A student is telling me about a conference he has been to. "How was this talk by Lorscheid?" I ask.

"Like the one by Huh," he says, "I couldn't really understand much. I think he was his advisor."

I am not sure who is supposed to be who's advisor. Huh is not so old, but also, accomplished, so I guess that it is Huh that he is saying is Lorscheid's advisor.

"Oh, he's a younger guy then?" I ask.

"I couldn't really tell," he says. "He's white."

I always thought that Koreans look young, until they look old. No in between. Like people from the 70s. But having lived here for 15 years, I'm getting better at guessing ages. I didn't realize that Koreans have the same problem with me. I thought they just said I look young, because I look young for a bald guy.

But they really just can't tell my age.

This explains the looks I sometimes get from young women as I am walking on campus wearing my toque. And explains the coquettish smiles I got from an ancient biddy as I was walking to the market the other day.

I am ageless.