강미 | learning koreanKorean Night
Put the words ”Korean” and “drums” together in the same sentence, and I’ll ask “Where and when?” Last night I attended a Korean program, part of an arts festival at a local university. Although I have little natural rhythm of my own, I’ve always been a big fan of Korean percussion. There’s an irresistible fiery passion to it that always leaves me wanting more.
However, to get to the drum part of the program, I had to sit through a succession of local Korean talent, ranging from a children’s choir, cellists, a vocalist, to a couple of flutists. The music and the performances were good, but I was antsy for the highlight.
I was disappointed in the drum performance. They were pretty good, but not as good as I had hoped. They used a backup track—of drums!—for part of their performance…I would have preferred to hear it all live.
None of the printed program used 한글…all of the Korean words were romanized. The title of one of the flute solos intrigued me. Romanized as Gagopa and translated as Feeling Homesick, at this point I assume that the word indicates a hunger for home. But none of the dictionaries I’ve consulted can tell me anything.
One of the flutists looked familiar to me, and I could only assume that I had known her when I lived in Korea. Turns out I was right…she’s the wife of the assistant director of the second language institute at which I taught. Her husband is about to finish his doctorate at the previously-mentioned university. Since their son is finishing his junior year in high school, she may stay on with the children for another year while her husband returns to the job waiting for him back in Korea. It’s understandably a difficult decision for the family.
When I told her that I was studying Korean, she kindly offered to help. I’m planning to take her up on her offer…I really need a live person with whom to speak Korean.
Posted by kangmi on February 24, 2004 at 9:45 AM0 comments