Dear sisters and brothers,

I want to talk about the visit of Hyun Jin Nim and Jun Suk Nim. It was a very intense but also a wonderful experience for me. My responsibility was hospitality. Basically my job was to make sure that Hyun Jin Nim and Jun Suk Nim and any guests visiting their rooms were taken care of and were served tea or coffee etc. One thing I could witness was the standard of their life style. From when they arrived at the hotel until when they left they had visitors in their suite almost without any break. Their suite had a small living room and you could see part of the bedroom from the living room. Many times Jun Suk Nim was sitting with Hyun Jin Nim when there were guests, but sometimes she was not, and I am sure they had jet lag and I am sure she wanted to lie down a bit, and of course she also had their six month old daughter with them. I just felt if I was in that circumstance I would not feel able to relax very well. Also, I am sure it must be exhausting talking with people and giving guidance throughout the day. I had one experience when I had to go into their suite when no guests were there for half an hour, to clean up the coffee table. That was the only break time I saw them take during that four days, and I wish I didn’t need to go in to disturb them during that short time. I tried to not make any noise. Both of them were in the bedroom, and Hyun Jin Nim coughed once, as if to clear his throat, to let me know they were there. I felt such a pain in my heart that they cannot relax fully even for that half an hour. Where ever they go everyone looks at them and there is always a storm of camera flash lights. I am sure their whole life is like that. I don’t think I would be able to live such a public life; it was a special experience for me to deeply respect them.

We cannot afford the local organic butcher of fishmonger, but whenever we see the posh French bakery like Paul, Maison Blanc, Le Pain Quotidien, we always stop. Especially we buy the sour dough or French stick. I don’t know how they can make such wonderful bread. Have a nice week.