Preparing for WWIII

So, I've been watching lots of CNN lately; it's one of the only English channels I have. They have been talking a lot about the Korean peninsula which happens to be where I'm living. They are showing a lot of footage of protesters in Seoul burning pictures of Kim Jong Il and North Korean flags and juxtaposing that with file footage of the North Korean military 'goosestepping' around the North and really old footage of scientists in labs apparently building nuclear weapons. It's starting to kind of freak me out.

I have come to the realization that if North Korea decides to attack South Korea, they will head straight for Seoul. I have also read some speculation that there is a large amount of missiles pointed straight at Seoul and there have been ever since the Korean war ended...oh wait, the Korean war never ended. If you look back to high school history class you will see that the Korean War is still happening. There was never any peace treaty signed so it is just an active war in which they have taken a fifty-year break from fighting. So the country I am living in is in an "active" war with the country that has just tested its first nuclear weapon with plans to test more, as my current homeland announced today that they are preparing for a nuclear war "just in case." Let me make something clear - You wear a seat belt in a car "just in case" - you prepare for a nuclear war because you think a nuclear war might begin. I don't know much about nuclear weapons (although I do know how to say "nuclear" thanks to Homer Simpson), but I am under the impression that there isn't a whole lot you can do to prepare for a nuclear war other than start digging graves.

I don't want to give off the wrong impression here. I think at this point that war is still far off (God I hope I'm right), and I don't feel like my life will be ended tomorrow. But I am coming to the realization that my life is somewhat in danger. I am living in a city that has a big target on it and there's a leader with a severe Napolean complex just across the DMZ with the capabilities to blow it to bits. I would not consider this a very noble way to die and don't know what I will do if I survive a nuclear bombing. I don't speak the same language as anyone in my neighborhood. I don't know where to go to be safe. I wouldn't understand warnings on TV or radio. Man, I'm starting to freak myself out even more.

For now there isn't much I can do. I bought a pair of numchuks to keep me safe when the North Koreans attack and I've been watching a lot of Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme movies to learn how to use them. I need to go out and get a parka - the cold war is starting back up.

Keep me in your thoughts and keep your fingers crossed for me.

Love from Seoul