August in Seoul is absolutely awful when describing the hot and humid weather! The hazy polluted air is stagnant with pungent smells, and the tortuous heat radiates between building walls, remaining trapped among the streets and alleys of the enormous concrete jungle. There are few ways to find relief - and this year (2015), our favorite was lounging at the Seoul Club swimming pool. Membership at the club is an expat business perk the company provides for us. It's the best place in town to enjoy a variety of delicious poolside dinner salads! And I must say, I'm pleased to see my name added to the tennis wall of fame a few years ago. Sadly, I haven't been around to compete in subsequent tournaments.
Korean Independence or Liberation Day (Gwangbokjeol - which means "restoration of light") takes place on August 15, and celebrates the 1945 surrender of Japan during World War II. It is also called the Liberation Day. On this day, three years later in 1948, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) was officially established. Walking around Seoul, it was easy to spot signs of patriotism on City Hall and other buildings. It's always interesting to see Christians marching through town proclaiming and singing songs of liberty through Christ. We watched fireworks exploding off Namsan Mountain from our apartment balcony.
Church responsibilities took us on a long drive (3 1/2 hours each way) to Daegu for Sunday meetings. It's always a nice scenic rural drive through scores of mountain tunnels and quaint farming villages in the valleys of Korea. As I've said many times before, I do think this is a beautiful country.
We've survived another Seoul summer!
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