DATE NO. 9
NAME: Park Changmin
INTERESTS:
Seoul SK Knights, Marvel Comics, Comedy
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Skipped two grades; Early admittance to
Cambridge University; Currently a Physics major
at Cambridge
Jisu: You know, I’ve been to the UK but I’ve never been to Cambridge.
Changmin: Oh, word.
Jisu: I’ve been to London and Oxford. Is Cambridge a lot like Oxford? I know you guys are major rivals, right?
Changmin: Yeah, but I don’t really pay attention to that school rivalry stuff.
Jisu: Oh...got it. So, what are you studying at Cambridge?
Changmin: Physics.
Jisu: Do you like it?
Changmin: Enough to major in it, yeah.
Jisu: I see.
Jisu: I heard you skipped a few grades and even got into Cambridge early. Is that true?
Changmin: Yeah, it’s true.
Jisu: That’s amazing! So wait, does that mean we’re actually the same age?
Changmin: How old are you?
Jisu: Seventeen. I turn eighteen in October. How old are you?
Changmin: I turn nineteen next month. Do you go on these seons often?
Jisu: Hmm? I’ve just been on a few. Not that many. Some were boring. Most of them were perfectly nice, but that’s about it. On paper though, I think you’ve got the most interesting résumé.
Changmin: Really? If I’m the most interesting dude, then you need to fire your matchmaker. Or she should quit her job.
Jisu: What! Don’t say that. Getting into college two years early and then going to Cambridge is pretty interesting. Although, I have to be honest, I don’t really care much for physics. I’m actually very bad at it and barely passed last year.
Changmin: A physics nerd at Cambridge couldn’t really interest a lot of people. Or anyone for that matter.
Jisu: Well, that isn’t the only thing that defines you!
Changmin: True, I suppose.
Jisu: What do you do at Cambridge outside of class? Is it true that you guys always have fancy dinners where everyone gets dressed up?
Changmin: You’re probably thinking about the Formal Halls.
Jisu: Do you dress up? I bet you look great in a suit.
Changmin: I do get dressed up. And you go with your friends, bring a bottle of wine, sit down to eat in a big hall that was built centuries ago and socialize with your fellow classmates.
Jisu: That sounds so nice.
Changmin: Do you want to go to Cambridge? Or any school in the UK?
Jisu: I’d be lucky if I got into any university at this point. Korean universities are super selective, so I’m looking at more options in America. But who knows if anyone will take me.
Changmin: You’re being too hard on yourself.
Jisu: How would you know?
Changmin: You seem smart and snappy. Like book smart but also sensible.
Jisu: Really? You think so? If I applied to Cambridge, would you write me a letter of recommendation?
Changmin: I’m flattered you’d ask, but I have a feeling a recommendation letter from one of their own students wouldn’t really help.
Jisu: It might if that student is a physics genius who got into college at the age of sixteen.
Changmin: I hate to tell you, but I don’t even make the list of top ten smartest people at Cambridge. You’ll get to campus and become completely unimpressed.
Jisu: Damn, then I definitely can’t get into Cambridge. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who’s skipped a grade, no less two. So that probably makes you the smartest person I’ve met. When do you go back to the UK?
Changmin: I’m actually going back a little early, in a few weeks. I want to spend some of the summer there, and it’s also my girlfriend’s birthday in August.
Jisu: Girlfriend?
Changmin: Yeah...wait, did you not see my text before we met up?
Jisu: I haven’t checked my phone...
Changmin: I’m just out here to see my family and the seons are to keep my mom happy. She’d be mortified if she knew I had an English girlfriend. Shoot. I’m sorry, Jisu, I thought you got my text—
Jisu: No, it’s cool! I’m really only doing this for my parents anyway, too, so...
Changmin: Good! I’m so relieved. Also because I think you’re actually kinda cool. The first two seons I went on were kind of a mess. Especially after I told both of the girls that I already had a girlfriend.
Jisu: Yeah...I can imagine how they felt.
Changmin: But you’re so chill. I bet if you did come to Cambridge, we’d be friends. And I bet you and Margaret would get along.
Jisu: Margaret?
Changmin: My girlfriend.
Jisu: Riiight. Oh, look at that. I just got an urgent text from my friend. I think she needs me.
Changmin: I drove here. Want me to give you a ride?
Jisu: That’s not necessary! I’m just gonna go right now.
Changmin: Okay. Well, if you ever end up in Cambridge, feel free to hit me up!