Weekend in Seoul

We've got a weekend off. Everyone is going to their hometowns, which means I went to Seoul. I'll be meeting with a friend on Saturday and one of the teachers Saturday night. I've got the hostel booked and checked-in. I hit the bank and got enough money to last me several weeks. I purchased a return train ticket for Sunday so I can still attend church in Seoul and make it back to the last stop before our school bus makes it back to campus. I got a free ride up to Seoul via the school bus. I read half of the book Papa gave me; thank you Papa. I must admit it is interesting reading a book about a murder in North Korea when I am about 50 miles from Pyongyang and less than 20 miles from the most heavily armed border in the world.

I got a new cell phone and it has the features I have most wanted; subway maps for the entire country, English support, and a bi-directional dictionary. I have several 'older sisters' in the country; some of which I work with. The remaining 'big sister' owns a coffee shop and I was able to drop in, say hello, give some oranges, drink some peach iced tea, chat for a bit, and got some encouragement on my Korean. With the coffee shop owner I have only met one other member of her family. With my other "big sisters" I have met 6+ members of their families.

I missed the last subway of the night by about 10 seconds; I saw it, doors closed, rolling away. I "knew" where a bus stop was; and found out I didn't; I then waited for a bus that never came. Walked from 12:30 at night to around 2:30 am, minus 15 minutes on a bus I accidently found. I had $600 in cash, several credit cards, two debit cards, and a US passport in my should bag and still felt safer at 2am than I do in parts of my hometown in the early evening.

I ate wonderful streetvender food and happily chatted with the owner and some of the patrons. A semi-drunk man kept wanting to shake my hand and wanted us to bow to each other. I got really mixed up while walking home yet now know the area much better than I did before and considering how often I come to this hostel, knowing the area well will truly help me in the future.

I was still happy as could be. I haven't spent real time in Seoul since the beginning of December, not counting getting over jetlag or preparing to leave the country again. I tell people that Seoul is my "hometown" and it feels it.