So I left on a jet plane to Korea on Sun night/Mon morning.
This trip has been in the works for the last three months, so I’ve spent that time prepping for it – buying clothes, handling administrative matters, having a Laremy Lee Farewell Tour, etc.
Which was all fun but super tiring, considering the other two big things I had to juggle consecutively/concurrently: relief teaching and an In-Camp Training.
I also spent the last three months informing people that I was making this trip, usually in response to having to politely decline meet-ups, wedding invitations, work, etc.
Most times, I managed to stun the people I was talking to into silence by telling them that I was going to Korea for plastic surgery.
Of course I did eventually reveal to them the real reason, which you can read about here.
I got the plastic surgery idea from my friend Yanhe, who – unbeknownst to me and his fiancee – told his fiancee I was going to Korea for an operation to improve my face.
When the three of us met for dinner, I spent a large part of the conversation trying to figure out why Yanhe’s fiancee was trying to avoid talking about Korea – until Yanhe revealed to us his deviousness.
Anyway, I’m finally in Korea.
So far I’ve been updating friends/family about how life is like, recovering from jet lag (and possible Laremy Lee Farewell Tour fatigue) and settling into the routine of breakfast before 10am, lunch at 12pm and dinner at 6pm.
I also made a new friend.
After reporting this news to the Checkpoint Theatre Whatsapp group, I promptly got scolded by Koh Bee Bee, who said, “We asked you to make friends with Korean ladies, not Korean ladybirds.”
Bee Bee is one of the many who has either encouraged me to bring home a Korean girlfriend (why, Singaporean girls not good enough, is it?) or shag as many Korean girls as possible (why, Singaporean girls not – OK, let’s not go there).
You can see where Singaporeans have their priorities – between making love and making art, they choose making love. Very pragmatic.
Although a friend did point out to me that making love to some people is akin to making art.
For the record, in any case:
- Bee Bee falls into the former category i.e. she wants me to bring home a Korean girlfriend;
- I’m here to work on one act of a play and about 12 poems.
Some pictures of how Toji Cultural Centre looks like:
More (and better-taken) photos over here.
So that’s it for now, folks. I’ll provide more updates on the weather, language, food, activities, etc. in time to come.
Assuming North Korea doesn’t decide to strike first, that is. But that’s a premise for another play.
