This weekend, I decided to stay here in Ulsan instead of going to Seoul with a bunch of friends. I had no plans, I just felt like relaxing, or not doing anything. I really had no idea what I would even do this weekend. I woke up on Saturday morning a little groggy, and randomly read a blog about looking at people as miracles and exploring the world and thinking about things with the utmost simplicity. It must have struck some kind of chord in my brain, because the next thing I know I'm grabbing my camera, a blanket, my ipod, a book and notebook, tossed it all in a backpack and just headed out the door. I really had no idea where I was going or what I would even do, but I set off. I ended up going to a park about 10 minutes from my apartment, Ulsan Grand Park, and walking around. I went from having no plans and nothing to do to finding a rose festival, a zoo (shabby little zoo, there was an albino peacock and a monkey, but it was just nice to be around animals), and walking about 7 miles to a river near the city. It was really an incredible day, I people watched and thought and wrote and just explored the city that has been my home for the past 9 months. I didn't have a care in the world, just walked... it felt like a slow paced Forrest Gump, I walked so much. But I got to practice taking pictures, I really enjoy it. It was nice to take time out for myself, to be alone and make decisions spur of the moment, not worry about what comes next or making people wait or disappointing anyone. I know that seems drastic, it's just a day, but it was a day free from obligation. Free from expectation. And it ended up exceeding my wildest expectations. I met a man who chisels art in wood, he gave me a tour of his shop and asked me to sit down with him while worked on a piece. I had no where to go, no where to be, so I sat with him for a while. I wandered off at the zoo to a restricted area and found a lone monkey just sitting in his cage, but I was so close. I could have reached out and touched him, I really wanted to, but I know that's insane. I walked down a side street and was hit with a huge market full of older people, a very common thing in Korea, but when you happen upon one by chance, it's such a feeling of community and life. I sat by the river and watched the sunset with two friends, laying on my blanket in the grass talking about life and sharing our experiences. It was such a healthy and happy day. It really makes me think about making changes, small changes. Look at life differently, act, do, see, be. Hopefully when I leave here I will bring that with me.
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