High Tide

Day 2

Mr. K. decided we should head for the Yellow Sea. We drove for nearly two hours and then couldn't find a great beach right away. After driving to the end of the road (literally) we decided to grab lunch. All the restaurants featured raw seafood and while I'm all for sushi having a live octopus chopped up in front of me is not my idea of a yummy meal. Got back in the van and stopped at a place a little further away. At first it looked kind of hopeless but I was brave and asked a table full of college students if any of them spoke English. Luckily one did and helped us order. What we got was a huge pot sat over a burner on our table. In the pot were various sea creatures in a fairly natural state. Claims, scallops, and mussels still in their shells. Shrimp still with eyes and all. A medium sized crab, a small octopus, and a thankfully cleaned out squid. Honestly if the squid had still had eyes I think I would have bolted. I'm all for trying new things, but I have my limits. It was good once we figured out which bits of the clams to eat and which to avoid and was served with rice and a large number of kimchi sides.

Then we headed to the beach. We found a good little spot and the Kids and I played in the sand and water. The water was cool but not cold but we were the only people in it which made me somewhat nervous. (Talking to my Korean friend at the post office today I learned that most Koreans don't swim.) Defne loved playing in the small waves and Deniz loved digging and running in and out of the surf. As the tide receded I noticed these small creatures in the back wash. At first I thought they were minnows but then noticed tiny legs. Then I thought they were shrimp and this is what I am still hoping, but then the idea came to me that they might be a kind of parasite. (Having recently read Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer I see parasites everywhere I look.) If they were parasites my hope is that humans aren't in their life cycle because more than once I caught one crawling on my toes.

Around 6pm we loaded up to go home. I told Mr. K. a trip to the beach isn't complete until ice cream is had so I ran into a little convenience store and bought ice creams, shrimp crisps, and drinks. Back on the road we kept seeing roadside stands selling sweet potatoes. Finally Mr. K. pulled over and bought some freshly roasted and still warm. They were so good! Far sweeter but more yellow than the American variety. We munched on our various treats all the way home.

Look for Day 3 tomorrow. My all of two readers thank you for sticking with me!

Heat Resistant

Well trying to be anyway. First off I've misplaced the camera so no photos today sorry.

It was supposed to be a glorious weekend vacation to Jeju Island. I wanted to drive down and take the ferry over (four hours) spend one night in a hotel and another on the beach camping. Mr. K. said we didn't have enough time and he has to go pick up young cadets from the airport tomorrow. So instead we took some day trips all of which were less than perfect.

Day One
Saturday we decided to go to Coex Mall in Seoul because the weather was chilly and rainy. I was intrigued by the promise of a bookstore. The traffic on the interstate was bumper to bumper more than 50 miles out so we pulled into a train station. That station had no fast train so we decided to take the subway. 90 minutes, three trains and mostly standing room only later we finally arrived tired and hungry. The restaurant Mr. K. picked was confusing and expensive so I only ate a little. Then it was off to the bookstore which was huge and refreshing. I purchased a sewing book and though it is in Korean it has lots of adorable patterns. We got some small books in English for the Kids. Then we headed off to the food court for some rice and pizza. Later we went to a few shops and I bought some cute stationary items (another one of the things I hoard). We ate ice cream and stocked up on bread and cakes from Paris Baguette and got back on the subway home. The first train was so packed that even when pushed I couldn't fall because there was nowhere to fall. Yuck. The next train ended before the station we needed but a third train came quickly enough. The fourth train was the worst though because we ended up getting off one station to early and being abandoned like lost dolls. For more than thirty minutes no train stopped. We gave up and got a taxi to the next station were we had left the van. Do I like the IDEA of public transportation? Of course. Save the planet and all that jazz. Will I be partaking of it again anytime soon? No way.

Day Two will be published tomorrow.

History Ex Libris

Yesterday I Stubled Upon this amazing link to gorgeous libraries and it set me thinking about my own history with libraries and their importance in my life. My first library was the Chipley Public Library which was originally in downtown in a white concrete block building. It later moved to the old firehouse where it shared a space with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. I remember many long days spent as the only person in the young adult room on the second floor of that library. I even saw someone propose in that room. The best thing was I could go anywhere through that room. Not just in this world, but to other worlds and times. For me it was magic.

What followed were a series of serviceable but rather humdrum libraries. A go-see to Agnes Scott College in Atlanta was rewarded with a beautiful library. The next library that was somewhat "mine" was the Medical College of Virginia's which I used to go and study amongst the old bound journals and theses of students long dead. It was musty and dark and nearly perfect with hardwood study carols and a constant hush.

