Keep On Keepin' On
I think I have found my way out of the funk I recently found myself in, and if last night isn't proof of this, I don't know what is.
I decided to go to Costco to stock up on frozen items, booze and other essentials. I was going solo after I got off work at 6:00. It was sprinkling outside, but I am never one to allow the weather to dictate my plans, so I decided I would make the trip anywho.
To get to Costco you have to get off at the nearest subway stop and then take a cab a mile or two up a hill to the bulk-buying, bargain-hunter's paradise. By the time I came out of the proper station, the sprinkle had turned into a downpour. I was able to flag down two different cabs, both who tried to explain in Korean why they couldn't take me there. Both of them got an ear-full of English cuss words and slanders. I tried to bribe both of them with extra money and still they both said no.
I continued walking in the direction of Costco, all the while trying in vain to hail a cab and getting soaked to the bone. There comes a point when you are in the rain when you realize it will be impossible to get any wetter. I reached that point and said, "Fuck it." I turned the iPod up a little louder and began hiking. I made a wrong turn and ended up along a gorgeous river-walk area. I saw actual wild life (some gigantic white herons and a couple badger-like creatures) as I jammed to my tunes. (I just used a couple phrases that will baffle any of my friends reading this that have spent time in Korea: wild-life and gorgeous river-walk.) Wherever I had ended up, it was a beautiful little corner of Seoul and I felt lucky to have found it. The air smelled thick of the pine trees I was surrounded by and it smelled fresh - two smells you don't smell often in Seoul.
I was soaking wet, couldn't figure out the taxi system, lost, hungover, and incredibly content with life. I consider that a victorious evening.
I finally made to Costco. I got some strange looks - I am sure I looked like a vagrant who had come from under the bridge to Costco just trying to get out of the rain. Even though I have been here for a year, I am still having surreal Asian experiences and I need to enjoy each and every minute of them. As sick of Asia as I have been lately, I know I will miss certain aspects of the place once I return Stateside and I have realized that now is the time to keep on keeping on.
Much love from Seoul
I decided to go to Costco to stock up on frozen items, booze and other essentials. I was going solo after I got off work at 6:00. It was sprinkling outside, but I am never one to allow the weather to dictate my plans, so I decided I would make the trip anywho.
To get to Costco you have to get off at the nearest subway stop and then take a cab a mile or two up a hill to the bulk-buying, bargain-hunter's paradise. By the time I came out of the proper station, the sprinkle had turned into a downpour. I was able to flag down two different cabs, both who tried to explain in Korean why they couldn't take me there. Both of them got an ear-full of English cuss words and slanders. I tried to bribe both of them with extra money and still they both said no.
I continued walking in the direction of Costco, all the while trying in vain to hail a cab and getting soaked to the bone. There comes a point when you are in the rain when you realize it will be impossible to get any wetter. I reached that point and said, "Fuck it." I turned the iPod up a little louder and began hiking. I made a wrong turn and ended up along a gorgeous river-walk area. I saw actual wild life (some gigantic white herons and a couple badger-like creatures) as I jammed to my tunes. (I just used a couple phrases that will baffle any of my friends reading this that have spent time in Korea: wild-life and gorgeous river-walk.) Wherever I had ended up, it was a beautiful little corner of Seoul and I felt lucky to have found it. The air smelled thick of the pine trees I was surrounded by and it smelled fresh - two smells you don't smell often in Seoul.
I was soaking wet, couldn't figure out the taxi system, lost, hungover, and incredibly content with life. I consider that a victorious evening.
I finally made to Costco. I got some strange looks - I am sure I looked like a vagrant who had come from under the bridge to Costco just trying to get out of the rain. Even though I have been here for a year, I am still having surreal Asian experiences and I need to enjoy each and every minute of them. As sick of Asia as I have been lately, I know I will miss certain aspects of the place once I return Stateside and I have realized that now is the time to keep on keeping on.
Much love from Seoul
posted by Kyle at 2:48 PM
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