Korean

Mrs. Park's kitchen in Mangwon, the school's notice and the calendar: the science fair is in April, in the gym, the students will be ready, before that, October, Grandma's birthday, is Grandma already ninety, the party is at Grandma's home in Jeonju, and Grandma asked for a speech, yours, Eli, those are Grandma's words, in Korean, in front of everyone.

A phone call to Grandma in Jeonju: Grandma, have you had lunch, I've eaten, why a call in the daytime, about the party in October, what party, at ninety one needs sleep, everyone's coming down, Min-jun says he'll film, film what, an old woman eating rice cakes, I hear you asked for my speech yourself, just your speech, and the pancakes I fry myself.

A phone call to a restaurant in Jeonju: I'd like to book a room in October, how many people would that be, about twenty, three children, the big room is possible, and the course, the middle one, a rice-cake cake too, yes, could you give me a name and a number, Eli Brooks, a foreign name, we'll do that, we'll see you on the day.

The Kims' flat, Min-jun's laptop and a box of old photographs: first scan the photos, then I'll edit, the Jeonju wedding photo first, then the market, after the market, Mum's stall, Mum will cry, and last, Grandma singing, you filmed her secretly, she'll hide, having seen your film once she won't hide, after the slideshow your speech, then the cake, and after the cake I breathe.

The flat by the river at night, three pages on the table: three pages is too long, just one story, which story, the first New Year's Day, rice-cake soup, you couldn't say a word, I said thank you six times, that's the story, and Grandma you met humbly, I'll tell Grandma, like this, right, you go down and Grandma goes up, so every verb bows, and sit down before you cry.

The Kims' flat, Ha-eun on the rug and the bow to practise: Ha-eun, say happy birthday, Grandma, rice cake, that's Ha-eun's speech, not bad for three, now you, Eli, Grandma, live long, not that, stay healthy a long, long time, and the long one everybody says, a long and healthy life to you, four syllables, slowly, and the bow, both hands to the floor.

The fast train south from Yongsan, the rice-cake cake on Mr. Kim's knees and Ha-eun asleep: six years since you first took this train, right, six years this autumn, Grandma came as a bride seventy years ago, ninety, which number do you say it with, counting one, on paper another, on the cake the celebration one, and in the speech, the celebration one, and keep it short, Grandma gets tired, Su-a cut it to one story, then cut it again.

Grandma's kitchen in Jeonju at seven, the pancakes on the stove: who let you into my kitchen at seven, I came to help, Grandma, sitting down is helping, the cousins are here, welcome, come in, sit down, it's nothing much but eat plenty, nothing much, there are thirty dishes, that's what the host says, and the guest, right, I'll eat well, and no speeches before lunch.

The restaurant room in Jeonju, the grandchildren in a row: first the children's bow, Mother, please receive the bow, at ninety a bow is heavy, be quick, and now a word from our American teacher, Grandma, and all the family, six years ago I knew only thank you, first, my thanks, lastly, to Grandma's health, cheers, well said, like on the television, and sit down, the pancakes are getting cold.

The restaurant room after the cake, the slideshow on the wall: and now the film, quiet please, who's that singing, that's me, who filmed me, I did, when you fried the pancakes, forgive me, forgiven, the pictures are pretty, thank you from my heart for coming so far, thanks to this one the house has music, a tree with many branches has no windless day, ninety years were like that, thanks all of you for coming, and cut, no, keep filming.

The flat by the river one evening, the visa's renewal letter on the table and Su-a's idea: the visa runs out in spring again, then I just renew it again, I can't keep just renewing, or apply for permanent residence outright, living here for good, no end date on the card, what does it take, a test, a medical, a pile of papers and months of waiting, all right, I've decided to apply, once and for all.

The information counter of the immigration office, a numbered ticket in Eli's hand: what are the grounds for the application, marriage, I've lived here six years, let me see your passport, submit the application form, passport and certificates, what is a certificate, a paper that proves a fact, you get it issued at the district office, does submit just mean hand in, hand it in at this window at nine sharp, after receipt comes the review, don't be late.

The speaking part of the integration course's final test, an examiner across a small table: introduce yourself, my name is Eli Brooks, I'm from America, I work as a science teacher, I've been in Korea six years, I'm married with one daughter, where did you learn Korean, at a kitchen table in Mangwon, an unusual school, the speaking part is passed.

A hospital's reception desk on the morning of the health check for immigration: the check for immigration, your card please, you haven't had breakfast have you, here, how long does it take, it's been received, blood then the X-ray, are the tests all done, done, the results come out in three days, and the certificate, it's issued at this desk, three working days, I know that word now.

The Kims' kitchen table with the application form between the side dishes, Ji-yeong checking it box by box: full name as on the passport, family name first, in Hangul or in English, both, then date of birth and nationality, I don't have a middle name, then the written word for none, leave it blank and they send it back, residence status, spouse Lee Su-a, children one, previous permanent residence not applicable, those are written words, the signature in black pen, inside the box.

