42/10. Week 42.

I was hoping for an answer this week, it being week 42 (the ultimate answer to life, universe and everything, of course) and i have got one! My future has become more clear. I have made my decision to have another year at Jungchul Hagwon. There are many factors involved... and for a long time I was 50/50 on whether to return or to challenge myself in a new teaching position somewhere else in Korea. I am not going into the crucial factors which have persuaded me to stay... not yet anyway, and not here.

I spoke with another UK guy, Philip Hardwick, the other day and he is set to come out to replace me when my current contract finishes. His previous teaching experience includes a year long stint in Malawi. He has been offered a job as my replacement, although I will return to the same hagwon, on a new contract, after 2 months of being back in the UK.

Getting set for my trip to Japan.. less than a week to go now. Have bought a foreigner's Japan Rail Card which will save me lots on the train journeys and have got my guide book.. I am also asking anyone I meet to give me their top Japan tips - Kyoto seems to be the number one destination, although I am hoping to be fit enough to attempt to climb Mount Fuji at some point.

The rain finally came at the weekend, although it remains to be seen if this is a late version of Changma (rainy season) or just a blip in the otherwise hot, sunny and humid conditions. I MUST buy a fan so that I stop getting so worked up about sweating profusely. The deafening sound of Korean grasshoppers permanently rubbing their wings is all around.

I visited the west coast for the first time on Saturday, after getting a bus to Daejeon, with Garry, on Friday night. After a stay in Magic 24 Jjimjilbang, it was off early to catch a bus to Daechon Beach, Chungnam, for the 11th annual Boryeong Mud Festival. A remarkbly well-organised, world famous festival, with an extremely muddy theme, which takes place on one of the best beaches in Korea. Mud wrestling, tug-of-war, mud slides, 'mud' gunge tank, mud pools, colourful painted bodies, mud cannons, a rave on the seashore, thumping music, etc. A little bit overrun by party-hard Americans... while most of the Koreans were happy to look great, wear few clothes and just get covered in the grey stuff. I indulged of course, although i was keener to document the event rather than indulge myself completely. There are around 100 photos from the event on the site, but the quality is poor due to the fact that I had to cover the camera with two layers of protection from the mud... namely cellotape and a freezer bag. Fascinating and tiring. Cameras everywhere. Buckets of rain finally coming to wash everything out to sea, just as we climbed aboard a bus to Seoul, for the evening. There we met Wyn, previous incumbent of Garry's desk at Jungchul, who has just started work at the British Council, in Seoul. We both now have apartment envy. My 7th visit to the capital, also included an unplanned reunion with Eun-jeong and my first steak in 11 months.

After months of struggling with my cell phone, I upgraded to a far superior model on Friday, thanks to Kim Ji-ae's help. I now have a phone with an English display setting and an English/Korean dictionary - essential.

Some things remain unsaid.

Phil.x.