It’s terribly trite to say, I know, but humor and laughter are truly … global. Take, for instance, the three months I spent teaching Engrish, er, English, in South Korea. Not many English speakers in Korea, I tell you. And the Koreans that can speak English often have indecipherable accents. But that’s where humor can save the day. What better way to break the ice and language barrier than by pantomiming and cracking up your interlocutors?

Teaching English to children provided me numerous opportunities to make them laugh—and I took advantage of every one of them. And I’m pretty sure they laughed at my jokes rather than simply laughing at me because to them I was some hairy Caucasian with curly hair. In fact, I have proof:

Happy Birthday Zak- look at this card!!

Happy

Hi Zack teacher? My name is Eun-Jung Jang. My class name is 6-5. Your class is too funny and interesting and I miss your class becays your class is funny. I’m exciting to your class. Nice to meet you! Don’t you think?? However, I wrote this card for you because Today is your Birthday!

See, Eun-Jung Jang said my class was funny—twice! What more proof do you need?

Of course, the laughing wasn’t a one way street. The Koreans made me laugh often as well, although usually at their hilariously mangled English. Check out these other birthday cards. You can’t make this stuff up. This one was from Mrs. Chung, a really outgoing teacher at the school:

Happy Birthday Jackary! (I had to give up correcting people and simply resigned myself to being called “Jack” or “Jackery.”) You know that most of Korean people believe in what Buddhist says. According to them, it must be an act of Karma that you teach Korean students. I hope that you love Korea and Korean people. Also, I hope that you have very nice time in Seoul. Happy Birthday to you!! From: Chung.

I really liked Mrs. Chung. She was always smiling and very outgoing.

And here are some other cards from students:

Hello Zack

I’m Ho-Jin Happy birthday to you. Maybe you are happy now, and you have many present. I speak English very small. You are best teacher. You are top! Please, -Ho-Jin-

Hello Zack!

It’s Yea Na from 6-5. Happy Birthday Zack. I wish you could like this card. You are nice teacher. I don’t have gift for you, but this card. Have a nice day.

To Zack teacher.

Ha~~i = Hi, I”m Lee-Ye-Chan. Happy birthday Zack. When I meet I was very happy because before you came I thought “if English teacher is foreign then I’m very happy. But it just my wish?” But, you came and I said Hot Dog!!! (When we were learning about foods I taught them that “hot dog” was a food and an expression.) Happy birthday to you ~ Happy birthday to you ~ lovely Zack (is it right?) Happy birthday to you ~. Self Introduce: I’m Lee-Ye-Chan. My family name is Lee. I have one sister. My hobby is play computer games. I can speak English just little so I want learn English to you a lot. Happy Birth day (next page) I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS LETTER AND KOREA

HI Jack,

My name is Lee-Jae-Won. Congregation your birthday. I think thunk your study

Thank you.

from Jae-Won

Dear Jack,

Hello. I’m Il-in Choi in Six grade. Happy Birthday! I think you’re unhappy because you had birthday in other country. First, I’m sorry to you because I can’t give you presents. Last, Happy Birthday -From Il-In Choi

Hellow teacher …

I’m a Taehwan. My English is very bad so I hate English and English is hard. One year ago I’m going English academy Middle score is better I going high school. Bye bye.

-Congraturation your birthday from Taehwan.

Anyway, when I wasn’t teaching English or spending time with my host family, I could be found at the gym. There, I met “Golf Girl”—a cute young lady who taught golf in the indoor golfing place located in the same building as the gym. The guy who worked at the gym spoke passable English. One day he told me she liked me. I wrote her a note asking her out to dinner and he translated it. She agreed.

Now I had a date with a girl I couldn’t communicate with. No fears—before the date I made sure to grab my Korean “mom’s” electronic dictionary, pad of paper and a pen. Between pantomiming, using the dictionary and drawing pictures, we were able to have a nice dinner date.

After a few beers and some soju we both started loosening up. I thought Golf Girl gave me a knowing look, so I tried to ask her if she wanted to get a room (many Koreans rent private rooms because most unmarried Koreans live with their parents). She didn’t understand. I tried pantomiming. Still, nothing. Finally, I drew pictures of male and female genitalia next to two stick figures making love.

A moment later I learned that getting slapped in the face by a Korean girl feels just like getting slapped by an American girl. I also learned that taking offense at untoward sexual advances is just as universal as humor and laughing.

(Full disclosure: I did go out on a date with a pretty Korean girl named Seung-ee, whom I nicknamed Golf Girl. We did enjoy a nice dinner and we did drink copious amounts of alcohol. However, I was the perfect gentleman and did not make unwanted advances.)