Sometimes I can be a real idiot.

I went today to check on the progress of our house-in-progress. Today is officially Day 21 on the schedule. (Note: I'd originally posted an entry on Monday the 17th and referred to that as Day 19, but it turns out that Monday was a scheduled non-workday because it was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Alas, since I was working that day, I didn't register that the construction crews might have the day as a scheduled day off. The fact that they were actually on site working didn't alter that impression, either. I've update the heading for that entry to read that it was the Day Before Day 19. But that’s not what I was referring to when I said that I can be a real idiot....)

Day 21, according to the schedule, is when the crews are supposed to wrap up getting the siding installed. As you can see from today's photo, they were still working on it when I dropped by at around 4pm. They were working on the area beneath the front eves while I was there, and there's still some space above the top floor windows that need to be taken care of. The other sides of the house appear to be all done.

While I was there, I had a chance to meet one of my future neighbors. This is where my ability to sometimes be an idiot comes in.

By way of background, I should remind you that I once studied Tae Kwon Do (back before I turned into a blimp). TKD is a Korean martial art, and one of the things that one learns at a good TKD school is rudimentary Korean language skills (how to count in Korean, the Korean names of various techniques, etc.) and rudimentary etiquette. Nothing super fancy, but enough to at least show some respect for the traditions and the practitioners of the art.

One of the things we were taught is that it is polite, when shaking hands or when handing something to another person (or taking something from another person), to bring up your left hand and hold it (palm down) below your right elbow as you extend your right arm in front of you. That sounds more complicated than it is. It's a subtle gesture, one that you might not notice if you had never been taught it -- although you better believe that your instructor will notice if you fail to do it!

There's a deli nearby where I work that is owned and managed by a family of Korean-Americans. I noticed that whenever I give them my payment or accept my change or my purchase that they automatically offer this gesture. Noticing that they do so, I reciprocate. It's a little thing, an attempt to acknowledge their culture and their politeness.

So as I mentioned above, I had the chance today to meet one of my future neighbors. And when we shook hands by way of introduction, I noticed the gesture. Involuntarily, I said, "You're Korean?"

Even as the words came out of my mouth, I felt like an idiot. What an awkward way to introduce myself, by starting off asking about their ethnicity. Stupid, stupid, stupid. What an effing moron I can be sometimes.

"How did you know?" she asked politely. Yes, this future neighbor is a she, and no, I did not ask, "So, you're a woman, too?" I sorta mumbled my way through my answer, about how I'd learned the preferred handshake when I took Tae Kwon Do, and I was all stupid and awkward about it. I don’t even know if my answer made sense. (Would *she* know that TKD is a Korean martial art? Just because she’s ethnically Korean doesn’t mean she knows Tae Kwon Do...)

I'm inclined to think that my future neighbor wasn't offended; at least, I *hope* not. We had a pleasant enough (albeit brief) conversation. She did notice that Paulette’s and my future house seems relatively large. I should have told her that I hate, hate, HATE backyards, but that didn't occur to me at the time. (That *will* be my response from now on, however.) Instead, I just mentioned the kid thing, and was otherwise non-committal. I didn't want to get into the whole indoor swimming pool issue, the bomb shelter, the mad scientist lab, and how it's not the size that matters, and all that.

So far, I've met maybe a half-dozen of our future neighbors. They have all been very friendly and welcoming, and I expect that we're all going to get along just fine. Still, I hate the idea of making an awkward first impression.

Secret Korean handshake: dumb white guy opens mouth, inserts foot.