It finally happened. I have been called fat (to my face) by a Korean. Obviously I've known that they've been saying this the whole time, just not in a language I could understand. But yesterday a student said it very clearly in English.
Actually, he said I was "fat and big," because clearly there needs to be a distinction between the two words. What I find even more humorous is that this kid would be considered obese by American standards and don't even get me started on what he would be considered by Asian standards. I'm surprised his parents let him out of the house, because Korean people are obsessively concerned with the image they portray. (Not bitter, not at all.) I'm actually shocked it took 6 weeks for this to be uttered in English in my presence.
Also, I was having lunch yesterday with my school director, Agnes, and she told me that some of the students are afraid of me because I'm so tall and because my eyes are so big. I literally laughed out loud in the middle of the restaurant.
"Well, there's really not a whole lot I can do about that," I said.
She told me to try to smile at them and be nice to them.
What the hell have I been doing for the last month and a half?!!! Yeah, ok, whatever Agnes, I'll get right on that. I highly doubt me doing anything different from what I'm currently doing will make any sort of difference in the way the Korean children view me. But thank you for this enlightening lesson on our cultural differences...
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