here we go SOKO!

The End.

2011-01-16T05:26:00.001-08:00

My journey to Korea and the beginnings of this blog started in September 2009. I sit here, over a year later, in a packed apartment, hours away from my next adventure. I only look back fondly!!

It has been an awesome year! An awesome, AWESOME year!

My adventure to Korea started as an outlet of exportation-- for a few reasons. I wanted to live abroad for a while to experience life outside of America. I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone and challenge myself. I wanted to explore a future or potential in travel journalism. I wanted to see Jesus and his kingdom outside of what i was used to. Well friends, i did it! And God had SO much more planned for me.

A few things i learned/was reminded of this year:

- this world is HUGE and my place in this world is very small

- some things just don't make sense to me, and probably never will. i'm "ok" with that

- i value communication, more than ever before

- i don't want to be a travel journalist (but i still love to write)

- Skype should win an award

- the media is an interesting machine often mastering the art of hype

- kids are kids... things they say are even funnier in a foreign language

- Jesus and his beauty is always present-- however, so many people have yet to see it

- i have learned the value of being present... wherever i am, just being completely there

- there is something really rich about sitting on the floor sharing a meal with friends family style

- im an awful chopstick-er (even after a year.)

- non-verbal communication is an artform

- i love Korean food. Especially kimchi. And will probably always eat it.

I feel as if i am a different woman today than i was boarding the plane here. I have done some wicked awesome things. Seen some crazy things. And lived in a freakin' foreign country alone. I've met some awesome, awesome people-- friends! And been confronted with the realities that being American affords one in a foreign country and have been challenged to understand and assimilate into a culture that is completely unlike mine. At times, it has been frustrating, but it has been rich! I love Korea. And the general kindness and generosity i was shown by many Korean friends-- and strangers for that matter-- made my transition and daily life here unbelievably smooth.

I feel blessed for the opportunity to live and travel like i have for the last year. I am thankful that God, in his perfect timing and goodness, opened doors and showed me the bigger reasons for living in Korea. He really is control of life-- and despite my doubt, he has BIG things planned for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. I am thankful for my church and the community of people i met. I am thankful for the opportunity to travel to Nepal-- and for the opportunity to serve with MountainChild when i return to LA. Again, God is SO good to me! His timing and workings in my life are beautiful and SO good. His love for his children is so grand!

All that to say, this is the end. SoKo bound no more. SoKo has been had and it was good! On to the next chapter! Blog? Maybe. (actually probably- but not for a while.)

What is that you ask? Well, first, a sunny vacation in beautiful Thailand! After that, rest and reunion with my loved ones.

Thank you Jesus for life and for the promise of abundant life! You are good... and dang, my heart beats for you. Wherever-- whenever-- whatever... i'm in! All in.

Signing out...

love,

sarah

how about a few pics of my last day, just to finish strong.

funny faces.

more funny faces.

My coworkers.

A Year Ago Today.

2011-01-12T22:04:00.001-08:00

Today is January 13th. A year ago today i arrived in Korea.

That, my friends, is crazy! The goodbyes have started. The packing is almost finished. And i anxiously hold two plane tickets. 1 roundtrip to Thailand for a much needed vacation! And 1 oneway ticket to a new chapter in California. If you couldn't gather it on your own... that holds for me a bag of mixed emotions. Thankfully it's less than 25kg as i'm not a fan of those extra baggage fees. But, undoubtedly, a little weighty still.

My massive, human-sized duffel bag (in which my sista Jugie can fit in) on the other hand, is right around 25kg and i'm wondering how the heck im going to haul it to the bus stop. I hope it doesn't snow.

But that's besides the point! : )

Today is exactly one yea... and DANG! It was good.

Hello security check.

Anyang (hey!) Korea!

A Walk in the Snow.

2011-01-11T00:11:00.000-08:00

So, i finished my classes at 1:40 today. I don't finish my day until 6. After a massive dumping of snow, which had me tied to my desk, i decided to take a walk to run some errands. While it was bit chilly of a walk, it was beautiful! As i walked, i was overcome with thankfulness for this year and the time i've spent here! My time here is wrapping up quickly... maybe a little too quick! I'm going to miss it here so much! So, in light of that, here's my "i'm going to miss you Korea" list. And a list of things im looking forward to in California.

The Miss List

- having to walk everywhere and having everything within walking distance

- delicious Korean food literally on every corner

- my co-workers/friends (sad just thinking about it!)

- "free service" (that being the extra things you get at restaurants or when you buy cosmetics)

- tteok, jjimpang, kimchi, chamchi kimbap, sundubujjigae, hobak juk, makoli and pajjeon pat, and other Korean deliciousness

- the crazy things i see walking to and from work everyday (near car accidents, crazy delivery boys on pimped out crotch rockets, girls walking in 3 inch snow in 6 inch heels, cute little kids all bundled up, etc.)

- the awesome public transportation and crazy taxi rides

- watching people work out in public exercise equipement and some of the funny things i see them doing on the track (i will not, however, miss the ajjumas rockin' hot pink work out attire walking little dogs whose fur has been dyed a similarly awful color.)

- sharing a meal with friends, sitting on the floor, eating family style

- the little ESL glitches my students make and the awesome dictionary words they pull out (like cerebral hemorrhage = scrape on my head?)

- my tutor student JiEun

- the amusement my kids get when i can understand them or say something in Korean (or the laughter that erupts when i butcher some Korean word)

- my lovely Korean friends!!

Things im looking forward to

- WARMTH-- though be it be a relative term

- seeing my family

- weekend gatherings with my family

- coffee with my best friend

- being able to go shopping, or actually do just about anything without all eyes on me

- buying shoes

- reading the newspaper

- wandering around Target without getting bumped into or hassled to buy something with a loud speaker by a woman wearing a hanbok

- driving

- dyer dried jeans. and socks. and underwear. towels. heck... dry it all!

- whole wheat everything

- Mexican food

- driving and listening to the radio!

Well.. there you have it. Hate to get all sentimental... but it's all hitting me! Korea... you've been good to me! I'm going to miss you!

More to come soon!

(i successfully wasted an hour... time to go home!)

First Day of My Last Week

2011-01-09T21:46:00.001-08:00

Wow. Hard to believe that this time next week i'll be finished with my teaching contract and sitting in an airport in China.

More to come on that soon... but here are some visuals of me finishing up my time in Korea! Man, im going to miss this place! : /

Making kimchi with my sista Monica.

Learned how to make delicious Korean food!

Eating fish. Red bean filled, fried fish. YUM!

New Years!