The immigration office window at nine sharp, the file handed over: the file is complete, fingerprints, press your right thumb, the left thumb too, don't roll, then by when, processing takes about three months, three months exactly, it's done within three months, a text goes out, and if no text comes, then bring this receipt, don't lose it.

A video call from Minneapolis on the Kims' kitchen table, Eli between the screen and the family: what does your mother say, Mum asks whether we're not coming, tell her you come every summer, Dad asks whether it has no end, I'll say the card and the people are for good, tell them they have a home here too, Mum says Mrs. Park must come to America, tell her planes scare me but I'll go, she says that's a deal.

The stairs of the flat by the river, the neighbour coming down as Eli goes up with a folder: more papers, Eli, I hope they're the last, permanent residence, what for, you've got a wife, well, that's how it went, I hate that queue, many leave and you stay, live and see, indeed, we'll see, Ha-eun said hello to me properly yesterday, that's her first paper.

The immigration office window three months on, a card slid under the glass: Brooks, Eli, sign here, that's it, the status reads permanent residence, that's it, may I say a word from my heart, no need, don't lose the card, six years of queues and that's all, that's all, congratulations, thank you very much, you've worked hard, next please.

The Kims' table that evening, the new card on the tablecloth between the pancakes and three toasts: I drove a man with one word, he has more papers than I do, cheers, now you're completely our family, three sentences, Su-a counted, you took in a man who couldn't speak, you taught him even to say no, this house became my home, cheers, sit, and no to me doesn't exist, that was four sentences, good.

The vice-principal's office, the science fair to plan: Science Day, April, the gym, could you let us have the gym the day before, I'm sorry but that's difficult, two hours on the day, may we use the burners, that's not allowed, water and batteries only, understood, it's because I'm a science teacher, the programme in writing by the end of March, there is one, and we'll do that.

The science room, the class choosing its projects for the fair: twelve teams, twelve tables, three hours, the first-years do water rockets, I mean to build a cloud chamber in order to show the tracks, in two months?

The corridor a week before the fair, Ye-jin's cloud chamber showing nothing: teacher, take me off, I won't do it, what happened, Ye-jin, no tracks show, twice, you didn't cover the box, it has to be cold and dark, in the gym, in front of everybody, I came knowing one word and ended up giving a speech, you can do it too, and if nothing shows, even if it doesn't show it's fine, try once more tonight, and don't give up.

The flat by the river, Su-a reading the speech written for the programme: the participating students of this school, who writes like that, the vice-principal asked for it in writing, on paper write it like that, from the stage say our students, distinguished guests aloud is everyone who came, so I write one and say one, I check both, translating is my job, just like a book, just the same, a book read aloud, and let me make an announcement.

The gym on the morning of the fair, a dead projector and no caretaker: teacher, the projector's dead, the caretaker is sick and couldn't come, let me, I know that cable, it is the school's equipment, I'll take responsibility, if you don't mind please stay beside me, twenty minutes, not a minute more, it's on, it's a different gym, I saw nothing, and the caretaker came.

The school gate on the morning of the fair, Min-jun with his camera and Ji-yeong with the parents' letters: I'm filming the stage and the parents' faces too, not only the big ones but the first-years' too, they ask whether they may bring grandparents too, tell them to bring them, they explain it better, the radio wants one minute while you set up, I'll talk while carrying tables, the last scene, the man who came to teach for one year, and the man in his sixth year.

The Kims' flat, Eli's parents just in from Minneapolis and Grandma up from Jeonju for the fair: tell your mother she's got thinner and that's not good, I'll say she looks well, translate it as it is, she knows it all, Mum says Grandma is just the same, tell her I've changed, ninety, Dad asks what's in the jar, Jeonju kimchi, not on an empty stomach, that's hard to translate, I'll just say a gift, and it means thank you.

The flat by the river the night before the fair, Su-a with a stopwatch and Grandma listening: three minutes forty, too long, which part, the middle, don't explain, just say it, speak the way you speak to me, students and parents and teachers, then a pause, better, and the end, six years ago I came to teach for one year, tomorrow twelve teams show what they found, and now say nothing after it, that's the hardest.

The gym on Science Day, the speech from the stage and what came after: hello, everyone, thank you for coming when you are busy, let me introduce twelve teams, a big hand please, with this I'll end, a track showed, for three seconds, one is enough, they all saw it, they clapped too, that's a fair, teacher, next year's speech, and next year you do it.

Arrivals at Incheon airport, Eli's parents seen through to their gate, and a young traveller with a backpack and a paper address: excuse me, subway, where, hello, take the airport railroad, go straight on and then to the left, do you have the address, show me, Mangwon, a friend's flat, as far as Hongdae, then line six, don't worry, your Korean is good, how long here, six years, on my first day I stood right here too, and goodbye.