They all look the same to me

We all know that Asian stereotypical joke that all Asians look the
same to us white people. And vise versa. Ever since I arrived here I
feel like I am seeing double. All these Mr. and Ms. Kims must be
related. I swear. At the same time I can't tell how old they are.
Asians, or in this case Korean girls and women, look so young at times
it is hard to guess their age. Remember when I mentioned that crazy
thief when I first arrived at the airport here? She looked like she
was anywhere from 15-20 but she was really closer to 35. I know all
races have people with baby faces. For instance, take a look at me.
I'm 24. I l don't look a day over 19. The Chinese couple on the
airplane insistently kept asking me (4 times) if I was old enough to
drink. I even broke out my ID to show her. But in Korea the tides are
turned. I am completely thrown for a loop. If you are between the ages
of 18 and 70 you look years younger than you really are (old women
here look absolutely decrepit. They walk around in the shape of the
Hangul letter ㄱ(k). I mean where are their canes and walkers!!!!).. It
must be an ancient Asian secret! Kimchi?!

In all seriousness, I had kids in different classes who looked so
alike I thought they might be sneaking in to attend my class. I didn't
want to ask my co-teacher about this because I didn't want her to
think that I was stereotyping my kids. I thought, 'How am I growing to
phrase this without looking like a complete jackass?'

On the way back from getting my new TV in Ilsan I posed this question
to her, 'Ms. Yoo, at our school.... do a lot of the students have
sisters who, also, attend the school?' Brief pause....

Yoo ----- 'Yes, there are many twins.' She's got to be messing with me.

Me ---- 'Really....?'

Yoo--- 'Yes! Every grade has twins. 1st, 2nd, 3rd.'

Impossible. 'No way. Really? The odds of that are staggering!'

Yoo ----- 'Yes~. Because, now, so many parents use....the.....
(struggling for the words).'

Me ----- 'Artificial insemination processes?'

Yoo----- 'Yes~! Thank you. There are many students' sisters who attend
the school.'

I was shocked and relieved at the same time. I couldn't believe there
were 3 sets of twins at my school. 3?! That's insane. I might know
three sets of twins over my lifespan. Let alone identical twins. At
the same time I was so relieved not to come off as that stupid, white
American who thinks all Asians look the same. Good thing I didn't
phrase the question this way, 'You know, all the kids look so alike. I
can't tell if they are the same kids or not. Must be an Asian thing.
Oh, just out of curiosity, do any of them have sisters who go to
Buil?' ....

Notes:
My main co-teacher, YOO EUN SOOK, has accepted the Krispy Kreme
challenge. I explained the rules to her and everything. And she is
still confident. 'Not a problem. My nickname is the Korean word for
'bread.'' My other co-teacher, Mi Sun, and I cannot wait to see this.


SK's ignore NK. more on this later.