The Return

What happens when lots of crazy activist hippies camp out in a toxic parking lot with sometimes extreme heat/cold/monsoon weather for days on end? good times. debauchery, hijinx, mild insanity, love, drama, bacteria, rashes...i was fortunate enough to have escaped any of the latter. Korea was not only a blast, it was one of the most unique experiences of my life. Our crew consisted of mostly Europeans, a Kiwi, an Ozzy, a Brit, a Mexican, an American, and of course, some Koreans. For six weeks, I lived in a small, one person tent, out of one large back pack. (as did everyone else.) i was thoroughly content in doing so...making essentially no money, sub-letting my sweet apartment at home, moving in with friends when i came back. it is amazing how little you can live with when you aren't immersed in middle to upper class consumer culture. We (mostly "I"!) cooked meals for 10-15 people at all times, with only two burners and a small cooler for refrigeration. (Needless to say, we drank a lot of warm Hite. And soju. sweet soju.) We beared witness to the slaughter of innocent creatures. We held vigil for days on end to send a message to the korean people. We ate, slept, worked, partied, laughed, cried...in one night we saw a dog get run over, watched it pass, and buried him. then i went to check email and found out my grandfather had gone too. that was a sad night. i knew it might happen; i knew it the last time i saw him. i hugged him and rested my head on his chest, knowing it might be the last time. for this i am thankful. still, i wish i hadn't been half way around the world when it happened. but i was there for some reason...if you believe in that kind of thing...every person there was invested in the cause where it hurts. Life is so beautiful; there are so many precious things (and people) on this planet that much of the human race seems intent on destroying for our own selfish and immediate needs. How far will we have to go?