On my last day of work I got to come in late on the 1:30 bus. That morning I had a chi massage from my masseuse Andi, and afterwards we walked downtown to grab some kimbap (Korean version of fishless sushi). I realized half way through my kimbap roll that Kim Yeona was about to do her final skating routine. The only thing I knew about the Olympics (besides the fact that I was missing them) was that Kim Yeona was representing Korea at the games. At first I only knew her as "that ice skater who advertises maxi pads" but in the past few months she's been endorsing everything from air conditioners to nike to diamond earrings. I heard there was a lot of pressure on her to win gold because she'd already endorsed so many products (yet another example of how Korea does everything backwards from everyone else: doesn't an Olympian usually endorse stuff after they win a medal?).
Anyways, as I picked up another peice of salad kimbap with my metal chopsticks, Kim Yeona stepped onto the ice. Everyone in "Kimbap Chongu" (the restaurant) fell silent. The waitresses pulled thier chairs up to the TV. (By the way, almost every Korean restaurant has a TV in it). People starting coming in off the streets to watch Kim Yeona's routine. It was perfect. I held my breath the whole time. At the end, it looked like she was going to burst into tears. "She knows she's got it" Andi said. A smile crept up on my lips and my eyes got all teary. I was all choked up. It was 1:27...I couldn't wait to hear her score results. I bolted to the bus station and just stepped onto the bus as the engine roared to life. "Kim Yeona #1 issoyo?" I asked the old women and farmers ("is Kim Yeona #1?") It was one of those awkward moments where no one acknowledged me and you could hear crickets chirping. "fine then" I said to myself "I'm more proud of Korea than you!" Later, when the bus driver turned up the radio I head "Figure skating...Geum....Kim Yeona"...and I was pretty sure "Geum" meant Gold. As I got off the bus I asked the driver "Ajashi, Kim Yeona medal issoyo?" (Sir, did Kim Yeona get a medal?") He held up one finger, as if to say "#1!" "Yay! Hassssah!" I jumped off the bus and walked to school with a bounce in my step. I burst into the classroom yelling "Kim Yeona got GOLD!" and everyone jumped with me. I arrived just in time to see Yeona bow down as the medal was placed around her neck. It was a great way to end my last day of work. Thank you Kim Yeona for making my last day memorable. It was funny because my administrator kept talking about some other figure skater that I should be proud of and I was like "What are you talking about?" It turns out that the Canadian figure skater (whom I'd never heard of!) got bronze. "Pffft, I don't care about her! GO KIM YEONA!" "You are more Korean than Koreans!" she said. I guess so.
Tonight is the night before Korean Independence Day...I'm all nostalgic and I haven't even left yet. My co-teacher and her family as well as my administrator came to see me off at the bus station, it was so cute...I fell asleep and when I woke up we were in Gapyong, although for one surreal moment I thought I was already in Aurora, Ontario. I guess all little towns are essentially the same.When I got to the airport I discovered I couldn't get a tax refund on my Nikon D90 and that I did indeed have to drop an extra $130 to get my over sized Pusan International Film Festival poster home...I figured that would be the case, I just couldn't bear to part with it...The colours remind me of a Buddhist painting we have at home, an inheritance that my sister and I would have fought over to inherit if I didn't have this...so it was worth it
I have the 2009 poster rolled up in my suitcase, but I don't like the artwork as much:
When I got to the airport I thought I could get an emergency exit seat, since I arrived 5 hours before my flight...haha..."155 passengers have already checked in" said the guy at the ticket counter. I'm never coming this early again! Oh well. The Korean Airport rocks, they have these "Korean Traditional Cultural Experience Centers" where you can do traditional Korean arts and crafts...why buy souvenirs when you can make them?! So awesome. I made a mother of pearl broach and an ink print. I also dressed up in Hanbok, tried on an $1100 Gucci watch, and was blinded by the white bright lights of the Duty Free shops. The only thing I bought was a water. I think I might go grab dinner now cause it's 7:30 and my flight is at 8:55.This is Fran signing out.
See you on the other side!
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