Korean

Eli lands at Incheon and Ji-yeong, his co-teacher, is waiting with her brother Min-jun: hello, are you Ji-yeong, nice to meet you, I'm Eli, this is my brother, welcome, thank you, let's go.

On the airport train to Hongdae, Ji-yeong asks if Eli speaks Korean: no, a little; that's fine, slowly; again, please; this is the airport train, it goes to Hongdae; is it far?

The landlady shows Eli and Ji-yeong the room near Hongdae: come in, this is the room, small but nice, where is the bathroom, over there, the kitchen is here, here is the key, what is this, the gate key, and the two goodbyes.

At a cafe in Hongdae the barista asks what she can get them: an americano, hot or iced, iced, a latte for Ji-yeong, having it here, water too, one moment, here you are.

Over the coffee, Ji-yeong asks where Eli is from: America, Minneapolis; is it cold, very cold, Seoul too, in winter; a teacher in America too, a science teacher; Ji-yeong is an English teacher; America is far, but Seoul is nice.

Min-jun comes to the room with a quilt and a rice cooker, presents from his mother, his father and his grandma: Ji-yeong's little brother, come in, this is a quilt, wow, thank you, a rice cooker, from your mother, see you again.

Ji-yeong presents Eli to Vice-principal Oh in the formal speech of school: how do you do, I'm Eli Brooks, I'm from America, please look after me, welcome, our school is small, I see, please look after us too, I'll do my best, good.

Eli's first class: a student of thirteen says hello, teacher; which year, which class, year one class three; the numbers one to ten; which floor is the classroom, the fourth; teacher, what's your name; Teacher Eli.

In the staff room Ji-yeong shows Eli his desk: what's this, that's a stamp, your stamp; and that, this is my cup; whose desk is that over there, the vice-principal's, careful; OK.

On the stairs the neighbour asks who Eli is: the next room; an American, yes; a tourist, no, not a tourist; not a student, a middle school teacher; I'm the neighbour, please look after me.

Ji-yeong takes Eli to school on the subway: a transit card, which line, line two, we get on at Hongdae station, where do we get off, at Hapjeong, the announcement, we get off here.

Eli can't find the station and stops a passer-by: excuse me, where's Hongdae station, straight on then left, is it far, it's close, three minutes, where's exit nine, on the right, thank you very much, not at all.

Eli buys a triangle kimbap and a bottle of water at a convenience store: how much is this, one thousand five hundred won, and the water, altogether two thousand three hundred, a bag, card, the receipt, goodbye.

Lunch at a kimbap shop with Ji-yeong: how many are you, two, the menu, two rolls of kimbap, one bowl of noodles and water, tuna or plain, one of each, enjoy your meal, and the thanks said before eating.

The staff room, mid-afternoon: what time is it, three o'clock, no, half past three, class is at four, which class, year two class one, lunch at twelve, at four we go to the classroom, quickly, there's time.

A bus stop with Min-jun: which bus, two seventy-three, five minutes, how long does it take, twenty minutes and ten stops, where do we get off, in front of the river park, here's the bus.

Rice cakes in hot sauce at a stall by the river: Min-jun offers the casual speech and calls Eli older brother; this is rice cakes, really tasty, very spicy, a little but tasty, eat more, drink water too, thanks.

Dinner at a restaurant with Ji-yeong and her friend Su-a, a translator: this is my friend, I'm Lee Su-a, the menu please, is the kimchi stew spicy, a little, the soybean stew isn't, kimchi stew for me, it's hot, careful, tasty.

The staff room on a Thursday: what day is it today, Thursday, the days of the week, what do you do on Sunday, nothing, on Sunday Ji-yeong goes to Mangwon market, her mother's stall, come along.

Eli has a cold and goes to the pharmacy: where does it hurt, my throat and my head, do you cough, a lot, it's a cold, take this medicine, how many times a day, three times after meals, lots of warm water, take care.

Sunday morning: Ji-yeong introduces her father, a taxi driver, and Eli rides to Mangwon market in his cab: Father, get in, where do you want to go, what do you want to eat, kimchi, you speak Korean well.

Mangwon market: Ji-yeong brings Eli to her mother's kimchi stall: Mother, welcome, sit down, try this, radish kimchi, tasty, a little spicy, eat lots, take some home, thank you very much.

Mangwon market: Eli buys fruit at a stall: how much is a bag of apples, ten thousand won, and the persimmons, five for five thousand, a bag of apples and five persimmons please, one more on the house.

A noodle stall at Mangwon market with Min-jun: is there a seat, two kalguksu, is there kimchi, no there isn't, auntie more kimchi please and water, here you are, tasty, really tasty, I'm full.

Sunset at the Han river park with Ji-yeong and Min-jun: nice weather, it's autumn, do you like the river, I like it a lot, do you like winter, no it's cold, Minneapolis is colder, Seoul is nice.

Sunday dinner at the Kims' with Grandma: Grandma this is Eli, hello Grandma, come in and sit, how old are you, twenty-eight, so young, I'm eighty-four, eat lots, I'll eat well, Grandma please eat too.

At the Kims' table after dinner: can you use chopsticks, yes I can, can you eat spicy food, a little, can't you, no I can, one glass, cheers, Eli can you drive, yes but not in Korea.

The landlady stops Eli on the stairs: just a moment, the room is until the end of November, from December another student comes, is it November tenth, yes, three weeks, I see, thank you.

The staff room: Ji-yeong hears the room is until November and says come to our house, live with us; really, is that OK; of course, Min-jun's room is big; Vice-principal Oh approves, formally, and calls Eli family.

Moving day at the Kims' flat in Mangwon-dong: this is your room, thank you Mother, winter here till spring, teach me English, teach me Korean, Mother please teach me Korean too, of course, this is our home, yours too.