Dear Friends and Family,
Quickly approaching the halfway point of my year in Korea, I find myself in a pleasant equilibrium where past meets future. I have many months to look back on to help plan my course of action for the remaining time here.
I am slowly becoming used to the day to day life in this country. In general, things are not all that different here than in the US; it's the small things, really (and no, that was not a jab at Koreans' stature). Like takin' your shoes off before entering a restaurant. Or a norabong (a Korean singing room, much like karaoke). Or a home. Latessa had a hard time with that one. I've still got sneaker scuffs left from her last second spin around after two steps into my apartment. She eventually just gave up and promised to sweep before leaving.
Or like the driving laws, which are like the pirate's code: more like 'guidelines' than actual rules. You know that age old morality question, "Would you run a red light if nobody was coming?" Well, the entire country of Korea arrived at a unanimous decision on that one. In fact, they have applied Darwin's theory of Natural Selection to automobiles: only the strongest survive. It keeps you on your toes when the green man says go.
Quickly approaching the halfway point of my year in Korea, I find myself in a pleasant equilibrium where past meets future. I have many months to look back on to help plan my course of action for the remaining time here.
I am slowly becoming used to the day to day life in this country. In general, things are not all that different here than in the US; it's the small things, really (and no, that was not a jab at Koreans' stature). Like takin' your shoes off before entering a restaurant. Or a norabong (a Korean singing room, much like karaoke). Or a home. Latessa had a hard time with that one. I've still got sneaker scuffs left from her last second spin around after two steps into my apartment. She eventually just gave up and promised to sweep before leaving.
Or like the driving laws, which are like the pirate's code: more like 'guidelines' than actual rules. You know that age old morality question, "Would you run a red light if nobody was coming?" Well, the entire country of Korea arrived at a unanimous decision on that one. In fact, they have applied Darwin's theory of Natural Selection to automobiles: only the strongest survive. It keeps you on your toes when the green man says go.
Or like the festivals, which aren't exactly what I'd categorize as "small things." Koreans are all about some festivals. Every month, there's something worth celebrating. On the last day of February, we traveled to Haeundae beach to witness the rise of the first full moon of the Lunar New Year. And, of course, the festival celebrating this celestial event. Which largely consisted of setting flame to a bigass pile o' brush. The coast-wide conglomeration of people encircling the massive mound quickly dispersed as the fire began to rain smoldering ash atop their heads. The other festivities involved praying to fruits and vegetables for a fertile year of crops. My favorite was the watermelon. I envisioned O Fortuna playing while Gallagher the Antichrist descended from the billowing clouds of smoke with a massive mallet to smash the fruit in slow motion.
This month we plan to take part in another nation's festivities. Yet another saint whose message has been largely misconstrued, though the moral remains; stand witness to the Trinity: the Feast, the Shamrock, and the Holy Ale.
"If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even shoot." - Confucius
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