In Turkey the libraries made me cry. The children's room of the public library in Isparta had only slim, dirty, picture free paperback volumes meant to teach morals and letters. Where were the board books for babies? The beginner readers with Dr. Seuss rhymes? The short chapter books filled with bright pictures to encourage a life long love of the printed word? They were not there or in the shops either. Upstairs the regular books were kept behind a counter and could only be touched by permission and never taken out of the room. Never taken to a cozy chair to be read with hot chocolate. Never taken to bed on a stormy night. Never taken to a hot bath during a bout of the flu. It was sad and I never went back after the first visit. Before we left Turkey I donated over 100 books to the SDU library. I had taught English there but there were only a handful of English books before my donation.

Now for the third time in my life I find myself in a position were the libraries are out of reach. I don't read the language of the country I am in and have no desire to depress myself by finding out what sort of horrors lie in South Korean libraries. The post library has about the same number of books at the Chipley library were I started my life and so it will do. One day I'd like to have a library of my own. A place were children could sink into soft beanbags surrounded by the beauties of literature. A place were adults could get lost in the stacks of history or foreign language or science. I know it is a bit old fashioned now what with Kindle, iPhones, and Audible, but for me a book will always be a constant companion.

Hwaseong

For mother's day we decided to have a little adventure and travel to Suwon Hwaseong (Fortress). My guidebook gives it three stars, a good place to go when the weather is nice (which it was), and a UNESCO World Heritage site. So why not right?

To say it was a disaster might be overreaching just a little. When we got to Suwon we found the signs sparse and confusing. Mr. K. took a lot of wrong turns and got the van into some very tight places. Eventually we did find an entrance got a map and directions and headed off on foot/stroller.



After walking down a steep hill for about half a mile and realizing we had quite a way to go I gave up and sat on a bench to read. (Anyone at all interested in science, biology, medicine, or parasites you must read Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer. It is excellent!)

Twenty minutes later Mr. K. and the kids came huffing and puffing back to my little bench. For reasons unknown they were not allowed on the mini-train to the archery observation. Their purchased tickets were taken away and money was returned. D was upset, Mr. K. was nonplussed and I simply added it to my list of reasons that I'm not in love with this country.

So we hiked back up the hill and decided to go to Papa John's Pizza for dinner. Mr. K. decided to drive around a bit and somehow managed to find two more much larger and ground level entrances to the fortress, but I was so over the whole thing and each time told him to keep driving as I took photos out the window.


We also spotted an IGA.


And cars ornamented for weddings in a style similar to the tradition in Turkey.


I felt so very American and a bit ridiculous taking photos out of a moving vehicle but sometimes it is necessary to give in to what we are in order to maintain this insane life we lead.

Eventually we came to the pizza place and everyone was happier.



Hilarious (at least to me!) menu item.


Table condiments.


Me with my kids. It was mother's day after all. I made the blouse for myself from Butterick 5217.


Izzy didn't want to share me.


Pizza was perfect, but oddly served with sweet pickles.


Then on the way home I asked if I could run into Paris Baguette. What a mistake to let me loose in that place! I wanted one of everything.

Hardly Random: Part 3

An ongoing series in which I discuss my thoughts on first reading Darwin's Origin of Species

Finished Chapter 3 some time ago and just haven't posted yet. In this chapter Darwin begins to write about Survival of the Fittest, Natural Selection, and the grand struggle for survival that all species undergo. He makes the point that humans tend to remember those things that are beautiful and forget those that are hideous. Many creationist use things like rainbows, spring flowers and a baby's laughter to make the case for god. However they seem to forget floods, poison ivy, and childhood cancer. Or maybe they want us to forget.

Hardly Random: Part 2

On ongoing series wherein I discuss my first reading of Darwin's Origin of Species.

Last night I finished Chapter 2. Darwin writes about telling apart a species and its varieties and how difficult this can be. He makes two points in particular though that I want to quote.

... if we look at each species as a special act of creation there is no apparent reason why more varieties should occur in a group having many species, than in one having few.

In other words if g-d did all this why does it look evolved?

... when many species of a genus have been formed on an average many are still forming; and this certainly holds good.

Meaning evolution is still ongoing.

Just look at all these varieties of Oak Trees for example.

Hardly Random: Part 1

This will be an ongoing series in which I post my impressions of The Origin Of Species: 150th Anniversary Edition Sadly I am just reading this classic work for the first time, and because I have been out of school for so long find it a bit rough going.

Chapter 1: A lot about pigeons, dogs and sheep. It is obvious that Darwin is struggling with explaining his theory without knowing the exact mechanism (genetics) which makes it all work.

Chapter 2: A pet theory of creationist is to compare the chances of spontaneous evolution to a tornado ripping through a salvage yard and creating a 747 airplane. Obviously they have never read this book. On pages 59 and 60 of my copy Darwin states, "Almost every part of every organic being is so beautifully related to its complex conditions of life that it seems as improbable that any part should have been suddenly produced perfect, as that a complex machine should have been invented by man in a perfect state." In other words the forms of life we see today have become what they are only through change just as the 747 airplane of today barely resembles the airplane the Wright Brothers created just over 100 years ago.

Wright Brothers glider.


Modern 747.