언니 Worries (part 1?)
So this weekend, for Children's Day, I am meeting ㅈ's two nieces (Korean ages 5 and 7) and her 언니. Because 언니 is the matriarch of the family, if she disapproves of me a future with ㅈ is unlikely and and the present might be doomed also. (Those of you reading this who are not in Korea might not believe that someone could be that influential and those of you in Korea are probably thinking, 'that sounds about right.') For the kids I have to come up with some kid-things to do that are not too kid-friendly. Since it is the weekend of Children' Day (May 5), every kid place will be crowded. In addition to the hassle of dealing with that many people (and Korean people at that) ㅈ is terrified about losing her beloved nieces in 서울. (She raised the younger niece alone for a year after she was born because the older one was being treated for eye cancer) . I found a place called 서울숲, which looks like it might fit the bill. For me, trying to think of things that kids like to do is like trying to think of things that sea sponges like to do. As a back-up plan I am thinking the 63 building or 비원.
When I asked my students they assumed they were kids I am tutoring and suggested English-learning activities (I try to avoid saying anything about my private life beyond admitting to the existance of a girlfriend.) Anybody in 서울, who has maybe done something with kids, something off the beaten path, do you have any ideas? Anybody? I want to have 2 or 3 plans and a few back-up ideas. I figure if I focus on entertaining the kids it will be harder for 언니 to hate me. Do I sound worried about this? It's because I am.