The Kimchi Shuffle

I find it hard to believe that 2 months have passed since my last entry. I keep waiting for something of import to happen to me so I can write about it. Now I just don't wanna wait any longer.

I've done well the last 2 months. Piano, chess, the gym and Heineken have seen me through. When I returned from Australia I viewed the 4 month period before Christmas as the last hurdle to clear before I could mentally check outta here. There's only 1 month of that block left. The only thing that could make me happier would be if it were 0 months left.

There's no point in going on about how I dislike this place. I've been doing it since 2nd or 3rd post back in May last year. Nothing's forcing me to stay apart from convention and the belief that you should finish what you started. There's a tradition of English teachers working in Korea and not liking what they see and I guess I am no different here. I once vowed to remind myself of the good bits every day to retain a balance. I don't really follow that policy anymore. If something good happens, it's usually been orchestrated by our own efforts. Otherwise I find the people rude and the culture unforgiving. I have few, if any "it's good to be alive" moments over here. Even though it still is, I sense, elsewhere...

Although chess excites me. That gives you an indication of the type of guy I am.

I've gotten the literature necessary for my Grade 1 piano exam. The pieces sound so basic but it nevertheless requires constant effort to get your fingers in the right place in time. My teacher and pal over here Michael has shown me a thing or two about more effective practicing, and as far as I can tell, it centres on doing things you'd prefer to avoid. But you don't improve by ignoring your weakspots now do you? I think I know enough theory to get through Grade 1 easily so most of my practice is in these little shifts of finger position and timing and speed - the practical aspects. I can hopefully take the test in the week before leaving for Africa.

I'm going to South Africa. I leave on January 6 and return to Korea on the 27th. For almost the whole month of January I'll be elsewhere; when I return there'll be roughly 10 weeks before the final fuckovski. It's remarkable to think I once imagined myself within an illness that confined me to my house; that even a trip to Sydney was something to psychically prepare for for months beforehand. That I doubted I could even do it. I still have problems now. They're just more likely to involve photocopiers and repetitive lunch menus. I could use a bit of life in my life. Maybe in Africa I'll get chased by a lion or something.