north korea. war. you know?

i learned about this attack on south korea during class yesterday. the students told me. these 12 year olds had seen reports on the internet, and began explaining the situation to me in english. this was the first their korean teacher had heard of it, as well- and she looked more surprised than i felt. i guess north korea doing something crappy without provocation just fits their profile. like these guys say (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/23/carroll.cirincione.korea/index.html?hpt=C1)
in fact, the korean teacher's look of surprise may have been more related to them telling me their news instead of her.

they explained that north korea had fired at pyongyang island, and that south korea was fighting back. they didn't seem frightened at all, but asked me if i was. i answered honestly, not yet.

throughout the remaining 4 hours of classes, several more students brought up the fight- every time with a look of confidence and eagerness. then, "teacher, are you scared?" like they're just empathetic for my plight as a foreigner. one student i'm quite fond of said hello as he passed me in the hallway then spun around, stretching a hand out toward me, remembering something, "oh, wendy teacher! north korea. war. you know?" it was delivered like "oh, wendy teacher! my birthday. tomorrow. you know?"
yes, i heard, i told him. ah, good, he nodded- then spun back around with a tiny bow goodbye. i called his name, though, and asked him "are you scared?"
"no" he said, definitely.
"why not?" i asked.
he answered quickly and i think lazily.... if he hadn't been on his way to a class i'm sure i could have gotten a better response, but what he did say made me laugh anyway: shrugging his shoulders a bit, "because i'm children."

so, i gathered my important papers once i got home, and put them in a bag with some clothes, extra panties. i registered with the american embassy online. i felt worried last night. yes, this attack is no huge surprise... but it is a serious move on south korean civilians.

i guess as long as president lee myung-bak doesn't react like president bush might in this situation, but keeps the big picture in mind, things shouldn't escalate too badly for south korea.

more importantly, it is my hope that crazy old kim jung-il can keep it together. the condition of north korea is one giant appalling pity. but don't tell him i said so. it just makes him crazier.

i think everything will continue to be ok. i like it a lot here, and don't want to see these awesome people suffer any more war. nor do i want to have to go home under emergency circumstances. but i don't think things will come to that. i'm not scared yet. i'm just being cautious, and prepared.

and drinking coffee and listening to good music, getting ready for another exciting day of teaching cute little korean geniuses.