Finding the Right Words

Chapter 4- Karifuorunia

"Hey, Mel, look, SM's doing their global auditions again. ...and, once again, they're just going to the coasts," Eliz told me over the divider between our two computers in the school library's computer lab just before the bell would ring for the end of the school day. 

I looked at my watch, then began to shut down the computer and gather my stuff. "Yeah, I saw. Not really surprising. Doesn't matter if it's a fan party, a signing event, a concert tour, or global auditons, the Kpop world NEVER comes here. Not even Chicago! My parents say that if a concert were in Chicago, they might met me go. But there's no way they're letting me go to California or New York for something Kpop-related. It's just too far."

She frowned. "Yeah, I really wish they could come here, just once. Life for a Kpop fan in Wisconsin is hard."

"Yeah. Seriously, why would they go to Seattle for auditions? Chicago is a MUCH better option!"

Eliz laughed. "What, you want to go audition?"

"What?! Like they'd ever take me! You know I have two left feet. Besides, I'm a blonde white girl. I'd kind of stick out in Korea." 

The bell rang, and we started heading down to the buses. While we walked, Eliz said, "But it would be kind of cool to be there, don't you think? To see all of the artists, learn how to dance and sing, or even act."

I scoffed her. "This is SM we're talking about. and I'm an ELF. I'm definitely not auditioning for the company that hurt Han Geng. Not only is it unforgivable, but if that's how badly they treated him, who says how much better they'd treat me? No way, I'm not doing it."

"Hypothetically, though," Eliz argued, "If there's one company you think produces the best music overall, which one would you say?" 

I thought about it. Finally, I had to cave in. "Okay, yeah. SM. But that doesn't mean I'd work for them! Besides, what are the chances of me actually getting in if I did audition? Not likely. I have better ways to contribute to society. I have plans! I'm going to go to college, get a Major in Psychology, a minor in creative writing, and while I'm at it, go to Japan on a foreign exchange and take acting lessons so I can audition for FUNimation and become a voice actress!"

Okay, so my dreams weren't exactly realistic, either. But I figured that if I kept a lot of options open, at least one was bound to work out.  

When I got home, my mom was making supper. I started to set my bag down at the kitchen table for homework, but she turned around and said, "I need some rice. You want to make some?"

"Sure! I'll go get the rice cooker." I replied, already heading to the basement door to got get it. I came back up and got the bag of rice out of the cupboard and set it down on the counter. It was a new bag, one I hadn't read yet. I was only a bit surprised to see Japanese characters on the side, only that they were upside-down. Wanting to practice my Japanese, I leaned over so that my head was upside-down as well, and read the katakana writing on the side of the bag, sounding out each syllable. "Ka-ri-fu...Ka-ri-fuo...Ka-ri-fuo-ru... Oh! California!"

 My mom grinned. "You're getting pretty good at that. Especially considering you're reading it upside-down." 

I straightened up. "It's always good to practice. And katakana is easy." 

"Speaking of California," Mom began, "Your grandma called. She wants to know if you want to go visit her during spring break." 

I stood up so fast that I hit my hand on the counter. "Really?!'

"Yeah. She said that she'd pay for the plane home if we paid for the trip there." I told her that seemed fair. Your sister's agreed to help fund it, so I think we can pull something together."