When Life Gives You Green Tangerines

I walked into a small bookstore on Jeju island. It was a rainy day. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. The size of the store resembled a milk carton. To my surprise I walked into a very well-curated philosophy section. I picked up a book on green tangerines. A local Jeju islander wrote the following: 

When life gives you green tangerines, allow their fragrances to diffuse across all barriers—the physical and mental. Feel the pores and granulated texture of the fruit, as you hold it and your hands serve as molds. When life gives you green tangerines, enjoy the acidic note even though it resembles bitter times. Savour the nectar and admire the place of origin, where North, South and Yellow sea converge. When life gives you green tangerines, don’t save them for better times—the moment might be fleeting. 

What beautiful advice to be receiving on this rainy day. I closed the book and left the bookstore. Around the corner I encountered a grocery store. Inspired by the lines, I went into the fresh produce section, looking for green tangerines. I picked up a pack and paid. On my way out I started peeling the first tangerine, paying attention to the fruit’s texture. As I tore the peel, I could feel the mist, little bursts of the cellular juice. I devoured a good 80% of the pack.

The next morning, I departed from Jeju but I couldn’t part ways with the tangerines, so I packed them in my bag. I was waiting for my luggage in Osaka. I watched the conveyor belt spinning endlessly. Out of boredom, I started peeling another green tangerine. The fragrance diffused across my skin and the entire baggage claim area. I placed the peel in a bag. Shortly after, I was greeted by two customs officers and a dog. The dog started sniffing my bag.

The elderly customs officer asked me to follow him. At the customs counter, I was informed about the strict policy on the import of fresh produce and its biohazards. I nodded politely and apologized. As I departed without my Jeju tangerines, I remembered the line “don’t save them for better times—the moment might be fleeting”. It made me smile.