i was spending a quiet night at home last night when i got a call from jinny inviting me to meet her and �정 (hee-jung) for drinks. getting out of the house was just what i needed, and since we had off from work today, it wasn't a school night.

i hadn't seen hee-jung since the first time we met, back in early february. i think of everyone i've met in korea, she's the most excited and determined to communicate with me. the funny thing is, her english isn't that great, and she often resorts to speaking korean slowly to me. it's really actually pretty funny, but i feel bad for her since i can see that she so deeply wants to communicate and i just sit there looking confused.

she came up with the idea that for twenty minutes she could only speak english, and i could only speak korean. i was like, okay, but all i can say in korean is what i want to eat and other very simple phrases. but actually it went okay and we ended up being able to get some simple ideas across to one another. i guess we both have a lot of studying to do.

jinny also mentioned that hee-jung is famous for being an excellent cook, and it came up that my birthday in june is the same day as another friend they have whom i've met. actually, every korean knows my birthday since it's the anniversary of the start of the korean war, june 25. anyways, hee-jung said we should have a birthday party for me and the other friend, and she'll cook. of course that plan sounds great to me!