An email has prompted today’s post.

This morning, Airbnb has kindly reminded me I have one week until I check in to my new home in Seoul. Despite having spent the past few months preparing for this trip, I still somehow feel completely unprepared for it.

I have recently had a lovely distraction from travel planning though; this weekend just gone was my mum’s birthday. She got slightly miffed at my sister telling the world her age over social media, so I will just say that the birthday she is celebrating is a milestone between 60 and 80 and you can take from that what you will.

Our little family does not tend to get together that often. Logistically it can be a bit of a pain what with distance, working hours, and general travel motivation; on this occasion though we rose to the challenge and had a thoroughly wonderful time (in my opinion anyway) visiting the Weald and Downland Living Museum (the filming site of The Repair Shop). If you like old English buildings, the countryside, and taking a little wander then I highly recommend a visit.

We ended our day with a delicious home cooked meal and a film (The Blind Side – such happy feels) and I couldn’t help but slip a slight Korean element into the celebrations, finishing off the evening with a sheet face mask, eye mask, and a bottle of soju that we all partook in.

Side note – for those who have been in my presence when imbibing alcohol, you will know that I do not have a propensity for drinking; I make THAT face from the taste. Not so with soju apparently. I have finally found my alcohol of choice!

Still not into drinking though…

With one week left until my departure, I felt a final update was needed; this is the current state of play:

·        I am half packed. I am still optimistically hoping that I can get by with one suitcase and one small backpack for three months, though obviously I shall be returning home with more than that (and then having to invest in an extension for Gary).

·        I have firmed up plans for an additional trip within my trip – I have one week booked on Jeju Island immediately after I finish my month in Seoul and hoping to spend a day or two walking a little of the Jeju Olle Trail (https://www.jejuolle.org/trail/eng/default.asp -in case you are interested).  

·        I think I have made the massive decision to book a car for the remainder of my trip once I return from Jeju. I am choosing this option as it gives me full flexibility and convenience in choosing where and when I want to go places, as well as making those ‘harder to reach’ places more accessible.

·         I have reached out to a few British expats living and teaching in Korea to make plans to meet up and have a chat with them. Not going to lie, I bribed them with offers of tea, Branston pickle, squash and crisps. Having lived abroad for a while, I know my audience well. I now have 8 new ‘friends’.

·        I have also made plans to go hiking with a group in Seoul who climb the local mountains within the city and are a mix of Korean and foreigners. The professor who leads the group was lovely and polite and told me that he was looking forward to talking to me about the Appalachian Trail.

The slight downsides of life right now…

Gary has chosen this week to spring a leak in both his roof vents. Like a somewhat petulant child, I think he is acting out due to my impending departure. Or maybe he’s just going to miss me and this is his way of asking me not to leave? I’m sure I shall be craving the comfort and cosiness of my caravan after three months in a foreign land.

In any case, we’ve had to go with rogue repairs. He’s looking a little hobo now after I’ve had to cover half the roof in thick black plastic to stop the rain being able to reach the vents. With most of the contents inside being wrapped up and dehumidifiers in place, I will keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best while I am away. Though I shall probably return to find I have to do battle with the spiders…

I am desperately trying to make my way through three books I have chosen to read a week before my departure. *numpty* Working in a library is full of unseen perils such as these. I have also carefully selected two ‘throwaway’ books for my journey and hoping to be able to donate these to someone once I reach Korea to make space for the inevitable collection of Korean books that I am sure to purchase (and yet won’t be able to read). Just because, well, I’m addicted to books of any stripe.

And a double edged sword – Korea has decided to lift their inbound COVID requirements as of this coming weekend meaning I don’t need to pay to take a test before I depart *yay!*

However, in an attempt to be super organised I booked my test ages ago and now realising that there is a £35 cancellation fee for my £45 test *doh!*

Just to make myself better I have emailed the company to rant, but in reality will probably end up taking the test anyway just for a bit of personal reassurance given the fact you can still be quarantined on the other end if the second test on arrival is positive.

As I think this will probably be my last post before I head off next week, this is usually the point at which I take the time to try and be a little thankful and show some gratitude for my steadfastly wonderful family and friends. So here it is.

AJ (and Rob), Bunny, Binky, Kezza G, Di, Flea, and Erica – you all have for sure been the ones bearing the brunt of my Korean obsession for the past year (and a bit more perhaps). Whether putting up with being sent 834 photos, gifs, video clips of EXO; listening to the endless plot tirades of the latest drama I have been watching; enduring hours of travel planning details; being a sounding board for my fledgling Korean language; or being on the receiving end of my numerous Korean cooking attempts – please accept my unending thanks for your patience and support.

I really hate to tell you this, but this trip could go either way; I may return totally satiated and burned out on all things Korean or it’s simply going to fan the flames even more. So please also accept my apologies in advance and feel free to revoke your friendship accordingly.

And to my family, who have had to suffer their whole lives with my general unusualness and continual adventuring spirit – sorry, but I am glad you put up with me, thank you and I love you both 🙂

Jo, hopefully I won’t have to use your card. I promise to send you lots of pictures and information on things you will have no clue about.

Mum, I promise to do my best not to end up in prison and will only fangirl at specific events where this is fully acceptable.     

And on that note, I’m off to check my packing list for the 50^th time and see how much Tetley, Splenda and Coffee Mate I can stuff in my luggage – a girl’s got to have her tea, you know.

I will see you all on the flip side and my next greetings will hopefully be from Seoul!

*fingers crossed*