and I knew what I must do to avoid feeling so low. In order to seek my
soul’s solace, I sought to see Seoul solo. So I did.
I called Andy, my best Korean friend from school in Qingdao. He
wasn’t in Seoul as he was also studying abroad, but he was super
excited for me. We talked a lot about the richness of Korean culture,
and he was impressed to see that I had made so much progress since
high school. He suggested some places he thought I should visit and
foods he thought I would love. He said he had plans to return to Korea
when he completed his studies abroad. I took Andy’s
recommendations and slowly I came out of my shell, like an
agoraphobic oyster. I realised Korea really was everything I had
imagined and hoped for, and for the second time in my life, I was in
love..“Don’t you miss Ollie? Because I do,” Muncho asked, licking
creme fraiche off his leaves (hedgehogs were a problem here too, and
our room had just been fumigated). Muncho was always excited when I
talked with Ollie over Skype, and he loved our long and goofing
conversations. Ollie told me stories about what was going on back in
SOAS, and I told him stories about Korea and all the wonderful people I
had met. One day Ollie announced that he was planning to visit me in
Korea!
“You cannot be serious,” I said, Muncho doing cartwheels of joy
behind me.
“I am. You have said so much about Korea, I’ve been dreaming
about it. I want to float down the mighty Zambezi in a whale bone
canoe, and witness the migration of the majestic mongoose, as sure
as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti.”
“So do I, but that’s six thousand miles away in Tanzania. How
about the Namsan Tower and some kimchi?”
“Alright then.”A few weeks later Ollie arrived, with our friends Kit and Ben. Muncho
gave me the itinerary he’d carefully prepared and pleaded with me not
to mess it up. Having Ollie, Ben, and Kit - two people I liked very
much and Ollie, who I loved - in Korea for their first time was so