I have the most adorable boss. I can't say enough good things about her. Before we had our "winter break," which was only two days long, Mrs. Kim had mentioned that she wanted to take me to dinner for my birthday. Over my four-day weekend I didn't hear from her. I was busy spending time with my friend Karin and her mom who was visiting so I didn't think anything of it. Last night, Sunday, Mrs. Kim called me. She wished me a happy new year and then apologized for not calling me over the weekend to take me to dinner. She explained that she was too busy because she worked on Thursday, our first day off, rested on Friday, and then was in church for basically the next 48 hours. This woman goes to church more than anyone else I know. She loves God so much and really wants to do whatever she is called to do. She told me that she was praying about this upcoming year and was trying to open her heart to do God's will. Anyways, she said that she wanted to take me out to dinner tonight (Monday), and then she told me she loved me before she hung up the phone. I was a little taken back. Koreans seem to be pretty stoic and I was shocked that she said that to me. I've felt a little disconnected from her lately because one of the women who worked at the front desk quit so she's hand her hands busy filling in for her. Plus, her son is about to start high school and is deciding where he wants to go and if she wants to move with him to be closer to him.
Tonight at dinner (soup with seafood which included prawns, mussels, clams, squid and other things I couldn't identify) she told me that her boyfriend, Mr. Yu, wants his daughter to meet me. Mr. Yu is so nice, but hardly speaks English. Mrs. Kim told me, though, that his daughter speaks English really well so I'm hoping to meet her soon. Last week I made some banana bread and gave some of it to Mrs. Kim. At dinner she told me she loved it and wants the recipe. After we talked about the recipe she told me she thought I would make a great housewife because I could cook and clean (she mentioned how clean my apartment was when she brought me chicken soup). Hahahaha, isn't that hilarious!?!? I didn't really know how to take that. Obviously she meant it as a compliment since she's Korean and the Korean society is completely patriarchal and revolves around men, but I feel like the term "housewife" has a negative connotation in the U.S. Anyways, I thought it was funny and cute that she would say that.
Another funny thing happened today when I was at the bank. There is only one man/teller that I talk to when I go to transfer money home because he's the only one that can speak English. He's so nice and just got married about a month ago. Last month when I went he had just gotten back from his honeymoon and I just happened to bring in some pumpkin muffins to thank him for being so nice and helping me whenever I went in. Today was the first time I'd seen him since then. When I got there he told me that he and his wife loved the muffins and that his wife really wanted to meet me. We exchanged phone numbers so that we could be in touch. When I left he said that they wanted to meet me at the movie theater near the subway station. Isn't that so nice?
I've definitely learned that small acts of kindness can mean a lot more to someone than you originally intended. I feel like I have to reach out to Koreans to be friends with them. I think they're really shy about speaking English to a native-speaker so it's been good for me to go out of my comfort zone and really make an effort to be outgoing. I hope they find me approachable . . . but one of my co-teachers who's usually as quiet as a mouse has been talking to me a lot more which is really exciting for me.
More to come about Christmas day and New Year's . . . sorry, I know I've been slacking. Happy New Year to you all. I hope 2011 is your best year yet, that you are filled with joy, and blessed with happiness, health, and prosperity.
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