The Summer, The Winter and the Wardrobe.

We usually call Korea as ‘a country of four significant seasons ‘.

Well that was that. Was just a fact, a statement. What travel makes me realize is that, well so many things but this ‘season’ is quite particular thing.

The very first backpacking for me was to New Zealand like I mentioned few times. It was end of September that means in the middle of autumn. Red, yellow, magenta maples draw coloured picture all over the country. The weather in New Zealand that time should be almost the same as Korea-mild Spring.

Next I went to SE Asia and that was in January, so in the middle of freezing winter. That year I had two summers and no winter. These experiences repeat one after another. I even thought summer Christmas in New Zealand should be a hoot! So I knew there’s a place only summer, or opposite than ours. As an earth science nerd, of course I knew how it works. The rotation of the earth along with revolution around the sun, blah blah blah.. yeah sure I knew about that.

The summer.

When the summer came, my family packed our bags and went short summer break to close place. Where near the pool and more nature than Seoul. Saw gorgeous butterflies, hunt down cicadas, played with dragon flies, and hung around numerous trees. Sometimes we put up a tent on the roof top to sleep because it was too damn hot.

Little Juno at a beach

The Winter.

In winter, we made snowman in our rooftop and rode a sleigh in small hill behind our house. One winter I could not go to school because of all the snow. It was knee high, easy. In the city!!

We go on a trip to view the autumn color to mountain, and enjoy flower view in spring.

Me and my dad. Sleigh riding

The Wardrobe.

When the weather starts to cold, we sat down and reorganize the entire wardrobe. Put out all the winter coats and sweaters from deep in the closet and pack all shorts and t-shirts away. Of course have to leave something for the layered style for my pleasure. Same thing in about five months but the other way around.

That’s the time we clean the closet and almost the entire house. Two times a year. We’ve done every year, no exception. You don’t want to leave your big fat coat hang around the closet for six months.

So yes. All these little rituals are just simply normal thing to me. Naturally I thought these things are just another ritual everybody does. You know, we tend to think ourselves in the centre of the universe.

Since this is summer, so vacation and lack of free time were the main issues during this time. So I asked Mei (@Agentcikay) live in Malaysia, “How long is your summer vacation?” and she answered me “Summer? We are summer all year!” And that hit me.

It isn’t like I didn’t know that but I really understand that meaning.

One night, I had a dinner with Laurie who is from California. She and her husband lived in Korea for two years and about to move to Chicago. We were talking about crazy weather in Korea because this year is particularly hot and cold. Don’t mention snow in this winter. Phew! And she said it was first time to see snow. And I said what? And that scarf was very first one she bought ever. And I said again what? Oh my god. Yes! You didn’t have to own a scarf because you lived in California!

I often say I want to live in California for few years, and I didn’t thought about that.

She is about to move to Chicago, so I told her how we organize our wardrobe. It was such an interesting experience! Talk about wardrobe system.

These little facts were just nodes. Then BAM! It made lines. Now I’m drawing lines, shapes and even 3D features with all these nodes.

Summer, lotus flower patch

Travelling the world, and learning the world, while on the process I learn how to connect just facts to stories and realize everything is relevant. Also, nothing is ‘correct’. It is just ‘different’. Often ‘different’ adopted as ‘wrong’. That causes so many wars, racial difficulties, and numerous problems around the globe.

How much travel could teach us. Now  I really thank to, whoever, for these great four seasons.  How awesome? Exactly four months later, different atmosphere, like promised. Before you realize what you own, what you take for a granted, you can never appreciate others’. First is first. See what you own. That’s what I’m thinking.

Thank you for letting me know the smell of early summer breeze, a delicate fragrance of autumn wafted through the air, and gave me the opportunity to play with snow every year. This is, a truly beautiful country, indeed.