Funny because I think this reminds me of my 'social media is making us all extroverts' post for DF. It's funny how we carry our perceptions and tendencies from childhood into a usually completely different adult environment. Some of us can adapt, and some cannot. I can sympathize with anyone who feels as if their childhood is still holding them back in some ways, but am proud of you for letting your present have its influence on you, just as your past does. Not an easy trick for many of us.
Steve Woodruff
· 1 year ago
At least you weren't embarrassed to admit that you were embarrassed about being embarrassed about your embarrassment. THAT would be embarrassing...
Angela
· 1 year ago
I love this entry.
David Reich
· 1 year ago
Great story, Ann.
christopher carfi
· 1 year ago
band name!
Mukund Mohan
· 1 year ago
The thing that's really funny when I read this was I am a little deaf, so regardless of accent or phone I would have still heard Korean Otter or something like that.
How did you figure out Career Day BTW, which part of the brain was that? That part of my brain hardly works I think.
did your daughter tell you?
Very good BTW. Welcome back slacker. :)
Ann Handley
· 1 year ago
Mack -- I'm not sure my childhood is holding me back, anyway... it's rich with all this great material!
Steve -- I know exactly what you mean... although I actually *am* a little embarrassed to talk about the embarrassment here after being too embarrassed to acknowledge the embarrassment to Maryse. So puzzle over that one.... 'k?
Angela & David -- I'm honored you think so highly of it. (Worth the embarrassment of retelling, even!)
Christopher -- Band name.... PLUS, can you imagine the SEO I'll get from "korean otter"? Sweet!!
Ann Handley
· 1 year ago
Mukund -- Your comment made me laugh; although I didn't have a good excuse. Anyway, I only connected "Korea Day" and "Career Day" because my own kid was at that point scavenging around the house for accessories for her own Career Day get up. (As an aside -- she dressed as a blogger, wearing the "I'm blogging this" t-shirt I'm wearing in my avatar here, a "Blogger Social NYC" hat, laptop case, cell phone, but (alas) no fifth of scotch.) Which is why I felt especially stupid not to have understood what Maryse was talking about....
(And thanks!)
Julie
· 1 year ago
Like Mukund, my life is full of Korean Otters... I'm so sure everyone notices and I get embarrassed... Then I remember that Korean Otters are cute little critters with goofy teeth and laptops - as I drink yet another fifth of scotch...
I'm so glad you're my friend Annie. xx Now to see if I succeeded in making my name a link like you and Mukund...
Julie
· 1 year ago
Yes!! God Ann... It was like having a baby and you were the midwife... A virtual midwife of course! xx
Mukund Mohan
· 1 year ago
Now I am curious Julie, what were you trying to do? Or did you achieve it all 5 times? I am not being funny, just curious
pete
· 1 year ago
until the 5th paragraph, I was thinking about relocating to the north shore
Barbara Ling
· 1 year ago
That was an otterly interesting story!
I often have to translate my younger boys when they ask questions at karate or other places. Sometimes I think a parental translator is simply another example of how humans evolve to cope with their world. :)
Thanks for sharing,
Barbara
Bob Younce at The Writing Jour
· 1 year ago
I think I must be a very visual learner. This happens to me all. the. time.
But only on the phone. In person, I never have this problem.
Then again, maybe I've got a crappy phone.
pprlisa
· 1 year ago
Ann,
This reminds me of the embarrassment with always getting the lyrics to songs wrong and belting them out in front of people - of course, I still do that now. :)
Awesome Korean Day choice for your daughter by the way.
I feel for you on the teasing as a child, I am from a famly of very smart, quick witted and painfully sarcastic people and it can take a toll sometimes, something I try to remember with my own kids. Thanks for the reminder again.
-Lisa
Yvonne DiVita
· 1 year ago
I thought I was the only one who got embarrassed about being embarrassed. For years, I avoided embarrassment to the point that I almost became a total recluse. (everything embarrassed me - especially compliments). Then, when I figured out that I couldn't hide from my children's friends and had to do PTA meetings and such, I went out and... got embarrassed but...I dealt with it.
What great stories you share here. They always unearth memories - some good, some not so good. Still, what are we but the sum of our memories?
