My Korean Professor, My Korean Sister

Professor Yu Gyeong Min. I don't know when I started appreciating her. I just noticed that she was as cute as a chubby angel during the first day of my Korean Language class in KUT. I always took her photos secretly in class. Sometimes she would see me and gently scold me with a smile. (I'm not a stalker. I did that because (1) I often get sleepy in class especially when I don't understand anything; and (2) I planned to give her, at the end of the year, a video presentation of photos taken in our classes).

But I got drawn to her when one morning, I received an email reply (after sending her some photos taken during her younger brother's wedding) asking me what's troubling me that I can't sleep when it is 4 o'clock in the morning already. I was very poor in Hangeul, so in my simplest English words, I poured my heart to her. Since then, we always exchanged emails.

She once gave me a pocket mirror with a note written in korean that said something like this: "You must keep your face smiling". I was really surprised to receive something like that. Later on, she also gave me some of her winter clothes because she doesn't want me to buy expensive clothes and she is concerned that I get sick with the very cold weather.

I like her very much. Especially that I get inspired with her life. She is married to a well-to-do husband and she has a very cute son. She is a very loving person. Many students like her because she is a very good professor. She keeps on smiling and it's really hard to guess if she is getting tired or mad. She always writes in her blog to express her thoughts and feelings. She believes in God and shows her faith. She has weaknesses too, but I see how she overcomes them.

I want to become like her. I hope to become a good professor and marry a good husband. I want to live life joyfully like her.

The best thing I learned from her recently is this: "I don't know the day when I will die. I don't want a frowning or troubled-looking face in the casket. I want to die peacefully, and smiling. Therefore, I will do my best to live my life everyday with a smile."

Perfect attitude for someone like me who can be so negative in life.

I miss her terribly. And I'm getting more excited and inspired to go back to Korea, meet her and learn more from her.

But before that, I have to graduate first. And raise my Korean language level too. ^^