The Song has Ended, but the Melody Lingers On....

So, yes, I did spend the majority of Saturday on the floor.  However, I was able to pull myself together later in the afternoon.  Lucky thing too, because I had plans with the venerated Mr Lee!  And this time, I got to bring my "tall friend, the one with the big smile!"

Let's back up a bit.  A few weeks ago, Mr Lee stopped in at my school.  He wanted to check up on things there, make sure it was a respectable place, and let his presence be known.  He talked to the front desk teacher, and also spoke with my boss.  He told them that he was "a friend of my father's, from the United States".  He also made it very clear that he was a retired Colonel from the Korean Marines, and is (was?) well-connected with the Korean Government. In short, he basically threatened my boss. While he was there, he also briefly met the other English teacher, Anca.  I think her presence surprised and concerned him.  Probably he was thinking something along the lines of, 'Oh no!Another North American girl bumbling around Korea!  I have to make sure she's okay too!  Must add her to my project list!  Must get all the ducklings in a row!'

So Anca and I meet Mr Lee in front of the EMart (the town landmark, around which, all activities are planned).  He says he wants to go to Jukjeon Station because where we are is "too country.  Nothing good here".  Oh jeez, even Mr Lee hates our town. It is really bad here... So the three of us hop in a cab, and head to good ol' Jukjeon.  The cab driver recommended a restaurant with traditional Korean food to Mr Lee ("Ah! Korean cab driver know EVERYTHING! Number one cab driver!").  When we get to Jukjeon though, we have trouble actually locating the restaurant, but no worries, because there are tons to choose from!  Mr Lee had declared earlier "There are all kinds of food... Chinese food, Japanese food, Korean food, we can eat all the different kinds of food.  But today, we eat Korean food, because it's best!" The restaurant he ends up choosing though, is "not Korean! not Japanese! a little of both! and better!" Right. Well, whatever it is, it tastes awesome.

Dinner was really nice, and the conversation was excellent (as always, with Mr Lee).  Some of the notable topics include:

Soju:  "DIGESTION!  You know? Digestion?  Soju is so good for it!  Especially when you're eating the meat!  I drink soju every day with my food, for the digestion.  Not high alcohol.  Not much at all! Less then twenty, less then ten!  Maybe five, an alcohol of five.  Just like drinking water, but good for digestion!  Whiskey?  Uggh! Whiskey very strong, very good, but very strong.  Be careful with whiskey!"
(note: soju is usually around 40 proof.  that is higher then water)

Beggars: "My wife you know, when she sees beggars she gives them everytime five dollars. Everytime, five dollars, five dollars, five dollars.  Me, I only give one dollar.  But then, you know what I do?  I call the government.  And I tell them, I'm Retired Colonel, you know? I call the government and I tell them 'you need to do something for these beggars!'  And so, when I see the beggars I only give them one dollar, but I tell them, 'don't worry! I told the government about you!'

Making phone calls:  "Yesterday, you try to call me.  I see, four times, you try to call me.  But I don't hear my phone ringing.  So, you know what you do when that happens?  If you call me, and I no answer?  Wait, maybe ten, no maybe fifteen minutes, then try calling again.  Maybe forty minutes.  But call again!  Sometimes cannot hear the phone ringing.  Don't want to make the phone louder, no good.  So, you need to call again, and keep calling until I answer.  What time you done with yoga?  Maybe some days after yoga, you can call then too?  Maybe you two are hungry, and want to eat the food after yoga?  Do not hesitate.  Call me! Understand?  And keeping calling until I answer!"

My Dad: (I gave Mr Lee my dad's Tae Kwon Do business card) "Ah! Tae Kwon Do? Your Dad is Tae Kwon Do? Ohhhhhh. {reading under his breath} Oh! Fifth degree black belt!  Oh! Fifth degree!  I- fourth degree, your dad- fifth degree! Ohhhhh! Wow!  Ok, ok.  Ok, ok.  You tell your father, you tell him, 'no worries!' Ok? You tell him, in Korea, I be your father, ok?  Ok, you make sure you tell him.  Your parents, you know, they are probably in the US being worried.  You tell them, no more.  I am your father. Yes. Ok.  Yes, I think your father and I are good friends.  I think we will be good friends, your father and I.  Good man. (yes, he is) Ah! Madison, Wisconsin!  I go there and be good friends with your dad! Ah ha, fifth degree Tae Kwon Do.  Ok, good."

And later... Mr Lee shared something incredibly surprising.

"Let me be frank. I tell you before that I have wife, and that she back in California.  But two months ago, Jesus Christ came down and he took her away.  She pass away. She leave me to go to be with God.  Ahhh yes.  Ok, no. Ok, ok. And my son, I tell you about my son, the smart one?  Well, three years ago he buy us a house in California.  Two bedroom, two bathroom.  Very nice house.  But big house.  Too big!  And now, too big for me alone in the house.  So I come to Korea.  I come here four, maybe five weeks ago.....  Here!  Here is photo of my wife and me.  Our first date.  Before we were married even! We married so long, maybe fifty years, almost.  I think that is good; I think that is good enough.  Long time.  And so, I tell you before, I have many friends in Korea.  Many, many friends.  But I don't see my friends.  They all want to talk about my wife, want to talk about the past.  But I just want to put that back there, I can't talk about it with them.  Not ready to see them.  In a few months, maybe.  But not now....But you, it's okay.  I can talk to you about this and it's okay.  It makes me happy.  We can do the sightseeing, and eat the good food, and visit Seoul City, and I feel good... And you know, my wife, she was school teacher too.  She taught the home economics.  And I think it's so good, you two, coming over to teach English to the young guys.  And I think, I want to help you, I want to make sure you are okay.  And I think, my wife, she wants that.  Maybe my wife is who's telling me to do this, because she's a good person."

I think it's Mr Lee who's the good person.  A really good person.  My heart is hurting for him.

I gave him an extra big hug when we said goodbye last night.