Korea MAne.

Today Mr. Moon showed up at my Hotel room, half an hour before he said he would, to take me to my apartment. He asked: "Uh you are uh tyrred of staying here yes?" I said: "sure." but I knew that the apartment that I was moving to was probably going to be about a quarter of the size of my hotel room and not have free movie channels on my 32" tv or be less than a block from the school and a big grocery store, so I really didn't know how to answer the question except to say "sure." Usually all he tells me is that I should talk "vewry much" to the students. No joke, he has told me every time he sees me at least once.

We packed up everything into his car and drove a little ways--its not far--to my apartment. I carried almost everything, which ok because he is a little older and very small, up to the second floor. He showed me how to use the keys and we went inside. It was clean and small but sufficient.

I had moved everything into the apartment except two paper handle bags from the grocery store full of various things. I went to pick the last bag up and all I heard from under the bag was a crashing wet sound hit the tile floor. The cool thing about extra virgin olive oil is that it usually comes in a glass bottle, which is nice because if it is dropped it will smash and spill everywhere. Hadn't even opened it yet, though I managed to clean it up with only about two and a half rolls of tp. They don't really do paper towels here...or napkins for that matter just toilet paper rolls everywhere. Although you don't really "clean up" olive oil you just spread a thin layer of it over the surface.

Mr. Moon: "you can clean up and uh, I will go and be back."

It has been a good two weeks on the whole though. As I am here everything from home, in my mind, is much sweeter, so in a way I am enjoying home more now than when I was there. I believe that the feeling will continue as I go through this year and return home in 12 months or so. The music has come alive especially the ones that are from my homeboys and rap music and Bach. The more I listen to music, the more I want to listen to Bach.  Rap music because it is probably the exact opposite of these people--so American. It keeps the American swag in my step. It keeps me strong when I am unsure of myself or a situation.

In all truth, when I have been a little uneasy, I could just turn on some music from home and feel it so strong. It can change my entire presence. This is such a nice experience for me as I used to conceive of myself as an aspiring musician though I haven't felt to be in control of the notes for a several years. True music is the the sound within the spirit of the composer. There are many different musics, but if the soul is not willing to sing it will not sound any of them. My guitar is looking sexy again.

Side note: the barista at this coffee shop is, I believe, playing american music because I am the only customer inside. His last choice was Celine Dion's "All by Myself".....Hiweryous.

Drawing and Reading are doing better as well. Time is disapearing which is when I can think. Brothers Kov is gooood.

Picture time:

Good bye cruel World

Date: 10/22/2011
Weight: 191 lbs
Beard: in tragic remission


Cut my beard today. Less than two days till liftoff.

Sometimes Life Catches You With Your Pants Down......

trying to build

I need bigger papers

What to do...

"But the truth is, that while the art of medicine gives health, and the art of the builder builds a house, another art attends them which is the art of pay. The various arts may be doing their own business and benefiting that over which they preside, but would the artist recive any benefit from his art unless he were paid as well?"

Plato, The Republic

So what is it?......A drawing. (repeat many times)

....

We build cities in our minds and our thoughts inhabit them. Thought is like the world, many nations and many cities. They are built and torn down over generations and seconds. In the past our thoughts were wild creatures that lived in tents and foraged for food surviving more on their own instinctual experience. As time has progressed and our thoughts collected together, they formed cities and empires, like the Romans who sought to conquer the Barbarians. Those that they didn't slaughter were converted and taught to speak Latin. Laws were written and governors were in place to oversee thoughts.

Thoughts are at the same time individual as well as apart of a family and government even as they are aware or unaware. Like the world it is impossible to paint the clearest picture of the state of things at this very appointment. There are heros and villains, rebels and saints; and they are all born of man and even if outcast they at least speak the language of their fathers. Some have many offspring and their line passes down while others are barren and die in their old age, and there are still yet hermits in the mountains who have no children and will never die.