July 2, 2006

Standing on the roof at Julianna's, looking over at neon signs that flash in Hangeul, advertising Hof, Soju, a form of billiards with three balls and no pockets.... Down on the street, people are walking - oblivious to the knot of Canadians that has formed a few storeys up.

Lighting up long sparklers, we wave them in the air. As if it were already choreographed, we move into a circle and begin to sing - "O Canada!" - first in English, then in French.

Magic.

We are different here. Even if it seems that there are tons of Waguk here, we are a minority. Maybe there's a hundred of us in Suncheon (a very generous estimate). In a population of hundreds of thousands, that is hardly even a drop in the sea.

Have been homesick this week.