Over the Last Month....

So I'm sure you can see that I have been quite consumed over the drama at work... In fact, I am still consumed by it, but I'm really ready for it to go away. I quit that job at least once a week in my head and I'm only staying now for the money. Here is the funny thing about all this: I might, just might, be offered a promotion out of all this bullshit. I guess that would make my resignation more meaningful, wouldn't it? Oh, the irony. Actually, the attempts at co-optation... But in this situation, is there really any difference?

But my life has not been all drama, no siree...

*At the beginning of the month I went to a spectacular wedding involving a friend who was Tibetan refugee in Nepal before moving to Korea and another friend who is an incredible and amazing Korean activist (and whose father is a famous martyr who immolated himself during the movement for democracy in Korea). The wedding was replete with a traditional Korean music, a hanbok ceremony, live entertainment involving a Nepali singer of certain fame and Korean drumming troupe and then a change of costume from Korean traditional wedding wear to Tibetan. Wow! And it was outside on a perfect day right next to Han River and everyone who is anyone in the Korean Labor/Economic Justice movement was there. And also a lot of people who are no-ones (like myself). So I got to sit around with my friends, drink outside, eat yummy Nepali-style cuisine and partake in a really special ceremony that not too many foreigners have access to... But of course, I didn't take my camera. Sorry.... (for myself as much as you)

*Two weekends ago, there was a huge Buddha's birthday celebration. It involved learning about Buddhism from all Asian countries, not just Korea; a paper lantern-making workshop; dozens of other little art and crafty things that are related to Buddhism; a concert which included groups from Tibet, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand and Korea; an evening parade with all of the lanterns lit that people had made and some other crazy looking floats -like an iridescent white glowing elephant; and more good food. And no, I didn't take my camera to that one either...

*And sometime in the last month, there was also the Hi Seoul festival which was interesting only because there was a walking tour through Buk Cheon Dong, maybe the only yangban neighborhood that has been restored and is still fully intact. You can check out the old style homes with courtyards and tiled roofs; the ones with the sliding rice paper doors and nice wooden floors. You know, it's just a little peak into how people used to live (at least rich people) and you get to be a little nosey in people's houses who are living now. Both are kind of interesting. And oh, I didn't take my camera.

*What else you ask? Well, the GS has been around a whole lot more these days, which definitely makes the work drama more bearable. And I finished teaching those damn middle school students last week and tomorrow will be my first free Tuesday of summer. And the rooftop garden has yielded snow peas, strawberries, and flowers and I think I'll have some nice tomatoes in about a month. I also planted a squash vine, some peppers and an eggplant, so I'll let you know how that turns out. And oh, it is definitely summer here. It's been in the damn 80s this week. Outrageous!

Is this update sufficient? I am so ready for bed....

but don't worry, next time, I'll take my camera.