WALK THROUGH WALLS

THIRTY

" You guys, let's make a bet" that was the idea that popped my mind when the bell signaling the group meeting rang suddenly. We were still sitted around narrating stories about our life experiences.
" What's the bet about P' " Tem asked while helping me up.
" Let's guess who is going to be chosen a leader in the groups. For me, my bet goes to Cai. I have a feeling that they are going to choose you son." I said while dusting off my trousers.
" As sweet as it seems mum, I am not going to accept. Our group has Koreans as majority so that possibility is next to none." He said while putting his phone in his pocket.
" For me, I bet on myself. Heck, if they don't choose me as their leader am going to raise havoc there." Eugene said.
" Woohoo tiger, really? Then I bet on you also Euj... Oh that's my new nickname for you. I am not really psyched for the leadership calling." Aggie said.
" What about you P', How is your group?" Tem asked
" Ok, not to complain or anything but I forsee a hell in the making in that group. We have five sassy Koreans girls. Damn those girls are walking noise makers. There is a Japanese and also a Taiwanese. I think I saw that she was wearing the same t-shirt as you Aggie yesterday. I believe you come from the same talent Academy." I answered.
" Don't tell me that you are in the same group as Eugenie Lui. I don't know if I should pity you or envy you. That girl is a nightmare damn. She is so lazy that learning lyrics to her is like being forced to bake a cake using sand. She is a good choreographer and damn she can sing. She can be a bitch at times so I am still in a dilemma how to..."
Ok, now that is six wierd girls, God, am doomed!" I said
" Don't be negative P', It will work out for the best." Tem told me. At the moment we were walking towards the meeting hall.
" You have an advantage because you can speak Tâi-gî, Korean language and English. She is not fluent in English and very poor in Korean language." Aggie said while looking at me hopefully.
" Aggie, that's another burden. My mum is going to be the translator of the group." Cai complained.
" Cai be merciful dude. Remember your group is also Korean influenced so the language of communication is obviously going to be Korean. We are always proud of our language." Eugene said while patting Cai's shoulder.

We decided to separate then Tem and I went the same side being that we were of the same colour group, pink. In the meeting, we were to meet with the boy groups also because we were to have the same instructor. We would also be performing some tasks together. Our training room will be the same. I was glad for the first time in my life that I choose this colour pink. At least among my friends, I was the only lucky to have them in the same group.

The girls of the pink group had already sat down. The clique was visible already. The Japanese and Taiwanese girls were sitting aside just looking at the Koreans who seemed to be oblivious of their presence.

"Annyeonghaseyo, jeoneun lensah-imnida. mannaseo bangabseubnida. Mmhhh geuleom hoeuileul sijaghago yeong-eoleul sayonghagil balae." I said when I reached the Korean girls. The shock on their faces was priceless. Then I went and sat next to the Taiwanese and the Japanese.

"Kon'nichiwa. Kankoku-go to eigo o rikai dekimasu ka?'' I asked because at this point we had a long way to go with the attitude these Korean girls wanted to bring here
'Kon'nichiwa. Eigo wa rikai dekimasuga, Kankoku-go wa chotto muzukashīdesu.'' she answered shy. Ok, this meant that at least my poor Japanese will not be exposed. I can use English now that she said she could understand a bit of it. I never asked the na!e being that I knew we were to do some introduction in general. Then I looked at the Taiwanese and just bowed my head as a sign of saying hi. She bowed back and the we looked at the others who by now had decided to join us.

" Annyeong Ahn Mi Yoon-ya bangawo"
"Jeonun Gong Min imnida"
"Annyeonghaseyo. Cha In Ha-eyo bangawoyo"
"Jeonun Rae Na Yi-ya"
"Annyeong. Jeonun Park Min Hee imnida."
There it was, the greetings that we were faithfully waiting. I hated this greetings. The Korean greetings that force you to bow your head to the person who is recieving the greetings. In Africa, we just shake hands but here, no, you have to bow. I looked at the Japanese girl next to me and she was already bowing at every greeting she received. It was normal for both of them being they come from countries that do that so I had to follow suit and do the bowing.

"Annyeonghaseyo., Jeonun Lensah Okoth imnida. Jeonun Korean-Kenyan imnida"
Annyeonghaseyo, Miki Igarashi imnida. Jeonun Japan imnida"
"Annyeonghaseyo, Eugenie Liu imnida. Jeonun Taiwan imnida."

I guess we made a mistake by introducing ourselves in Korean because all our conversations henceforth were conducted in Korean. I had to translate it to English and Tâi-gî for Miki and Eugenie to understand. The girl Rae Na Hi took it upon herself to be the groups spokesperson.

The first task was to choose the group leader which went to Rae of course. Then we were to send her to pick up the task to be performed on the day of the opening celebration. As we waited, we were to meet up with the boy's pink team being that some assignments will be a collaboration between us and them. The boys team was not that bad. I guess it is because they didn't have so much Koreans. I sat next to Tem being that he was the only familiar face. They had two Koreans, two Thais, two Japanese, one Chinese and one Vietnamese.

Their group leader was the Chinese guy. They were communicating in English which made me feel like home. When the leaders came back, we learnt that the task was to perform a song by the assigned K-pop girls group. We were given the song Gustas Tu by Girlfriend while the boys got Gogobebe by Mamamoo. I was glad that we got Girlfriends being that it is one among the few girl groups I enjoy from South Korea.

" Wow, Mamamoo, you guys are very lucky." I told Tem
" Nong, who is this?" The other Thai boy asked Tem while sitting next to us after coming from where their leader was.
" Phi, this is Lensah, she is a friend from Kenya. P'Lensah, this is Korn Vorakorn Sirisorn. My upperclassman while I was in Thailand."
" Nice to meet you N'Lensah. I hope we will be friends also"
" It will be my pleasure to have all the friends that I can. You never know when you will need help." I said" oh by the way let me introduce you to these two, this is Miki Igarashi from Japan and Eugenie from Taiwan."
"Swadeekaa krap" Korn said while giving them a wai.
" Hello" the two bowed to show respect.
" Ok, that was awkward." I said.
" Why is that? I just greeted them but in Thai that's all" Korn said looking at me
" You could have just said hello. They are not from Thailand like you. Anyways, you guys are lucky that you get to speak English here. For us we have five Koreans so we have to speak Korean language. Even the group leader is Korean."
"Hahahaha! Sorry Phi but your face is funny. You sound miserable already and it is the first meeting." Tem said
" I am not that much affected. Remember I am half Korean half Kenyan so I can understand them. The problem is these two. I have to translate to them."
"I feel you N'Lensah really. But just try to show them that you can do better than them." Korn said while patting my back.
" Yes Phi, shock them." Tem added.
"Can we have one meeting please. So now that the group leaders are back, let us introduce ourselves and plan on how we are going to handle the tasks at hand." The Chinese guy shouted out. I knew we were in for another long introductory session thus I just put my head on Tem's shoulders waiting for my turn. The good part of this session was that it was in English so we skipped the bowing part but we had to fold our hands together like the Thai people's way of giving each other wai.