2011-01-02T05:26:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2011 is going to be awesome!

Eating my first bungeoppang. Deep fried, red bean stuffed fish. yum.

Monica ssaim documented the occasion.

Danced in the New Year with some awesome ladies!

lovely ladies.

Welcomed up the new year's sun with some lovely friends!

2010 was awesome. Full of change!

2011... i am expectant!! Big things are a comin'... i feel it!

All of it to the favor of my King!

: )

Christmas in Korea

2010-12-28T01:47:00.000-08:00

"Jeolgeoun kurissamassa"

This Christmas was the first spent away from my family, and well, i am thankful for two things.

1. That it went by rather quick, and

2. For the people here who made it awesome!

It's hard being away from loved ones during the holidays! Familiarity. Tradition. Mom's home cooking! You know, the little things that warm your heart! When you live across the globe, it is a little hard. But, even though a few tears were shed sharing Christmas with my family over skype... "i had a lovely holiday" (said in a Brittish accent)!

Christmas Eve was spent at work where i watched the first 40 minutes of Elf five or six times. And not just any Elf-- Elf with Korean subtitles. My kids loved it. I found myself mid-evening sitting at Kimbap Heaven on my Christmas Eve dinner break enjoying a less than delicious bowl of bibimguksu (mixed vegetable/chile paste cold noodle dish). My meal was quickly redeemed by the Christmas Eve program on a TV overhead featuring Korean pop stars and their renditions of English Christmas carols. Epic i tell you. I sat there, next to a taxi driver scarfing bowls of rice, chuckling again to myself... "Where the heck am i?" Later that night some friends gathered at my place and we welcomed Christmas Day in with a cup of cider, a potato pizza, some Sacha Baron Cohen Youtube clips, and the company of some good friends!

We celebrated Christmas morning how all Christmas mornings should-- brunch. No rice here folks. Only breakfast food. Only Christmas appropriate American-ly delicious breakfast food. Pancakes. Bacon. Eggs. Potatoes and coffee. It was delightful! A wonderful meal with some wonderful friends... followed by an afternoon of napping, skyping and movies.

i love breakfast! i really love Christmas breakfasts!

My dear friend and our lovely host... thanks Becks!

There you have it... a Merry little Christmas indeed!!

보신탕

2010-12-26T04:00:00.000-08:00

Boshintang.

Sorry. That is not a Korean Wienerschnitzel. It is, however, a Korean dog soup restaurant.

Hot and domesticated. Awesome! : )

(Thanks to my friend Zeke!)

To: You

2010-12-22T17:58:00.000-08:00

Jesus has come!! Our King is here! For that we celebrate.

May God reveal himself and the beauty of his Son to you this Christmas! This beautiful baby grew to become a mighty servant to all--humbling himself to earth, he died in the place of those he loved, and rose from the dead as a beautiful victor! In that we walk confidently, for that is our HOPE, and JOY and PEACE for today.

Fix your eyes heavenward... because he is coming again!

He has promised to make all things beautiful again!

Merry Christmas indeed!

love,

yours truly

Traffic in Korea

2010-12-19T06:10:00.000-08:00

Scenario #1

Bad A is trying to make a left hand turn. Clunker B is attempting the same corner making a right. I am approaching said corner of conflict at about the same time. I stop abruptly to avoid a bodily collision while Bad A keeps turning and stopping inches from Clunkers fender. He, obviously holier and more experienced proceeds to yell from his car window. Clunker B neither finishes his turn nor lets me or Bad A continue and responds to Bad A's hostility. The go at it for a while. Meanwhile i am still stopped, watching, hesitant to run across in the midst of the obviously horrendous offense, motioning for them both to just turn already. Traffic has also stopped- unable to pass both cars now blocking the intersection. Let's go people. And cool your jets... i think i had the right of way anyway!

Scenario #2

I am stopped at a crosswalk. In from of me are two cars fresh in a fender bender. Dumb and Dumber have decided to stop in the middle of the street- blocking both lanes and conjesting traffic through the busy intersection. Whilst an open curb lies maybe 20 feet in front of them to the right. It gets better. An impatient bus- making a left hand turn on a red- weaves its way through now halted traffic and attempts to shimmy itself between said stopped cars and the curb. Meanwhile, the crosswalk signal has given me and other amused watchers a green light. All i could do was laugh and shake my head. First... D&D...pull the heck over yo! Did you happen to look around? Second, bus. Seriously? Seriously. Hate to give you a complex-- but, if a car cannot fit in that space- neither can you. You have a bloody red light. Calm the heck down. LET ME RUN!

Scenario #3

I approach a crosswalk to find two cars who have just kissed. Hardly an accident. Crazy Face gets out of his car, ice cream sandwich in hand (and on face), and makes his way over to Poor Guy. He proceeds to start yelling at this guy who hardly hit his rear, and gets so heated at moments that he starts screeching. Poor Guy suggest that he pull around the corner to get out of traffic (smart guy!)... and Crazy Face follows him-- leaving his car parked in traffic. Idiot. Both men are now standing on the corner. Crazy Face is still munching his ice cream between spurts of profanity and jumbled Korean as milky spit is now flying everywhere. Poor Guy is apologizing and looking to make sure there wasn't any real damage. His car obviously the more valuable of the two. I cross the crosswalk and can still hear Crazy Face screaming from across the street. At this time, Poor Guys has gotten back in his car and Crazy Face is now at his window throwing what remains of his fatty sweets at the guy's car. I get on my bus with only one word: 진짜?!?

(really!!! in Korean.)

Greetings!

2010-12-13T02:19:00.000-08:00

Well I've done it folks... i've crossed over into the final month of my time in Korea. And I just realized i've been mistaken on my time left. All weekend i've been telling folks that i have 6 weeks left- i don't! I ONLY HAVE 4 WEEKS!! That is crazy.

But before i go on ranting about my time left, let me recap this last month.

If you didn't know i got to travel home a few weeks ago to visit my family and friends, and most of my November was spent counting down the days! As much as i tried to stay present in Korea, the longing to be home and the closeness of that actually happening was a little much some days. You can ask my coworkers. I'm sure my ridiculous countdowns got a little tedious. Home came and went and it was delightful! I got to spend some time with my family, catch up with dear friends and celebrate the marriage of a dear sister. It was amazing. Just the reboot and refill i needed to return and finish strong.

I've actually been told that i look better now than i did before i left. (I must have really needed a vacation!)

