Charles, Yvonne... and Wilson!

So... I had done quite a bit by Friday. I took some time on Friday and Saturday to tour the city on the Seoul City Tour bus:

visit some palaces:

and do other touristy stuff.

Then Saturday night I met former SJCC colleague Charles Montgomery and fiancee Yvonne, who have been living here and teaching English for the past year:

We had a great time visiting a bookstore, having refreshments at a sidewalk restaurant on the banks of the lovely Chonggyecheon Stream, walking around, taking in the street performers and lazer shows and all the lively sounds and colors of Saturday night in a beautiful section of downtown historic Seoul. How great it was for me to be guided around, get the inside scoop on how to do things, exchange experiences and thoughts on living in Korea, reminisce about SJCC, and share the wonderful balmy September evening in downtown Seoul with them.

And then, in the midst of jostling crowds as we walked along the Chonggyecheon, what do I hear but..."Oh hi, how are you?" I turn around... and it's Wilson, a student who had been in one of my Korean classes at De Anza College. There I am, in the middle of Seoul ... and I run into someone from home:

It was a great Saturday night!