The Beat January 2003

Dear Charles,

I went to my first interview the other day. Halfway through our little chat, the Director, quite a nice chap, grabs his guitar and songbook and starts serenading me. First up he does a soulful rendition of Elvis's Can't Help Falling in Love and then Tom Jones' Delilah. Another teacher walks in halfway through a song. She doesn't bat an eyelid. Just drops off some papers and leaves again quietly. So there I sit, my boss to be is crooning away and I applaud politely between songs and wonder what the hell is going on.

At the post-interview lunch I get a little concerned when the Director calls me a" very handsome man" and keeps patting my knee. He keeps assuring me again and again how expensive this dish is and how "very expensive" that fish is. I am also told how healthy all the food is. I nod and I am very impressed. I proceed to eat my way through 24 "very expensive" and healthy dishes.

I doubt it was the healthy fermented cabbage or the three servings of healthy raw fish or even the healthy pigs heart that gave me indigestion. It must have been the healthy fish-head soup with the floating eyeballs or the healthy intestine stew.

Thus far I have learnt: to use chopsticks, to say thank you, that Kimchi is omnipresent, and not to sit next to the boss at lunch. I hope to make a few more friends in the days to come so wish me luck.

Love to Mummy,
Your Brother,
Knew B.