Sherlock Holmes

Posted: May 13, 2010 | Author: Mika | Filed under: Book of Sand | Leave a comment

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

{ The G Washington Edition | 1932 | Doubleday | 190 pgs }

Our ward recently had a brunch & swap, which they apparently do every spring. On Friday evening everyone brings their unwanted items (donations, if you will), and the next morning, pastries and fruits are served, and you get to take whatever items you want. Since I was part of the setting-up committee, I got to have first pick. And I found this nice old hardcover Sherlock Holmes book. You can see another copy of the same edition here. I was able to find out that it contains most, but not all, of the stories published in The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes.

Believe it or not, this was the first Sherlock Holmes book – or even story – I’d ever read. Isn’t that crazy? I found it extremely enjoyable, although I confess that it seemed, to me, like a very grown-up version of the Encyclopedia Brown stories. (I hope I don’t end up in literary hell for saying that.) I’m not sure that I’d be up for a Sherlock Holmes novel, as I thought the short story was the perfect medium for these mysteries.

I did guess the answer to one mystery (“The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier”), but probably only because it was the most obvious. Most of the others had such far-fetched endings that I suppose only a real detective could ever solve them!

In case you were wondering

Posted: May 12, 2010 | Author: Jarom | Filed under: Gulliver's Travels | 4 Comments

When I say that Korean subways are busy, this is what I mean.

Not even crowded yet.

And this was one of the times that I had the most room. When it is crowded, I wouldn’t have had space enough to reach my camera.

Also, in case you were wondering what I meant about Lady Gaga not being a person, this is what I meant.

classic non-person behavior

Fun(?) with Korea

Posted: May 11, 2010 | Author: Jarom | Filed under: Gulliver's Travels | 1 Comment

So far nothing much has really been going on in my internship. I was told I would be getting some projects “in a couple days,” but nothing more specific than that. The building where I am working is really quite impressive. There is toothpaste and mouthwash in the bathrooms, so you know it’s high end. It is right next the to Korean World Trade Tower, and is connected to it via a giant underground mall that is the super trendy place to shop in Korea. To give you an idea of what I’ve been up to, here’s a typical day:

I get up around 7, and I am out the door by 8. I don’t really have to be to work until 9:30, but the later I come in, the later I have to stay. I take the subway (along with half the population of Seoul) to get to where I work. I am often surprised at how many people can fit into one subway car. I’m pretty sure you would be surprised too. I’ll try to get a picture of it, but to truly experience it, you have to be there. Also, I am surprised at how HOT it gets in the subway car. I usually try to shimmy my way to an air-conditioner, so I don’t die of heat and being squished.

After about 45 minutes, I arrive at Samsung Station, and head out into the fresh air.

Me, very glad to be out of the sweltering subway

And then I make my way to the ASEM tower, where I (sort of) work.

Quite Tall, yes?

I then make my way up to the 19th floor and to my desk area.

I don’t actually use that computer. That would be considered “work”

There is one other intern right now. She is from Germany, and doesn’t speak a lick of Korean. Because I don’t have any real assignments (or even fake assignments), I get to sit there and look busy. I do however, get to make frequent trips to the break room to admire the view, and drink juice which has been generously provided for employees.