Samchon

Samchon.

(Samchon = Uncle in Korean) 

It's really strange.

Everyday, I can't help but reminisce about my time in Coshe.

Everyday, I look forward to exchanging messages with Samchon in korean..

Samchon's lack of temper amuses me. Whenever I made mistakes or got clumsy, I thought I'd be reprimanded or at least nagged at. But Samchon usually just laugh it off or whack me on the head jokingly. Even during the stressful peak hours at the cafe, if I screwed up while trying to help prepare ingredients, he let me try again without rushing, and patiently guided me while multi-tasking.

Samchon seemed to be able to trust me with difficult tasks, tasks I'm not confident of carrying out. Like feeding Coshe (the dog), walking Coshe alone when he's busy (or needed to go pangsai), sorting different types of coffee beans, buying superglue etc. To be honest I get so nervous doing all these, but I understand his intention to help me learn to be independent. Samchon always asked me to take the bus, walk, or cycle to the places I want to go, instead of taking the cab. He believes a traveller should figure his own way around.

Samchon likes to give me homework, even now. When he gets excited about introducing certain places or things to me, he'll grab the nearest piece of paper, write down "HOMEWORK" with an underline, and scribble instructions. In the chat he writes it as a header with bullet point instructions. haha

We are each other's teacher, he corrects my korean, and I help him with design. I like that we can be frank with each other, and give constructive criticisms. Sometimes when my opinion of life and dreams need a reality check, he makes sure to pull me down gently without holding the string too tight, giving me perspectives from his decades of life experience. 

He praises me regularly, sometimes too much that I feel embarrassed, and wonder if I deserve this much compliments. But with my limited korean, I can only thank him and say he's smart, cute or funny. That's all I know haha

He has many worries on his mind, as with every other adult in the world. But he has never burdened others with these worries, mostly kept in his heart until I asked. Whenever there were problems around the cafe or guesthouse, he tries to fix them to his own ability. Sometimes I can tell that he's really tired, but he doesn't complain nor whine about his responsibilities. Instead, embraces them and genuinely enjoys his job.

We've been chatting frequently since I left Coshe more than a month ago. Sometimes, he'd give me a random call to explain certain things in detail, and to make sure my korean doesn't regress. It's so fun! And I find myself sharing photos of random things that happened in my day-to-day. 

Really missed climbing Oreums, walking the Olle Trails, bringing Coshe out on walks, sitting at the same table drinking coffee he made, looking at the notes he scribbled, eating supper, drinking soju, makgeolli and beer, going on roadtrips, heading over to Leõn's cafe at night, helping to prepare simple items at the Cafe, and laughing everytime he randomly exclaims "AH?! MARI?..." and pauses for awhile before continuing with what he wants to say. hahaha 

Samchon wrote a blog about me when I left Coshe. Was really touched reading it so I felt eager to share about how much of an impact he had in my life too.  

Been having this thought though:

All these felt special and precious because they were exclusive to that time-frame. I knew I only had 2 months there and it was sort of a first experience for both of us. So naturally we cherish it more.

But if I were to head back, knowing that it's a place I want to return to, will the feeling be the same? Will I start seeing more flaws? Or will our tolerance for each other decrease? I'm scared of ruining this ideal picture of Coshe and Samchon.

At the same time, it's been such an impactful part of my trip that continues to linger in my mind everyday even after so long. And I'm having trouble trying to link that part of my life, which felt like a dream, to the reality that I am in now. 

Writing all these to sort out my thoughts and feelings.

No matter what, I am really very very very thankful to have been given the chance to help out at Coshe and crossed paths with Samchon. And I would never ever exchange these 2 months for any other place in the world :)

Thank you Samchon! ❤️ 삼촌 감사합니다~ 

loves,
marilyn | 마리