One day, not long after my 23rd birthday, during those halcyon days when I was imitating Bashō and working as a Peace Corps volunteer in a Korean town just five or so miles from the Yellow Sea, I got invited to a funeral. I was a middle school English teacher. A relative of my school’s vice-headmaster had died, and since all the other teachers were going to her funeral, I think they felt they had to invite me, too.
Wonderful, Richard! I must re-read your Festival for 3000 Maidens. Your memorising that Korean phrase reminds me of how I - much less courteous than you - learned to say in Swedish "I don't like Swedish boys", ready for when the local paper in Jonkoping came to interview me during my time working there when 19 years old. It was published - together with my many (softening, I hope) compliments about the Swedish girls/women and lingonberry waffles.
I wasn't much for karaoke when I worked in Japan, but often my best sources wanted to do it as a way to prove we were friends. 500 Miles (Hedy West) was the most memorable tune from those experiences. It went a long way.
HA! Maybe. But in all fairness I doubt it was the sincere attempt at language learning, and more the very enthusiastic efforts in the kitchen—cause we all know the way to a man’s heart, right? :)
What a great story! Reminds me I haven’t read that (first?) book of yours. “Musical imperialism” — I do believe that’s a real thing, from the ‘British music invasion’ of the Beatles, etc. to the “Laurel Canyon” LSD, counter-culture CIA-run hippie scam. Music and cuisine have an incredible bonding potential and good for you in learning to sing, imperialistic or otherwise! I bet it got you some good dates, too?! I remember how much praise I got from the Czechs for speaking even marginal Czech, it was very generous of them and mildly motivating for me to keep learning.
Believe me, Mishelle, there's no doubt that you hanging around Prague and speaking Czech, gets a lot more dates than me singing Love Potion #9 high up in the Korean hills.
It was my 3rd novel, after Soldiers in Hiding and Fools' Gold.
Richard, I remember vividly your reading of the Love Potion chapter at UNLV. You bravely sang it out and we sang the chorus with you. One of the best readings I’ve ever attended.
Wonderful, Richard! I must re-read your Festival for 3000 Maidens. Your memorising that Korean phrase reminds me of how I - much less courteous than you - learned to say in Swedish "I don't like Swedish boys", ready for when the local paper in Jonkoping came to interview me during my time working there when 19 years old. It was published - together with my many (softening, I hope) compliments about the Swedish girls/women and lingonberry waffles.
I wasn't much for karaoke when I worked in Japan, but often my best sources wanted to do it as a way to prove we were friends. 500 Miles (Hedy West) was the most memorable tune from those experiences. It went a long way.
It sure did! It went a whole lot farther than its title suggests.
HA! Maybe. But in all fairness I doubt it was the sincere attempt at language learning, and more the very enthusiastic efforts in the kitchen—cause we all know the way to a man’s heart, right? :)
I recall Tom N. singing this at a small inn high in the mountains of Kang Won Do.
It's never a bad thing to remember Tom.
What a great story! Reminds me I haven’t read that (first?) book of yours. “Musical imperialism” — I do believe that’s a real thing, from the ‘British music invasion’ of the Beatles, etc. to the “Laurel Canyon” LSD, counter-culture CIA-run hippie scam. Music and cuisine have an incredible bonding potential and good for you in learning to sing, imperialistic or otherwise! I bet it got you some good dates, too?! I remember how much praise I got from the Czechs for speaking even marginal Czech, it was very generous of them and mildly motivating for me to keep learning.
Believe me, Mishelle, there's no doubt that you hanging around Prague and speaking Czech, gets a lot more dates than me singing Love Potion #9 high up in the Korean hills.
It was my 3rd novel, after Soldiers in Hiding and Fools' Gold.
Wonderful story! Good times.
You weren't far away, Derek, probably singing some other song!
You showed me the other side of the coin.talking about death and make reader to laugh is not easy.
thank You.
That's true, Moniro... And making the dead laugh is even harder!
Richard, I remember vividly your reading of the Love Potion chapter at UNLV. You bravely sang it out and we sang the chorus with you. One of the best readings I’ve ever attended.
Thank you for mentioning that, Bob!
I remember that reading, too... now, looking back, it seems like about 1846!
1846 … weren’t you still at Iowa back then, while I labored in Oklahoma?