LEAVING HOLLAND FOR SEOUL

So, now my week here is over. I teach at the Prince Claus Conservatory here in the little town (not SO little, but it's no Seoul although there are quite a few Koreans here) of Groningen, NL. I come in for a week 4 to 6 times per year and it is always a kind of mad rush, every day filled with students, lessons, tests, meetings, hanging out and sometimes playing music. This time was especially hectic with many final exams, entrance exams and things to finish up as the year ends for this group of students. Last night Koreans, Indonesians and Dutch (and one American) went to an Indonesian restaurant and ate like there was no tomorrow. Unfortunately, there turned out to be a tomorrow (today in this case) so we are rubbing our disdended bellies and regretting our gluttony. (Gluttony is one of the central themes of this blog, as you may have noticed). Actually, it's quite nice to be here at this time. It's summer, so Holland is only about 65F degrees instead of the usual 45F (although the first couple of nights got down into the 40s) and more importantly I get to say goodbye to some students that I have spent the past four years with (off and on).

Tomorrow I am off to Korea again and really looking forward to it. It seems like only a week ago that I was there (and yet it was actually 9 days ago).