I am actually trying to continue posting pictures. I have some great new ones. I can basically edit and create text for free at the uni computers, but they seem to be blocking me from using Hello's picture sharing software.
I get about 1 chance a day at home (for about 30 minutes)to use the Notebook there, but it also doesn't always work. The internet here is a Dino, so sometimes it just doesn't let you do stuff. I actually emailed myself an attachment of the LIVESTRONG bracelet and it didn't even reach me. It's in the sent messages folder, but didn't even hit my inbox. How twisted is that?
Today it's Jool(Rag), which means the uni students go through the city collecting money, and there are processions with floats and stuff going through the streets. Very exciting stuff. I think I'll sleep through it though. Actually it would have been a useful opportunity to take some vivid and colorful pictures.... Hmmm.
On Thursday a lawyer, Willem Olivier died on the Kimberley Road while cycling. There's a section that's under construction, and they say he swerved to avoid a rough section of tar, more or less a pothole, and then lost his balance and fell in front of an oncoming truck. Apparently he was quite a big guy, but it made front page news and it's obviously a bit of a shock. I rode out and back on that very same road on Wednesday when I went to Dealesville.
At the moment I am more predisposed to returning to Korea since uppermost in my mind is the fact that I want to buy a house, and I can't see myself landing a job here that will put me in a position to afford the repayments. It's not a foregone conclusion, but it's what I will probably do.
Although I like Ilsan, I'm not sure if I can actually see myself right back there. I didn't really feel all that comfortable or appreciated by the people there, the 'friends' I had, except for Corneli of course. I sometimes wondered if there was something wrong with me, but being back in South Africa, I've immediately made friends and enjoyed myself so maybe it's just clickety click people or weirdos or something.
Or maybe I was just in a WORKZONE, do not look right, do not look left, do not collect R200, advance to House Buying.
Maybe by the time I get there there will be some fresh faces. Maybe I should try Bundang or Seoul and then then train with the Seoul Synergy guys. Or maybe I should speak to Daniel about Taiwan. Uppermost in my mind is obviously training to maintain some kind of training regimen. Ilsan is well suited to that.
Over here I am experiencing a weird kind of Reverse Culture Shock. I think it's partly due to being suddenly in full blown summer, and I think my system was gearing downfor the winter in Korea. That's just a theory.
The other theory is that I was in a very routine mode, a very stable pattern in Korea, my own place, my own system going, all times down to a T,and here it is extremely colorful, and unregimented, and free, and comfortable, and lots to do, and meeting lots of new people everyday, and obviously in terms of romance, it was like stepping into a sometimes cooking hot tropical forest, after being in the frozen wastes for a year. It feels in some ways like too much too soon, and the Ironman thing is becoming a reality now, as I have to really step up to the plate and deliver massive workouts. So I am trying to stay on the ball, but recently have felt a few wobbles.
Tonight we're going to a braai at Tico's. He's always a relaxed and happy fellow, with unusually insightful and sage advice. Quite looking forward to that.
I also need to just rest and spend some time quietly reading, and maybe going off to places by myself and just taking in the sunsets and the wild animals.
I dare not think about returning to Korea in March because then I might never sleep, so that I can just really pile on the food, and late nights, and social stuff. I do want to make each day here a rich experience, but like the cycle race shows, moderation is key.
Ja the Ironman is a big thing starting to come to a head now. Lots of writing and theorising, but it's starting to come down to the nitty gritty now. I could have thrown in the town much earlier on, when my foot hurt after every run and it just seemed so pointless to even try. But I just focussed on what I could do, what was working, what was good, and let the other side come around. And it has. It's amazing though that having an unwavering attitude, no matter what the goal, can I think, often lead to success, possibly not exactly what one intended, but still a very meaningful and rewarding result. I'm hoping that will be the case with the Ironman and the other important areas of my life right now.
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