Tensions have been pretty high in Korea the past few weeks. The associated press reports as if war is imminent, yet things on the Korean front are rather commonplace-- with the exception of a few people that is. A few Korean friends and coworkers talk more heatedly about the most recent attack, however no one really considers the idea of an all out war. Being home didn't help. I sat on a balancing act of media hype, social passivism and reality. Needlesstosay, I returned to Korea after my short vacation and well, as expected, life continues as normal here. Admittedly, I was checking CNN daily for almost two weeks straight, but deep down i didn't really expect anything to happen. I still don't.

For the first time ever, i worked on Thanksgiving! For the most part it felt like any other day. Which was a little sad- and something i hope not to repeat again. But we celebrated in full steam the weekend before and rocked a traditional Thanksgiving meal like only expats can do in Korea! No cranberry sauce, or turkey, but it was rounded out nicely with some stuffing, mashed potatoes/gravy, pumpkin pie, and some good wine! I also roasted my first chicken, and that was an adventure. I gutted, cleaned, rubbed down and roasted the little guy. Yes, i am a vegetarian. And yes, that is a neck bone. It was SICK. But i guess it came out pretty tasty.

The lovely clan in my little apartment.

Success.

I spent the last part of November in the states! And it was, again, amazing! Too much to detail right now. Awesome will have to suffice.

I left the California sun and arrived back in Korea to a week of snow! It dumped for two days last week... and stuck! I walked into one class one afternoon with all my little ones up on the window sill. I had to grab my phone to take a picture! I love this class!

Alice. Lisa. Suzie. Hannah. Jinny. Sam

Snow from my office window.

Now i find myself halfway through December with only 12 days till Christmas! Time is flying by! Christmas will be undeniably different, but i am excited to spend Christmas with my friends here! I am convinced that if my expectations are for something new- i will not be disappointed. I will most definitely be missing my family... but celebrating Jesus and his coming to be with us can happen in any and every corner of the world!

Even in my apartment! : )

So now i'm looking forward. Christmas Eve is next. I'll be "working". But, I plan to read the Christmas Story to my kids! Christmas day will be spent with friends! A new teacher shall be joining us the following week. And we plan to rock New Years Eve like only one can do in Seoul! As my dear friend D would say-- it's best! And then we'll break into 2011. Can you believe it? Me either.

There you have it friends! Month 11 was great and the next few weeks promise good things as well! I'll leave the "end times" for another post!

Korea you're awesome. We shall live it up this month!

More to come soon!
-s

Fear Not.

2010-11-24T01:50:00.000-08:00

I am alive! :)

And well, life is continuing as normal. Like most threats this past year, in which the crazy man up north has decided to tool with the South, it seems this incident is just that-- a threat. A crazy, horribly unfortunate threat. I don't know what will come of all of this... but i do know that kids are still coming to school, Emart is still open, and people are still on the streets. It must not be that bad.

But, it's a good thing im boarding a plane this weekend.

For more info... check these out.

Korean Herald

CNN : 2 More Bodies Found

New York Times: A Day After

Korean Times

Thanksgiving: My Family!

2010-11-21T03:07:00.000-08:00

I love Thanksgiving. It is by far my favorite holiday, and my yearly anticipation starts around September. The romantic in me loves this time of year for many reasons-- most of them, admittedly, a little idealistic. : ) The beautiful fall foliage, the scarf and boot appropriate crisp weather, and pocket full of excuses to bake with pumpkin, make warm apple butter, and sip a cup of spice. And well anything mustard yellow and burnt sienna colored makes me happy! I know, sounds like a cover of Martha Stewart, but i like it.

Thanksgiving however, is so much more than all of that. Obviously. How could i forget the pumpkin bars and green bean casserole?

Just kidding! I have SO much to be thankful for! First and foremost... my family! This year away has reminded me just how awesome they are! And how ridiculously thankful i am for them!

My family is special. In so many of ways! ;) But i am blessed to have a family that values each other the way mine does. I can confidently say that the holidays bring no family drama. Except the one year we decided Mexican food was good for Thanksgiving and Christmas. But that's an exception. Times with my family usually consists of a table or BBQ of pure awesomeness, a football game or two, and a whole lot of love! We've mastered the art of gathering together, sharing a meal, and celebrating all that the Lord has done-- because dang, we have so much to be thankful for! Before i paint a perfect picture of my family and our holiday seasons, let me share that we had our far share of rough ones throughout the years. They've not always been without hardship; we've spent many holidays in the hospital or without a member or two... but Thanksgiving is abundant and we remain solid. That's how my family rolls.

As i sit here in South Korea thinking about my family, anticipating seeing them (in 5 freakin days) i am reminded again just for blessed i am! Truly, Truly! You don't realize what you have until you don't have it anymore. A lesson never more true than now. The past 11 months i have been without my family. While Skype is good to work miracles and evoke stream of tears, it is hardly adequate. A birthday party and dinner though a computer screen is awesome... just not the same. Saturday afternoon when i hug my family, and my Nunkins learns that i have legs and don't live in the box at GiGi's house... i am going to be one happy HAPPY girl! And while im looking forward to some green bean casserole and stuffing, i'll have just what i need!

awww... : )

How i miss football game rivalry weekends with my guys! : )

It's pictures like this that ruffle my madre's feathers... and my bro and i just can't get enough!

My sister. Nunkins...enough said.

Greetings!

2010-11-14T23:40:00.001-08:00

Hello there from the other side of 10 months! It is November 15th. This time two months from now, if all goes as planned, i'll have finished my contract in Korea and will be packing for Thailand. (whoot!) Fear not friends, tis only for a short trip!

But awesome nonetheless!

But, right now I am sitting at my desk. It is Monday. And well, we'll just leave it at that. Monday are Mondays-- even when you work in Korea. Though sometimes Mondays seems far more taxing here than ever before.

Two things i have confirmed about myself at work today:

1. I value effective communication. I'll even lower the bar to just "communication". I value communication. Any communication. Even sucky communication at this point.

2. Working in Korea has increased my job place marketability. (If i can work here, i am convinced i can work anywhere.)

And that was just in the first hour of work! I know. It's impressive. You should see me on a good day.

Well, this past month has been a full one! And a Fall one! It's been beautiful outside! The leaves have changed colors and fallen, and I do believe we're coming to the end of it. The trees are nearly naked and it's officially COLD. Like cold cold. It's 43 degrees today. Though far more convincingly cold in Celsius. 6 degrees folks. That's cold! And somehow i forgot my jacket yesterday when i went to church. Yea, it was cold.

A few highlights from my month:

Got together with my lovely Nepal team! It was fantastic! They are fantastic and well... so was Nepal even a few months later.

