Happy Chuseok

Thursday afternoon I sat at my desk abusing Facebook and Youtube, glancing at the clock every few moments as the minutes crawled lethargically onward. When the hands finally registered 4:30 I grabbed my coat, skipped down to the first floor, and let out a relieving sigh as I pushed myself into the cool October afternoon. I couldn’t help but smile on the walk home, listening to the new Alice in Chains album, taking in the scenery, anticipating Chuseok weekend adventures.

Rounding the alley to my apartment I said Anyong and waved to the group of school girls smoking cigarettes on my wall. As I dug in my pocket for my keys it occurred to me that the ground around my door way was  unusually damp. I was thinking that I was going to go running up the mountain for a few hours but as I turned the key in the lock the door shot open, my running shoes riding a wave of water down the stairs. I wanted to swear but found composure. I took off my loafers and socks before wading through the pond that had formed in my kitchen. The sound of spraying was unmistakable and was coming from behind the washing machine. I turned off the valve then tried the light switch but all of the electricity was dead. I emerged from my apartment just as the girls had begun to take interest in the waygookin’s misfortune. I began calling my landlord and one of the teenagers offered me a cigarette. I usually don’t smoke but under the circumstances I figured “why not?” Two of the girls came back with buckets and a mop and began bailing water off of my floor. In half an hour everything was dry. Good kids.  For their efforts I offered some mechju and we sat around shooting the breeze until it was dark. My Korean is non-existent but their English was adequate to maintain a conversation. I learned that most of them were my neighbors and all of them were Josh’s students. In time the landlord’s sister showed up and we managed to get the power back on.

Needing to cut loose I met some of the crew near the Yuk for bowling and beer. What else can I say? It was a night on the town. I rocked out.

Yesterday I kept my promise to myself about running and did 8 miles. 2 miles to the base of the mountain, 2 along the ridge, and 4 back to Tapdong. I’m getting way better than I was only a few months ago. Lots more stamina. I never get tired of the view from on top of Chilbo San.

A couple of people went into Seoul to hit the Casinos last night but seeing as how I only ever gamble with my life, never my money, I invited Matt and Matt over to play power hour with crappy beer. It’s great having people around who can appreciate loud heavy metal until the early hours of the morning. Eventually we made our way to Jokki Jokki for fried food and Stout, many of the patrons fleeing in the wake of our confident American demeanor.

Well today is Chuseok and Tapdong is abandoned. In an hour I’ve got to go to the airport to pick up Merkel and his sister…then the real fun begins. Tomorrow is the Global Fair in Incheon. Monday is the Hite factory beer tour. I’m sure both will add up to make a great blog entry.

Cool Thing About Korea #29: The fire show at the Laos Bar