Child Prodigy

His English name is Simon. He’s 12 Korean years old (that’s 11 everywhere else). He has been studying English for 5 years and has never studied in an English speaking country. I have a one-on-one class with him twice a week for speaking and writing. The things he understands and that we converse about in English completely astounds me. He's at a highschool level and he's only in about grade 5. It's completely impressive!

In this past Tuesday’s class, Simon was telling me about his upcoming trip to Japan. Since he would be there for my birthday, he asked what kind of thing I would like from Japan. After turning down his suggestion of a cheesecake from Osaka, I suggested that he steal me a baby. After a puzzled stare, in which he no doubt questioned the freak that was teaching him, he told me that he didn’t think it was a good idea, and a pencil sharpener would probably be more useful. What he did do though, was draw me this picture… I’m dressed up as a Japanese teacher, and he’s the student on the right. In the middle is my new Japanese baby that he “claims” he didn’t steal…. Cross your fingers for me!