the people i pass everyday. today i saw them

There are lots of big stories to tell, and maybe they will get told, but for now I've really got to start blogging (otherwise I will never catch up with myself), and by blog will be a memoir (always months behind me), and not a blog.

Last week some older folks (mostly ageshi's (older men), but some ageema's) greeted me as I was walking home from school. They were on their break from picking garbage up from the neighbourhood. It is a government funded program that gives older people a small income, and something to do. Once this generation goes the streets of Korea will not be a pretty sight. The younger generation depend on their diligence, and I can't see them happy with the same life as older people. One of the ageshi's asked me in Hangul (Korean) if I spoke Korean, and I said "chookum, chookum" (a little), and then "not really". To my surprise he began to talk to me in clear English (better than most of the Koreans my own age) - this is VERY uncommon for someone of his generation. His generation (and all of it's stories) are predominantly inacessable for an anglophone like me. I was happy to be able to communicate with him, and not feel horribly akward about not being able to say any more (in Hangul) then the rehearsed: I am a violin and english teacher, and I work at IVY academy. In my surprise I said "your english is very good", and he told me that when he was younger he was an english literature professor in Busan. They asked about my violin ect. and then one of the other ageshi's told me that his wife was a violin and piano teacher at a local hogwan. The english professor introduced me to one of the ageema's, and told me that when she was younger she was a classical singer. He told me she spoke english, but she was shy. She smiles at me alot, but she doesn't talk much. I asked the english professor if they were here every day, and he said yes, and that they also saw ME pass every day. I have visited with this group a couple times since. I have played my ukelele for them (an instrument they have never seen before), and discovered the the classical singer was a lyric soprano. The english professor told me that she has a very beautiful voice. Sometimes she sings when they are working. Today they asked me how old I was. They were very surprised at my age. Another ageshi from the neighborhood (I don't think he was part of the garbage picking team) with a small dog offered to set me up with a Korean man. He said that "I would be very happy, and so would the man". This was a translation of the english professor. I'm actually surprised they didn't ask me my age and try to set me up sooner. It's funny: being a 30 year old single woman in Korea (as far as I can tell) is seen as a state of emergency. Since I look younger then I am (and I'm not Korean so I don't know any better) they see it as a problem that can be easily solved, and so they are always eager to help (both men and women). Every one wants to be a hero. Today, I was also given a couple of handfuls of chestnuts from one of the members of the group (I don't remember which one, because they appeared so abruptly in my hands). I am happy to have met this group with another month of pleasant weather. I have lots to learn from them, and they seem to feel the same way about me, so I imagine we will be spending a few more afternoons together sharing culture.