Mon 31 Oct 2022, Day 49/61. My plans for this week had already changed because both the University President & the Dean of the Graduate School of Theology have tested COVID +ve since I met with them last week. On Saturday the Dean was on his way to pick me up by car when we suggested he turn back & that I make my own way here. As a result this week is going to be even more quiet than planned.

My week set aside for relative quiet & reflection has ended up coinciding with a Week of National Mourning. The suburbs feel slightly removed but also far too close to Saturday’s events. Tragically one of this University’s students lost her life. Mon 31 Oct 2022, Day 49/61. www.koreaherald.com/view.php

Terrible news here in Seoul. It’s still night here so some Koreans won’t yet have heard the news. Grateful for people getting in touch to check I’m OK. Itaewon is the most international of Seoul’s districts so this tragedy is likely to include foreigners.

Please pray for all those involved & for the City of Seoul.

Sat 29 Oct 2022, Day 47/61. The Kettering Rectory is once again occupied & so I can talk about the great joy for me of having had Carys with me for almost four weeks here in Seoul.

Sat 29 Oct 2022, Day 47/61. I’m one of three Anglican priests from outside Korea staying here. Here we are having coffee together: from Japan, England & Myanmar. Of course only one of us is using their mother tongue.

Sat 29 Oct 2022, Day 47/61. The Anglican University is out in the suburbs. And my room is on the eighth floor. So I get a lot more sky out here than in the centre of Seoul..

Sat 29 Oct 2022, Day 47/61. Every day mobile phone users in Korea are sent public safety messages. They mostly turn out to be routine. But today the phone screamed at me as the announcement arrived. Which was a little concerning to begin with! It turns out there’s been a 4.3 magnitude earthquake 105 km away from Seoul. Which isn’t good news. But it could have been a lot worse.

Fri 28 Oct 2022, Day 46/61. I now move to the Anglican (Sungkonghoe) University, 성공회대학교, for eight days followed by four nights in south-east South Korea, ending in Busan. My plan is for the coming week to be the quietest & most reflective of my time here.

Fri 28 Oct 2022, Day 46/61. One of the most beautiful corners of Seoul, the Secret Garden in the grounds of one of the royal palaces, Changdeokgung, 창덕궁, brings this phase of my journey to an end.

Fri 28 Oct 2022, Day 46/61. A postscript on Soju. Most of it is cheap. I know Koreans who love it & Koreans who turn their noses up at it. But Soju made in Andong, 안동, is famous for its quality. And sold in rather splendid bottles. I’ve treated myself.