Sweet sorrow

Sat, 1 Jun 2013
2 min read
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Parting is such sweet sorrow.

The board in the dining hall at Toji Cultural Centre where we indicate when and which meals we're having for the week so the cook knows how much food to prepare.
The board in the dining hall at Toji Cultural Centre where we indicate when and which meals we’re having for the week so the cook knows how much food to prepare.

While on my way to Incheon Airport from Wonju yesterday, “The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles started playing on the radio the moment the journey began.

I was amused at the aptness of the song, but doubly amused at the fact that when I took the express bus from Incheon to Wonju, the song that started off my journey was “Drive” by The Cars.

Who decides these coincidental things?

A juryeonggu: http://gyeongjulove.blogspot.kr/2011/06/casting-14-sided-juryeonggu-anapji.html
A juryeonggu: http://gyeongjulove.blogspot.kr/2011/06/casting-14-sided-juryeonggu-anapji.html

Things I will miss:

The people

The walks

The weather

All bundled up.
All bundled up.

The flora

Cherry blossoms in spring.
Cherry blossoms in spring.

The fauna

My two favourite dogs which we see from time to time when we take our post-meal walks.
My two favourite dogs which we see from time to time when we take our post-meal walks.

The food

Korean fried rice with assorted dishes.
Korean fried rice with assorted dishes.

The alcohol

Two of my favourite Korean alcoholic drinks – bokbunjaju (복분자주) and baeksaeju (백세주).
Two of my favourite Korean alcoholic drinks – bokbunjaju (복분자주) and baeksaeju (백세주).

The history

The culture

Memorial service for Park Kyung Ni, author of Toji and founder of the Toji Cultural Centre.
Memorial service for Park Kyung Ni, author of Toji and founder of the Toji Cultural Centre.

The parties

노래방 (noraebang) or karaoke/KTV in Korea.
노래방 (noraebang) or karaoke/KTV in Korea.

The language

A lingerie shop in Hongdae.
A lingerie shop in Hongdae.

And many, many more things too numerous to name.

Thank you, Toji Cultural Centre, Korea and the friends I’ve made for making this experience one of the defining moments of my life.

Till we meet again.

Growing up

Thu, 17 Jan 2013
1 min read
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You know you’ve crossed a certain temporal threshold in your existence when you and your guy friends excitedly:

  1. Download – at a solemnisation lunch – a heart rate monitor app to check how healthy you all are;Instant Heart Rate Monitor by Azumio

    and

  2. Discuss – over Whatsapp – how the Philips AirFryer has gone down in price

    -“…from $300plus to $249!”
    -“Will it go down further?”

    AND THEN contemplate buying the damn air fryer.

    Philips AirFryer

And that’s not even mentioning the Chinese Chess while we were having drinks!

Wow guys - we've really aged.