So this week I start a new chapter with my students in the textbook. Yes, my wonderful textbook. You may remember it from such hits as: Auto Safety, Teen Worries, and The DNA Century. But this month we'll be exploring the language possibilities of Have You Seen My Father?.

That's right people. In all seriousness I am teaching a four week lesson on the location of someone's father. The cultural phenomenon of disappearing fathers seems to merit a whole textbook unit however, and that's what makes me concerned. Yes, some of you may have heard me speak of this odd habit my host father has of leaving and not returning for 3 days, I am not alone on this one either (please refer to http://koreanchaos.blogspot.com/2006/11/secret-life-of-korean-men.html). When I ask the kids where their dad went, they respond with shrugs and confused grimaces.

So maybe it's not so insane to be teaching a month long segment on the whereabouts of Mr. Oh (or Kim). It's shocking that this is the norm for Korean families. The husband seems almost estranged from the family, living a double life; here one day, gone the next. And here I am as a High School English Teacher from America attempting to answer these seemingly innocuous questions for 4 weeks, when in truth I want the root of this peculiar habit unearthed. I don't care as much about where your father goes, but why? Why is this acceptable behavior for a husband/father? Why aren't family members forming militias and demanding that he return before midnight or not return at all. Maybe they should start small and ask for simple manners at the dinner table. Let's vote to correct father's, "KIMCHI!!!" to "Could you please pass the kimchi?". Yeah, that's a start. I say have the families work on manners first. Then progress to doing things for themselves, like getting the kimchi from the fridge when the bowl is empty. And after that, maybe the dads will be loosened up enough to answer some questions:

Where the hell are you going? And when the hell will you be back?