Korean Wrap-Up

Though we were missing Tommy, Chris, and Tim, the reunion of us Anyang-ers was pretty amazing.  I arrived at the Buffalo airport to pick Matt up and proved to myself that perhaps racism comes in forms I didn’t expect.  His plane was delayed and the place was clearing out fast.  There was drama about a woman who was getting married the next day (can you imagine losing your luggage THEN?), there was an abandoned dog (again, imagine the injustice?), but the people at the airport were so darn courteous, it was as if it was the best day ever for them.  After two years with English customer service sucking as much as it does, it was a real pleasure to be around Americans.  Yup, I said it. 

Matty descended down the escalator at about 12:30, looking bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and exactly the same as he did when I last saw him, waving sadly on the sidewalk, as my bus to the airport rolled out of Beomgye.  I was hysterical then and I’m proud to say I was just a BIT overwhelmed this time around.  Matt was VERY special to me (is…oops) while I was in Korea.  He and I shared talks about every single topic, really delved deep into issues I don’t regularly discuss with most people…any people really until I met Kat, Aleisha, and Frank.  Hmmm…

So we drove to Toronto (Jesse and Laura were kind enough to offer their place for the weekend), talking non-stop about all of the things that had happened in the last two years since we’d physically been in the same room.  It was highly entertaining to hear about Korea after I’d left (I thought the whole country just fell apart with my departure.  Turns out, no)…Chris moved into my place, another guy moved in, the school was the same old place…anyway, it sounds waaaay funnier in a Texan accent.  Which, by the way, has grown ever-stronger since he’s moved back last year.  Oddly enough, my Canadian accent has grown stronger as well, despite my living in the UK.  Go figure.  Maybe Matt can’t distinguish between East Coast Canada (which I’m told I sound like I hail from) and Madonna-British (remember when she came back, sort of talking with an accent?  So lame.  Even for her.  And I love). 

We arrived in Toronto, cuddled up in Laura’s bed, and talked into the wee hours of morning.  It was a real delight to finally be reconnected with my dear friend.  I’m getting a bit Matt-motional as I write this.

The next morning, we rose rather late, dressed quickly, and ventured to Cabbagetown to Erin and Jeffrey’s house.  What a great area this is, nestled between the Don Valley Parkway and Regent’s Park.  I know, I know…Regent’s Park is super scary, but gosh, Cabbagetown is wicked!  And to think it was all because the immigrants had vegetables growing in their gardens that it derived its name!  Awesome.

We ate French toast, talked about things, ventured out only to visit the Loblaws at the old Mapleleaf Gardens (awesome…so worth the visit), and came back to eat chicken burgers, drink Caesars, and talk more about stuff.  There are some people (especially after not seeing them for two years) with whom you can just TALK and never get to the boredom phase.  These are these people.  It was valuable, blessed time.  It was time we haven’t enjoyed together in far too long.  A sigh now at the thought that it will be a long while before it happens again. 

Matt and I couldn’t bear the thought of Katie sleeping alone in the guest room (and we were overserved anyway), so the three of us huddled together, warm as it was, and drifted off into la-la land, cuddled and loved.  I told Katie a love story and Matt got elbowed for snoring during it.  Twas a splendid way to spend time.

Sunday was melancholy at best…knowing the trip was over was so entirely sad, it was hard to concentrate on the time we had left.  Again, we ate, talked, drank copious amounts of coffee, and piled into the car to bring the babies back to the airport.  We hardly made it on time, Matt only having about 55 minutes before he was to take off when I dropped him at the airport.  Strong were the promises that we’d do it all again…honest were the convictions that we’d try really hard. 

I cried like a baby on the way home.  In fact, I opted to back track and go back to Laura’s just to collect myself.  It was a very difficult time.  Like I’ve said in previous posts, something is lost and something is gained in living everyday (thank you, Joni Mitchell) and this is a prime example.  These people were my family when I was in Asia, alone and totally out of place.  These people were my friends and my confidantes and my sounding boards.  They were the sanity and the routine and the providers of cheese, wine, and board games.  They were the reason I was giddy rather than miserable when times got really tough in those 365 days.  There is a bond that forms with a fellow traveler; an even stronger bond between fellow expats.  Amazing how the bond still holds us firmly together, isn’t it?

It was a real pleasure to spend that time with you all.  I miss it, as I miss you.  Gosh though, Erin and Jeffry are both going to university, blowing away the competition.  Katie is working in her chosen field as a talented jewelry producer, while Matty is a choir teacher at a prestigious school in Texas.  We can’t do what we do unless we are where we are.  Alas, we are apart.  My conviction remains strong…we shall do it again soon.  Much love xxxx