Toby
· 1 year ago
Ann - once again your writing touches chords that have not been played in many years. speaking of blogging = being a writer .. i would love to see your posts as a collection in a book one day ;-)
does Laurie-Maude have her own blog? perhaps there should be a social media network/community (safely guarded) where children can write together? by the way your daughter has the most interesting friends!
Beccy
· 1 year ago
So the whole embarassment thing resides with me no-matter what its origin. Add to that, my continual ability to mix up metaphors and I continue to perpetuate the embarassment...now all I can do is laugh at myself along with the rest of the world.
Adele McAlear
· 1 year ago
I live in Montreal. Korean Otters are common. At least she didn't say Korean Phoque. Pronounced like the F-word, phoque means seal in French.
Which of course leads to the story of the French Canadians at Sea World who were looking for the seal exhibit. Not knowing the word in English, they asked passers-by where they could find a phoque. The perfect set-up for a hidden camera show.
Zane Ssafrit
· 1 year ago
Being the youngest myself, you bring back so many memories with this post. It's very sweet, very touching.
I noticed that you kept that sensitivity alive, possibly made stronger for the 'conditioning' you survived.
Ok. But now bottomline....did she take a bottle of scotch? I hope not, and expect not, as schools have no sense of humor any more. On the other hand, what a scene that would be! I know I'd probably fall out of my chair laughing...
Cam Beck
· 1 year ago
What a great reflection of the human psyche. Now what you said in last week's video is making sense: Your highest aspirations, your worst fears... they are all subject to scrutiny on a blog.
It reminds me a bit of my own experiences growing up, and how I felt embarrassed because I thought others look at me like everyone looks at Napoleon Dynamite (not literally, just with the same awkwardness). Like you, I suspected I was the butt of some joke and that I should be ashamed of it.
Eventually, I learned to embrace the joke. Sure, you may be laughing at me, but at least you're laughing. :)
Christian Gulliksen
· 1 year ago
I never woulda pegged you for being a quiet and nervous child! You get more and more interesting.
Oh, and I'm totally going as an otter for Korean Day. It's a great idea :)
Kristin Gorski (KG)
· 1 year ago
Ah, getting embarrassed over being embarrassed ... I'm right there with you, Ann! My face is flushing just thinking of all those embarrassed-of-embarrassed times. ;)
This is such a great story and such a wonderful example of the active imaginary worlds we still carry around in our own heads, even as adults.
P.S. I love the game "Telephone" where we all sit in a circle and someone starts with a sentence, and after ten or twenty whisperings, it comes out completely different when done. Such fun! How could anyone ever be bored with everything that goes on in our own brains?
Ann Handley
· 1 year ago
Wow -- thanks for the comments, all. I gotta say -- it's very cool the way folks relate to my posts, which I always partly regard as a little too weird and personal. (And yeah, feel embarrassed over them, too... lol.)
Zane -- No scotch. You are right: schools are quite humorless. Not that I blame them, but...
Christian -- Dispatching Otter suit to you. Check your mail.
Kristin -- My imaginary best friend is happy that you can relate!! : )
Chelle Parmele
· 1 year ago
Oh my. This was great. Hurray for Korean Otters!
I can sympathize with the butt of the joke comment, although with me, it was mainly because I never understood the jokes being told. I learned quickly to laugh when other people laughed. I think that's why to this day, I only ever remember two jokes. :D
Maral
· 1 year ago
You make me laugh out loud!
Lani
· 1 year ago
As the mother of two Korean children, we celebrate Korea day at least twice a year on the anniversary of my children's arrivals. I was preliminarily excited to learn that schools were catching on to our otherwise small family ritual celebration. We also often dress up, however it is more frequently in HanBoks than in otter suits, but we are open to whatever makes everyone feel comfortable and at home. I think we should nationalize "Korean Otter Day" to ensure that everyone feels "in the loop", overcomes any tendency towards embarrassment, and works through miscommunications with hearty humor and a fifth of scotch. It all sounds good to me.
Mario Vellandi
· 1 year ago
Great story! I can so understand the misunderstanding as I'm familiar with French syllables and pronunciation - esp. when I sounded them out.
