Commencing 2011 . . .

Assuming I would awaken with the noise of midnight festivities ushering in a new year, I fell asleep just before eleven.  Apparently—at least in Tel Aviv—a cacophony of firecrackers, honking, and the clamor of crowds are NOT part of an Israelis welcoming tradition because I did not wake up again until almost five.  Around seven on New Year’s morning, I headed out for one last run in Israel, this time along a Tel Aviv beach in the direction Jaffa.  A changeable sky and sporadic rain showers showcased light and color:

By that evening I was ensconced across three seats on a plane headed to Hong Kong, the first leg of the journey back to Korea. From that second-in-a lifetime amazing adventure in Israel, I returned to Seoul in the winter evening darkness of January 2. Just before the plane touched down, I realized that four to five inches of snow blanketed the spaces between the runways. That snow fell, I learned later, one day between Christmas and New Year’s. Almost three weeks later, remnants of that snow remain even still!

So, let’s talk SEOUL.

Temperatures are bitter! This past week, everyday’s low fell into single digits. Most of the highs reached barely into the twenties. Twice since my return temperatures flirted with the low thirties, and both times the “warmth” generated snow before the day ended: beautiful fluffy flakes in just enough quantity to create white magic moments and slick up the roads. Then temperatures would plummet again, a cycle which successfully maintains a goodly amount of old, crunchy snow in the shadows and treacherous patches of ice in walkways.

Sojourning within my coldest winter in at least two decades, I am grateful for a toasty abode; indeed, I am never cold in my apartment. For existing among the elements, I have renewed my acquaintance with turtle-neck tops (my stockpile had decreased to three—two, of which I only used for skiing—before I purchased three more) and I have nearly mastered the use of scarves for muffler-fashion warmth and, on occasion, perhaps for some aesthetic style points as well! I have even ventured a few commutes to school by foot again now that I better understand the code for comfort in cold: coat, hat, gloves, and scarf—always; boots are interchangeable with good shoes, depending on the wet quotient.

On one of my walks home last week, I spied this scooter outside a restaurant the block before my house. Of course, I live in Korea!

Cold tends to catalyze the hunker-down/get cozy mode in humans.  Friday night I curled up with a blanket on the couch and wept  my way through the last four episodes and then the finale of Lost.  (Sigh—but I really became invested in these characters!)  Granted, I had a slight headache before I removed myself to my bed just before 1:00am, but I also felt satisfied with the ending, something not all viewers achieved, I guess.  And, you know, as silly and banal as it might truly be, I think I could watch all six seasons again sometime.  Meanwhile, I have another season of House up next on my Neflix queue!