The Envelope Please….

Today, as I was practicing my Chinese calligraphy, I noticed I was the only one writing. All the other students had disappeared. I heard whispers, but as usual, couldn’t understand what was being said, as it was all in Korean.

A few minutes later, Mr. Ju appeared at the door. “Miss Lori, Miss Lori, come this way…” I followed him to the main room, the room where we sit on couches each morning and share coffee and tea. Yes? I asked, somewhat hesitantly. “Teacher Song surprise for you.” I literally had no idea….

Teacher Song produced a piece of paper. On it were several Chinese characters, then, in Korean, the address of the soyae academy. Teacher Song spoke for a long time in Korean, then motioned for Mr. Ju to translate. Mr. Ju began. “Your writing, finally good enough. You get pen name. Teacher Song chose name for you. We all agree. Here it is.” He pointed to the first Chinese characters. “This means pen name.” He pointed to the next. “Mi. Like Mi-guk. Means beautiful. Or a little like American.” I nodded and smiled. “This character. Cho. Like Cho-sun dynasty. The dynasty that ruled before Korea today. Also means morning. Or hope. So your name, many meanings. Beautiful morning. Beautiful hope. American Korean. Beautiful Korean. American morning. Mi-Cho. Mi-Cho.” All the men smiled and nodded in approval, low “Yays” echoing in agreement.

I smiled. “You understand?” Yes. Yes, I understand. Thank you. I’m quite honored. Thank you. and I bowed to each of the men in turn. Mr. Ju folded the paper with my pen name on it and put it in a long, narrow envelope. “This. This very important. This envelope.” Yes, I understand this is a very important document. Thank you. “No. This envelope. Old fashioned Korean envelope. Very, very important.” I looked at the envelope. It looked like a normal envelope. I took it. Mr. Ju continued. “Envelope. You know?” Yes. I understand. It’s an envelope. I know. “You understand the envelope?” Yes. Thank you. and I smiled again.

We all dispersed to continue our writing. I thought for a moment. Was he really trying to tell me that it was an envelope, or was there something more? The all too familiar nagging that has haunted me since my arrival, that of never quite knowing if I fully comprehend, crept over me. Do I really understand the envelope?