A Date....With Myself

On Sunday, I took myself on a date. I woke up at 10 and bought myself a coffee. Then I went for a seven hour walk. I walked from my house to Yeouido (the Manhattan of Seoul), to Yongsan (the US military area) then to Sinchon (a trendy clubbing area). For those Vancouverites out there, its like walking from Heather and Paul's house, over the Second Narrows, into downtown, through the West End, around Stanley Park and then to Park Royal. Sounds crazy but it was so much fun. I had my ipod, my camera, a map and unlimited time. It was nice to see the city from street level, as I always take the subway. It was a beautiful day. I took the subway home on the last part, bought myself a bottle of wine on the way home and made myself pasta for dinner. I sure know how to treat a lady.

Its funny how some things are normalizing. Motorcycles on the sidewalk, normal. Kids at school on Saturday, normal. Drunk business men sleeping on park benches at 5pm, totally normal. Come on, who isn't tanked at 5? Well me for sure because i'm guiding young Korean minds. Underwear vendors in the park, normal. Kids playing basketball at midnight, normal. Women wearing facemasks and giant visors, normal. I've become accustomed to people staring at me. If they don't stare at me now, I think, what's wrong with me?

I'm content and pleased with the way things have worked out. I have a good job. I'm meeting lots of people. Some might say I'm making a difference through my work. I suppose, but I think many of my students will seek therapy in a few years. I have so much time to myself. Sometimes I feel a little bored, but I have not had this much time to read, watch movies and learn things in so long. Some travel plans are on the horizon. Maybe Japan for Christmas and Bali for the lunar new year in February.