to my main office location I found what looked like complete chaos. On the table where all the new belts were arranged, some belts remained, tags had been cut off, names were crossed out and re-written.  I was uneasy about what had gone on in the previous days with the Co-master and the Chief instructor running the studio (both of them have the worst English out of all the staff).  

Our meeting was called and the Co-master brought up the belt ceremonies and how hard it was and how messed up it became.  The Headmaster could not believe this since this belt rotation was "perphect" (a favorite English word of his).  The Co-master then brought up a student whose belt was not there and then she had to change all the names and switch everything around because the student's belt was not there and needed to get the belt so they switched names and gave her someone else's belt. 

                            .....the student's belt wasn't there because she didn't take the test.---

Immediately a Korean argument between the Headmaster and the Co-master (his wife), by listening carefully to the few English words said and the Korean words whose meaning I have picked up through observation.  I could hear the Co-master saying my name along with the Korean word for "not there", and the Headmaster refuting by saying (in Korean) what sounded like the 3rd studio needed to be open (this was where I was for the past two days), and that there shouldn't have been any mistakes because we double checked and double checked over and over again.  This conversation lasted for about a good 30 minutes, with me standing there part of the conversation, but separated from it as it was being held in a different language.  But I'm used to it, when they start speaking Korean I just listen for my name and deduce by tone of voice and other English words what is being said.  

This could have been avoided by my being there during the ceremonies which was the Co-master's excuse for what happened.  Either that or that my list was inaccurate. Or both.  But in reality she did not trust the list and her lack of English communication skills caused an embarrassing mistake that is no one else's fault but  hers.  

In a way I feel like this is just desserts for the pride of a Korean woman in an English speaking world, and it should make them realize how valuable my presence and my work behind the desk really is.  But at the same time I am caught up in a sticky situation; a language barrier mistake that they might send their interpreter to explain and fix.  

Such is the dynamic of solving difficult problems at Only One American Staff Member Martial Arts: the Koreans argue in Korean, and I stand/sit there listening for the few English words they will use and play my guessing game of fill in the blanks.  

"Mul La Yo" ("I Don't Know")

The co-master, the head master's wife, barely speaks enough English to survive.  She must only know about 80 English words; but she amazingly stretches these words over all her areas of English conversations, limited to teaching class and speaking to me.  She avoids ALL other English conversational contact when at all possible.
My interactions with her therefor consist of 2-4 word exchanges that are mutually understood methods of communication tools that took us quite a bit of time to set in place.  "Check it out", she will say whether she wants me to check a students contract, to see if the air conditioning is on, or to see if the call forwarding has been done.
"Saa-booh-ree-naah", she calls (Koreans annunciate EVERY syllable, even the ones that aren't there).
"Yes Ma'am", I answer.
"Air conditioning" (this means she wants to know if the air conditioning is on).
"Mul- lah- yoh" ( which means I don't know).
 "Saa-booh-ree-naah, Susy due date" (this means she wants to know when Susy is due to renew her contract),
"Next Week", I answer, even though I'm sure she has this already written down in Korean letters on her calendar in at least 3 places.
 "Call forwarding, check it out" (this means she wants me to make sure the studio phone has been forwarded to the head master's cell phone for closing hours).
"Yes Ma'am" I answer again, even though she should know by know that I NEVER forget to set the call forwarding.  
For troubling issues that involve the best customer service and the utmost of tact, she will thankfully let me handle on my own.  She must know that an angry American only gets angrier when they don't understand what a person is saying to them.
"You", she will simply say, often followed by "How's the feeling?" (this means wants me to completely handle the situation, but she also wants to know what I am going to do to handle it). Fortunately, she usually accepts my one favorite Korean phrase:
 "Mul- Lah- Yo" (which means I don't know).  

Phone Calls, and the Google Calendar

Yesterday I arrive at work and the Master is starring at the Google Calendar (which I love to use and so does he) but it seems that sometimes it causes him more confusion than it helps him.  He likes it because it links to his email which goes directly to his Google cell phone so he can keep track of what he is doing but he doesn't really know how to use it and keeps changing the way he wants it linked which just confuses everybody.
So while he sits at my desk starring at a screen with lots of colorful appointments, I find other things to do to look like I'm busy; dust, clear the area of clutter, and general tidying up.

Suddenly, he is in a panic handing me a phone that has been dialed and answered by a parent on the other end.
   "Hi, this is Sabrina from Only One American Staff Member Martial Arts", I say to a mom who has undoubtedly said "hello" into a quiet phone multiple times.  I know who it is and what I'm supposed to say now as the Master points to a name on the computer screen.  Then as he silently, but urgently points to various other objects on a screen, I confirm a 10-15 minute evaluation meeting with a 5yr old boy who may potentially sign up for our studio.   I'm not sure why suddenly he handed me the phone since he does this type of thing all the time.  Maybe he drew a blank on what to say and thought he'd throw me under the phone conversation bus instead.  But hey, what can I say, that was in my job description; Or, it would be, if I had one.
After silently hanging up the phone and telling him that the appointment was confirmed, he was surprised that an appointment originally created 1 week prior, was confirmed. He said that usually people who make an appointment with him more than one day in advance, cancel when he calls to confirm.

After that fun little exchange, he went back to starring at the Calendar and I went back to shuffling envelopes, and moving things around in my attempt to seem busy.

2pm... I'm just cleaning the mirror........

Today I'm reminded of a time when I arrived early to work and the Master was actually there before me.  This almost never happens; usually when arrival time for work is 2pm, the master will show up usually no earlier than 2:30pm.  But, he is a busy man and he is allowed to show up to his own business whenever he wants.
Well this day I arrive and he is there with two other men (I'm not sure who they were) they were speaking in Korean with each other.  For quite some time they spoke back and forth as I quietly cleaned the mirrors and windows like I'm supposed to.  Suddenly the talking grows quieter and I can see them gesturing toward me with inquisitive looks on their faces.  My master asks if I know what they are saying, to which I responded
"No sir, I'm just cleaning the mirror."
All three gentlemen throw their heads back and start laughing; apparently they had made a comment about a spot that I'd missed before and then went back to right as they mentioned it in Korean.  This made them think that I heard and understood what they said and thus went back to the spot on the mirror that I'd missed, causing them to lower their tones while they spoke about me.
The master's do this often.  They go into the office and close the door like its a private conversation even though I won't understand what they are saying anyway.  I should learn Korean without them knowing so I can surprise them.

Intro/About Me

Hey ya'll!
This is a starting point for me in something I've wanted to do for quite some time now.
My name is Sabrina and I have been working (or have somehow been deeply involved) at a Korean-owned and operated, Martial Arts Studio for a large chunk of my life.  The majority of that time I was the token American who had to sit quietly and try to deduce what was being said based on the few English words that were said during extensive Korean conversations.  Some people may hate this, but I find it an amusing challenge.
So this blog will be about experiences I've had and other humorous situations that occurred while trying to function and communicate in a foreign culture right here in America.

Sabrina