Spent a Saturday night with some sista at the Seoul Lantern Festival. It was beautiful, and a great nite out with some lovely ladies!

Look at all the people!

Beautiful, eh?

Obama graced Korea last week and my kids were pretty stoked about it. It's been a big year for Korea, and a pretty good one to have spent here. 2010 Olympic Champion Kim Yuna- whose hometown is my very own Gunpo. World Cup- in which they did awesome and put on a fan show like no other. Formula One Racing made it's way to Korea and flopped miserably. Lastly, the G20 Summit- the world's leading powers literally miles from one of the most hostile borders in the world. Good stuff right there, and kind of crazy to think about!

Well that was last month. How about this coming month?

Awesomeness. Pure awesomeness. This weekend is "Thanksgiving Feastivies" at my house. We are making and enjoying a feast like no other. I will be attempting my first convection oven roasted chicken. (Wish me luck.) Our feast will be nothing short of a legit American Thanksgiving, with a few additives- kimchijeon and rumor of sweet and sour chicken. The joys of having Chinese and Korean friends! : )

Shortly thereafter, i'm headed home to celebrate the marriage of a dear sista and to spend some time with my loved ones! I'll be rocking a legit Thanksgiving feast with my AWESOME and dearly missed family who postponed the festivities a few days for me to arrive!! I plan to eat. Stare at the ones i love. Hug and re-hug them all. Soak in the California heat. Hold my sweet Nunkin's hand. And well, finally meet and fall asleep with my Sweet Tae on my chest. It really is the small things that will make my heart happy! I'll then head down to spend some time with my dear sistas... ahh... and watch one of 'em walk down the aisle! :) Life is sweet and the people who fill mine are amazing. I am truly blessed... and SO thankful!

Christmas and New Years follow closely behind my arrival back in Korea and well... i love them both! So, there shall be much celebrating! We'll be welcoming a new teacher to take over my job, and then I'll be preparing to head home. It's rather amazing how this place feels so much like home. Some people here have become like family to me. My church. My friends. My kiddos. While i am definitely ready to be home, I am going to miss many things about my life in Korea. But, we'll save that list for a future Greeting.

There we have it! Month 10 was a good one! Month 11 is looking promising... and well Month 12 is party time!

How about a few pictures from this time last year? Ok.

This seems like SOO long ago!

This seems like a LONG LONG time ago!

"I've been to a roof..."

2010-10-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

"I've Been to a Roof..."

Check out my story here!

Reunion.

2010-10-27T20:15:00.001-07:00

The team. Minus Pastor Jack. Sarai. Scott. And our Nepali/MC friends. ;)

Last Saturday my Nepal team and i met up in Seoul to reconnect after our trip! It was a great night. We met at my favorite Nepali restaurant, Durga (Jonggak Station. Exit 4). Near City Hall area, a short jog to Insa-dong and about two minutes from Cheonggyechong river. Really a great location for a great night! I was reminded upon exiting the subway that this was where i ventured on my first adventure in Korea. It seemed so long ago. But, I guess it kind of was... 9 months? Dang. That's a long time.

Anyway, back to our night.

We had a great time talking, reminiscing and enjoying some great food. Hard to believe we've been back for over a month! Man, time flies! I am once again convinced that the work of God is full of joy! What did he say... "I came that you may have life and have it abundantly!"? Whoot to that for sure! Fellowship with the Church about things that matter for his Kingdom... that makes for a good dinner party!

The food wasn't too bad either!

It was such a lovely night!

Happy Fall!

2010-10-17T00:35:00.000-07:00

Fall has blown in, and i'm soaking it up! Some friends spent Saturday afternoon in the Seoul Forest. While it was far more park then lush forest, it was still lovely!

See... all smiles!

Ice cream in the "forest".

Happy Fall friends!

20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World

2010-10-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

I think i could add "namogi" to the list! Best translated, "namogi" is an elaborate system of quick word-writing punishment for Korean students who fail a vocabulary test. They've really mastered the art of it, and have also master the art of sneaking in as many words as possible in my class while my attention is elsewhere. Sneaky buggers i tell you!

However, there is debate and uncertainty whether the word is a noun... like "I gave her sentences to write." or "She has sentences." Or a verb, being the act of punishment itself: "You are namogi." as in "You are in trouble."

hmm... the big life questions i tell you. Until i find the answer i will continue to correct them.

Miss Sarah: "You are namogie?" As i draw a picture of a human piece of paper with words written on it. "No, my dear, you're not namogi. You HAVE namogi. And PUT IT AWAY before i throw you out the window."

Hello my name is Sarah, and i am an ESL teacher.

20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World thanks to Matador Networks.

Please Pray!!

2010-10-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

Friends i met in Nepal, who are working for MountainChild, are with this little girl and her mom! They wrote a blog about her surgery and experience in Kathmandu, Nepal. This was the little girls first time in Kathamandu. Her mothers second. Their first ride in a car... and well, no one speaks their language. Except the 12 year old brother!

Please continue to pray for her and her family! God is good! And a trusted Healer... he is able to do big things!

Scott and Sarai: Surgery In Nepal

Greetings!

2010-10-13T04:12:00.000-07:00

I've been in Korea for 9 months!

Crazy. Just plain crazy.

This past month has been a small whirlwind. For those of you following this blogy blog closely... i went to Nepal. It was, in short, AMAZING. So amazing. Sometimes i briefly forget of my travels, but my iPhoto kindly reminds me that, yes, i did indeed travel to Nepal. And yes, it was indeed crazy awesome! Too awesome and long to talk about in this short greeting! But nonetheless life changing in the most awesome-est of ways!

See below posts, and come back again, for more deets.

Right now i am sitting at work and watching the live coverage of the Chile mine rescue. My classes are finished for tonight, and well im hooked! I've been watching all day! So amazing to think about, right? These miners have been a half a mile underground for over two months. Another group of men have been working around the clock to free them! They created a brilliant plan to drill through the earth, and have made a space ship to hoist those miners the half a mile up and out of the earth. That is crazy to me! I was shocked at my first glimpses of the "Pheonix" (the spaceship). That sucka is tiny! My borderline claustrophobia would have me doing panic circles in the cave. Can you imagine being in a cage less than 2 feet in diameter with your arms crossed over your chest, in a shoot of solid rock? The very same rock that collapsed on you a few months prior. Holy heck. Gets me all anxious just thinking about it. But, again, that is besides the point. The men are making their way out one by one... and it's just AWESOME!

Anyway, since this blog is about my time in Korea, i will switch topics. Though that is a little difficult considering i am so ready to be home! I'm not sick and tired of Korea, just ready to be home. You know? I bought my place ticket home for Thanksgiving yesterday, I pretty sure that is contributing to the problem!

