It's been awhile since I wrote anything here. Everything is going o.k. I'm still pretty busy with work. I have ten classes in a row every friday. I'm pretty tired. Sumin and I seem to be exploring the possibilities. No spark yet. I'm attracted to her, but I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with her. I still miss Pil, I have good days and bad days. I feel that I am unable to communicate anything right now, I'm too tired. I'll write more tomorrow, probably.

So my week is only 1/3 done, but I want it to be the weekend, so I can see Sumin. My day was really good today, though. Jackie and Judy, two of my adult students took Dan and I to Gyeong-ju. There was a festival of traditional wines, and rice cakes. It was fun to get nearly drunk at ten in the morning. There was a guy there who does traditional calligraphy and paper making. I was really into it. Dan bought two fans for his grandparents and the gave gave him a painting he did right there for free. It was pretty cool to watch him do it. He said that he had appeared on CNN. I don't doubt it. His work was really good. Yeah, Jen and I talked for a bit after the meeting. It was good. I think I'm becoming her spiritual advisor. All of her conversations seem to end up that way. I don't mean them too, but they do. I mentioned this to her, and she told me that we never connect on any other level. Which somewhat disturbs me, because I have other levels, you know. I'm a pretty normal guy. But it's good that I can help her, in my small way. Sumin seems to be sending me good signals. My mom gave me this weird advice, 'have fun, don't take things too seriously.' It's funny, coming from my mom. She's always taking things too seriously. It's good advice though.

What a week. Met Sumin for lunch yesterday, and it was nice. Very relaxed. It was the first time both of us were relaxed. It felt good. We're going to spend the day together next week, so I'm going to at last put the record straight. Does she want to be friends, lovers, boyfriend/girlfriend? I hope it's more than friends. I worked my ass off all week. I'm very tired now, which is partly because of that, and partly because I went out with Dan, JP, Luke, Julie, and Catherine (two of my former adult students) I think that Julie and I could get close, but I'm going to wait to see how things turn out with Sumin. I have to do alot of student evaluations, and I don't really want to. I also have to meet the drama people to talk yet again, about what we want to do with the group. So yeah, I've got nothing to say, but it's o.k.

good morning good morning g-

My saturday was good. I went out with Sumin, got an e-mail from Judit, and met Jen for drinks and dancing. The dinner with Sumin was good, if a bit awkward. She had no self confidence at all, and it was hard work trying to encourage her. I think she might be worth it, though. She seems to have a sweetness, bubbling up that I like. I met Jen and her friend, Lucy. And spent one of the most relaxing times, I've had here in quite some time. We met at a bar and played some pool, then we went by the river and drank some more. Then we went to a night club where we drank more and danced even more. Jen and I danced. It was a joke, but I also liked it. I'm not sure if she did or not. She's so fragile and strong at the same time. It would be great if we could hit it off, but that probably won't happen. Then today we met and saw a bad korean movie together. I think Sumin is the desire for stability and comfort, and Jen is the desire for a life partner. Someone who can really understand me. We'll see what happens on both counts.

Realization

Everything you do is meaningless. Fundamentally most human activity is meaningless. Work, most work is meaningless. It doesn't matter to God whether the children I teach ever learn English. What matters is the state of their souls, and me, I have very little to do the state of their souls. My only responsibility in this life is the state of my soul. And how do I care for my soul, by loving other people, and loving God. The job, has nothing to do with that. The bills have nothing to do with that. The treats you buy yourself have nothing to do with it. The program on t.v. about transexuals have nothing to do with it. Most people who care to think about such things know about this, but the truth is, the meaningless of life as we live it extends much further. All of our plans are meaningless, because God is in control of our lives. He may decide that it's not in the cards for us to be loving fathers, or to have them, to have successful relationships, and live out our dreams. Where do dreams come from? The soul, or conditioning? I suspect our detachment from our soul is much more pronounced than I fear. Maybe no one on earth is in touch with their soul. If they were, would they weep? Would they abandon all of this, and go and live in the wilderness eating locusts and honey? Would they laugh, because of the big joke of the world?
You may be thinking that the meaninglessness of most life is a bad thing. I don't think so. I think it's a very liberating thing. If you realize the meaninglessness, you can focus on what is important, human relationships, and your relationship with God. So with your hands be as one who prepares for winter with large stores of grain, but with your heart and mind be as one constantly dancing, because the winter may never come.

