Well, today was just like any other day. My students passed gas, didn't do all of their homework (even with six straight days off), and tried to provoke me into losing my cool. They were successful only in the passing of gas; the other two I didn't let them off the hook for (although, one playful kid who prides himself in playing rough did actually bite my leg so hard he broke the skin through my pants- he's only 4, and in pre-school, but yikes, he's got a set of jaws on him.)
Everyone had come back from their Chusuk vacations, and by the end of the day, I was glad that the day was over when my class finished at 7pm. My roomate, and also my counselling teacher, had given me great news that one of my advanced classes would most likely be cancelled within 48 hours - and that made my Tuesday's and Thursday's look like they were going to be a breeze until I leave. Until he said: "Uh, there's been a slight political problem with our planned trip to North Korea..."....
So now Jong-Il can finally stop bragging about something he's been saying he's had for months. I'm sure that that set of info won't make everyone sleep easier, but I for one, feel somewhat safer resting here than if I was, say, in Japan, or Hawaii, or even Guam. Most of my fellow Korean friends feel somewhat the same way; we've talked for lengths about how simple things have become big news back home concerning North Korea, whereas here, it gets relegated to the middle-pages of the newspaper. Maybe it's a sense of false security; who knows. All I do know is that Korean intelligence is supporting that their will likely be another test within the next few days or so; its purpose is not exactly known yet.
All I do know is this; I'll be darned if this stunt of his waylays my plans to visit the country in two and a half weeks. Would I still go? Certainly; Nuke or no nuke, his nuke's aren't going to ruin my plans. Would the South Korean gov't? You better believe it; and last I checked, they care more about their own welfare than mine - shame too, seing as how I already paid for the whole trip. Refund or not, I still want to go. Call me nuts, but how many times will you get to say that you had an opportunity to go to North Korea, in the fall, no less....
Well, other than that, today was just like any other workday. If you're interested in Korean news, check out Yonhap news - its in English, and its the source that most english news sites use for their information on North Korea; may as well beat them to the punch. If news permits, or if something interesting is reported (we knew about the North Korean blast at least six hours before it was reported back home), then I'll try to fire up the old blog ,and let you know.
God Bless,
me