Shelley
· 1 year ago
I only wish Kinsey would follow in Caroline's footsteps with aspirations to be a blogger. Right now? Her dream is dog grooming. Yeesh.
But at least it's a LITTLE easier to dress up like a dog groomer on Career Day. A sloppy lesbian-ish gal in a pediatrician/nurse smock covered with poodle fur?
Don't hate me. That's what our schnauzer's caretakers look like. :)
Julie
· 1 year ago
Well Makund... Ummmm... It's like this you see... Midwife eh? Well... what you don't know about Ann... And me of course... She has been helping me give birth to my inner blog...
Kelly Tovar Mullaney
· 1 year ago
When you are learning another language, you also learn to read the body language of people, and like Chelle, I also laughed when other people did. And when I made mistakes, I would find it funny and laugh at myself, which really helped to lessen the embarrassment. This reminds me when I first came to the US as an exchange student, my host family they had this joke about two cars crossing the street and one of them ending up as a vegetable for the rest of its life, I thought it was strange, but funny that a car would turn into a veggie, and we would all laugh, especially when I told the joke. It wasn't until years later when I learned that the joke was about two carrots, not two cars. Now that was embarrassing and funny. They thought I could not pronounce the word! Another opportunity to laugh at ourselves!
Ann Handley
· 1 year ago
For the record, this blog post is now the #1 search result on Google for "Korean Otters." Sweet glory! Indeed a moment to celebrate -- as getting to the top spot on Google isn't an easy task, and the position is quite coveted. As Peter Kim noted, by taking #1, I have made many biologists very, very disappointed.
Leigh Duncan - Durst
· 1 year ago
That was just laugh out loud funny. I snorted. Thank you.
Julie
· 1 year ago
I didn't realize there were any Korean Otter biologists to disappoint?
xx
Alan (Toad)
· 1 year ago
Great post Ann. I've often wished that I was less sensitive to and aware of the opinions of others.
Unfortunately, it's our ability to observe the human situation, to accurately perceive what others are feeling-- both about us and about themselves-- that makes us good writers. Those who lack that ability are often, it seems, able to press on without the embarrassment or self-consciousness that plagues so many of us.
To them, "Korean Otters" would (at best) be a funny joke that they'd retell at parties without the slightest tinge of embarrassment, or (equally likely) just something else that annoyed them about Maryse- it would be her fault, not theirs!)
You've obviously hit a nerve here though- I think I'm comment #35! Thanks so much.
Terri
· 1 year ago
utterly sweet, wonderful writing, Ann. thank you. I'm the opposite personality-wise, but sometimes I live my whole day wrapped in mondegreens - best relax and enjoy!
Nettie Hartsock
· 1 year ago
I loved this post and having a 12 year old daughter (Emma) I can totally relate to all the school stuff. And being a shy 12 year old myself - totally relate to all the school stuff. :>)
When Emma was in 3rd grade I sent her to school dressed in her pajamas on Pajama day but as it turns out I was a week ahead as I had written it down wrong on the calendar, so she was the only one there that day wearing pajamas. bad mom.
Dana
· 1 year ago
This entry really struck a chord with me. I grew up much the same way you did -- sensitive, easily embarrassed, unsure of myself and timid. I still deal with some of that today, which can be terribly infuriating as a 33-year-old mother of three. I am still waiting to outgrow that.
All Comments
How did you figure out Career Day BTW, which part of the brain was that? That part of my brain hardly works I think.
did your daughter tell you?
Very good BTW. Welcome back slacker. :)
Steve -- I know exactly what you mean... although I actually *am* a little embarrassed to talk about the embarrassment here after being too embarrassed to acknowledge the embarrassment to Maryse. So puzzle over that one.... 'k?
Angela & David -- I'm honored you think so highly of it. (Worth the embarrassment of retelling, even!)
Christopher -- Band name.... PLUS, can you imagine the SEO I'll get from "korean otter"? Sweet!!
(And thanks!)
I'm so glad you're my friend Annie.
xx
Now to see if I succeeded in making my name a link like you and Mukund...
