I was just out in short sleeves for the second day in a row. The good weather entices me to take a walk immediately after getting home from school, and, on the whole, it's a much better arrangement than waiting until it's dark and I'm tired and pressed for time. Today's surprise was a good one--on the last Friday of the month, we get to go home an hour early. The idea is to give teachers time to socialize and "community-build", but nobody does anything together. So I walked over to a park near my school that I've been wanting to check out. The problem with green space in Korea is that it's all vertical. Not that I don't need the exercise, but it would be nice sometimes to just go for a quiet stroll. Nonetheless, for the investment of sweat and the possible sacrifice of my ability to do a Wing Chun set tonight, I got to trek among trees and magpies (and exercise equipment and carefully dressed Korean seniors). It wasn't totally getting away--it never is--with the resonant booms and growls of construction at the bottom of the hill, and the general dearth of wildlife, but I sat on a rock and even catnapped with my head on my arms, and it was agreeable for all that.
The weather's been pretty glorious, but that's about to come to a screeching halt. According to the forecast, things are going to change on the first of November as if required by law, with temps dropping 20 degrees, and only expected to reach 40 on Monday. One of my friends is going on a day trip with Adventure Korea tomorrow, and if I hadn't already scheduled 3 different things, I'd probably be joining her. They do run the same trips again and again, so I hope I'll catch them later, though this is the ideal time of year. I'm still hoping to get outside on Sunday, despite the dismal forecast.
Other than a few pumpkins & spiders in Baskin Robbins, Halloween doesn't really exist in Korea. The kids have all heard of it, and when I asked when it is, they invariably replied, "Candy!", but even the phrase Trick or Treat was completely new to them. As waygook domain, Halloween becomes a drinking holiday. I might be the only sober American in Seoul tomorrow night. I think I'm going to a music fest...if I stay home, I'll be at one anyway. Came home this afternoon to all kinds of commotion in the church parking lot (and it's still going on at 10:30)--hammering, banging...ultimately, erecting a bunch of tents and a stage. *Groan* It's "Love Fest". Details at 11.
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