Make this attempt two to switch topics.

Fall has wonderfully arrived in Korea! The air is crisp, the boots are out and my neck is decked with scarfage! I am one happy girl! My plan this weekend is to get out of the city and see some foliage! I'm holding out for a Gingerbread latte, but from the looks of it, i think rumors of such deliciousness are false. Anyway, my plan this month (and as long as fall allows) is to find the beautiful places in Korea! :) I think Soraksan and Bukhansan are on the list.

Hmm... what else is new. I got a new couch. It's awesome and pretty dang comfy. I found new running shoes. They're awesome and bright orange. And I baked a pumpkin, and it too was awesome and bright orange! Awesomeness all around!

I guess when you hit nine months, things feel rather "normal". That is, unless you're pregnant. Nine months at that point would be a mix of back pain, diapers, and the weight of looming responsibility for a little one. All of which i don't have, which is nice. And i guess nine months underground wouldn't be all that normal either. But, life in Korea is rather normal at the moment! Which is good!

So, before i keep rambling on just about nothing... how about a few pictures.

My home! And my new couch!

My house take two!

The new kicks.

The curried black bean stuffed baked pumpkin.

Well there you have it folks! Greetings from Fall in Korea! My apologies for the less than exciting update!

But, know i love you! At least those of you who i know!
-s

The Realities are Harsh.

2010-10-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

Please pray for this little girl.

Tsering Sangmo is a beautiful little girl from Nupri. Her brother is at the MountainChild Ranch in Kathmandu. A few months ago the staff became aware that she had contracted a small eye infection. One treatable with simple eye drops. With no immediate medical attention available and the ill treatment of a local witch doctor, the infection got worse and the treatments of this local doctor--hot water- have left her face mared.

After hearing about the worsened condition of this little girl, the MC staff instructed that the little girl be brought down from the village. It took a few weeks to reach the Ranch.

Here she sits in Kathmandu. She is undergoing surgery in Nepal today. Please pray for her! Pray for guided hands and a quick healing!

5 Core Issues in the Himalayas.

1. Health Care.

2. Education

3. Sex Trafficking

3. Child Labor

4. Environment

The realities are at times harsh... but God is still good! His provisions through MC are allowing this little girl to receive treatment. And by his grace, she will grow up knowing that he is the great Healer!

Visit MountainChild.org for more information!

"We're on a Bridge!"

2010-10-05T07:12:00.001-07:00

We climbed down one mountain. To cross a river and make our way up the next. It was BEAUTIFUL. And the bridge was pretty dang awesome too!

One way down. And well... one -reasonable- way across a river. We checked out the construction date and decided it was safe. : )

Awesome. Here we go!

Too awesome to not shoot a short video.

Forgive the horrendous face. Day 3 of no shower.

Lyrics for Thought:

"Standing on a bridge, watch the water passing under.

It must've been much harder when there was no bridge just water!" -DMB

First Night.

2010-10-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

This was our first night in the villages. This village was run in a strange, almost Communist like way. All visiters were greeted and taken to a particular house to stay at, in order to spread out the wealth and i guess burden of house guests. We didn't pay each house or place for what we ate or drank or for even our beds, but rather we paid the Community Tourism Board-- actually the village leader guy. There was a village "menu"-- a literal menu. Laminated and all! On it had everything from the food available and bed prices, to the different cultural experiences available. Goods and experiences brought to us by the community as a whole. There was one "co-op" of sorts in the center of the village where the food was.

A little strange. But it seemed to be working!

Anyway, before we left the next morning we took a walk to their tea fields and to the "village look-out point". It was pretty spectacular!

The blue building in this video is the school.

Awesome.

This is where we stayed!

Our beds. Someone's personal space converted into a guest room... for 4 of us! : )

Nepal.

2010-10-02T04:45:00.000-07:00

I hit the ground running this week!

After almost 24 hours of travel, our team safely landed in Seoul. 6:30am Monday morning. Nothing like a redeye to start off your week! I arrived in my apartment around 10:30 and felt as if I had been gone for months.

(Fall did arrive while i was gone! Awesome! But that's besides the point!)

This time warp of sorts makes sense though. The more i talk about my trip, i am reminded of everything that i saw and the short time in which i took it all in. Kind of crazy. This week has been a hodgepodge of keeping my heart and mind on Nepal and all that happened, while attempting to catch up on sleep, catch people up on Nepal, and get back in the groove of working. I've also been waiting and trying to formulate a way to write about my trip to Nepal, because im not really sure how to share it all!

Here goes nothing.

How's that for a draw?Let me start by saying Nepal was AWESOME. And this how i plan to share about all the awesomeness. It's simple. I'm going to write about it. No systematic way... just stories and pictures, and thoughts about my trip and the future involvement with MountainChild. So come back! : )

See below for the first of it!

First Thoughts

2010-10-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Kathmandu Sunday afternoon and two things immediately caught my attention. First, i felt as if i had landed in a city halted in mid-development. This was evident upon arriving at the airport. We landed and walked across the tarmac into an airport which both smelt and resembled the interior of an attic. Cobwebs and all. The airport attendants hand wrote and processed all of our customs and visa forms. Forming a line which would take hours to process. That says something. I think that says a lot of about the development of the country.

The Kathmandu Airport

After customs and baggage claims, we joined the Nepali MountainChild staff, loaded into vans, and headed across the city. What a city! Cars. Motorcycles. People. Monkeys. Music. Colors. Honking. Stares. It was borderline sensory overload. And again, in the midst of the slight chaos, the lacking development really caught me off guard. I have never traveled to a developing nation, and well, it was unlike anything i've ever seen. Dilapidated buildings. Trash strewn streets. Frantic power lines. Shoeless kids playing in dirty places. Grazing animals-- in the middle of the city! Foreign temples and monuments covered in people. Yet, in the middle of it all, a veiled beauty i can't really put my finger on. The people their lives in the midst of this all, was beautiful.

The streets of Kathmandu.

The building of Kathmandu.

So while Nepal is underdeveloped in so many ways, it is rich! There's something so beautiful in the culture, history and beauty of it all!

One of the major questions i left Nepal with was this:

Do i see the poverty in Nepal "bad" because it is poorer and more underdeveloped than everything i know or have seen, or do i find it "bad" because essentially the lack of development (medical, educational, and environmental) is detrimental to the life of those living in it?

Do Nepali people want to develop their country? Do they desire to have it look and function like more advanced countries? Are they happy with how things are?

