When I was younger, my grandmother’s nickname for me was “yangban”, a Korean term that referes to a class of elite scholars that studied Buddhist and Confucian texts. The yangban were noted for “civilizing” Korean society and government and were the civil servants and diplomats of their day.

But the yangban were also criticized for the cushiness of their job and for not really doing any hard labor like serving in the military. Now you can see why I earned that nickname. I was a little princess even at the tender age of 8.

Over wine and an assortment of meat and cheese with the girls and Sam last night, Sabbie recalled a funny story in which we went hiking for the first time. (She claims I was wearing heels but I don’t wear heels unless there are tall boys around.) We drove up to Bear Mountain and as soon as I got out of the car I spotted a mound of brown grossness.

“Um, what is that?” I asked.
“It’s deer poop.”
“EWWWWW. I’m getting back in the car.”

You can take the girl out of Korea but you can’t take the yangban out of the girl.