Glorious Fall

Over the weekend I visited Changdeokgung Palace with my colleagues. Our manager organized the excursion, and it was a lovely way to spend a November Saturday. Although we were on a guided English tour, I must confess I remember very few historical details as I was preoccupied with taking pictures. The leaves were simply spectacular, and I couldn't really focus on anything else. Will return eventually to get all the facts.

 

 

Congrats, J + M!

As I prepare to begin a new week of teaching, I'm struck by the fact that across the world, my baby sister is celebrating her first year of marriage with traditional wedding festivities. I anticipated that missing this occasion would be one of the hardest aspects about relocating to Seoul, and my instincts were right.

In any event, I'm sending you hearty congratulations and great big hugs, Joanna and Morgan. I love you! xo

Trip to Techno Mart

Spent Tuesday morning at Techno Mart with a colleague. He offered to accompany me as I began my quest for a new camera, and I appreciated his help. Not only is he an all-around cool dude, but he's conversant in Korean which came in handy.

Basically, I went in knowing what I wanted -essentially the latest version of my previous camera, a Canon ELPH. And that's pretty much what I got. (This model boasts 12.1 mega pixels and can film movies in high definition; also, its instruction manual is in Korean). What I hadn't counted on was bloated pricing. The price of my new camera was substantially higher than what I'd found doing research online the night before. Ironically, I tried to purchase the camera from Amazon, only to learn that this particular item could not be shipped to my mailing address in Seoul (meanwhile, apparently there are no issues with shipping The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Season Five DVD set to Korea). I am aware of lingering rivalry between Japan and Korea, and perhaps this is just another manifestation. 

A word on Techno Mart:  it is dizzying. Nine massive floors of electronics, with vendors working off commission at their individual booths. Expect to be wowed by the sheer vastness in selection. Do not go in thinking you'll walk away with an amazing deal. Remember the rule of thumb when buying Japanese products in Korea:  try to get them online from an American retailer instead.

Shiver Me Silly

Have been home for two hours and am still shivering. Was hesitant to check the outside temperature, but since I hadn't been experiencing any bliss, I figured it was time to drop the ignorance veil. It is currently one degree C, which must explain why the bottle of water that sat on my table all day seems like it's just come from the fridge. I'm reluctant to turn on the heat (it's only November 2nd/3rd!) but will definitely wear my winter coat in the morning. Heck, at this rate, I may need to sleep in it.

A Study in Contrasts

I've just returned from an evening that could best be summed up as a glimpse into heaven. After church (which itself was unusually heartening today), I went to dinner with a group of 20 young adults. We dined at a Nepalese restaurant called Everest and enjoyed a delicious meal set against a charming, colorful backdrop. I had the mutton masala with garlic nan...yum. If you come to visit, I'll include Everest on our itinerary. How I wish I'd been able to take photos! (My camera was broken last night, and I'm feeling lost without it. Fixing/replacing it is HIGH on my to-do list.) In any case, here's a link so you can check it out for yourself: http://www.everestfood.com/dish.htm. 

From Everest, the group headed to the Hyehwa area for the evening's main event:  a performance by a renowned Korean gospel choir. There we were, a motley crew of black, white, and Asian believers, packed into the church. We clapped, danced, and sang along in English while the choir belted out (in Korean) modern praise standards, including:  How Great Is Our God, Blessed Be Your Name, Forever, Open the Eyes of My Heart, and In Christ Alone. Close your eyes, and you'd have sworn you were in the Deep South. They were amazing, and even now I get chills thinking about all of it. 

The Hyehwa area is artsy and interesting. I cannot wait to return, particularly because I saw an Italian pizza parlor that was absolutely darling. I went inside to grab a business card and was delighted to see two chefs (owners?) who were native Italians. Will definitely be back soon... the heavenly aroma of Neopolitan pizza still lingers.

Contrast all of these experiences with last night. I don't mean to put a damper on anyone else's revelry, but I attended a Halloween party in Yeoksam and came home feeling empty and depressed. Sure, I can focus on the positives and give the impression that I'm having fun. And truthfully, I did enjoy moments during the evening -I met some friendly people who seemed intelligent and genuine, and the area had plenty of interesting design elements to admire. However, amid all the risque and silly costumes, there was no real joy to be found there. I won't elaborate because many of you know what I mean. As I re-prioritize goals, it's hard not to think of it as an imprudent use of time and talents.