Restart where the monkey dropped the ball

This afternoon, I had the honor of being a judge for the annual English Speech Contest at the high school. There were only about twenty first grade students (10th grade) and ten second grade students (11th grade), and my job was to grade their language pronunciation and communicability. Speech topics included anything from the controversial Dokdo Island to the professional dreams of students after graduation. My favorite however, was a speech entitled, 'Restart at the Place.'.

This first grade student was confident and easy to understand, and clearly had a sense of humor, as you will see in the following excerpt from his speech.

'When India was a colony of England, the English made a golf-course for leisure in Calcutta. But obstructors made an appearance whenever they played golf. They were monkeys. As soon as the ball hit by the English dropped in the field, the monkeys picked up the ball and dropped it in an unexpected place. So the game was held off and they had to restart every time.

The mad Englishmen doubled the height of the walls, but the height was no problem for the excellent climbing monkeys. Eventually, the English had no choice but to make a new rule. The new rule was to restart at the place where the monkey dropped the ball. Of course, this new rule brought unexpected results. Some players had good fortune because of the monkeys, and others suffered misfortune.

So what did the English learn from that golf game? They learned that there is no difference between life and golf. It is impossible to manage all matters of life as you have planned. The monkeys coming out and dropping the balls in unexpected places is just what our life is like. We should not be discouraged about where the ball lands. Instead, we must take an affirmative attitude towards the present and the future so that we can have a more productive and beautiful life.'

How hilarious and awesome is this. Kids are brilliant and full of inspiring ideas. Today a monkey dropped the ball on a lunch tray full of snails and squid in a spicy red pepper sauce. Tonight, another monkey dropped the ball on a dinner with my co-workers. One woman, Dong mi, is the music teacher at the high school. She's invited me to sing with the Taebaek City Choir starting next month. So excited. These are unexpected life events, but ones that will undoubtably make my experience in Korea unforgettable and sincere.

I hope the monkeys are dropping balls all over your lives and that you are making the choice to embrace and be present where you are at.

Goodnight all.


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