God Ann... It was like having a baby and you were the midwife... A virtual midwife of course! xx
I often have to translate my younger boys when they ask questions at karate or other places. Sometimes I think a parental translator is simply another example of how humans evolve to cope with their world. :)
Thanks for sharing,
Barbara
But only on the phone. In person, I never have this problem.
Then again, maybe I've got a crappy phone.
This reminds me of the embarrassment with always getting the lyrics to songs wrong and belting them out in front of people - of course, I still do that now. :)
Awesome Korean Day choice for your daughter by the way.
I feel for you on the teasing as a child, I am from a famly of very smart, quick witted and painfully sarcastic people and it can take a toll sometimes, something I try to remember with my own kids. Thanks for the reminder again.
-Lisa
What great stories you share here. They always unearth memories - some good, some not so good. Still, what are we but the sum of our memories?
does Laurie-Maude have her own blog? perhaps there should be a social media network/community (safely guarded) where children can write together? by the way your daughter has the most interesting friends!
Which of course leads to the story of the French Canadians at Sea World who were looking for the seal exhibit. Not knowing the word in English, they asked passers-by where they could find a phoque. The perfect set-up for a hidden camera show.
I noticed that you kept that sensitivity alive, possibly made stronger for the 'conditioning' you survived.
Ok. But now bottomline....did she take a bottle of scotch? I hope not, and expect not, as schools have no sense of humor any more. On the other hand, what a scene that would be! I know I'd probably fall out of my chair laughing...
It reminds me a bit of my own experiences growing up, and how I felt embarrassed because I thought others look at me like everyone looks at Napoleon Dynamite (not literally, just with the same awkwardness). Like you, I suspected I was the butt of some joke and that I should be ashamed of it.
Eventually, I learned to embrace the joke. Sure, you may be laughing at me, but at least you're laughing. :)
Oh, and I'm totally going as an otter for Korean Day. It's a great idea :)
This is such a great story and such a wonderful example of the active imaginary worlds we still carry around in our own heads, even as adults.
P.S. I love the game "Telephone" where we all sit in a circle and someone starts with a sentence, and after ten or twenty whisperings, it comes out completely different when done. Such fun! How could anyone ever be bored with everything that goes on in our own brains?
Zane -- No scotch. You are right: schools are quite humorless. Not that I blame them, but...
Christian -- Dispatching Otter suit to you. Check your mail.
Kristin -- My imaginary best friend is happy that you can relate!! : )
I can sympathize with the butt of the joke comment, although with me, it was mainly because I never understood the jokes being told. I learned quickly to laugh when other people laughed. I think that's why to this day, I only ever remember two jokes. :D
But at least it's a LITTLE easier to dress up like a dog groomer on Career Day. A sloppy lesbian-ish gal in a pediatrician/nurse smock covered with poodle fur?
Don't hate me. That's what our schnauzer's caretakers look like. :)
Ummmm... It's like this you see...
Midwife eh?
Well... what you don't know about Ann... And me of course...
She has been helping me give birth to my inner blog...
This reminds me when I first came to the US as an exchange student, my host family they had this joke about two cars crossing the street and one of them ending up as a vegetable for the rest of its life, I thought it was strange, but funny that a car would turn into a veggie, and we would all laugh, especially when I told the joke. It wasn't until years later when I learned that the joke was about two carrots, not two cars. Now that was embarrassing and funny. They thought I could not pronounce the word! Another opportunity to laugh at ourselves!
xx
Unfortunately, it's our ability to observe the human situation, to accurately perceive what others are feeling-- both about us and about themselves-- that makes us good writers. Those who lack that ability are often, it seems, able to press on without the embarrassment or self-consciousness that plagues so many of us.
To them, "Korean Otters" would (at best) be a funny joke that they'd retell at parties without the slightest tinge of embarrassment, or (equally likely) just something else that annoyed them about Maryse- it would be her fault, not theirs!)
You've obviously hit a nerve here though- I think I'm comment #35! Thanks so much.
When Emma was in 3rd grade I sent her to school dressed in her pajamas on Pajama day but as it turns out I was a week ahead as I had written it down wrong on the calendar, so she was the only one there that day wearing pajamas. bad mom.
I still deal with some of that today, which can be terribly infuriating as a 33-year-old mother of three. I am still waiting to outgrow that.