By now, everyone has a fairly clear picture of what life and teaching ar like here in Korea. I've also made it clear what it can be like to be an individual in a pack-think culture. Yeah, I realize it's true in America, but not nearly to the extent that it is here. And not having Adderall, like I'm supposed to? In the words of Frank Sinatra, if I can make it here, I can make it anywhere. Not like I'd choose to build a summer home here, but I can hang. Thus far I have, and it's almost July. August is six months, and from there, it's all downhill. Proof positive of what I am truly made of, and what I need in order to survive. I would say Godiva chocolate and Bombay Sapphire Gin, but I haven't been able to locate either one, so they do indeed go in the "luxury" column. And I guess we'll really see soon how big a problem the Mogis are, although I did notice one child in Lotte Mart a few days ago with so many bites on him, it looked like he had Chicken Pox. I suppose he very well could have had Chicken Pox, but I'll be charitable and presume the parents would have been smart enough not to let the child out of the house contagious. Nothing is particularly unattractive here, but it all takes some getting used to, and at this point, I am. I'll probably pretty much be acclimated just about the time I'm ready to leave, which would be about par for the course, but ulitmately, it's still all about net effect. And the net effect has been, and will continue to be, life-altering. Might the mutations take a form I didn't count on? That too, would be about par for the course, but overall, there is no telling at this point. Mostly, I'm just happy to have almost made it through June, and be heading into the downhill slide of the year. I feel like "The Little Engine that Could" on the toughest part of the climb, that section right near the top, but NOT QUITE there. I can only imagine that that's the tough bit if you're a mountain climber, too; if I ever meet one, I'll be certain to ask. It's equally odd working in a school that's situated one floor above a bar, but that's pretty much typical Korea. and I promised Martha I would try and get out to see the rest of the country at some point, probably not in july, it just stands to be too damn hot, but before I leave, and relatively soon. At this point, it's probably the only hope I have for any kind of new thoughts about Korea. I sincerely don't want to dislike this place, and for the most part I don't but there are still thngs and people that manage to work my nerves. But, downhill, I can hang, downhill, I can hang, downhill, I can hang........