Bandi & Luni's

Stacey (right) as interviewee at Bandi & Luni's Bookstore in the COEX Mall
in the Gangnam district of Seoul (that part of town made world famous
by the performer Psy's "Gangnam Style" video).
South Koreans spend oodles of money and time learning English.  The girl
on the left had a classroom assignment to track down a willing, native
English speaker, and conduct an English Q&A session recorded
on her cell phone.  Stacey complied and
performed admirably.

A classic book shelved in the large, English language section at Bandi & Luni's.
For me, a Chaucer sighting always brings to mind Professor Richard
Kirkwood at the University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire back
in 1973.  He thought a leisurely Sunday afternoon
reading Chaucer (even if only in the translation)
bested just about anything else imaginable.
To brag a bit, I count among my greatest lifetime achievements (which are
remarkably few), the being presented the Kirkwood Literary Award
for essay writing in my fall '73-'74 semester section.
Its accompanying $5 stipend was quite a boost
to my fortunes at the time.

Stacey browses the Kiddie Lit tables at Bandi & Luni's.
Combine all the money we've spent on kids' books through the years
with that $5 Kirkwood prize, saved and invested wisely
at the time, and who knows in what tropical paradise
we'd while away our days, lounging casually
and sipping Mai Tais.