Caveat: I go into Seoul less often now than when I lived in Glory

It's official.

I made it into Seoul about once every two months when I lived down in Yeonggwang-gun (Glory County). Last night, I went into the city to a bookstore, and realized the last time I'd taken the subway beyond Ilsan was back in October – 3 or 4 months ago. So it's official – I don't go into the city much, despite citing that as a reason for liking living here.

I guess in some ways most of the city things I like and value are already present in suburban (but very dense compared to US suburbs) Ilsan (Goyang-si). Things are walkable, first and foremost.

Anyway, I'm not really thinking very interestingly, lately. So that's that. More later.

Caveat: Charity

One of my advanced elementary students had an ingenious if somewhat cruel plan for helping the homeless people for which Seoul Station is somewhat notorious. He said he would make counterfeit money and give it to them when they beg for it. This would get them arrested, he explained, and they would end up in jail. In jail, he explained, they would have a warm bed, better meals, and help with their alcoholism. I decided not to disillusion him by discussing the fact that it's still quite common in Korea for police to beat up suspects, etc. He's speaking to an idealized notion of what the police should be as he is to any actual reality, obviously.

Obviously, I can't endorse this idea. It's got aspects that seem both immoral and inhumane. But… You've got to give him credit for creative problem-solving.

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