I am confident that there are essential needs that need to be met in Nepal that are inhibited in part due to underdevelopment. It is unacceptable that 1/2 the children in Nepal will die, primarily in lack of clean water, before the age of 8. That us unacceptable for any country. The sex and forced labor trade is also unacceptable. So is the lack of medical aid and proper education.

The hard part is addressing these needs, encouraging localized stability, without imposing modernation. There's something beautiful in the tradition and simplicity i saw!

I'm Back!

2010-09-29T19:17:00.000-07:00

God is good. I'm alive. Nepal was awesome. I'll be up and writing again soon!

God's beauty seeps from the mountains!

The food was delicious.

We met many WONDERFUL people.

" No one thinks of the pen when looking at a piece of art. i am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a LOVE letter to the world."
-Mother Teresa

To The Roof.

2010-09-18T00:04:00.000-07:00

Well... today is here! I'm headed to the airport in a little over an hour... and im SUPER EXCITED! The bags are packed with the essentials. Sleeping bag. Goodies for the kiddos. Chapstick. Baby Wipes. Pancho. And well... my Rainbows made the list. They may need a ceremonial retirement after this trip. However, their life would be far more loved if they trod through Nepal. : )

Anyway, this is my last post for a while.

But, don't forget about me. I'll be back to blogging shortly... with plenty of pictures, stories and videos to make up for my absence!

Please pray for our team!

- For safe and timely travels.

- For awesome opportunities to love people in really tangible ways!

- That we would see God in BIG BIG BIG ways... and be transformed!

- That the Kingdom of God would come to Nepal as it is in Heaven.... in POWERFUL ways!

I'm expectant. And well... folks need to hear some good news!

To the roof we go... Carrying Hope to the children in the Himalayas.

MountainChild.org

Talk to you soon!!

-s

KAI BAI BO

2010-09-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

Kids in Korea solve all things with " Kai.... Bai.... BO!".

(Translation: ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS.)

This is fitting.

3 Days!

2010-09-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Three days. Nepal. And well... im excited!! (if you haven't noticed yet!)

Why?

Visit MountainChild.org

WHOOOOHOOOOOOOO..... tis the universal face of excitement and peace.

4 Days Till We Leave.

2010-09-14T04:01:00.000-07:00

This is the general plan. Arrive in Kathmandu and spend some time at the RANCH with the kids and staff. We'll then bus to a city called Besehara, where out team will break up. Two ladies will stay back and work with the youth in Besesahara, then two trekking teams will head out. We'll trek for 4 days with hopes to deliver medical aid to the villages along the way, do some water research, and love on the folks we meet along the way! I am equipped with bubbles, stickers and on the hunt for a frisbee to bring some love to the kiddos! We will trek to Pokhara where we'll meet up with the other teams and do a Sports Day with the kids we meet there. From there we'll all bus back to Kathmandu and fly home!

The packing update: I now have a water purification water bottle a sleeping bag and backpack thanks to generous friends. There are two piles of clothes laid out... which will get smaller as i continue to look at them. Today i bought some new socks. Tomorrow i will swallow my pride and purchase anti-diarrhea pills (critical for trekking). I am hoping the translation is not too humiliating. "Poor foreigner!" they'll think. wa wa wa.

Let the count down begin! More to come.

Why Nepal?

Visit MountainChild.org for more information.

Um. OK.

2010-09-13T04:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday Friends! I mean that from the bottom of my heart!

But holy toledo... can it be friday already?

I am sitting at work, milking the wifi and jamming to some Jason Mraz while the rest of my staff room is at dinner. It's been a long week... and i've only at work for 7 hours. It's only Monday.

I have been reminded of a few things this evening:
1. i am a women and cannot roll with the men.
2. Most things having to do with Korean business management make little or no sense to me.

Which is why i am sitting in my office waiting until 10 to go home-- that will be a total of two hours with no classes counting down my time on Facebook and whatever else i can Stumble Upon. Oh, but don't worry... my boss won't notice and i don't think he even cares. He's taken the guys out to dinner. They'll be back later. "But, yea, we have to work till 10."

umm... ok.

This post was initiated to share my plan for Nepal. But i got sidetracked and have since decided that sharing this "ranting" space with the awesome details of my awesome trip was not appropriate.... so i'll post a separate one! : )

One Week from Today.

2010-09-11T04:45:00.000-07:00

It is Saturday night, and I find myself sitting in Cafe London at the bottom of an Americano. It's been a while since i've been here, im not sure why! This place is awesome... i'll work on that.

Anyway, I've chosen to spend the night in (sort of) to prepare for Nepal. It is funny how the week you specifically need space to pray and prepare... your week fills up! Every logistical errand for the trip takes much longer than planned, and you start to get sick! Haha... funny how that happens. But not coincidence.

I think I wrote in previous posts that I am expecting big things on this trip. I'm not really sure what that means just yet, but I trust that God is going to do awesome things! And well, i feel inadequate and underprepared. Both thoughts of which are not from the heart of Jesus. Something is working here- and i'm fighting that b. : )

I've been wrestling these thought all week, but was awesomely encouraged in a card i opened yesterday from a dear, friend i like to call Dawnie. One that was post marked long before i planned to visit Nepal, but one most perfectly timed! It was filled with a homework assignment to read 2 Corinthians 3, 4, write out my thoughts, and tell people about it! While i plan to share those thoughts with real folks... why not share it with those who are following my blog too?

These verses talk about many things, but parts that stick out specifically tonight are in the confidence i have been given from Jesus to be a minister of his Good News. That I am, in myself, insufficient. Horribly inadequate and lacking. BUT, i have been made competent. A competence which comes from the Spirit of God himself dwelling in me. A confidence that marks itself in a radiant light. A light which shines brightly because i have seen Jesus and he has made and is continuously making me glorious. So, while my vessel is weak, the glory of knowing just how awesome Jesus is and what he has planned for those who love him shines through! What i have to proclaim to this world is only the goodness of Jesus-- and just how grand of a God i serve.

So... that is what i will do! Nepal- you are surrounded by some of the most majestic, powerful, and awesome scenery in the world. The God that i serve created all of that! And well, he loves you! And he has good news for you! This broken world around you- yea, he's coming to make it new! Hold on to your hats or your sandals, or i guess whatever it is your must hold onto ... big things are yet to come!

NKorea Heir

2010-09-09T17:36:00.000-07:00

Check this out! Pretty interesting.

"World Awaits for Unveiling of NKorean Heir"

Noraebang.

2010-09-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

Norae (singing) bang (room). Or "Awesome"

So Awesome!

