Spa Lori-Ga

Today in my advanced writing class we began the chapter “Determinism Vs. Free Will.” Each chapter has a theme, I teach a relevant grammatical concept, we study sample essays, then the students write their own essays. Sometimes it works, other times, well, not so much. I’m trying to explain the difference between these two theories of thought to four amazingly silent high school girls. They’re not getting it. I draw pictures, we read examples, still – no light bulbs going off. “Okay. It’s like this. You all get an allowance, right?” Yes. “Do you decide how much allowance you get?” No. Our parents decide and give it to us. “Okay. That’s determinism. You have no control over how much allowance you get. It’s just given to you.” Okay. “What do you spend your allowance on?” Movies, snacks, hair ribbons. “Okay. That’s free will. You make the decision how to spend your money.” Ahhhhhhh – we seeeeeeeeee. Probably not the most technical analogy, but, it seemed to work.

Today was a difficult day. In all of my classes the students were particuarly tense and uptight. Tomorrow is the big “end of session, 4 hour, show us everything you’ve learned” test. All of the students were antsy. “Lori Teacher, what will be on the test? Will we have to write? We have to know *everything* we’ve studied?” They’re tired. I’m tired. We’re entering the fifth week of 12-hour school days.

I’m fed up with not being able to talk to people. Every night I come home and study. I can sound out signs, but have no idea what they mean. I’m learning the Korean equivalent of “See Spot run. Run, Spot, run.” Will I ever be able to hold an intelligent conversation? I’m tired of staring at people blankly, at the grocery store, at the bank, in the gym, having no idea what they’re saying to me.

On the walk home after school, I was feeling down. And what is one of my favorite things to do when I’m feeling blue? Take a bubble bath. And I can’t even do that. By the time I reached my apartment, I was in pretty sad state. I can’t talk to anyone, I can’t take a bubble bath, I can’t eat without splashing food all over my face, poor Lori-Ga. . . Then I thought back to the writing lesson this morning. Okay. This is what I’ve been dealt. But I’m going to make the best of it.

So what is my second favorite thing to do when I’m feeling blue? Go to the spa. Well, I can almost guarantee there’s no Claremont Resort & Spa here in Daegu (just a guess). As I entered my apartment, I realized what I must do. “Welcome, ma’am, to Spa Lori-Ga! What would you like to drink while waiting for your spa treatments? Ginger tea? What a coincidence, we have that right here. Just a moment and I’ll get it for you.” I sipped my tea as I waited for the shower water to warm. I may not be able to take a bath, but thanks to the wisdom of Chanta, I know how to turn my small bathroom into a steam room. It just takes a while.

“Ma’am, please change into this luxurious white terry cloth bathrobe and pink slippers. Someone will be right with you shortly to guide you to the treatment rooms.” Sade played on the periwinkle CD player. Listening to soothing music, sipping hot tea. I’m starting to relax already. “And what treatments will you be having today?” Let’s see, I think I would like a steam shower, a face mask, a deep hair conditioning, and a pedicure. “Wonderful. Right this way please.” An hour later I emerge from the steam room, scrubbed clean, hair shining and with purple toes glittering. I cuddle in my thick, terry cloth robe. As I sip my lemon ice water, I curl up with a mindless magazine. Life isn’t so bad after all.