Min Jung left about 4pm because I got sick. I don’t know why, it was probably just repeated lack of sleep. I started to sneeze a lot, and looked like hell, so she said I should just sleep and then went off to meet another friend before returning to Iksan. (I think that’s what her SMS message said.) And I slept. It’s an index of how tired and sick I was feeling that I didn’t do the dishes immediately. And now I have woken to find that the water is not working in the building. I don’t know why, but …

So this morning I woke to the sound of the rain. I am pretty happy about today for I shall see some of my friends. This afternoon Min Jung is coming over for lunch. I will make a Thai chicken-curry soup and we’ll have some Beef Madras. We’ll hang out at my place for a while, I think, and then go to Iksan together. In Iksan I shall meet John and Mi Seok and maybe (if she ever calls) Young Ja as well. For now, I am having some of this pretty intense breakfast drink that So Young’s mom sent …

JoongAng Daily articles on Chuseok (in pdf format) Yes, here are a few articles on the Korean Harvest Moon festival called Chuseok. It’s on right now, and today’s newspaper had some interesting discussions about the history and context of Chuseok. Did you know it was once basically a competition day when women tried to outdo one another in weaving, dancing, and singing. Of course, there was also feasting.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a major lunar festival all over Asia… in China and Japan, as far as I know, the holiday is the same as in Korea. It’s what is called in Korean “Chuseok,” or in English “The Harvest Moon Festival”.

… are very endearing. Even when they don’t stand a chance.