Procrastinator

I just ate lunch in a noodle stall of questionable sanitation where the woman manhandled my noodles with her possibly washed hands. I wanted to eat in one of the restaurants that surround the open area of the market near our house, but thought different of it. First meal of the day and though lovely in a visceral way the smells just weren't doing it for me. Outside these restaurants there are usually old women washing or boiling skulls, or doing some other handicraft involving bones, offal or other parts people in America don't consider worth eating.

I ordered a cold dish--it was damn good, but left me hoping my immune system is up to par. We'll see what happens.

Just like we'll see what happens at 3:30 when I see Jack again. His schedule coincides with mine, so that I'm going to the climbing gym and he is crossing the intersection just outside of school when I am. Dressed in his hapkido clothes, he usually gives me a full bow before one of our lights turns green. Friday just after he bowed deeply, neither of our lights turned green, though no one was in the intersection. Impatient and proactive I did the only responsible thing a pillar of the community should and would do. I blew through the light with my unmuffled pipes ringing off the surrounding buildings.

Sunday, I went climbing with a few of the guys from the gym. We first went south to a rock in Uiryang-gun.



I just climbed the same route as the uppermost guy in the middle. I had to rest, and put a little weight on the rope at the crux move, but it was the first time I've made it to the top of a 5.10d. 5.11 is just around the corner; my goal actually seemed in sight. (I want to be leading 5.11 by the time I leave Korea, our friend Daeyoung's definition of a good climber)


It was nice area, and not too packed, but the manure smell got to the rest of the group and we had to flee. A little cow dung scared them off and yet this country eats makchang which reminds Traci and I of a pig farm, but in your mouth.

After some ice cream and driving and invitations to noraebangs we arrived at Doyakdae, a site infinitely more crowded than the first.


The middle route here a mere 5.10b, did wonders to deflate my sense of accomplishment from the last wall. This rock was much less textured than the other rock. I could feel the sweat building on my holds and my hands giving way. I fell a few times swinging across the face and hitting other climbers with my rope, something I'm sure they loved. I made it to the top once, but it took me a long long time and lots of advice aimed at my poor technique shouted from below.

And it's Monday. Still no math studying, no shower. Traci is even muttering things about it being a Jenga Monday.