"And then the whining school-boy with his satchel and shining morning face, creeping like a snail, unwillingly to school."
As promised I did manage to pack my bag and make it down to college on time, though readers will be relieved to hear that I left the shining face in a jar by the door. So - Elementary Korean Reading, four times a week.
I'm in a class of eighteen including sixteen Chinese students all a foot shorter than me and one Russian lad a foot taller than me. I think his height is a result of a diet of vodka, beetroot & cigarettes. Although I can't see that one being advertised on day-time TV.
The course is pitched at just the right level, slightly harder than I'm used to, so I have to work hard to come anywhere near keeping up, which is fun. Not quite so amusing, and here comes the whining school-boy bit, is my hearing. Or complete lack thereof. Never had I imagined that the hardest thing would be just hearing what's going on around me. I'd completely forgotten what 'classroom babble' actually means.
Admitedly being surrounded by Chinese teenagers gossiping among themselves isn't the easiest environment in which to écouter et répéter, but none of them are having any problems. Grrr. So I look even more the dunce because I have to keep apologising, pointing at my ears & shrugging my shoulders.
Now that I've got my residence card and have access to the health service maybe I can get my ears syringed.
Maybe that's where we'll find the snail.
