white=star

It is true: Korea has maintained its' identity, never fluctuated and remains a strikingly homogenious country. This is something an American never experiences. Even if you live in some small, isolated town (Hampshire), you still have to go to town every once in a while and you're bound to see a variety of ethnicities. Even or own blood is so mixed we can hardly even recognize where we came from. Korea is filled with Koreans and an exception from this rule is rare, and justification to stare. Aside from my for foreign co-workers ( two Americans, one British, and one Canadian), I've yet to pass a non-Asian on the street. And an average day includes at least an hour of strolling through these tight, clustered busy city blocks. I completely understand why they stare. The adults will usually look away when they know that you know but the children; their eyes cannot hide the utter wonder. They point, they pop their little heads out of car windows and stare, amazed- like Santa Claus has just dropped out of the sky (reindeer and all). And this realization that you are a fairy tale come true comes with a price. Maybe this is what it feels like to be a star, and the Koreans are my paparazzi. Only I harbor no resentment for their attention; I feel honored to come here and entertain. Like my fellow American teacher Ryan said, "we are monkeys, here for the show." There is no room for mistakes, no time (except in the haven of our apartments) to be off our games. When I go shopping, I'll notice many folks looking in my cart to see what a Mangook (American) eats. I'm careful never to go outside undone (pajamas, dishevelled, sleep-trodden hair) as I would so often do at home. The camera is always on and the performers must remain immaculate- at least as close to perfection as we can. Perhaps I'll lapse as time goes by and de-transform into my old self but it won't be from lack of trying. Here, I represent something much greater than Elgin, than Illinois, than America even. I am a living reminder of the world outside of Korea and, for many I presume, the sole example of life beyond Asia. This may be a bit overstated but I fear how my dear USA is portrayed throughout the world and I must do everything in my control to change this unfortunate concensus. If this means carefully dressing, smiling, waving and, when asked, dancing, then so be it. After all, I can now call myself a foreigner; and it feels good.