I trust that you are all healthy and diligent in your studies thanks to the grace of the Lord.
After returning home, I have spent about a month in a completely new way of life. My daily routine starts with going to Korea University early in the morning at around 6:30 and going for a run. These days, the refreshing weather and quiet campus morning are good enough to create the best conditions for the day.
I changed my breakfast routine to Western-style. Since there are no guests visiting like before, I prepare a simple and delicious breakfast for myself.
A glass of juice made from apples with blemishes from Hoengseong, bread with cheese made by Area, one egg, and a piece of bacon. Isn’t this a great breakfast?
It is also becoming a habit for me to read five chapters of the Bible before breakfast. Then I go to my room on the second floor as if I am going to work.
KBS FM broadcasts soft music all day long, so the background music is very soothing…
Now is the good time to start my reading. I have already read five or six books that I had bought and just put aside because I was too busy. The only other activity is to go to the gym in the morning and sweat in the sauna, and it has become a habit to take a 30minute nap around 2 p.m.
After eating soojebi ( kind of dumpling soup but without a filling..) for about 20 days, we now rotate the menu to rice cakes bought at the market (injeolmi or songpyeon) a plate of flat meat balls, kimchi, and fruit, and sometimes mom makes bindaetteok( mungbean pancakes).
The table is plentiful because a lot of fruit and meat sent to us during Chuseok from friends.
When KBS FM starts a one-hour musical play without pause at 4pm, I usually feel a little tired by then.
So I either listen to music with my eyes closed and rest or wander around the garden.
The studio above the garage facing northwest (Yura and Soonbin’s room in the past) gets really warm from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and reading in that room in the afternoon is pretty special.
This year, they say all crops are not doing well, but since the sunlight has been warm and shining all day long around Chuseok, the jujubes and figs in our yard have borne a lot of fruit. Autumn in Korea is quite a long time unlike America so I consider myself fortunate to be able to enjoy autumn for three months in September, October, and November.
These days, it gets dark at 6 pm.
I start drinking a shot of whiskey around 6:40. I usually watch a TV drama after dinner but I try to go to bed early. I think I fall asleep around 9 o’clock.
Since I am retired now, my dreams are like dog dreams or random dreams. Yesterday, a bull was complaining to me about the meaning of his life and I tried to comfort him by saying that I was feeling sorry for him and then I woke up.
Originally, I was planning to go to the country house ( Hoengseong) but due to circumstances, I am staying in Seoul. I will probably go to Hoengseong at the end of October or in November. The weather is cold and the mountains and rivers will be quiet, so I plan to read books alone, but I think I might get lonely…However, my wish is to spend my time in that loneliness without any worries or deep thoughts. I will write to you again when I get there.
Today, the 25th day of the 8th lunar month, is your grandfather’s memorial day, so Aera and I had a small service at home by ourselves. (We had a service as family instead of traditional rites for our grandparents. Dad talks about how they were since none of us has ever met them. Then he reads a verse and we sing a hymn)
Mom went to Hoengseong to pick chestnuts. ( grandma planted lots of chestnut trees herself and she harvested them all herself with her nephew who took care of the country house)
I also saw the letter Soonbin wrote to Aera.
All of you should not worry too much about money. It’s not good for you to always worry about money. You should just focus on your study without worrying how we are going to support you guys.
Initially when I was sending you girls abroad, I thought that studying abroad is valuable enough to broaden your horizons and learn a language, so I hope you won’t be so hard on yourself and just have a pleasant and meaningful time while you are there.
What I want to tell my girls in US, Soonjin and Dangsun is about the taste of the pears here. It is true that there are many delicious fruits in the US, but I don’t think there are any fruits as delicious as Korean pears. I’m sorry I can’t send them to you, but instead, eat more American fruit. Aren’t you guys are like fruit pigs ( who are crazy about eating fruits)?
Well, now that I’ve written the letter I’ve been wanting to write for sometime, I think I deserve to have a drink today. I hope the American team ( girls in America) will work hard to distribute this letter to the rest of the gangs.
I wish you all good health and good luck.
October 3rd, Father
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