We were at a regional Rotary conference yesterday. For the most part, we had no idea what was being said. Then a nun with a big smile got onstage, and I think she was talking about the power of smiling and laughter and how it improves your health.
Next thing I know, about 1,500 Rotarians are chanting and clapping:
Ho!
Ho!
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Ho!
Ho!
Ha! Ha! Ha!
It's surreal enough being on the other side of the planet and not understanding what's going on around you, but the nun, with what looks like a large rosary hanging from her waist and her black stockings . . . that adds a layer of surreal! She sounded like fun, though. I liked her and wish I could understand. Unfortunately, my vocabulary in Korean is limited to a handfull---literally---of words.
Sometime later, the team was onstage. I was singing Abba's "Dancing Queen" with a Rotarian, and then Arirang by myself with no accompaniment. It's the unofficial Korean national anthem (according to Wikipedia). One of the Korean team members---they are visiting California for a month just as we have been visiting Korea---filmed it with my camcorder, so we have evidence.
Ho!
Ho!
Ha! Ha! Ha!
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