Back in the Game

If we were playing a competitive sport with Korea
she would have been winning last week.
We were losing.

What I mean is, sometimes, the cultral
differences
are different
and difficult

Being faced with these differences and difficulties
put us in the losers corner and Korea in the winners bracket.

The game was better,
not when we were winning
but when we were on the same team as Korea.

However, this week, Korea started playing dirty:

Miscommunications ... Attempted Communications
Cultural differences in the Importance of Vacation
and Being with one's Spouse for the Vacation

Importance and Bind of Contracts

Work hours Incompatible with bank hours
Banks closing earlier than stated.

Spicy food and odd Sea Creatures
for dinner

Smells of sewage
Soju drunks
Unfaithful husbands
5:00 am 'wake-up calls'

Korea was destroying us.
Winning.
Defeating this otherwise happy
and content American Couple.

BUT
Have. No. Fear.
We're back in the game.



Saturday
Not only did Korea decide to play fair
She started playing with us.

A lovely fall hike
on a non-too-crowded 'mountain' trail

Fabulous food provision
rice cakes with beef on top, mandoo and cheese filled pork cutlets

Spectacular thrift store finds
winter coats for the man and woman of the house

Cheesecake and Apple Pie
celebrating a dear new friend

Bowling.
with dear new friends

We can do this Korea, we can do this.
You may win on occassion
but we're not giving up
not yet, not now.

(Typed while enjoying the last mug full of Apple Cider Taste Alike from the tan mug inherited upon my arrival in Korea)