Happy Thanksgiving!

To all my family and friends, my thoughts are with you and I give thanks to you. Happy Thanksgiving from Seoul.

Memories 1: Pic a Flic

A poem for Grandma Marni and Grandpa Jim.

Cook Street, downtown Victoria, back when
the oaks still towered, reassuringly
tall. A Science Venture summer, me 10...
ish, with Grandma to return a movie.

I couldn't tell you what film we had seen
but left in my mind are the dog and man
outside the Pic a Flic - hungry eyes, lean
bodies, a pleading voice: spare some change, ma'am?

Though I'm now a city hand and have passed
by my share of panhandlers, part of me
is still the little boy, so much impressed
with his grandmother, answering gently
and with what seemed like infinite wisdom:
no, but I'll buy you a sandwich. Here, come.

XKCD for the win.

Postcards away!

I've now sent out postcards to all the people who commented on my previous post. Enjoy!

Reflections on 7 months in Korea, Ctd.

I realized at some point that my previous post was more of a summary of seven months in Korea than a reflection - hey, I had to leave for work - so here's the conclusion of that post.

So... how do I feel about being in Korea?

It's a question with a complex answer, and one that changes slightly depending on the day and time, and the proximity of friends, an episode of Modern Family, or a beer mug. For the most part I feel the same: I don't (yet?) feel that Korea hasn't fundamentally changed my outlook on life, though I've certainly learned lots. I've found out that the activities I want to do (volleyball, debate, exploring the outdoors, culture) and the groups of people I like to hang out with (the gays, debaters, people who have interesting things to say) haven't changed magically, and for the most part I've found my niches here, in the same way as I did back home.

Reflections on 7 months in Korea

I am currently waiting, and frustrated. As many of you know, I'm starting a new job soon in another part of Seoul. I'm tremendously excited, but the person replacing me (for whom I must wait) has had a few delays, so I'm waiting and frustrated.

I suppose, then, that it's a good enough time as any to look back at my 7 months in Korea.

Chicken Soup for the Seoul

The kitchen window of a restaurant in Seoul.