많이 망서리다가 DVD를 올렸습니다. 저는 처음에 영어라는 것이 세월이 지나가면 다 되는 줄 알았습니다. 그런데 세월이 가면 갈수록 더 힘들다고 생각되어지는 게 영어입니다. 대부분 나이 20을 넘어서 이민을 와 영어를 배우게 되는 사람들에게는 한계가 있다고 합니다.

그런데 그 한계를 넘는 사람들이 많지 않답니다. 본토 발음은 거의 불가능 하고 그나마 언어소통을 할 수 있는 정도라면 다행이라는 것이지요. 저를 부러워 하시는 분들이 계실 텐데, 저는 Canada에서 37년을 살았습니다. 그런데 영어실력이 고작 이것 밖에 안됩니다. 영어는 저에게 정말 힘듭니다.

저는 이 DVD를 볼 때마다 얼굴이 뜨거워집니다. 제 말에 실수 투성이니까요. 그래도 여기서 사는 사람들은 아주 잘 웃어줍니다. 저희들이 배워야할 점입니다. 저는 Canada에서 결혼해 살면서 꼭 바라는 소원(?)이 하나 있었습니다.

아이들 결혼식에서 영어로 정말 의미있는 인사말을 하는 것이었습니다. 그런데 그게 그렇게 힘들었습니다. 이제는 모두 결혼을 했으니 더 이상 기회가 없어졌습니다. 다시 한번 한다면 좀 더 잘 할 수 있을텐데…… 하는 아쉬움이 있습니다.

DVD화질과 음절이 안 좋아서 말이 잘 안들립니다. 그래서 글을 첨부했습니다.


Jimmy, you don’t understand how your mother and I were happy when we had you.
You were my pride, you are my pride.
You and Rena and my grandchildren will be my pride.

In the soccer fields and hockey arenas, you made me a proud dad.
I still remember the Brad Marsh Hockey Tournament when you were in Grade 5.
It was the final game and the score was tied.
During the overtime, the officials removed one player from each team every minute passed starting with goalie until one team scored a goal.

Only two players on each team. You were one of them.
I couldn’t breathe.
You snatched the puck near the left corner of their end,
Passed one of their defensemen and shot the puck.
It was a goal!!!

The most beautiful hockey goal I’ve ever seen in my life.
Whole team went to you and jumped on you.
It was a big pile on the ice.
I was so proud of you and I was the proud dad.

One more story. I don’t know how much time I have.
But I’ve got to tell you this story.
You were in the first year in the Wilfred Laurier University.
It was the Ontario University Soccer Championship semi-final against the mighty McMaster University.

Again, the score was tied one-one
It was the second half, only 10 minutes left of the game.
You got the ball outside of the penalty box and shot it.
It was a bullet shot. It was the winning goal.

I almost cried when you guys……
I think there are some soccer players here, right?
I almost cried when you guys sang the victory song.
You don’t know how happy I was!

I felt everybody was looking at me.
But actually, nobody did!
You and Kenny were on the cover page of the Wilfred Laurier newspaper.
I was so proud of you two guys.
You guys were running like flyer. Jimmy’s pose was like this.
It was awesome feeling!

It was awesome feeling!
Actually your son scoring the winning goal in the soccer fielder!
It was awesome feeling!
I want to see one of your children do it again for me.

Jimmy, you and I have a lot of good memories.
We clear the snow on the pond in Erindale Park and we played hockey together during the winter.
We drank hot chocolate in the snow. It was wonderful.
We rode bicycle to my work place and on the way home, we enjoyed cold slush.
We looked at the stars on the campground. So many stars! So clear!
We have many many fun memories.

I have to say this. We argued a lot. And many times I hurt your feeling.
I hurt your feeling because of your hair style.
I hurt your feeling because of your homework. You never met the deadline.

I have to admit I made a lot of trial and error on you because you’re the first one.
I thought I was right. But may be I was wrong.
I hope you understand all the mistakes I made.
And I hope you don’t make the same mistakes I made when you become a father.

Finally Jimmy, you’re free. You’re going to leave us and then going to Rena.
Your mother and I so happy and relieved because you’re in Rena’s good, tender loving and caring hands.
Jimmy, but remember this.
Sometimes, those tender loving and caring hands may hit you or pinch you.

It’s really “아퍼”
Korean word “아퍼” means “It’s hurt”
But it’s going to be good for you.
Right, Gayle? Right? (Gayle은 저의 둘째 사부인입니다)
Because your mother did a lot to me too.

I’m going to close my speech giving you three advices as a father, as an experienced married man for 28 years. Happily married.
You may think my advices are small thing.
But to wife, small things are much bigger than you think. Remember that. OK?
You think it is small. It’s very big to wife.

First advice! Jimmy you’re gonna find out Rena uses a lot more toilet paper than you do.
Every time, you see the toilet paper roll becomes thin, please change it.
Rena is going to pat on your back and say “Good boy!”
If you hear “Honey, can you bring some toilet paper?” then it’s too late.
Please do it before hear it.

Second! Jimmy, in our family, male dominant family.
So you keep forgetting. But make sure to lift the toilet seat and then do your job.
If you hear “Ah~~~ it’s wet!!! Jimmy~~~”
You’re in big trouble.
You have to eat cup lamen for three days.

Third, Jimmy, after you finish your job, make sure to lower the toilet seat.
If you hear “Ah~~~~~” and hear some swearing words, Rena must plunge in the toilet.
Then, you have to leave your house right away.
Forget about your clothes or laptop.
Just grab the key and then come to my house.

We’ll keep you bed ready all the time in our basement.
But maximum 3 days. No more than that.
Rena, you have to take him home. We don’t keep him more than 3 days.

Anyway, today is, as I told you, special day. I’m so happy.
Rena and Jimmy, may God bless your marriage and your new family and two of you life journey.
May God be with you and Rena, always.
Congratulations!!!