There’s a chapter in Lessons to Learn called ‘On Arriving’, set in a Korean airport.  It’s full of Christmas music and boy scouts speaking in broken English, two men called Mr Park, an INFROMATION DESK and a young English teacher struggling to take it all in. 

Seven years later, I’m back here.  This time, I’m sharing the trip and the soju with Matt.  This time, I’m flying in from another big city, a home called London.  But the language here is still foreign and the neon lights are as shiny as ever.  We’re staying in Incheon Airport Town: another of those places which springs up from nowhere, another of those places which is surrounded by nothing.  Our hotel room has a spa bath, heated floors, a computer (with a wireless connection) and an ultra-violet ray sterilizer. 

We wandered a couple of blocks earlier, browsing the choice of restaurants – and were slightly alarmed by the claw machine which appeared to let you win a live lobster.  Eventually we settled on Korean barbeque, where the owners cooked beef and bulgogi on a hotplate at our table.  On the plane, we were served bimibap, along with instructions on how to mix all the various ingredients (rice, hot pepper sauce, mushrooms, cucumber, etc) together.  On our way back to our hotel this evening, we stopped at the convenience store for chocolate snacks and green tea icecream.

While we could probably spend our three days here eating non-stop, tomorrow we’re heading out to explore Seoul.  I’m taking a Bookcrossing copy of Lessons into the city with me.  This is where it started.  It’s strange to be back.

Tash