Not much written recently... nothing actually. Not much to say. Living a great grind. At work 40. Evenings; M/W Korean classes, T/Th Brazilian Jujitsu (on a one month Hiatus for summer vacation), Fri or Sat party with friends somewhere in the city. Saturday/Sunday one rest and recovery day, one go out exploring day. Repeat.
A few things worth noting:
*Buddha's birthday. 3 day weekend on Dok Jeok do Island up near soul was a Blast. Hundreds of Waygooken (foreigners) basically rented out all of a small hotel, and when we were booted from the beach by mother natures tears, we had a hotel party... like, the whole hotel, room to room to room party hopping. Made some great new friends.
*The I.C. Picnic. Kim In Cheol (The last name comes first in Korean), as good a friend as can be asked for. He took Ahnna and I and 7 of our nearest and dearest to a park for a picknick with his family and extended family. After which we piled into his minivan (do the count, thats 12 people including I.C.'s wife and baby, in a space smaller than my parents Aerostar, hurray Korean engineering.) and he took us around Busan. Introducing us to our own city as only an insider can.
*Mudfest is exactly as it sounds. Festival of mud. Inflatable mud-wrestling rings were a free for all of take-down craziness. Guys, girls, know, unknown, anyone was fair game. Inflatable obstacle courses filled with mud, a huge inflatable muddy slide and much more. When done getting dirty, play in the surf of the Yellow Sea to wash off. We had a blast. Our time there was too short.
That is past and now is present. Kids are on vacation, summer camps are over and I sit at my desk getting paid to watch The Wire. Tomorrow starts "paid leave" and Ahnna and I are planning to take my motorcycle on a road-trip around Korea. The scooters replacement falsely reports "Harley Davidson" where it should say "Daystar" and that is the only thing I don't love about it. Our plans are ambitious, but cheap. Couchsurfing, temples and a tent for sleeping arrangements. Raman and Gimbap for food. 6 national parks, a bamboo forest, and an abandoned amusement park. Plans exceed expectations. If mother nature doesn't throw a tantrum and forgoes the hurricane we are currently being warned about, we'll set off as soon as we know the weather man is full of shit and see what we can see.
Fuzzball Phoebe should not go unmentioned. 기쁨 (Geebeum- joy/happiness) is her Korean name and she is our new bunny. She is about 3 months old we're guessing, and has been with us for 2 of those. Ahnna made the mistake of stopping to look at some baby bunnies in the subway and the gentleman selling them plopped one into her hands. Ahnna just couldn't bring herself to give it back. Pheobe has been a great new source of entrainment and love in our lives. She is litter-box (her cage) trained, stays on the porch when we are not home and has reign over the bedroom when we are. She comes when we call and will stand up for treats. I hope she lives to her full 10 years, but god only knows what we will do with her when we travel.
So thats it, this is the wrap up. Questions? Korea still amuses. Korean commentary in the next installment. For now 20 minutes of work stands between me and walking out the school doors back into the cicada's scream.
