after vietnam, we had 2 weeks to spare before the next scheduled part of this adventure. on june 25, we fly out of bangkok to seoul, korea, to run a summer program at the school where morgan taught for the last 1.5 years. more on that in a minute...
with 2 weeks to do anything, jasmine opted for the beach where we started for some sun (only partly successful since it's rainy season here), and morgan and i decided to return to tacomepai, the organic farm in northern thailand. so much fun! we didn't tell sandot we were coming, so it was a good surprise. it felt like a homecoming. i knew it would to some extent, but i was unprepared for the calm that immediately washed over me. it's just one of those places; once you've stayed there you're family. so to that extent it's the same, and in other ways it's completely different. the farm work that we did before is done or out of season, so we've learned different planting techniques on the new piece of land that was purchased right after we left last time. and different people are there to help out, so that changes the atmosphere a lot. but this group is just as great as the last one. and--here's a big one--morgan and i are running the farm for the next few days as sandot teaches a permaculture course at a conference in southern thailand. no pressure, right? we're not responsible for *everything* because other people work there, but we'll be the point people for new arrivals and for the daily work. crazy!
after the farm we head to seoul via bangkok. this will be quite a change from the adventure we've been living so far. the principal of morgan's school invited the three of us (having only met me briefly when i visited korea last april) to run a summer program for the students at her school. it's called a summer camp, but it's really more academic than what i think of when i hear camp. so we've been brainstorming ideas for most of the trip, and have come up with some good plans.
i'm really feeling conflicted about this new phase of our trip. for morgan and jasmine korea is another home. they'll likely view our time there as a break from traveling because they know the place, know people, have lives established there. for me, it's all new. it won't be traveling like we have been doing, because i'll be able to unpack rather than the familiar living out of my backpack and moving along every few days. but it will still be an experience of the unknown. i think it will be a challenge for me. i'm not a fan of big cities (which i think i've mentioned ;), and seoul is definitely a huge city. i'm also really ambivalent about returning to work. on one hand it will be good, as i've been feeling somewhat guilty about this extended vacation. it will be nice to contribute once again and earn money, rather than just travel and spend all the time. on the other hand, work is work. it's been really great to be able to spend so much time taking some very rewarding opportunities. if it weren't for living expenses, i think i could find enough intellectual stimulation without a "real" job. i definitely see the advantages of retirement!
i'll probably only post a few times from korea as i continue to process this new situation. but if i don't update as regularly, that doesn't mean i don't want to be in contact with you! please be in touch, my friends.
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