It is kind of a crazy thought to say i really like Noraebang-ing. I'm not one who loves being up in front of people. And well, ask my mom, i hate and actually refuse to sing for people. But give me a room full of friends, some 90's staples, some disco lights, in a borderline sketchy basement establishment... i'm a whole new woman folks! : )

And what exactly did we sing? Night favorites:

- Barbie Girl- Aqua

- My Humps- Black Eyes Peas.

Awesome. For those of you who have yet to take the plunge... DO IT! You'll love it! And for those of you not living in Korea... fear not!! Los Angeles has its far share of them too! : )

I'm working on my Jay-Z "Empire State of Mind" for next time.

A Photo Recap.

2010-09-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

This week starts my 8th month in Korea! And while i'm on the border of burn out and ridiculous count downs, i've decided it would be best to look back at the time i've spent here!

For a few reasons:

1. To see how much awesome has gone down in 8 months.
2. To force into my heart a little gusto in remembering the awesome times i've had.
3. And to create a beautiful reminder of what these 8 months have held and how short 4 months really is! :)

What do i propose? A photo recap. Shall we?

To think my apartment started with a bed, a fork and a plate. It actually feels like home now. Sofa. Chairs. Coffee Maker. Lamp. And three-wait four- plants which are still alive.

My first weekend in Korea i rode the subway into Seoul. It was frigid... but it was awesome! I remember being petrified to go eat anywhere because i spoke NO Korean!

Thank you Jesus for Skype... and Nunkins soon you will see I have legs. And they're not chrome.

What a weekend! Solar New Year spent in the freezing cold doing strange things at horrible hours of the morning. But, we ate delicious tteokguk (rice cake soup). One of my favorites now.

First and probably only Korean road trip to the East Sea. No car here. It took us 14 hours to get home- in parking lot traffic. A lot of first that weekend.

Doosan Bears. Chicken and Beer. Friends. What more could you ask for? Awesome.

I tried so hard to see the Cherry Blossoms. Many outings to different locations, at different times... failure is all i have to report.

My Sweet Tae was born! Got the phone call as i was making my way around the Korean MOCA. They must have thought i was move by the art. The tears were for this sweet thing... not the sculpture garden. Can't wait to hold that beautiful thing!

Such a cool night! Awesome lanterns. Good eats. Good friends. Like so many nights in Seoul.

A weekend we like to label "less than ideal". But we loved it! Hanjin- you will go down in the record books or awful hostels.

Bring on the World Cup Madness of Korea! I watched many a game, and all of them were awesome. This night in particular- started at like 11:30 and when the sun rose over Seoul we were headed back. Few hours of sleep... then off to work. Awesome.

Celebrated my 23rd Birthday and my awesome family sent me the most perfect box of love! Complete with a video of my family and a perfect pan of stale brownies. Just how i like em!

Spent our summer vacation in Busan doing nothing but laying on the beach, eating good food, and relaxing. It was wonderful and OH! so needed!

Now i find myself getting ready for my trip to Nepal and loving my time getting to know and serving alongside MountainChild. What an awesome organization and the people who are involved are equally as awesome.

There we have it! My 8 month photo recap! Korea's been good to me... and well, my heart is torn. While im SO looking forward to being home, (holding my nieces, clothes fresh from a dryer, whole wheat bread, driving, hugging my family, TARGET, not being stared at, my families cooking) i have enjoyed and am still enjoying my time here!

So, here we go! I raise my virtual glass to "finishing strong"!

From the Top Down.

2010-08-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

When I think about love, I think about it from the top down.

How can love spread without having first been consumed and delighted in? A thirsty soul’s first sip of a cool water. A deep drink from a deep, deep well, and a passed cup onto the next thirsty one. And where else can this true love be found other than the Source and Creator of such affections himself? How can I love another, in fullness of heart, if I have yet to first receive it from the Truest of Lovers? It is from this love, HIS love, his gracious and abundant and ever persistent love, and the extravagant streams in which it flows, that I am able to love. It brings life!! New, abundant, and full life! Daily. Momentarily. A life in which I am now free to love! Replenished and regenerated.

It is in this deep love, we find Love himself walking the dirt roads of a broken and weary land. A land needing a Savior. One created and sustained in splendor, to reflect just a speck of his glory. A radiant, powerful speck. A land watered in the beauty which flows from a powerful Creator in the details and grandeur of magnitude, intricacy and spectacle. A land though awesome and beautiful, horribly broken and in need of a Savior.

This same Creator, who fashioned the world, we find sitting well-side. Hot and weary. Offering a new kind of water-- to a woman. The true living water. From a well that will never run dry. From which people will ever come up full and satisfied! Love gets personal. And many believe!

But, he came to bring more than a sip of water! It would take more than that to fully reveal his love. It would take more to save those he so deeply loved. It would take a flow, a merciful flow of a broken heart. The last undoing of the most perfect love as love stretched over a cross.

And it is because of this, his love for us, that we are able to love! From the bottom up. We drink deep. And are filled full! We are washed clean and given new life! In that we walk the streets of this world and get personal. To sit well-side and offer sips of the true living water we sip of! He magnifies our Love! Like drops of rain falling in a pool of water. The ripples multiply. Collide. Intersect. And spread wide. To further reach people and to further esteem the great Creator of it all! He is a jealous God. For the love of his creation and for the honor of his name! People will know him by how we love and well creation speaks for itself.

So, in that, we drink deep! We stand up, having been loved fully, and walk! We walk and as we do we love people along the way! In the fullness of its creation, because he first loved us!

MountainChild at Ignite: 1040

2010-08-29T06:21:00.000-07:00

We got to give away a free guitar! And in doing so raised 300,000W.

I am amazed at God's timing!

Sometimes i have to literally LOL ("laugh out loud" for those in the dark ages) because, it just gets me sometimes! It's joy... in a real tangible way! God shows up unexpectedly, you chuckle a bit at his to-do, and you keep on going! Reminded that he is present in the moments and well... he's got it, the universal IT, all under control!

I visited Ignite: 1040 with MountainChild this weekend! Ignite: 1040, hosted by Youngnak Church, purposed to partner with other Korean and international churches, through the art of music, to strike a cord of passion for those living in the 1040 window. The conference brought together people and organizations with a passion to take the Good News to those living in the most unreached part of the world. Most of who live within the 10-40 degree longitudinal lines.

MountainChild joined the festivities! Unlike the Pentaport Festival, we were able to marry our hearts for Jesus and our desires to serve with MountainChild more intentionally when talking to folks. Which was sweet! When all is said and done, I serve with MountainChild because if Jesus were here, he'd be on board too! Rockin' an awesome yellow shirt, arm band, backpack, and all!

