So, again, I woke up at 6:00AM today to head into Seoul. I have to be there by 10:00AM when we have visits at the Sharing House. One guy got there a little late, so I stayed behind the others to take he and his friend to the Sharing House. It's not an easy trip out there.
The girl who was waiting for him is named Anna; she's Korean. The guy who was late is from South Africa and his name is Allon. We had an interesting talk about politics on the bus to the Sharing House...go figure. Haha! We had a protest disagreement. Anna sells the candle girl (the current symbol of the protests b/c the protests began by middle and high school girls going out in their uniforms and holding candles on the streets) shirts. During the visit, I asked her if she had any to sell, and she gave me one that she had in her bag! So sweet of her!! She is very much into the protests and has been to about every one of them.
The Sharing House was wonderful as usual. I love love love 이옥순 (Lee Ohk Soon) halmoni. She's just so amazing! She came out to talk to everyone. We made a group decision that the halmoni shouldn't give testimonies anymore; it's too difficult on them. So, now if any of them feel like coming out to socialize, they do that instead. Lee Ohk Soon halmoni is usually up for socializing except the past few weeks she's been feeling really weak after her trip to Japan to give her testimony and speak about her experiences. The group today was lucky enough to get her out of her room finally. She doesn't really like sitting around doing nothing for very long. I think she was in a cranky mood at first today. When people were asking her questions, she was very negative. She soon got into a spunky, "I hate the government" attitude. Soon she professed her love of Communism. Uh...haha! When asked what she thinks about Lee Myung Bak (Korea's president), her response was, "I love him. Everyone loves him." She was showing off some of that awesome sarcasm she has in her... The Korean president is currently UNDER a 20% approval rating and has even the smallest of citizens singing songs that mock his name. My host bro and sis love these songs.
Malcolm and I will be leading our first tour together for the next visit. We were both too nervous to do full on tours on our own, so there was a suggestion that we do the tour together. I really like that idea! I feel so under qualified compared those who have been volunteering there for almost 2 years now. O_O Nonetheless, I'm excited to take the next step in further helping the Sharing House and the other volunteers.^^
Anna and I really hit it off. I decided to walk with her for a while after the visit instead of heading back in taxis. The two of us and Allon walked around the area where the Sharing House sits and out onto the main road. There is a meditation center near there that I wanted to check out, but we decided to catch a bus so we could get back into town. While we were waiting for the bus to come, some very nice ladies gave us tomatoes from their tomato stand. At first they gave each of us one. Then Allon decided he wanted to buy some, but they only came in a huge box...so the ladies gave us a bag of about 10. I love Korea! Oh, there is a tomato festival next week near the Sharing House, but unfortunately, I won't be able to make it.
Anna decided to head to Maria and Michael's going away party with me, but Allon went home. Anna and I talked on the subway ride all the way there. She is amazing! She decided to drop out of college because she wanted to figure out who she is and she wasn't accomplishing that in the Korean school system. So, she took off traveling. She went to Europe to travel...but she didn't just travel...she walked on a walking road that provides camping instead of hotel-ing it. She also randomly ended up with two guys from I don't remember where that she kindly referred to as hippies. She traveled with them for a few days and slept wherever they landed...on a beach...camping here and there. Then she headed down to Kenya and Tanzania (the two African countries I've been to). I don't remember exactly what she did there, but I know it was some sort of volunteering. Now she's back in Korea doing what she's passionate about...activism. She wants to go back to college, but this time in Sweden. From what I've heard and what I understand Sweden is basically amazing. The country is incredibly international and full of open minded people. I look forward to someday visiting/living there.^^
So, the going away party...Maria, a sharing house volunteer (the one who has lived in 4 different countries) is now heading to LSE, and Michael (the brilliant Princeton graduate who is currently working at the Korean Human Rights Commission on full scholarship) is now heading to Chile to work for the Human Rights Watch. Pretty amazing people I've gotten myself involved with here! The party was at Curry Town (our second home...or third...haha). My friends in Seoul spend most of their meals at this place and have become quite attached to the managers and cooks as well. The food was amazing! I'm sad to see Maria and Michael leave, but they have such amazing things ahead of them!
Oh the amazing news of the night! Allon offered to get Anna and I tickets to the World Cup Qualifying game between North and South Korea next Sunday!!!!!!!! YAY!! I've wanted to see a soccer game in Korea...why not go to the World Cup Qualifier. Allon is extra stoked for the game seeing as how the World Cup will be in South Africa in 2010.^^
I was smart this time in coming to Seoul...I bought my bus ticket when I got there. So, I only had to make sure I made my bus this time versus making it to the bus station in time to get a ticket and then potentially having an hour wait. ^_~
I got home around midnight. Tired...bed time.
Peace out.
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