I visited Pyongyang in July 2007

I was supposed to take my comprehensive exams last July, but I let it go in favor of a trip to North Korea's capital: Pyongyang! It was both strange and interesting; stimulating, yet numbing; and many other sensations. We stayed there for a 3-day conference, but it seemed to take forever. The strangest part of it was that we has South Koreans in our group, but they stayed in a different (and definitely more grand) hote, and we never socialized with them, except for the brief moment after a dinner in a restaurant - outside the restaurant before boarding our respective buses. While taking notes in a scientific meeting on agriculture, someone looked over my shoulder and says "ah, politics!". I thought, what? I was only taking notes of things I don't quite understand, as well as new things I learned from the different presentations - on how to grow crops and keep pests away! very political! Care to share some experiences? On by flight back home, somebody commented on the rarity of a chance to get North Korea. I think it was all worth skipping the exam. I don't feel any superior than any other person or people, but I had a heightened sense of appreciation for the small joys we enjoy - and take for granted: sleeping under a night sky shining with glittering stars worrying only about getting a cold, or making a quick stop at the corner store for the most recent gossip, or indulging on some no-good sweets with the last bill in my wallet...