2003-01-03 - 4:12 a.m.

January 2, 2003

18:20 hours

Put in one and a half hours at the "slow as cold molasses" PC shop and came home all hepped up to resume journalling. Now I can't find my journal! It was here the other day; I remember noting that my last entry was Dec. 3, and feeling guilty. So to handle this flash/flush of enthusiasm, I grabbed the nearest notebook (the log of Chung's lessons) and started scribbling.

The weather is changing. Last night, I could see a lot of stars despite the city lights. It was incredibly clear, and COLD! Ed and I closed up after the meditation meeting and walked to the subway (He has volunteered to open and chair this meeting for January).

Today, some long streamer clouds preceeded a lower bank and the air warmed considerably. It smells like snow is in the offing. I put out food for the cat and some birds today. The cat wanted his head scratched and left most of the grub untouched. The birds ate yesterday's offering, but were holed up somewhere else today. (Their chow is way out in the middle of the parking lot where there's no cover for a cat.)

Only got two calls today: one from an newbie to Alanon ('nuff said) and the other from Cho. My remaining balance for December teaching will be with the boss lady on Monday, along with some papers for me to correct. And, I get to collect the January tuition payments from my students. This is just part of January's pay; the rest is the subsidy from the city council. No word yet on their decision about me teaching the two kids' classes.

After cleaning some of the bag of green onions (which came with half the garden attached...LOL), I figured I'd better get outdoors before sundown to get my walk in. Went nearly down to Anam Rotary today and picked up some groceries, plus q-tips and utility candles. On the way back, I got 8 jumbo shrimp for $1.60/2,000 won, and a jar of strawberry yoghurt. Let it storm! I'm ready.

Those pre-cooked jumbo shrimp certainly liven up a meal of brown rice and veggies. I cook most of my meals here on the hot plate (LP gas burner). Soups, rice and stir-fry are my standard fare, supplemented by fresh fruit from the local street vendors. Once or twice a month, I get a loaf of bread,- usually when I need to pack a sandwich lunch. Bread is "iffy." Paris Baguette has the best, but we don't have that chain-store in Anam. I have to plan ahead or grab a loaf of "wonder bread" at "Pepperidge Farm" prices. Didn't know how good I had it in Tan Hyun-dong when I first got here.

I've located a good butcher shop here recently, in the farmers' market area. And there's a grocery store near there which carries a good-sized line of household supplies. Yesterday, I got some food storage boxes, cleaning cloths, and another cup (so I can entertain two guests, now). Also got some foam weather strip and put it around the front door. I can feel the difference!

Language learning creeps on apace: "Chokara" = "chopsticks," so now I can ask "Chokara, ju say oh," and get them in a restaurant. "Sahyo" is "spoon" and "sanchew" is "lettuce." "Ju say oh" is "Give, please," and about anything is now available to me with that handy phrase appended. The Korean word for a Bic is pronounced "lyetah," just as we say it in Maine.

Earlier, after much deliberation, I got a cyclamen for the bathroom window. I hesitated because I moved so much last year, and plants are not easy to lug around. But just before Christmas, I saw this appealing little plant in an outdoor display by a florist's. "Hummm," sez I to myself, "this plant must be able to handle cold temperatures to be outdoors today." It was loaded with reddish-purple flowers and more buds coming along, so I "took a flyer" and bought it.

Reading up on "Cyclamen" at the Colorado State Cooperative Extension website, it said the buds pop out when night temps are down around 40 F/ 8 C. Last night was the coldest yet and the bathroom window sill must have been nearly freezing. My little nappa cabbage plant looked forlorn this morning, but the cyclamen was as perky as ever. Gotta love 'er. She's a charmer, with her speckled leaves and jaunty blossoms.

Thanks for reading.

Happy Trails!

~ Sil in Corea

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