Sometimes there's a poignant moment when my students make me overly conscious of my aging. The random comments, "Teacher, white hair" – pointing at my head. Or the comment on there being wrinkles on my forehead, which is somehow a significant observation in Korean culture. The other day, I was spending a few moments at the end of my 4th grade afterschool class playing "duck, duck, goose," and Ye-won stood behind me, tapped my head, and the paused and said, with apparent alarm, loudly, "Teacher! No hair!" Yes, my hairline is receding… yes, it's thinning.
Kids have no tact. Koreans have no tact. So, Korean kids …
Every day, here, is a continuing exercise in humility.