So, that's the end of my summer vacation. Work resumes from tomorrow until my winter vacation in February, with only a smattering of public holidays for a break. Can't believe how quickly the two weeks have gone; Dad has been here for the duration, and we've taken in Seoul, Gangneung, Hwanseong caves, Busan, Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Daegu on our travels, along with a boozy succession of nights in Sangju with my fellow waegooks.
It's been interesting having Dad around; I'm not sure what his expectations were before coming, and I've no idea whether or not the trip has lived up any pre-conceived ideas, but it's certainly a different experience for him. He's more used to 'resort' holidays, rather than slumming it in dodgy motels in between long-haul bus/train journeys and bouts of heavy hill-walking. Korea isn't exactly a 'tourist' country; most of its foreign visitors are either English Teachers or US Marines, so they don't have too many resorts or Western-style 'tourist' amenities. Although Korea's inter-city transport system is very reliable and comprehensive, it's much more difficult to get to the areas of real natural beauty; such journeys involve entire days of bus and train-hopping, trying to decipher the all-Hangeul schedules at some of the more 'rustic' stations.
I've also had a few hungover/run-down days when I wouldn't have been the most buoyant of travel companions, but I'd like to think he's enjoyed the trip. He hasn't been complaining too vociferously though, which is a good sign! I've seen a few places that I really wanted to see - such as Nagasaki and the Hwanseonggul caves - and I've had a good quota of pintage with Dad and the Sangju lads, so it's been a good two weeks overall. I've slipped behind on the marathon training, after being well on track before the vacation; so I'll have to get cracking again this week. A diet of booze and burgers (Dad didn't take kindly to Korean grub) is not quite appropriate for an aspiring runner!
Dad returns to Ireland on Wednesday morning, and I return to Sangju Elementary tomorrow. Back to the office. Thankfully, no Citizen's Classes until October, so no long Mondays for a while. The weather is still quite hot, but the first signs of relative moderation are beginning to appear - yesterday was very cool, and today's sunshine was bright and breezy. Barbecues will surely be on the weekend agenda during the autumn!
I'm desk-warming for the next week, as classes don't begin until next Monday. I'm pretty much at liberty to show up whenever I please, as long as I show a face at some stage of the day. Contractually, I'm obliged to sit at my desk from 8:40 to 4:40, but thankfully, I think my school realises the pointlessness of the exercise. It effectively gives me another week of long lie-ins, lazy days and late nights. Hurrah!
