I came back into the classroom on the 3rd floor, only to find Junbeom, a 6th grader, sitting alone, on the floor, under a desk. He had finished his homework – I didn’t feel upset. But I was curious.
“Why are you sitting there?” I asked.
“I’m eating,” he said.
“What are you eating?”
“오징어 땅콩,” he explained, sheepishly. He held up the package. Literally, this phrase, ojingeo ttangkong means, roughly, “squid nuts.” They are apparently squid-and-peanut-flavored rice-puffs.
“Why are you eating under that desk?” I asked.
“It’s funny,” he explained.
