Claire Apparent

She came, she saw, she turned my life upside down. Or maybe right side up?

Claire visited Chuncheon this past week.

Honestly, I probably did more activities around the Chunch' than I had in the past 6 months. And if we're just talking about doing activities, I was probably more active than I've been in about 2 years.

I was frightened at first. As I was waking up at 10 am the first couple mornings or hiking up the side of a mountain, I wasn't sure whether my body could handle this sudden change in schedule. Could my heart work at this normal person pace? Would my brain explode? There really is time for 3 meals in one day? The sun rises before it sets?

But once I got used to these realizations, I found myself feeling healthier and happier. It also helped that it was 60 degrees for most of the week and Claire poured me a bowl of cereal every morning with milk and a touch of love.

Claire was awesome to have around. She has such great energy and need to keep busy. Two things I've always feared, but am working on. She's also become very aware of her surroundings. She made it from the supermarket in my city back to my apartment her first day here. Sense of direction is something she's drastically improved upon. If I remember correctly, she used to have trouble finding the entrance to I-84 in Waterbury. She would whip out a map in order to get from Fulton park to 7-11.

We hiked, drank some Soju, Twisted and Shouted at Karaoke and wowed a Korean Tennis Club with our athleticism. Still got that ferocious Prince Fielder-esque backhanded swing and eephus of a second serve.

Claire is all over the court. Backbone of the team.

We defeated two Koreans in a tiebreaker, impressing the club "pro." I say "pro" because he looked and acted like anything but. He wore a trench coat with moccasins and smoked about 4 cigarettes while we were playing. I kept looking over while he was blowing smoke up into the air, laughing with a group of young, korean women. One time he caught my eye and stared at me for a couple seconds. He motioned to his cigarettes. I half-expected him to break out into an Alex Baldwin type monologue from The Departed. Go to :54 seconds:

The first couple games we looked like Michael Chang and Anna Kournikova. But the last couple we were like Federer and Venus. Grunting aside.

Also, on the way back to my neighborhood, the taxi cab driver challenged me to a match. Might give him a call next weekend to pick me up. Wonder if he'll use the company car. Wonder if he'll turn off the meter.

Anyways, it was great to see Claire and I thank her for coming out to visit. I may never get up at 10 am again these next 6 months, but at least I now know that it exists.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This past weekend was the Lunar New Year in South Korea and many other Asian nations.

Not positive if North Korea celebrates the New Year. Not sure if they have calendars or are allowed to celebrate much of anything up north. Maybe Kim Jong Il's birthday, laundry day and new mistress day.

Since I've been over here and closer to Kim-bap, I've realized that he really isn't as bad as others put him out to be. Maybe just a little lonely. A natural feeling we all experience at some point or another.

Anyways, let's get back to the theme of this post. The beginning of a new year in South Korea. One of the most important days on their calendar. Elaborate gifts are given, traditional garb is donned and ancestral hometowns are visited. On New Years' Day in America, bottles and bottle of water are consumed, Advil and Aspirin tablets are shared amongst loved ones and clothing from the night before is worn for almost half the day.

Let's look at a breakdown of the respective New years' eves in the two nations

New Years' Eve:

2:00 pm

S.K.- Me, my brother, sister, Mom and Dad arrive at my grandparents

house in a small rural town outside of Seoul. We have our traditional Korean clothing in hand and clutch gifts/cards/food for loved ones. My family and I have been preparing all day for tonight and the following day.

U.S.- Jussstt about waking up. Fortunately, New Years Eve fell on a Saturday this year, so a friend had put together a New Years Eve Eve party. Excellent. Not one, but two nights of beer pong, up and down the river and completely destroying someone's home/life. Think I'll take a nap in preparation.

4:00 pm

S.K.- Gifts carefully wrapped in layers and layers of packaging are exchanged. I bought my grandmother a beautiful white and violet vase. I also offered her a plate of chocolate rice cakes my mother, brother and I had made the night before. She smiles and I bow.

Next is my grandfather. The oldest member of our family and therefore, most respected. I sit down close to him and pull out a small metal trinket I had made at University. Red, blue and green colors light up his tired, grey eyes. It is a glasses case.

He seems pleased, but only smiles when I uncover the 3 bottles of Soju I snuck in unbeknownst to my mother. He is happy. I am happy.

U.S.- Get up from my nap.

6:00 pm

S.K.- Aunts, Uncles and cousins arrive at the house. Hugs and kisses are exchanged along with bows to the elder family members. Cousins exchange gifts with grandma and grandpa. Dinner prep begins. Dining table is set. Kim-chi is made. Spicy, red and complimented with rice.

U.S.- Kegs arrive at the party house. Four to be exact. Two already have dents from the treacherous trek up to the 3rd floor apartment. Dining table is turned into a pong platform. The jungle juice is prepared. Malibu Rum, Natural Light and some mouthwash for that extra zip.

8:00 pm

S.K.- Dinner is served with numerous side dishes. Different types of fish, meat, noodles and vegetables are consumed. Families may then walk together after the meal and catch up on each other's lives.

U.S.- I arrive at the party still chewing on the 2 slices of pizza I bought for dinner. I grab a solo cup and scribble my name in on the beer pong list. I utter a few inside jokes amongst friends, turn up the already booming sound system and begin trash talking the pong players.

11:00 pm-12 am

S.K.- Biggest moment of the night. Me, my brothers, sisters and cousins must bow to our grandparents and ask for money. We've practiced these bows before. Hands folded out to our eldest relatives, knees to the ground first, then follow with the head. Then back up again. Many nerves but also very gratifying if done right.

U.S.- Biggest hour of the night. All of us that are not passed out await the stroke of midnight. But what will happen at midnight? Will that girl you've been eyeing all night come over and give you a new years kiss? Will these two guidos from Long Island finally lose a beer pong game? Will that Bob Marley poster still be attached to the wall? Is there robitussun in the jungle juice? Many nerves. Very little gratification.

12:30 am

S.K.- Everything went very well. Received 50,000 won from my grandparents and approving looks from my family. Respect was given and respect was had. Now off to bed. Big day tomorrow with family, traditional Korean clothes and food!

U.S.- Nothing went well. Instead of the girl coming over to me at midnight, 7 of my friends tackled me on to the couch, spilling juice all over the white cushions and ripping down the Marley poster. The host would have been mad, had he not fallen asleep at 9:30 on his kitchen floor. Next two hours are pretty similar to the beginning of the night. Only more singing and shouting.

Probably pass out at 3. Wake up around 10. Maybe get something to eat. Then do it again?

Hopefully not. Resolute 2010.