The Welcome Party

At so-yae today the men were talking excitedly about something. I always listen intently, staring from speaker to speaker, trying to pick up any vocabulary whatsoever. I usually understand about, oh, maybe 2% of what they’re saying. But today I understood more. Maybe 5%. They kept repeating next Thursday’s date. Il ship pal. The 28th. And saying names of places nearby. Kyeongju. Palgongsan. Various Hot Springs. Chang-mal (very). Choh-ya (good). Rori-Ga (that’s me!). After several minutes Mr. Lee turned to me. “Do you have an appointment for next Thursday?” When I first arrived here, this question struck me as odd. Now, it seems as natural as “How’s the kimchi?” No, I don’t have any plans for Thursday. “It is your holiday?” That’s right, I don’t work on Thursdays. “We will make welcome party for you.” Really? “Yes. Many places. Many, many good places near here. Let us think. Thursday will be your welcome party. We will eat pig meat and drink wine.” And with that he returned to the Korean conversation. I literally cannot wait until Thursday.