Ask anyone  “How many ice skating rinks are there in Pusan?” and you will most likely hear, “Ice skating in Pusan? What are you talking about?”

 I’d known about 3 rinks so I was pleasantly surprised to find a new one in Om Goong, only 15 minutes from my house and assumed that it was the only one in the area. 

 My private students (3 third-graders) were excited when I suggested that we go skating together. Of course, taking students anywhere also involves taking the mothers and siblings and any other tagalongs too. I left the logistical planning to the mothers- all I had to do was show up at 11AM at the rink. Simple enough for even me.

 I arrived uncharacteristically 15 minutes early and waited. And waited. And waited.  11 came and went.  11:15… 11:20… 11:30… no students, no mothers, no siblings, no tagalongs. 

 Finally, I got a call on my cell phone. One of the mothers asked, “Teacher, where are you?”
“I’m outside the rink. Where are you?”
“We inside. You come now?”
“Yes. See you in 1 minute.”
 I went in and searched for them. Still no students, no mothers, no siblings, no tagalongs. I waited. 
 Ten minutes later I got another call.  “Ah… Teacher…?   Where are you?”
“I’m outside. Where are you?   You are not inside.”
“Yes, we are. We’re inside Hak Jong Rink.”
“Hak Jong?! Not Om Goong?”
“Om Goong?! No, Hak Jong.”

It took a huge effort to comprehend that there must be 2 (two!) rinks within 10 minutes of each other. Who would ever have guessed that?  She told me to wait and she’d pick me up. 

 I arrived an hour late but it was a festive atmosphere. I greeted everyone- the students, mothers, siblings, and the tagalongs- 12 people.  The students, siblings, tagalongs, and I, all put on our skates and made our way to the ice. Everything was working out great after all.  The first boy stepped onto the ice and ‘skated’ away. A girl grasped the handrail and slowly edged her way on.

 The next boy, Thomas, self-proclaimed ice-skating champion, took a running jump onto the ice, caught his balance, turned to wave triumphantly, and slammed into another skater. He was still smiling and ready for more when I finally got him back on his feet a few minutes later, although his smile had one less tooth than before.
 I calmed the students, mothers, siblings and tagalongs down and convinced them that skating is in fact, a safe activity. 

 We skated for a couple hours and we all had a ball. I pulled the ‘poor skaters’ around, laughed at/with the ones who fell, and raced the speed demons. Thomas bulldozed his way through everyone. His parting words were, “Teacher we skate again next time, ok?”

 What could I say? He may become the first Korean to play in the NHL. He certainly has hockey in his blood. 
 

Note:  
The author is currently in his fourth year in Pusan as a bus driver.  
He eats kim-chi for breakfast.  
That is all.  You may go now.