Where to begin. This past weekend was eventful.
To begin with, I decided to visit my folks' home in Gwangmyeong near Seoul and I did. It has been a while since I paid my last visit, I felt I should have earlier. It is mostly my parents that come to my place, not the other way around. So, yeah, although it takes ONLY an hour and a half, on Saturday, I hopped on the subway home.
As usual, my folks were home. My father was watching tv whilst mother was cooking. We talked about this and that a little, ate the food and watched tv. Nothing special. Well, this.. just having a conversation and catching up is special since we live separately and don't see each other that often.
Then, as usual, mother went to bed not even before 10 and my dad of course fell asleep watching tv in the living room. Subsequently, I went to my room, turned on the computer and later fell asleep. I had to sleep on the floor because my room does not have a bed. So, it was, although I am Korean, tad uncomfortable.
Next morning, we had breakfast together. Then, the same thing, father watched tv and mother read some paper in the master bedroom with me doing some computer and dozzing off on the floor due to the uncomfortable night. The, I wanted to buy my folks a new keyboard and a mouse. The ones that they have were old and not working properly. So, my dad and I went to the Emart near my house. He is very much introvert and I think I inherited that aspect from him to a certain degree. Still, we talked about this and that, bought the items that mother asked us to purchase e.g. fabric softner, detergent and salt.
After we came back, it was around 4pm. I deicded to stay one more night since the next day is a holiday. Also, I was going to the weekly volunteering at Seoul Station. By the time I will be done would be 9ish. So, it would be better for me to come back and stay since it takes only about 40 mins to Seoul Station.
So, the volunteering was also fun. Since it was a three day weekend, not many people showed up. Still, there were almost 15 volunteers. The number of the homeless seemed to increase since I guess there were less Koreans at the station. Next week is Sarah's last week. Sarah has been spearheading the event and a good friend of mine. She is leaving Korean for good in about 2 weeks. They are looking for her successor, but it seems like no one wants to step up and take charge. I would if it were in Suwon. It is sometime just too far.
Anyways, the next day, by the time I woke up, father was already gone to work even though it was a holiday.. so, I had breakfast with mother and got ready to go back down to Suwon. After saying good bye, I left the house and came back to my place. It was lunch time but I just grabbed some cereal, milk and an apple. Then, I went for running and some pushups and sitsup since the gym was closed.
Feeling pretty fatigued, I took a nap and it was 6 pm when I opened my eyes. I was out about 2 hours. Afterwards, I hit Homeplus, Kims Club and Lotter Mart near my house to do grocery, ended up buying ton of things like canned tuna, more milk, spagehtti sauce, bread, chips and bananas.
Phew--
Wednedsay is my dad's 60th birthday and friday is my 32nd. I am going back to my folks house again on Friday to celebrate it. I don't know what to get my dad. It is not just a birthday.. his 60th.... It is just going to be just three of us celebrating. I will probably buy a cake.. maybe give him some cash and a card? Or something special? I don't know. I don't like it he is getting older and older. This year he is retiring after 28 years with Kia Motors.
