A small but lively festival occurred in a parcel park placed in the middle of rice fields. I saw a few of my students with their families even though Hwasan Elementary School is on the other end of town. As usual people get a little startled when they turn around and see a Westerner standing behind them. Their looks of surprise and curiosity is yet to get old. Kids and adults flew old fashioned kites and played a game of balance using a seesaw as a spring board.

American Embassy Seoul

I would have taken pictures of the American Embassy in Seoul, but it wasn't much to look at. Then there was also the factor of Korean police surrounding the building with their clubs out. I thought it best not to be standing near police lines lingering and taking pictures. I cleared security and entered the 'compound' crossed an inner parking lot and into the main building. Inside it felt, and looked much like a tax collector's office, or autotag agency. I took a number '125' and filled out my forms while I waited to renew my passport.

The man behind the window reminded me of a typical quirky post office employee. Nice enough, makes small talk eagerly, but seemed to be smarter than he put on. A young Korean-American woman was just ahead of me and I overheard her business. She had passed the Barr exam in Massachusetts, and New York, having graduated from BU law school. She was being sworn into the Massachusetts Barr by the quirky employee. The quirky employee happened to mention he practiced law in New Orleans, but left 4 years ago. He said he wanted to see the world and now he worked behind bullet proof glass in Seoul. The young woman, in her mid-late twenties, volunteered that she wanted to work in Seoul but had not found a firm yet. She seemed confident that she would find work, I expect she is right. The oaths she took were interesting, and she seemed sincere/proud to be taking them.

I wrapped up my business and asked if there was a Diplomatic Courier post at the Embassy, I knew there was. The woman behind the window seemed baffled by this question. I had to explain my dad was a courier for ten years. Then I added this was over 40 years ago. She seemed more baffled. I said I wanted to introduce myself and say hello. She seemed more baffled. She asked if I wanted to apply for a job. I said no, but regretted that answer. She disappeared and came back with a phone number to call, and said they are in a different building... clearly she didn't want anything to do with this.

Bunkers and Beach

Four of us drove 2 hours to Kuagnuan (Spelling?). The tourist destination is on the East coast of Korea. The beaches are lined with seafood restaurants, and coffee shops. As we drove along the beach one thing stood out to me. Commercial strips of beach were interrupted regularly by long strips of vacant beach with 10 foot fences topped by barbwire running parallel to the ocean. There was about 20 meters of pine trees, then fence, followed by 20-30 meters of beach before the ocean. In the pine trees, between the fence line and road were fox holes, and bunkers. All foxholes were cement, or concrete. Some looked untouched since the Korean war, while others looked maintained and reinforced. If it weren't for the new fence and barbwire I would not have noticed the bunkers in the tree line. Things like this, and the gas masks in the subways in Seoul provide reminders of uncertainty.

Basketball

I played basketball at Samyoung University today. My Korean friend was a college basketball player. He is probably 6ft and 200lbs or so. He was not quite prepared for the way we play basketball back home. Then again, the people back home aren't always ready for the way we play basketball in the Brown family.

"Oh no man... no... no football."
"Ouch... Incredible Hulk man..."

I still lost, but not without a physical game.