Hi all!
Okay, so it's been 2 weeks and I haven't posted anything... Frankly speaking, it seems to be humdrum now. But, I must persevere....
I had wanted to take things easy prior to my trip to the US. Ya right! As if that's gonna happen. Last weekend, my principal had invited me to his home in Daegu to meet his wife. It really was the last thing I felt like doing, since I am permanently tired and desperately in need of a break and some serious vegetating and couch-potato-ing before the long exhausting hours of global travel coming up soon. He always asks me what my weekend plans are, and I am always busy, so he never gets to ask the next question..."I would like to invite you to my home. Can you come?" Just this time, because I had deliberately not planned anything, he finally got to his second question. And, caught unawares, I very honestly replied, "Mmmm, I don't think I have anything planned for this weekend. Why?"
However, I had forgotten about the Thanksgiving party I was to attend on Friday night in a neighbouring town. It was a gathering of foreign teachers and Korean teachers. One of my friends... (Mexican...his name is Cesar)... well, Cesar's elderly Korean co-teacher was very interested in me. All the guys noticed it. And the evening ended with him telling me he would like to have 'romance' with me. The man is married, with rotting teeth, and probably old enough to be my father!. So before any of you ask me why I told the man, "Sorry, but I have a boyfriend, " ... there's your answer.
Early Saturday morning, I couldn't keep my eyes open during the drive to Daegu. Basically, I was chauffeur-driven by my principal, while I dozed periodically on the back seat! Anyway, the visit turned out to be just what the doctor ordered for me. His wife and I took to one another immediately. In her very basic English, she said I seem 'familiar' to her. They took me to a beautiful Buddhist temple nearby, which was amazingly peaceful and tranquil. Exactly what I needed. (They are both Christian, but she was praying to Buddha! Christianity here is strange! She told me she also prayed for me.) Next was a cable-car trip up the mountain, followed by a late lunch. The visit went so well that during lunch, they invited me to stay over. I was missing my bed and alone-time, so very delicately tried to explain that I wasn't prepared for a sleep-over (i.e. not packed), and was very tired. I then promised to visit them again the following weekend. So I now have adoptive parents. His wife has included me in her immediate family circle. She only has 2 sons, one a banker, the other a doctor. I am now her daughter. She couldn't stop touching my hair and playing with it, as though I'm a doll! She wouldn't let me carry my own bag and jacket. She hooked me in by the arm as we walked, even though she's much shorter than me. She held my hand - both walking and sitting in the car.
My happy 'parents' then drove me to the bus terminus, paid for my ticket, bought me a case of fruit juice, and then stood and waited with me for the bus to arrive, and saw me safely aboard the bus, before leaving. (As though I haven't travelled halfway around the world on my own already!). Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it, it was really sweet and kind of them to be so considerate, but at my age, when I've lived most of my life doing what I want, when I want, on my own terms, it takes a loooooooot of patience to handle.
And so this weekend .... I met my principal at school on Saturday, after which he first stopped off at his mother's. While he was taking care of outdoor chores for her, I had to sit and wait with an 82-year-old Korean woman. Of course, we couldn't communicate. The rest of the weekend was quite similar. Lots of quiet and rest and looooong silences. I did, however, get to spend time in the kitchen, observing Korean cooking firsthand, and got to sleep late on Sunday morning, have breakfast, and go back to sleep. I was encouraged to rest. But eventually, by the time we had finished lunch, I was silently begging to go home already! My new 'mother' now wants me to join them on a monthly basis. I think that's just tooooooo much hanging out with the principal!
Another special thing happened on Saturday ... it snowed! At first, I didn't realise it was snow till my principal told me. (We were driving.) the snow flakes looked like dandelions...that's how huge they were, but I was definitely convinced as I watched them melt on contact with the windscreen. Apparently, it's quite rare for it to snow here in my area. So, it was something quite special.
I have just realised that while this email sounds like a whole lot of moan and whine.....I actually got just what I asked for. Rest and doing nothing, being cooked for and waited on.
Well, as they say, be careful what you wish for, cos you just might get it!
This Saturday, I have another teachers' field trip with my school staff. A day trip to the East coast this time (last time, we went to the West coast). The following weekend is a Cheese & Wine fundraiser for a school in India, and socialising with friends who WANT to see me before I leave for America.
So, I guess I should be grateful for the quiet weekend I've just had, even though it wasn't exactly what I'd had in mind :)
Till next time...
Love and hugs!
Andrea
