Thinking of Home
I had a nice talk with my school director today. I told him that at the end of my contract I would go back to America for a few months – longer than he’d be able to do without a native English speaker – so he’d have to find a new teacher come March 2011. I’ve written in the recent past about my plans here on these, but that was news to him. Not devastating news, as he’s been thinking of downsizing his school anyway. I think if I were to stay, he’d keep his operation going. Without me, he’d downsize to just a “cram school” or Ip-shi hagwon as they are called here. It’s not that his school would fail without me – I’m not so full of myself to believe that malarkey – but there’s a certain amount of cost and red-tape associated with getting another foreigner to take my place and I think he’s ready for less hassle.
This next part isn’t public knowledge at the school yet, but this blog is not read by my Korean co-workers, so it’s probasbly safe to post here: his sister, Young Sook, who is currently the manager and runs all of the class schedules, etc., is ready to move on, too. So, with her potentially leaving and my leaving, its almost a sure thing the school will transform into something other than a full English academy. Hiring both a manager and foreign teacher would be daunting. Not impossible, just difficult.
So, having gotten that part of things squared away, I feel better about it, especially know Young Sook’s plans. If she were leaving before I left my remaining time on the contract would be difficult. She’s a great friend, but new managers always like to shake things up.
Meanwhile, in my own head, things have taken a turn for the surreal. But first, a little history here.
My lovely wife, Myeong Hee, is the daughter of a fisherman. A poor fisherman, but one who was able to put his two sons through college and his daughter through cosmetology school. They lived in a little fishing village on the outskirts of PoHang. Myeong Hee has always proclaimed she’s a country girl. Having been to her family’s home, there was never any doubt. But when she declared that because she is a country girl and she likes American country music I was a little skeptical. Korean country music bears little resemblance to American country music but when I bought her an MP3 player two years ago I loaded it up with all the country music I have in my collection. That wasn’t much, as most anyone who knows me knows that there two forms of music I least enjoy: one is country and the other is western. I downloaded a few more than I thought she might enjoy. Her list of favorites include Kenny Rogers, Brooks and Dunn, Roger Miller, Toby Keith, Tammy Wynnette, Alan Jackson and Willie Nelson. Go figure. So, over the months, she listened to country music on her way to and from her hair shop.
Sometimes, we’d listen to country late at night while laying in bed. We’d hold each other and she’d ask me what the songs meant. Her English has gotten much better, but discerning lyrics at two-step speed is asking a bit much. She would sometimes have an idea of what the song was about and sometimes she just liked the beat and melody. Of her favorites she didn’t fully understand I would explain the concepts of cowboys, pick-up trucks, horses and Texas, among other things, while doing my best to translate who left whom, who was crying for whom, who left in their pick-up and who went boot-scootin’ and who came runnin’ back to whom.
And here’s where the surreal part comes in. I’ve already mentioned I’m coming home next year. By then it’ll be four straight years in Korea with only a few short trips to the land of apple pie and mom. I’ve been missing not just my family and friends, but America. But then to be engrossed in discussing what I’ve come to realize is a music genre that is uniquely American has caused me to turn a corner in my mind. I actually enjoy listening to country music. I’m not about to start wearing a Stetson, boots and a dinner plate for belt buckle, but I like country. But the surreal part is not the music so much as the lyrics. There’s not another form of music that so succinctly describes for me America, American places, American activities and American values. When I hear some of the songs she plays I can get pretty nostalgic about coming home. In particular, the ones that mention places like Chatahoochie, (no, I’ve never been there) or vague references to American history like Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town, (never went to Vietnam) or even dancing like Boot Scootin’ Boogie (which I cannot do) I get the I-Wanna-Go’s and be a part of the country that raised me.
When it’s music I want, country still isn’t what I turn on. But it’s great for when I want to get all warm and fuzzy about America again. It’s just fun to enjoy something with my wife, albeit we both enjoy it for sometimes different reasons.
Themocracy
I think since MyeongHee loves country music so much she would make a perfect Texan.
I vote for a few years instead of a few months….Doesn’t she know that Texas is where the country girls live? BTW–Give her a little old school Reba or Faith Hill. Or my fav…Carrie Underwood. You need to represent the women in country a bit better! 
sure, we’ll do that. Since there are no jobs in the USA, we’ll just stay at your house. Since we’re family, you won’t charge me for room and board. I like eggs and bacon in the morning with fresh ground coffee. You down with that?
Don’t worry – Carrie and Faith are both on her MP3 player. Reba – might to find some of her stuff
Shucks Marty-Bob, What does MyeongHee think about your headin back out west?
Hmmm….on second thought….a few weeks is just fine.
Tee hee!!! Of course unless you want to be our live in Nanny, Chef, Maid, etc? I could SURE use one of those! 
As for Reba…download “Fancy” “Take it Back” “What Do You Say” & “Does He Love You” ft Linda Davis….those are some of the few I like of her, but she is classic country and can’t be left out.