I am learning Korean, because 1) I go to a Korean taekwondo academy so it would help with my terminology 2) I really like Korean culture 3) It makes my Grand Master happy.
I'm severely dyslexic, and it makes it hard to read in English a lot of the time. I love to read, but sometimes it's just easier if I read graphic novels or manga or manhwa and save me the headache. I hate being dyslexic because it makes me feel stupid. And when I feel stupid, it triggers the selective mutism and so then I can't talk. So it feels a bit like I'm locked in my own brain. I can't read and then I can't tell anyone that I'm struggling so I just sit and stare out the window until my voice feels like coming back or my brain decides to make sense of the letters on the page.
For some reason, orally and auditory, I'm extremely gifted at foreign languages. Play me a Korean song and after about two listens, I can sing the chorus and most of the verse back to you word for word. Same with Japanese, Chinese, Thai, German, Finnish, and Spanish. Also, anyone with an accent I have no problem understanding. Maybe it's because Grand Master has a very thick Cheju Korean accent and I'm used to hearing broken English, but whatever the case, I know I'm not stupid. If I was, I wouldn't be able to understand foreign languages with the ease I am able to.
Every person, especially disabled people, has/have a gift. Mine is foreign languages and the fact I can hear a guitar tone and know who's playing it, like each guitar player's sound is like a finger print. Find your gift. And no one will ever be able to take it away from you, because it's unique to you. One of my gifts is great for a career and what I'm minoring in. The other is just cool and a good trick at parties.
Sometimes when I've been studying Korean for a long time, it's easier to write in Korean than English, because in Korean there aren't any silent letters, different meanings for the same sounding word, and other nonsense. My Grand Master helps me study sometimes, and he'll dig a pen into the paper so it leaves indents, so I can run my fingers over the paper and it reinforces what the letters mean and are more than just reading and remembering, which is hard for me on it's own.
(I like Grand Master's chart he made of the alphabet for me better, but I left it at the dojang in his office.) I pretty much like anything better than everything else if it has something to do with Grand Master; I'm a little spoiled. I never had a dad and he's never had a daughter so it's just fun to be around each other. When I want to play Kpop or other music on the loud speakers before class and Gwan Jang Nim says no, I give him the big eyes with the 'buing buing' hands and say, "B-but why, Sir?" He melts and lets me do whatever I want. I don't abuse it though! I can read his emotions from a mile away and know when to be seen and not heard if he's having a bad day. He never yells though. Not at me. That's what's the best part about him, I think. He never yells or calls me names or hits me and it's such a nice change of pace that I could almost cry just thinking about it. He always speaks in this soft voice with a small smile on his face and when he's excited he puts his fist in the air and cries, "Hwaiting!" and I laugh so hard because he's just perfect.
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