진주집(Jinju House)

big_beom

A year ago, I went to an island to learn something. Although not entirely clear about what I harbored as I went there, I am left with a pleasant nostalgia. The hope of stepping into a new realm, and the expectation to make slightly better choices made me leave slightly early every morning, aiming to arrive at the destination first.

Even now, I managed to escape from the Pandemic, and unlike others, I dodged the bustling population, moving in the opposite direction where everyone else was heading. Perhaps the direction was the same, but the purpose was so different; the mindset, expressions, and the contents of the bag were starkly different.

On a warm day, I could walk as I pleased or take a long detour around a less crowded Han River bridge. I walked to an unfamiliar entrance below a building higher than 63 floors. There was no leisure, but I wasn't in a hurry, at least for the time being. The number [480] felt very small at that time; it was regrettable before the fleeting time ended, as if guessing the end at the beginning.

Those times were undeniably busy, and I stacked up memories that can now be called recollections, one after another. For some reason, I dusted off stories that had been shelved. Those who walked the drowsy path with me, knowingly in the opposite direction, helped me balance between 'plain' and 'emotional.' Sometimes walking a long way made the journey an experience, and the thoughts that were hard to organize in reality found their place in 'compartmentalized' rooms.

The sunlight on the Han River was always stable, welcoming any day without a word. Whether it was a sunny spot or a place with bunker-like fences, it was the same. If there was a flat spot to sit, I would unfold my MacBook, play a diverse genre of music at maximum volume, and watch the flow through the river that pierces through Seoul. Before the warmth received from the ground in the morning turned into 'heat,' I would leave that place. Everything passed by in an instant. Each day was a continuum of unfamiliarity and familiarity.

As I began to understand, something new appeared, and when I felt ignorant, something familiar suddenly emerged, bringing relief. Learning, perhaps, is about having the courage to admit what you don't know and quietly acknowledging what you know to dig deeper. Among what I learned, 'entreaty' was a notable word. I learned about 'narrative,' saw a person with the qualities of a leader I aspired to be, met a 'manager' who advised not to work too hard, discovered <ENFJ>, the most relatable among the 16 personality types, and became a local 'guide' who knew every corner of this 'island.' And then, everyone found their own path.

I go to Yeouido, my spiritual homeland. In Yeouido, where the 'soul' resides, as long as one doesn't dislike beans, they can taste the 'emotion' in [Kongguksu] with radish-filled cider complemented by 'kimchi made during kimjang.' Walking through the urban forest, when the perceived temperature rises and the scent of spring begins to be felt, that's the time. It's a place to comfortably choose something light yet fulfilling, even with acquaintances who aren't particularly close, eventually heading to 'that' department store, showcasing the traces of time. Entering <Jinju House>, which has always kept its place with worn tables lined up, I order Kongguksu after endlessly pondering until arrival. As I lift the noodles, I sip the nostalgia infused in the bean broth, hoping we all endure like this menu on our individual paths.