2007-05-08 - 8:42 p.m.

Catching Up
It's been far too long since I posted here. Doug, bless his heart, stirred my "writing urge" recently. I began reviewing my paper diary for juicy tidbits and realized it's been months!

Dec. 3, 2006

I'm without a car for the foreseeable future. It's been impounded until I can come up with $500 to pay fines and late penalties on parking tickets I never knew I got. They were most likely mailed to Cho's Mom. She didn't tell him about them,- too busy being hysterical and angry when he called her from America.

In my present economy drive, I made a really great soup last night. Turkey, green onions, red bell pepper and cherry tomatoes. The veggies wer "sweated",- sauted lightly in sesame oil, just enough to tenderize, not to brown them. The secret ingredient was dwenjang (miso), just for seasoning, about 2 teaspoons. Despite the fact that the turkey was classic U.S. Army fare -dry and tough- the soup was delicious. I'm going to try and keep it going with infusions of carrots and potatoes.

Dec. 5

I asked my Moms' class about getting a bus pass and found out they sell them at the small kiosks by major (i.e. high-traffic) bus stops. So, I walked to Ha-an Sa Gori after class, got one for 2000 ($2) and put a manwon ($10) on it. It's a plastic smart-card. Now I'm ready to ride the Gwangmyeong busses for the foreseeable future. It's excellent to have that option, even if I get the car back.

I'm really focussing on not relying on the car, though. I'm sick and tired of driving without a licence (long story there) and being the free taxi for my friends. Too much stress. It's so much nicer to hop on the bus or subway and let them handle the hassles of travel. Even running late and taking an occasional cab hasn't run up my transport bill that much.

Dec. 10

Busy Sunday today: a lesson at 11:50 a.m. ("Let's meet ten minutes early"), my home group's meeting at 3:30 p.m., Roundup planning meeting at 4:40, Alanon meeting at 7:30.

I dug my Deva "Christmas pants" out of the trunk yesterday and have them on, over longies. These pants are about 20 years old, made of red flannel which has long lost its fuzz, like the Velveteen Rabbit. I partnered them with the traditional Corean shirt Pete's friend Rachel bought me and my cream Argyle sweater,- a globalized outfit, heh! The shirt is a funny color, sort of a dark kahki with hint of green,- that is to say, greyer than olive. The argyle on the sweater front has pine-green diamonds interwoven with thin maroon lines. Sorta Christmassy outfit, anyway.

Truth to tell, I have been struggling to get into the right spirit this Advent season. Practical concerns are rather crowding out my endeavours to gather appropriate gifts. Seems like that is my perennial cry: too much month and not enough money. {Whoa, Kosok terminal already! (11:23 a.m.) Two stops to my exit at Nonhyon.}

(9 p.m., - back on the subway) My student succeeded in tricking me out of manwon ($10) and held onto me with questions until I was late to my 3:30 meeting. She is a smarter manipulator than I am! She even had the gall to ask me to come earlier next week, after showing up 25 minutes late for her lesson. Gurrrh! I've got to get another student to replace her.

Had supper with Kelly and Carol after the first official roundup-planning meeting. Kelly is the Alanon representative. I'm there because I worked on the planning committee last year (passing on my experience).

Dec. 12, 2006

Last class in Dongjak: Heejune warned me this was coming last week. Hwehmee has to quit because her babysitter can't stay late anymore and Heejune can't afford my basic fee by herself. She is leaving for Australia soon anyway. She will keep my card and call me next summer when she gets back, to keep what she has learned in the intensive course there.

I'm going to miss the great bakery I found near their medical clinic. The baker makes European-style (not sweet) bread, and his herb bread and rye are just splendid.

Dec. 14, Thursday.

A day off from teaching, my only duty is to open the 12x12 meeting. Wed. noon, we had a discussion with 2 English-speakers and 3 Coreans. It was interesting how the sharing worked. Using whatever is our native language, we sorta shoot for what we thing the topic may be.

Dec. 24

I set boundaries with my Nonhyon student: no whining about personal problems, no repeated forcing of "hospitality," etc. Strictly teacher/student relationship.

Dec. 26 (on subway heading toward Carol's to cat-sit)

Slept poorly last night, only got about 4 hours total, broken up. After classes and billpaying in Ha-an, I took a nap for 90 minutes, went to the PC room for 2.5 hours, came home for supper, picked up Carol's keys and headed out at about 9:45 p.m.

Got an e-mail from Pete!!! With a picture of his new Subaru Outback. He was wearing his DahnMuDo instructor's suit, black with embroidery. The car is silver, a mini-wagon style. He says DahnMuDo is not really a martial art; it's designed to heal and promote optimal health.

New Year's Eve

Went to Bill and Noreen's party after the meeting, but left about 10:30. Cho gave me a ride "home," over to Carol's. I just didn't feel good,- tired, a bit of upset stomach and also had a bad feeling about herself trying to get the few non-alcoholics to have a glass of wine.

Ended up going to the "Amazing Park" internet cafe for a while. Got on-line and into chat with Brits and Yankees, - first time since last summer, but I couldn't pass up the chance to wish them "Happy New Year" from 2007, since their side of the world was still in 2006. Carol's modem died a noisy death last week. Her e-mail said, "Tell Solutions to order a new one from the Yongsan Electronics Market."

*********** Ending for now. More to come. *********** I'll start a new page for 2007, lol.

Happy Trails to you,

~ Sil in Corea

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