It was midnight when we took a bus for four hours and arrived in Portland.
We arrived there so late, and we felt bleak since nobody greeted us.
Seung Chul gave me a piece of advice whenever I made a gloomy face.
"At this moment, you'd better go to the toilet calmly and think again."
Strangely, for sure, one Korean said hi after I was back from the toilet.
Mr. Kim Sun Tae, the translator, could not recognize our faces in the first place.
He explained that I looked younger than the picture, but I noticed something important.
We were not famous pros. (sweat)
(They helped us, thank you!)
After arriving at the hotel 'University Place', I met Kim Byung Jun 2p, Takemiya Masaki 9p,
and Mr. Frank Fukuda, the head of pro-coordinator in the lobby.
I already sent lots of emails to Fukuda san, so I felt closer to him.
Takemiya 9p came up and said to me in Korean, "You are cute."
Everybody giggled at me and I was embarrassed;
I did not know what to do, cry or smile or whatever.
I was worried about awakening Janice Kim, my roommate, since I arrived at my room too late.
Unexpectedly, Janice Kim went back to our room after me because she enjoyed playing poker so much.
She had to wear a tattoo, 福(fortune), next day
because she was defeated by Yun Jae Woung 2p in the poker game.
I could not wait to see people who would look at Janice's face tomorrow.
It was a long day.
I departed from Seoul on August 3rd and arrived in US on 3rd as well.
I felt I was like an alien who took the time machine.
I was not tired at all even though I only took a little nap.
So many people were playing Baduk at the Ballroom, Smith Center, Portland State University.
People from USGC (US Go Congress) greeted us warmly.
The simultaneous games of professionals and many tournaments were held in Ballroom, on the third floor.
U.S Open and Ing Master's players were playing at the special room.
These tournaments many stars of North America were taking part in
were limiting access to only authorized people.
I started to work following the formal schedule from that day.
It was hard but fun to play 1 on 8 simultaneous games which Japanese couples also participated in.
Considering I was poor at English listening, American amateurs started to analyze my every move.
"It was hard to follow, I couldn't understand her intention,
it was a strange move, she tried to cheat on you"...and so on.
I reviewed every game in English, and the translator had gone somewhere else.
People who analyzed my moves were shocked.
I ate supper with Jayme, Kim Myung Wan 8p, Jang Bi Ama-7d, and Jae woung 2p in the evening.
After dinner, the Ballroom was full of passion toward Baduk.
Everyone was freely playing their games and reviewing them,
but those who were noisy were asked to get out of the room immediately.
Such considerateness for others was worth learning.
Baduk fans could have played Baduk till dawn
if Smith Center hadn't closed the door due to the sudden gas leak at 10:00 P.M.
