WTF?!

The other day I was talking to a guy who comes to the center I work at.

He has 3 kids who have tuition there. I teach 2 of the 3 kids.

What started the conversation off is that I was sitting on the floor with my legs crossed, resting my elbows on the ground and my chin in my palms. I was not trying to stretch, I was just sitting.

He saw me doing that and seemed shocked. So he tried to do it himself. He could not put his elbows on the ground. Jessica told him that I do yoga and he was like "Oh!"

I went and talked to him a little. I mentioned that I used to practice a lot of martial arts, acrobatics, running long-distance, yoga, etc. I then told him that I do not run anymore because my knees were injured.

He was shocked that I was in the military. He asked me how long I was in the military. So I told him. (I was in the National Guard for 5 years) He was extremely shocked. He said "But, you look like a woman."

I REALLY hope that he meant that I look soft, not feminine.His English is not that good, so it is possible that is what he was trying to say.

He then said that Timm, another teacher there who is from the U.S.A., looks more like someone who would have been in the military.

Timm is 28 and as never been in the military. In fact he is a conscientious objector!

He told me that South Korea has mandatory military service, so he served 30 months in the South Korean Armed Forces.

I joked with this parent, I do not know his name, about exercising in the military. I asked him about push ups. We talked about what I call "bouncing ball push ups."

I can't find images of what I am talking about, to show you. Normal clap push ups are a push up that you press your upper body off the ground and clap your hands before finishing the push up.

Bouncing ball push ups are similar, but you jump with your whole body, feet and hands going into the air, before clapping, landing and repeating.

He was able to do these push ups. I think he was trying to do double clap, clap your hands twice while in the air, but that is hard to do with bouncing ball push ups.

I think I changed his mind about me being "soft."

Part of that perception may be from my expressions. I do not show much emotion, good or bad. I am, however, surrounded by kids all day, so I can't scowl. Hell, the paperwork from my boss says that I have to smile as much as I can, so it's part of my job.

These things coupled with the fact that I'm patient with most people made him think this.

It is amusing to think that people all over the world judge on appearances so easily.