Sure has been awhile since I’ve posted. Some blogers start saying that if they haven’t posted in a few days. Since my posting is already so sporadic, a little break like that is entirely meaningless. However, two months is another matter. The truth is I was rushing around frantically while I was in Korea, and now that I’m back in Exeter life has been manically busy.
Korea was charming. I met many of Ahreum’s friends again and old Korean aquaintances. Most importantly I was introduced to her Grandmother and uncles. I've never felt so ashamed of being a monoglot, yet at the same time her whole family treats me with real warmth. I think of so many friends of mine who are Korean and seeing westerners, or westerners seeing Koreans, and they constantly worry that the Korean family will a) find out and reject the western partner or b) wonder how they will keep going now that their family has already discovered and condemned said partner. I can imagine that Ahreum's family first imagined me with some trepidation, but they have never shown any of that. They are still potential inlaws, and there are things that will invariably bug me, but at least I don't have to deal with this. Fortunate indeed.
While I was in Korea I also mangaged to write a rough draft of a PhD chapter. It was wonderful being able to spend so much time with Ahreum largely away from the other concerns I normally have. Some of the side advantages included regular and generous portions of Korean food, which I have quite a hankering for.
Unlike last time, I had a bit of leisure time on my own. For one week Ahreum worked in a translating job, and I had to make my own way about Seoul. Not a problem. My sense of direction is quite good, so I never worried about getting lost. And this year I finally developed a sense of geography in Seoul, so it will be hard for me to get lost. So while I was on my own, I got sat down in cafes around Seoul, brought out my Locke notes and my text of the Essay Concerning Human Understanding, and got cracking on an extended analysis of Chapter 21, on Power. The manuscript (in the true sense of the word) is about 40 pages of paper slashed with blue ink. It is now being electronically transcribed. Of course I’m not nearly done with the chapter. It needs better connection with secondary debates on the subject of Lockean will, but I am quite sure I have a solid, original, and instrumental interpretation which will stand on its own and prove essential for the rest of my Locke chapters.
But this is not the only work related news to deliver. I have now, happily, delivered four lectures at the University of Bristol in their politics department (top flight, ranked 5 in the UK). I have 6 more to go. I am helping them in their hour of need since one of their political theorists is on research leave and the other is overworked having become head of department. Indeed, I was headhunted for this post on the recommendation of a former lecturer in our department, Nathan Widder. The reason is pretty clear. The course is on Locke and Rousseau, social contract thinking, and themes of democracy and authority. As it happens, my PhD is also on Locke and Rousseau. What a perfect fit.
And because I am freshly researching this material concurrently to my lecturing on it, I have an unparalleled opportunity to connect my research with my teaching. That sounds quite fine to me.
This does not mean that I have time to sit back and gloat. On the contrary, I have been busier than ever before keeping up with the Bristol lectures, working on my PhD, and teaching in Exeter. I have given a lecture on Book I of Plato's republic, and given a short paper on Plotinus and the ontology of virtue and evil. What fun.
At the beginning of October, my parents came to visit me. We had a wonderful 1 ½ weeks, a good chunk of that spent travelling in Wales. We also saw the alleged birthplace of King Arthur in Cornwall. Unfortunately I still had to bear down on work while they were here but that gave them the chance to explore the Westcountry quite a bit more than they had before. Mom and Dad are now safe and sound back in the USA, and it sounds like Dad is ready to come back right away. I think they like England far too much; they are prejudiced against the rest of Europe by the sole fact that I am here. They should go to Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Austria, or Switzerland before coming to England again. I might be able to go there for a little while and then they would be able to see more of Europe than this single island. This is the only sensible course.
What has really kept me grounded, enlivened, and encouraged in all of this hectic running about is being with Ahreum. Unfortunately she is not right here, but I do have the blessing of being able to talk with her every day. This really brings my days and my nights together and helps me stay focused on my work. She is such a sweet lady to say good morning to and good night. Even with the distance, I count this a charmed life.
I do have Korea pictures nearly finished and ready for posting. The editing takes more time when I can’t devote several afternoons to nothing else. There are also Wales pictures coming up.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
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