And… we’re back. Only took a year.
We told everyone we would be back on the 28th so we could surprise our parents. So that’s what we did.
The jet lag has been unfortunate. I overdosed on Gravol before the flight to take advantage of the drowsy side-effects. I essentially slept through the entire 13-hour flight, and then have proceeded to wake up at 4am every day. And I haven’t been the chipperest chippy doo during the day.
The day after we arrived, we visited Thea’s grandfather who has been really sick this past year with Alzheimer’s, diabetes,
and various other ailments stemming from being confined to a bed for such a long time. A few times during our Korean adventure we thought that Thea would have to rush home for a funeral. Fortunately, Thea was able to see him one last time before he died on Sunday morning. While we sat by his bed on Friday evening, he actually woke up for a moment and, through his shallow congested breathing, looked right at Thea. I don’t know how much recognition there could be while trapped inside such a broken body, but when Thea left him a year ago we didn’t think she would see him again. So a twinkle of eye-contact turns into a meaningful moment and a way to say goodbye.
Jet lagged, grieving, and living out of a suitcase, Thea started teacher’s college on Monday. I’ve been doing my best to make our apartment as comfortable and livable as possible and now most of the work is finished. When I dropped her off on Monday morning, it was strange to now be on different schedules. From the moment we stood together at our wedding we’ve done everything together. Including shoe shopping and Buffy-watching. Now we’ve started a normal married couple schedule and it feels foreign.
Filed under: Korean Adventures
This is our last morning in this apartment, our first home together. I’m feeling a little sentimental. After church a van will be coming to move us to a hotel, where we’ll stay until we head home. The school has decided to let go of the apartment because they’re tired of dealing with the loony landlady, so no new teachers will be taking over our place. So we’re moving out a little early. I’m sitting here on a bed with no sheets looking at walls with no decoration. The couch, the screens, the mirror, our shelves, everything has been given away. Our clothes are packed. I just have to throw away some food in the refrigerator and that’s pretty much it. So strange.
Filed under: Korean Adventures, Matrimony, Useless Information | Tags: fights, Hitchcock, Monet, photography
It’s Alfred Hitchcock’s birthday. Two Christmases ago Thea bought me a DVD collection of Hitchcock movies. My appreciation for his movies ranges from respect for his skill or innovation without particularly enjoying the movie to loving his distinct style and niche. Rear Window and Vertigo in particular are fantastic.
It’s been rainy season in Korea since… 1997, I think. Actually, rainy season usually ends around mid-July. Not this year, baby. And weather has a definite influence on mood and perspective. My approach to teaching is quite different on days when I walk to school in the rain to starting a day with sunshine and lollipops. Rainy days were great when I worked at Halton Helping Hands – it meant a day off.
We get Wednesday off this week for Independence Day. It will be spent packing as we were informed today that we would be moved to a hotel on Sunday for the remainder of our stay in sunny South Korea. So at least we won’t have to worry about keeping our place clean and washing dishes and… walking to work. The jacuzzi and big-screen TV are a happy bonus, too. So we’re leaving Korea in style.
Yesterday we went to see the Monet exhibit in Seoul. Followed by a devastating argument instigated by a cardboard cutout of Monet, with which countless Koreans were posing for pictures. Thea wanted me to pretend to be kissing Monet, to which I begrudgingly agreed, feeling shy in front of the throngs of onlookers. After waiting for a lull in the crowd, I finally sat beside Claude, leaned over and kissed his cheek. Thea took the picture, but the flash reflected off the Impressionist, shattering the illusion that I was kissing the real man (although he probably would have appreciated the play of light). So Thea wanted me to go pose again. I felt that I had fulfilled my husbandly duty. Thea disagreed. Apparently, it’s always a chore getting me to do anything fun, or interesting, or outside of the apartment. But, how hard is it to turn off the flash, really? So after a brief exchange of words, security kindly escorted us out. You can see the picture here.
It doesn’t feel like we’ve been away for a year.
Filed under: General Nonsense, Internet is Fun, Matrimony | Tags: enchiladas, God, hobbit hole, Jack Handey
I thought this was pretty neat. I’ve always wanted to live like a hobbit. The title of this post is completely unrelated. It’s a reference to a Jack Handey quote that tickled my fancy.
Marriage is peeling big-toe calluses whilst the wife works away at some school project for her students.
Althea and I both had dreams we were home last night.
