Lost in Translation...really

Oh! The Strangest thing happened on Thursday...
Michael and I were sitting in the teacher's room after our classes, wondering what mode of transportation we would be using to get home. Around 4:45 #2 said something like "teacher, ride, home". Cool,no bus. The Matriarch soon came in to let us know she would be taking us home and that "Park Jung Sun pick you up from your home. Meeting my house 7pm." Oh we were tired and felt irritated that no one had mentioned this to us beforehand. But we smiled and said "Okay thank you". I kept wondering all the way home what this meeting could possibly be about. As we got out of the car I asked the Matriarch, "Should we eat dinner at our house?" Then I pointed to myself and reiterated, "our house?" "yes", said the Matriarch.

We only had a hour before we were getting picked up so we rushed off to get some Bi Bim Bap at the restaurant across the street. It was so filling I couldn't even finish mine. Michael did :-)

So around 7 Park Jung Sun came to get us with a carload of children. Honestly at first Michael and I thought we were being taken to teach children evening classes. But we were just dropping them off and soon we were at the Matriarch's apartment.

As the door opened I could see a table filled with fruit behind the Matriarch who kindly welcomed us in. She was so happy to see us, just bubbling. In we went. And as we ventured in further and looked off to the right...what should we see but...


Ah!!! Five bowls of Dulset Bibimbap, several beautiful side dishes, soup, kimbap, Chopchae (sp?), and wine. Boy were we ever surprised! My heart felt fluttery and I felt a little cry-y. The Matriarch, who is hands down, one of our favorite teachers, had prepared a HUGE beautiful, VEGETARIAN, traditional Korean meal, for Michael and I. And we were already stuffed full of Bibimbap!!!!!!!!! We sat down, me a little panicked. So much food and my belly so full. There was no way I could start eating more, even out of politeness. So we had to explain to the Matriarch and her Husband that we hadn't understood that this was going to be dinner and that we had already eaten. Oh, I felt so, so badly. There aren't even words. She was so kind though and said, "My mistake". I had a couple of tears of happiness and melancholy come up which probably helped us out and let her know how very sorry we were. Michael though managed to get through some more bibimbap (his 3rd of the evening) and later we both ate fruit.

The Matriarch took lots of photos of us and Park Jung Sun. And we were silly in the pictures and laughed a lot. After Park Jung Sun left we spent some time learning what was in a couple of Korean newspapers with the Matriarch's husband. And looking through an atlas. It was really cool to talk about deeper things than How are you, what's your name, even if it was in broken English. At the end of the night she sent us home with tons of food saying "gift,...Korean tradition".

The next day at school The Matriarch told Michael that she would really like to have us over again. I think I might have to start assuming we'll get food and pack a Luna bar with me in case I am wrong! :-)