This weekend...Friday night I came home and washed the pirate makeup from my face, (it was Halloween at school on the 23rd of October...more details about that later in the week,) and cleaned the apartment. This was good. At home, my roommates know that I am slightly stressed or need a "me-moment" when I start to vacuum. Things haven't changed very much here. I vacuumed the entire apartment, which doesn't seem to be big enough to relieve all of the need for me-time. So, I cleaned some more and re-arranged the food in our cabinets. We had a really good Bible study Friday night to make up for the missed one earlier in the week. I felt encouraged by the study and am really digging how honest everyone is. One word describes it...saaaaaweet! I practiced guitar for a while and can see some improvement. REALLY ENCOURAGING. Jam session with the roomies next year will be much improved!
Saturday, Amanda and I met up with Gideon to walk the Cheonggyecheon stream. It was less exciting than the guide book said it would be, so now I am going to toss out my guide book planning and be more spontaneous and "end-up" somewhere. After strolling around and hearing Lil Bow Wow in a deli, we went to hear two friends of ours playing at a music room. IT WAS AMAZING! I think it's even better when you know the people playing. It just seems more personal. There was this Korean man (owner of the place) who grabbed the guitar and started playing Korean blues. WOW. It did not matter that I had no idea what he was saying. It was beautiful and soulful. He had Derek and Chris join him...what is so amazing is that the language of music triumphs over the language of words. They were able to just make music without understanding each other's language.
Sunday I woke up wanting to have more me-time. A bit frustrated, I joined the group for brunch in Apgugeong, another area of Seoul. Frustration faded away as the conversation and food radically improved my mood. I have been craving nature and the need to see a more tangible view of fall. I can feel it in the air, but I want to walk through the trees. I walk through apartment buildings in Guemjeong. We dined on white wine, Gorgonzola pizza, crusty bread and butter, shrimp pink pasta, (which only had one head in it.) I really enjoyed sitting over the meal for a few hours and talking. I am still in the mindset of you sit down, order right away, pay and leave. But, it was really nice to just sit and talk and relax. Moving on...we went for dessert and coffee at a quaint little coffee shop appropriately called The Queen. Exposed concrete walls, unfinished and unstained tables, chipped paint and antique light fixtures, wonderful music spanning Mayer and Jones, great lattes and brownies alongside tiramisu...could not have been better. Walking the streets of Apgugeong was just as good. I had an incredible conversation with Sayon (not sure how to really spell his name). He is Korean, but I consider him Spanish as he lived in Spain for a time and speaks English with an Spanish accent. He is literally the MOST BEAUTIFUL man I have ever seen. His hair is much longer than mine and has a natural wave to it that most women envy. I can't fully describe him. Our conversation centered around the need for nature and the overwhelming desire to be in nature that doesn't overlook the city. I was really surprised at the depth of the street conversation. We talked about God, fear, peace, and finding the more intimate side of Korea. This conversation only helped to improve my mood. On to the "street where you can smell New York." We walked the length of the street and settled in a vintage appliance pub. I FINALLY had that Guinness that I have been craving. So tasty and comfortable. Conversation continued to be uplifting. Made the way home after a few hours in the pub to find myself wide-awake. I once boasted that coffee does not keep me up, but that is now a lie! It keeps me up until the next morning! That was the weekend. Full of more adventures, full of good conversation, and full of good music.
Side note: I am feeling a bit distracted and obligated to know what's going on everywhere in the world, so I am off facebook for the next week and I am not saying "I don't like...." I will let you know if I can manage it. LOVE!
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