When Korea becomes Asia...

Sometimes this country actually does feel like Asia. I have an ex-student named Amy. She's extremely sweet, and had? a big crush on me. I always felt there was something different about her. Tonight I realized, it's because, unlike most Koreans my age, she hasn't forgot about her ancient traditions. I was put in my un-spiritual westerner place tonight, and it felt good, awkward, but enlightening as well. I still don't know what I did, but the story goes as follows....

[11:02:30 PM] daniel.panozzo says: i just got done with a strange Korean experience[11:02:34 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: oh?[11:03:02 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: my ex student, Amy, invited me to a "traditional ceremony, wear socks"
[11:03:04 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: did you finally get a scrub at the sauna?[11:03:05 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: by text message[11:03:08 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: that's all I knew[11:03:13 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: uh oh[11:03:29 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: then she led me up many stairs to this sollemn 'study house' type place[11:03:36 PM

] Amanda Schweitzer says: amy is the one from coffee at the beach?[11:03:48 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: her English isn't that good, so despite my questions, she couldn't explain what was happening[11:03:49 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: yup[11:03:58 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: ok -- i'm with ya[11:04:18 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: there were about 10 women in the place, all studying something, or preparing scrolls, or fruit- they looked really busy[11:04:28 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: then we went to a back room, with a table of fruit[11:04:33 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: Chuseok style[11:04:38 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: ok[11:04:40 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: Amy came in with another women, both n Hanboks[11:04:48 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: then another dude stood by me against the wall[11:04:54 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: I thought she was tricking me into marrying her[11:05:05 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: i was thinking that or a funeral[11:05:40 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: yeah, they lit candles[11:05:49 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: and you said i do?[11:05:53 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: and started doing buddhist monk-ish chants[11:06:06 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: I just tried not to look like Mr. Ignorant American[11:06:15 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: it was really sollemn[11:06:22 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: I had no idea what I was supposed to do[11:06:35 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: uh huh[11:06:41 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: there were all kinds of rituals, and, in between each, we would do about 45 full bows[11:06:52 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: wow[11:06:58 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: I was sweating balls and thanking Amy (in my head) for helping me work off my American gut[11:07:19 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: then we crouched to the floor, face practically on it, and I felt the blood
rushing[11:07:25 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: that went on for a long time[11:07:37 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: I could tell I was praying, but I wasn't sure what I was supposed to pray for[11:07:49 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: so I improvised (a good Bulls season)[11:07:56 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: :)[11:08:02 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: then they lit a scroll on fire and handed it to me[11:08:09 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: and I prayed that I didn't burn this building down[11:08:12 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: really strange now[11:08:12 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: lol[11:08:26 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: all the while, we're chanting something about the four elements of life[11:08:44 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: finally it ended, and good thing cuz my knees were about to give out[11:09:10 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: and we ate the fruit while an older women explained in above-my-head Korean the ceremony to the other participant[11:09:28 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: and they told me to be careful not to step on the door frame when passing into a room[11:09:33 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: the other guy was waygook?[11:09:37 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: I thanked all the women and left[11:09:43 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: nope, super serious Korean[11:09:46 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: hmmm[11:09:50 PM]

daniel.panozzo says: he could bow like nobody's business[11:09:52 PM]

Amanda Schweitzer says: lol