| |
|
At great cost, I came to KR twice this year, once in the spring and once in the summer, for a fortnight each. And both times were contenders for holiday of my life.
In April it wasn't strictly necessary that I come and I probably couldn't afford it but I did it anyway, to see Eun Jung. I showed up at Kimpo Airport pushing my trolley and she was there waiting: one of the finest moments of my life, there seemed to be such a sure aura around us both which stayed for all the holiday. Now we're married it's long gone but then... the earth moved.
We did all the fun things and I saw a brand new Korea: one where I had no work obligations. It was different and it was far superior. And cheap. After the IMF, everything was cheap. God what heaven, no wonder I was happy. We went shopping and went to Kyongju, saw a movie double bill in their local cinema, marvelled at how everyone downtown seemed to be teenagers, went up to Pulguksa, so in love.
Also enjoyed Jason and Daniel's company: one night we met after their night classes in Imun-Dong, took er, off and got walking, through Kyung-Hee University, Hoegi-Dong and all the back streets, then down the main road past Chongnyangni, Tongdaemun, all the way to Chongno Sam-Ga, where we drank a load of beer. Brilliant walk.
In June/July it was World Cup time and Korea had a great, exotic summer feel, warm and raining hard. This was an important visit to Korea but it felt like a holiday. I was bringing Eun Jung back to UK and out of KR. Meeting her mum (secretly) for the first time. Interviewing at the British Embassy for the entry visa. Moving all her stuff out of her little room in Hongdae to her friend's flat, then to cargo & sending to UK. All while the World Cup was on.
The day of England v Argentina her TV packed in, at around 4pm. So I did what any other England fan in the circumstances would have done: went and bought a second hand telly. Between 4am and 6am I was watching it, enthralled, in a little flat in Hongdae, during warm and rainy season, and when Sol Campbell "scored the winner", celebrated like he was in heaven but then the goal got chalked off, I was with him all the way.
This trip felt famous. Everyone was helping us, saying goodbye, we went out with Jason & Hye-Jin plus all Eun Jung's mates to drink it up big time before taking off. On the plane all the way back we had plenty to talk about and this was very big for me but even bigger for Eun Jung: she was packing all her things, leaving KR and coming to UK!
1995 ~ 1996 ~ 1997 ~ 1999 ~ 2000 ~ 2002 ~ 2003 ~ 2004 ~ 2005 ~ 2006 ~ world cup 2002 ~ korean personalities ~ korean places ~ the people ~ my own photos of korea from living there and visiting & revisiting it ~ it's quite a place you know, and well worth a visit ~ except you probably won't!