Integration Part 1: Korean Choir

Today is March 6th. In four days, I will have been in Korea for 7 months. It's hard to believe that so much time has gone by. Even more shocking are the sudden changes I've experienced in my life, even in the last month. Since then, I've joined a Korean Liturgical Choir at Myeongdong Cathedral, finally become confident and comfortable at my job, and, most importantly, started dating a Korean guy by the name of Myung Soo (But I just call him by his last name, Park). So naturally, I've become a lot busier. The choir meets twice a week and so far their hobbies seem to involve polyphony and alcohol. Meanwhile, my boyfriend does like any good Korean man and eagerly takes me shopping, carries my things for me, cooks for me, and sends good morning texts asking if I've eaten breakfast yet (because it's very healthy). If I seem a little starry-eyed and mushy today, I apologize. It's amazing, really, how a good relationship can improve one's mood. I've even had a hard time being strict with my students. Anyway, instead of boring you with things you don't care about, let me bore you with some of fun things Korea has shown me since I last talked at you.

For instance, these highly feminized cardboard cutouts of G-Dragon, famous Korean rapper and "bad boy".

First of all, the choir. Before you ask, yes. Yes, it is all in Korean. I have no idea what's going on at rehearsal, but fortunately, musical notation is a language I do speak. There are about 40 or so people in the choir, and I'm the only white person. There's one guy from Indonesia, but he speaks Korean, so I'm going to pretend he doesn't count. I auditioned to join completely by chance. A few Sundays ago, I overslept and couldn't make it to the 9 AM English Mass. So instead I went to the noon Mass, where I was assaulted by a pamphlet-wielding guy in choir robes. Our exchange went something like this:
Choir guy: "Here, please read!"
Me: "This is in Korean. I can't read this."
Choir guy: "Yes, thank you! Have a nice day!"

I took the pamphlet, though, and went on to spend some quality time with Jesus, during which time I also witnessed the ushers hunt down with military precision some witless tourists who had accidentally stolen the Eucharist and were confused as to why several angry Korean men were demanding back the beautiful little wafer souvenir the nice priest-man had handed them. When the Eucharist was recovered, it felt like a great victory, and I wanted to dance on the spot. Anyway, after Mass, I noticed a group of choir-robed people standing under a tent. I figured they were either asking for donations or asking for members, both of which were things I would gladly do. I walked on over and was greeted with an excited babble, none of which I understood. Awkwardly, I stammered out that, no, I don't understand Korean, at which point someone translated and informed me that this was a tent for people who wanted to join the choir. I signed up for an audition on the spot.

Audition time came, and that was when I realized that I was indeed the only white person there. Park showed up to support me, and was thankfully there to translate the audition directions. Then someone handed me a hymnal and told me to pick out an audition piece. That's when I realized that everything was in Korean. Let me be clear. I can read Korean, and I've been practicing, so I have no problem pronouncing each sound. But it's one thing to struggle through reading a word and read a word while simultaneously reading a series of notes. Fortunately, some blessed soul that thought to include Mozart's "Ave Maria" in the hymnal (in Latin!!!!! Yay!!!), and I was able to sing that. Supposedly, they liked me, and I got a call the next day, telling me that I was in.

Wednesday night rehearsal came and it was glorious. I don't think I stopped smiling once. When I graduated Notre Dame, I had to leave my long-time home in the Lit Choir, and that's probably the number one thing I've missed since coming to Korea. Being able to sing again was like coming back to life. It didn't matter that I could only sort of read the words. I was back in a choir, and a GOOD choir, at that. I got really excited every time something was in Latin, and my neighbors got really excited every time I said something in English.

There's also the social aspect. It's very clear what the priorities in this choir are (besides making beautiful music for God, of course). Halfway through rehearsal, we took a fifteen minute break for snacktime, during which someone went down to the street and fetched doppoki, blood sausage, and fish cakes. After rehearsal, we all went out for beer and fried chicken. I can tell this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Well, I've gone on long enough. Stay tuned for more stories, including one about Korean weddings.