My life has been pretty busy lately. However, I have finally reached a stage where I am happy with what I’ve got. For a start, there’s my apartment. Located in the nice upmarket part of Seoul, fully furnished and close to my work, it makes my life feel complete. Then there’s the jobs that I have, supplying me with money and meals. Finally there’s my friends, old ones who I see regularly, new ones whom I meet every time I go out, and friends I forgot I had, who pop up at the most unexpected of times. Just last week I ran into two friends I hadn’t seen for at least 12 months. It was totally unexpected and great to see them alive.
Now, it has been quite some time since my last good solid posting and I thought it was high time that I filled you all in on what’s been happening chronologically. Now that I’m established, let’s establish a firm record of history. Let’s run through the past few months of my life.
Let me take you back to Thailand for a moment. I had just finished my tropical relaxation experience and was heading back through Phuket airport to go to Bangkok. I took a look out the window as I was boarding the plane and noticed the blue waters just beyond the airport. Taking my last glimpse of the pristine blue yonder, I boarded the plane. Getting back to Bangkok, I decided that what I really needed to cheer me up was some nightlife. I headed out to Khao Sanh Road where a multitude of people and lights were lining the street, selling or being sold to, everywhere noise and fun. I went to a favorite bar of mine, Gullivers, and spend the night dancing with a couple of nice ladies who gave me the scoop on bargains to be had in Thailand’s capital. I picked up as many things as I could feasibly take home with me as a result.
But finally, after much partying and sightseeing, it was time to return to Korea and I sat in the Thai airport and took one last picture. I was smiling because I had just bought a bottle of Tequila. Later, upon arrival in Korea I stopped to get some money from an ATM. A girl promptly ran into my cart and sent my bottle flying. All I could do was open the book it had wet and smell it’s sweet smell. Oh…
Upon my return, I wasted no time catching up on all the sights around Seoul. I took my friend out to Yeouido park and we sat and watched the beautiful summer sky set and I stuffed my face with ice-cream like the true child I am. The air was a little cooler at night and it was so peaceful and pleasant. We were joined by a thousand families who had their rugs and picnic baskets out. They looked like they were going to set up camp and sleep there. And what a beautiful spot. The sky faded into beautiful colors and then into night. I wanted to grab a camp spot too.
Then I bought a motorbike and one of the first things I did was to get my camera and go riding about the place searching for good shots of places I hadn’t been. It turned out that there was a beautiful sunset that particular night. I struggled to capture it’s beauty on film, but despite my best efforts, only captured an inferior replica. Trust me, it was so much more beautiful in real life.
I started working at a school a little bit after that and to celebrate we went out for dinner and some singing. The director of the school brought his daughter and wife and we all listened as he belted out the tunes, clapping at the appropriate times. Actually he was pretty good. We then took turns belting out our own renditions. I kept my song choices family-oriented for a change and it was a nice night. My friend Grace was there and it is she who I owe almost all of my vocational success to. Since meeting her, she has lined up job after job for me. She should seriously be getting commission.
One of the things I missed the most about being back in Australia is the regular nights of drinking and merriment that I used to have with the gang. Now when I say “the gang” I actually mean Keith, but usually there are other people involved too. Keith and other friends and myself generally go from place to place having great time after great time until it’s morning and time to hit a singing room. It may not seem like a blast to you, but if you came here and experienced the thrill of seeing Keith lose yet another speed drinking battle, savoring the delights of an Egg and Cheese sandwich from the famous Egg and Cheese Sally, and hearing us rip out our theme song of “Don’t Look Back In Anger” you’ll want to leave whatever it is that you normally do and take part on a regular basis. It’s that much fun. On this one particular night, we were hanging out with Keith’s current co-workers and our old co-worker Lee and her friend So Young. Lee is a blast to have around. It had been ages since we had all hung out together, so it was cool to finally do it again. We ended up at the top of the Itaewon Hooker Hill at a bar called Polly’s Kettle. That is until Keith said the famous parting line, “ramblers, let’s get rambling.”
I took my camera one day as I was walking through Bundang, the satelite city where I work sometimes. It was a typical Autumn day, cloudy with big raindrops falling menacingly at intervals from random points above. The stream running through the center of the city was brimming from a recent downpour. The smell of grass was in the air. Bundang is a really nice place, with streams and rivers running all through it, lots of parks and places to relax. The city is clean, without the shallow sewers that is a trademark of Seoul. It’s a great spot only 30 minutes from Seoul.
The weekend before last, I helped Keith’s girlfriend out with the student short film she was making about foreigners in Korea. Production was a little long, maybe due to a lot of factors. It did test our patience when it took 5 hours to film 5 minutes of footage. The waiting took it’s toll. However, it was a good chance to freshen up those few acting skills I do have for the prospect of seeing myself on the big (or little) screen. I expect to see this soon. Unfortunately I had to employ a British accent for which I am certainly unqualified to speak. The final result, I am expecting, will make myself and any other British person in the vicinity cringe. But my movie career has begun and I’m not letting a crappy accent come between me and superstardom.
Just today, I decided that it would be a great idea to take a few shots of my new public school. It was a beautiful day today and I took my motorbike to work. I took some shots while all the kids were in class. Compared to back home, the school here looks quite bare, with no grass in sight. But the kids here seem to enjoy it. I calculated that in total I teach over 600 kids. That’s a lot of names to forget.
And then it was back to my new room. Ah, the spacious, roominess of it. The bed the door, the lock on the door. Wow, I haven’t had this for two months or more. It’s so nice, the simple pleasures in life. And we all know that from simple pleasures come more simple pleasures… such as sleep. Which is exactly where I’m going now. It’s 1:30am and I have to get up in 5 hours. Another day in Korea.
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