2003-09-14 - 12:04 a.m.

Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - First Day of Chusok

Chusok is the Corean Thanksgiving, celebrated on the "Harvest Moon" or the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.

Well, I worked like a beaver Friday, Monday and Tuesday. The payoff was getting an envelope with 25 manwon and a bonus of 2 manwon as a Chusok gift. The kids were fun and mostly well-behaved. The school has an excellent, nearly fool-proof curriculum and the management encourages the teachers with little extras (they manage with carrots, rather than sticks). Heh, heh, how Machiavellian! ;-)

Jim and I went shopping for a better mattress this noon. We went over to Dongdaemun and found a shop that was sort of half-indoors and half-outdoors. I liked the looks of a single-bed-sized one that folded into a small couch. The salesman led us inside and we looked at a myriad of different colours and patterns of covers. An outsized plaid in blues, greens and a soft yellow appealed. Then we chose the firmness of foam-rubber; medium-hard seemed about right to me. Then we started dickering. He wanted 6.5 manwon, but I talked him down to 5 manwon (about US$ 42.67).

The confederates of our salesman assembled the mattress on the spot, cutting the foam to fit the cover and zipping each piece into the "hinged" cover as they cut it. (They used a sheet of cardboard recycled from a refrigerator box as a workspace, crouching down on the sidewalk.) Then he wanted to know if I'd like a pillow. Got a nice, snuggly foam one for 8 chunwon ($ 6.83). He packed everything in plastic and tied it up securely, so we could carry our booty home on the subway.

Once we'd deposited the bedding at my place, I took Jim to my new favorite bulgogi place and treated him to a feast. We took a walk afterward and stopped at Mrs. Coney's for an iced latte for me and a mint chocolate chip ice cream in a sugar cone for Jim. Mrs. Coney was delighted to meet Jim at last, after all she's heard about him. And, after tasting my latte, Jim pronounced it the best coffee he'd tasted in quite a while. And he's been in Seattle this summer.

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Thursday, September 11, 2003 - Second day of Chusok

Jim was headed to a barbeque and jam session when he left last night. I went over to Samgakji and met Gina for supper and "girl talk." (This is Gina Oh, with whom I worked last spring, not the co-ed from Incheon.) We happened to meet Rattan and his family. His wife is a sweetheart. (They are Indians from Singapore; he works for an export company here.) After socialising with them a bit, Gina and I started looking for a place where we could talk and eat. For want of a better place we ended up at KFC, because it was nearly empty. I was content with juice after the big lunch, also I don't eat the Colonel's birds after two experiences with undercooked ones. Talking with Gina is always a treat, though.

Nolan called this morning and asked if I'd like to come over for a barbeque. A bunch of folks are invited; they just didn't spread the word too well. Ron and Mickie are going. I called him to double-check on the directions that I sorta remembered. I'm packing some gourmet pickled garlic, a giant Asian pear and some rice cakes.

[23:00] - On the subway, coming home: Definitely a good time! He has a covered porch to set up the charcoal grill and two tables out there to spread the buffet. It's a great set-up for hosting. He's a neat housekeeper. One might prejudge him as a fussy old batch. However, I see him as a well-brought-up man. He says neatness has always been part of him, but having been homeless really makes him appreciate a clean living space.

Most of the evening was full of good humour and gratitude. One turn in the conversation lead to a moment of silence in memoriam. "Where were you when you heard the news?" One mother was in London. One army officer was assigned to bring bodies out of the Pentagon. We still wonder how the fanatics could have done such a thing. How could they not see the common humanity of the other plane passengers? It still astounds!

Nolan is a real Southerner. He sent us all home with plates of food. "You just gonna have to take it. That's the way it's done." So, I'm balancing a plate with steak, home-made baked beans and salad.

Hope you enjoyed reading.

Happy Trails!

~ Sil in Corea

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