Yes, so I went on a date? With Sumin on Monday night. It was fun, if a bit awkward as her English skills, though infinitely better than my Korean skills leave much to be desired. I was really attracted to her, and wanted to kiss her, but I decided against it, just because this is Korea, and I think that may be too forward of me. On tuesday, I went into the p.c. bong to see her for a while. It went well, but then she sent me this confusing message, which could be interpreted in a number of different ways, primarily that she was at work, and didn't appreciate me being there, but then she invited me to have lunch with her at the pc bong. I am confused. And is it romance, or just friends? Judit appears to have disappeared as suddenly as she appeared. Which is sad, but not unexpected. Maybe I should stratch Hungary off of the list, and go instead to Poland. Work is going fine, I've settled into a rountine at the new place. It's a better building, and in a better location. Already we're getting more students. I think that it was a good decision to move. I will probably write more on Sunday.

So I talked to her this morning. She wrote me this note asking when I wanted to meet, when I worked. She's very cute actually. She said that she would e-mail, which is the primary reason that I am here. I hope she wants romance. She works at Don't Tell Mamma's, which is a night club, but she plays in the band. That means she's kind of cool. I also had the clowning workshop today. It was pretty fun, and Jen was pretty cool, organizing it. I hope she likes sharing responsibility. I could see her being pretty domineering. When went for a walk along the river, and then we went for a ride on the Lotte Ferris Wheel. It was pretty cool, it wasn't as intense as the last couple of times we talked. Which is nice, and relaxing. It was funny, I think on the wheel there was a moment where we connected. It would be nice to have a relationship with her as she has the most expressive eyes, but I don't think that's what she wants right now. I'd like to hang out with her more during the week, but her schedule is crazy. What does the future hold for young Adam? Only time will tell.

I sent Judit this e-mail, saying that yesterday I was wondering when I would have sex again, fall in love again, and all of that. The ironies of life are strong sometimes. As I was leaving this very pc bong this morning, the lady, who is somewhat attractive at the front counter stopped me and handed me a note. At first I thought it was something that I lost, but I realized when I was gone, what it was. I read it. It basically said that every since she saw me, she's been interested in foreigners, and wants to be my friend and teach me all about Korea. It was nice of her, and I'm not sure she's interested in me as a person, as just a friend, or romantically. I hope it's romantically, because I think I need a fling right about now, but even if it's not, that would be great. It took a lot of courage for her to do that. Write a letter in a strange language to a complete stranger asking to be his friend. Obviously, she's open minded, and I can get into that. She seems really nice too. Kind. I want to get to know her. It was just the shot in the arm that I needed. God saying, 'you da man, Adam! You da man!'.

I was sitting there, in my room stuffed almost up to the windows with dirty laundry, thinking about the fact that it was the eleventh of the month. My anniversary with Pili was on the eleventh of November. So I was thinking about it, and I made my way here to check my e-mail. I then read the news item about the terrorist bombing in Madrid. Even though it had no connection with me, and my life, it was this big reminder of Pili and Pili's family. I was worried about Nines, so I emailed Pili reluctantly, and she said that she was o.k., but that things in Madrid were somewhat chaotic. She said that she really missed me, missed having conversations with me, but that she was respecting my wishes not to hear from her. She ended her missive with this quote, "Remember birds only nest when they are breeding". I thought to myself. What, you are expert in ornithology that you can make such a claim? And this was the crux of why we broke up, why would she throw that in my face? Maybe she wasn't conscious of it, but she should develop some awareness of how her actions affect other people. I realized that she is not interested in her friends of themselves, but in how they relate to her, what they can do for her. This is her notion of friendship which is purer than love. Hmm.

I got my answer from Judit, and it was a confused irrational one. Irrational answers are just as good as rational ones sometimes. I am re-evaluating whether I want to go to Hungary in the fall. I might just go for the Celta, and then go to Poland to work. I have this vision of myself being this free entity. Loving whom I chose to, and not getting tangled up in anything. I seem to have got myself tangled in something without even knowing it. Do I dare eat a peach? Do I risk the possibility of finding another four years of my life with another crazy European? But I liked those four years, I like that craziness. I am but a poor moth fluttering about, willingly diving head first into the flame. I don't think it's as bad as all that. It is a harpy song. Every one thinks the harpy is the symbol for men who harbour some fear of commitment. I'd venture to say that most men are afraid of commitment, because there was a time when they weren't afraid of it, and someone broke their heart because of that lack of fear. They were ardent lovers of everything about the harpy at one time, it's beautiful song, and even it's talons. Now it's just the song. I saw this movie yesterday about this mentally challenged man who goes on a date. I thought to myself. This is like one of my dates. I would say those things. Do you want to see my shower curtains? They have sail boats on them. Jen is organizing a clown workshop on the weekend. It should be fun.