Happy Year of the Dog

I got a phone call on Monday night from Sam- erstwhile heroine of Lost Seouls. She told me that she would be in London the next day and it seemed a good idea to meet up with her during one of my endless lunch breaks.

We met, we ate dak galbi

then I made her come to my class.

Then we went for pints at O'Neills in Chinatown.



After a couple of pints and some great fried food it was time for her to leave. As we walked towards the pub door I said that it would be weird that it wouldn't be Seoul outside that door- given that I hadn't seen Sam since she left the land of the endless ojinga last March.

'I don't know though,' she said and stepped to one side so I could see the lanterns adorning the street outside in preparation for Chinese New Year this weekend.

Then we got in a black cab- something I haven't done since I had a boyfriend rich enough to pay for one- and pootled off to Victoria Coach Station so young Sam could make her way home.

My students insisted, as have countless people before them, that me and Sam look the same- I just don't see it myself

it was good to see her before she returns to Korea this week with fiance in tow.