Where: swimming pool

I know this is so embarrassing story but I would like to share this with you so that you do not make the same mistake. About 13 years ago, I went to Canada to study English. I stayed in Vancouver for about 6 months. Other than going to an ESL institute during daytime, there was nothing really I can do. So I decided to become a member of YWCA (YMCA??) swimming pool. From then, I went to there almost everyday. Of course, I always wore the swimming suit I brought from Korea. It was speedo. You know, it is the one which is triangle shape, tight and black. Especially, mine was really small and tight because it is for competitive swimmers. I did not really notice about what other people were wearing. So, I kept wearing it for about a few weeks. In the swimming pool, there was also a small spa. So, in the middle of swimming, if I got too cold, I used to go into the spa to warm me up. There, I met an old guy and we had good talks for a few days. And, one day just like the other days, I was swimming, wearing speedo, and I bumped into the same guy in the spa. This time, in the middle of our talk, he sneakingly came closer to me and started to touch my shoulder and move his hand down, touching my upper body. I was so surprised and moved back from him. Till that moment, I had no idea what was going on. And, he asked me, “Do you have a girlfriend or something?” I showed him my ring which I got from my girlfriend. Then he moved back and went away. I had never seen him again in the swimming pool. I was so curious what just happened that I told the story to my friend, Paul. He told me the old guy must be a gay and wearing speedo is something gay people would do. Well, I did not know that!!! I was innocent. In Korea, everybody wears speedo. It is kind of funny if you wear trunk in the swimming pool in Korea. I think there should be some sort of notice in swimming pools. Guess what I am wearing now?? It is a trunk swimming suit. (No offense to gay people! I just want to talk about different culture.) Oh, when I was going to go on a vacation with Patrick to the place where there is a spa. He specifically talked to me, “T-bone, no speedo! OK?” because he knew this story. haha

So the takeaways here are 1) speedo is a pronoun for the type of swimming suit with very tight and triangle shape and 2) do not wear speedo in swimming pools in America or Canada.

Who taught: Patrick and Jake

One of the things I regularly go during winter is rock climbing. It is especially fun because I have really nice friends going together. Besides, it helps me to keep my 6 pack abs. Oh, this is another expression I just realized I learned from my friends. 6 pack abs mean the well defined abdomen of guys. I think it usually applies to guys, right? I do not think it is really a compliment if I use this to women even though they really have it. Is it true? Anyways, it is originated from 6 pack beers. If you look at the 6 pack beers from the top, it has perfectly divided lines. So if your ab has the same lines, then people would say you have great 6 pack there. Well, I guess I do have 6 pack abs. If you want a proof, I can put a pic of it. What? You cannot believe it. OK, call me if you are ladies! I will show it to you. I am just kidding!! Well, one day, after rock climbing, Patrick gave me and Jake a ride to our homes. We decided to go to Jake’s house first. As we get closer to his house, I was wondering if the neighborhood is safe and good or not. So, I asked a question to them. And they said, “Not really! Welcome to the hood!” Then, I had to ask a question to them. What does it mean? They said, “It means this neighborhood is not really good. In that case, people say the hood.” They also told me this is originated from a rap music. I cannot remember what it is. But it was interesting to hear the expression. I would never understand what it means if they did not tell me about it. Thanks, dude!

Who taught: James

I started this blog from Mar 1st, 2010. Within just one day, this becomes popular in my office. Over the lunch today, many of my friends told me they really like the blog. And James came into the kitchen, sitting into the chair, saying “So, Terry, your blog is the talk of the town now!”

What the heck? I could not understand what it means exactly and had to ask him, “What does it mean?” He explained it to me that it means “something that everybody talks about.” And I told him back, “Well, I will add it to my blog.” So here it is! The talk of the town, my blog! Yay!