Solving the World's Problems

Sundays have somehow become catch-up days, when we do housework, read, and blog. It's funny how this pattern has continued, even here in Korea. The only outing happens when Rob pops over to Iris Toast to pick us up some lunch. He serves our ham, egg, and cheese with watermelon and coffee.

Much hilarity ensues when Rob accidentally sets off our alarm, and has to re-enter the apartment. He does so without warning, and some poor, defenseless, caucasian fellow is visually assaulted as he gets a flash of me, sans makeup, walking around in nothing but a long, lime green, tank-top. Yes, I'm sure it was a grim as it sounds!

My neck and back irritation is approaching Barton Fink proportions. This condition is named after an incident in which we were watching the Coen Brothers movie of the same name, and my migraine became so severe that it impaired my vision and I couldn't turn my head. I had to just lie still for hours. Though I love the Coen Brothers, I can barely remember the storyline, however, the movie is forever emblazoned in my mind's eye. In response to today's situation, I lie still for a couple of hours, take some muscle relaxants, and do my level best to just "be."

At 6, we meet up with Santiago and Maria, whom we first met on the trip to the 5-18 Memorial Cemetary. They lean toward vegetarian, so we settle on the Korean Traditional Porridge Restaurant. Good old sensible Rob chooses his favourite, the red bean soup, Santiago and Maria take my go-to, the vegetable cheese, and I try the pumpkin. I'm pleased with my choice as it's rich and satisfying. It includes rice balls, and little black bits, which I fear may be pupae. Upon closer examination, I recognize them as some kind of nut or bean. I hope.

We have a lively discussion about politics, social concerns, and ethics. The stunningly beautiful , and remarkably well-informed Maria tells us that her country, Bangladesh, is gradually pulling itself out of poverty, but it's a slow climb. Santiago says it's a shame that East Timor is a developing nation facing huge hurdles, especially since it has valuable natural resources such as oil and marble. He says Australia is keen to establish an oil industry there, but reluctant to hire local workers. It's the age old dilemma of superpowers trying to help poor countries by swooping in, raping the countryside, putting little into the local economy, and then acting like they're doing the host nation a favour by even being there.

Both Maria and Santiago are in Korea working for The May 18 Memorial Foundation Culture and Solidarity Team. They are politically and culturally aware, and very determined to, not just help at home, but work to make the world at large a better place. They are passionate about their efforts and are as sincere as the day is long. Santiago, in particular, seems to have lived through more than he'd care to remember, having been in an out of jail for his involvement in protests since he was just nine years old.

We move on to a nearby coffee shop and over a banana shake, cappuccino, and an Americano we we hash over pressing global issues, and smaller local ones, such as the dearth of true vegetarian restaurants in town. We try to come up with workable solutions to poverty in East Timor. We discuss the possibility of establishing an eco-tourism industry. I can't help but reflect on an article I read this very day about fifteen environmentally sensitive sites around the world that are now in peril due to eco-tourism.

We settle on the importance of education in instigating any real change. Staring through his plaintive eyes that seem to see forever, Santiago tell us that East Timor has recently established ties with Cuba to learn how to emulate that country's very successful education system. Whatever opinions one might have about the communist system, Cuba is one of the few places in the world where even hookers have university degrees.

After we go our separate ways, Rob and I walk for an hour to try to shake off some of the calories we've taken in this evening. Then we head home for "Diget" digestive cookies and watermelon, as we lay on the floor and watch old Get Smart episodes on youtube. One episode centres on bombs being planted by espionage agents during the construction of a high rise. A commenter on the webpage points out that the World Trade Centre was under construction at the time this episode was being made and the commenter questions whether this is synchronicity.

One this is for certain: Trying to solve all the world's problems is exhausting business!