Anyway, the conference was a huge blessing! The Lord spoke sweetly to me in a few moments! And while i've never heard the audible voice of God, there are specific moments he meets me in tangible ways and woos my heart to his! A lot of time through music. Man, the guy i marry better be up on his game... because this Jesus guy knows how to get to my heart! The art of surprise and intentionality. (take notes guys.)

For weeks i've been loving a new song from David Crowder, "How He Loves Us". It's a good one friends! Well, yesterday, the band, in perfect timing played this awesome song! As if Jesus looked down and said, "Why hello there lovely! I've been waiting for you! I gots somethin' special for you!! And yes, i DO love you! SO very much!". Sold. He was near yesterday... and in such perfect timing!

The conference was great! Good things are going down in Asia for the Kingdom... and it is moving west into the the rest of the 1040 window! Check out 1040 the Movie for more info!

The more time i spend with MountainChild the more i'm sold out for it!! The people. The passion. The purposes behind it all! I leave for Nepal in... let me check the iCalendar... 20 days! I will then see Nepal with my own eyes and I am excited!!! SO EXCITED! MountainChild is looking at the darkness in Nepal square in the eyes and doing something about it! Holistically! By addressing the practical needs of clean water, health, and environment, the people can then be released from the oppression of an early death rate (1/2 by the age of 8). Improved farming tactics and environmental conditions will release children from the fields. These kids can then return to school. Proper education will help to stop the cycle of ignorance and continued education will open doors for job training and financial stability. This will all help to put and end to the sex trafficking which funnels through Nepal into the rest of Asia. At the center of it is the Gospel! MountainChild is doing practical things in all of this... and THAT is something I can stand behind! As Pastor Jack said today at church, "Intercession on its feet!"

This morning Pastor Jack spoke about some of the progress of MountainChild and the open doors in the Himalayas for increased impact... and it too got me fired up! God is doing big things! Some of the details of that are too soon to write about... but i'm holding on! God is moving, and we know that that means!! Awesomeness is on its way! And well, it's amazing to be apart of something God is doing in the world!

My love for MountainChild is fresh... and well i think time will only continue to deepen that! So, more to come! But, as you finish reading, know that God is good and that He loves us!!! OH, how he loves us! And he loves the children in the Himalayas! He's chosen MountainChild to be a some of the hands that do some of that tangible lovin'! And, i'm blessed i get to be apart of that!

Taken by: Soyon Chun Thompson

* If you are in Korea and have any photography needs... contact Soyon Chun Thompson. Soyon and her husband John are moving to Nepal to serve full time with MountainChild. They in the process of fundraising for their stay! Visit MountainChild for more information!

Two Thumbs Up!

2010-08-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hey there friends and family! Well... it's 12:52 August 27th and im pushing Friday! PRAISE BE! I think it's about time for a little blog lovin'. I hesitate to post this picture as a reflection of my week... because well, to be completely honest, this has been an awful week. Yea. You know, there are good ones, awesome ones, and sometimes an awful one drops in and well, you take it in stride. You keep on truckin' praying the whole time that the beloved weekend comes quicker than your next headache. And that you'll hold your cool when one more student asks you to copy the book because they didn't bring their book to class.

So. Why do i post this picture? Well... it is reflective of my deep. My ever deep longing for legit Mexican food, and my pure delight upon discovery. But, also the deep down of my soul. Past the surface junk, and ruthlessness of my students at times, life is good! And well, life is good because God is good, and his goodness is present all around me! It never changes and well in the words of my man David Crowder, if his grace is an ocean i would be sinking. So. Two thumbs up to that!

And well gosh dang it, if next week follows suit... im gonna quit.

Just kidding.

But really, this picture is from an awesome restaurant i went to last weekend with my new friend Sheila! Per her request for Mexican food (not that i objected one bit) we stumbled up into Casa Maya! A not so little restaurant in the heart of Hongdae just above the Nepalese restaurant i like so much, Yeti. Right across from the park which is home to one of my favorite Seoul attractions: Sound Box. The lovely beatbox/jazz/ tap dancing gig that plays every weekend. The same one who covers Jason Mraz right when my heart needs it most. Anyway, back to Casa Maya... we were mightily surprised! They even offered me an extensive vegetarian menu! Impressive i tell you. Well, after a feast of seafood fijitas, homemade tortillas and legit chips and salsa... we left happy! Full (not fat) and happy! ; )

Again, well done Hongdae! You have successfully filled my little heart full again!

And well after dinner, we also found this awesome place called Vinyl. A small, sidewalk, Robot faced, walk-up "bar" with grown-up juice bags. I enjoyed myself a nice Gin-Lime... in a plastic bag with a straw. And well, for 4, 000w (4$) it was a delicious cool bev on a hot summer night! Walking around Hongdae, listening to live music, with my juice bag and a sista! Awesome.

There you have it. And as i speak it is now Friday morning! PRAISE BE!!!

My IP Address Says No.

2010-08-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

There are times i forget that Korea was ruled by a dictator less than 30 years ago. Kind of interesting to think about. I hardly entertain that thought most days as I walk around feeling, most of the time, as if I were in a America. Despite the foreign language. The food. The music. Oh, and the strange "who the heck are you" stares. I don't question the fact that I am generally free here. Though there are times, like this morning, I am reminded sometimes, this "freedom" is masked. When things deviate from the norm, the remnants of Korean history, more specifically those of a powerful dictatorship, still surface. Corporal punishment, and strict school regulations are an example of that mindset.

That mindset has summit new heights. Folks, please brace yourselves!

North Korea has a twitter account. @uriminzok. ("Our People") Yup, that's right! In so many ways it is absolutely crazy! Absolutely insane! First, for a country marked by its ultimate communication restriction and alienation from the world, it's a little ironic they'd jump on the ultimate social media band wagon. Twitter, really? How can a country, which restricts internet usage to all it's people, introduce a Twitter account? It's confirms the insanity.

In researching this epic Twitter account, i also learned they are rockin' a YouTube Channel. Welcome to the world Korea!! I hope longingly for two things. First, to find an up-close video of Kim Jong-Il rockin his MacBook webcam. Second, for a long arm, "check-out- my-mom's- hideous-bathroom- and-my- awesome- emo-bangs" MySpace picture. That would make my century.

What makes this whole thing even crazier is the South's reaction towards it. And seeing that i find myself sitting in South Korea as i write this... it starts to get personal.

This morning i came face to face with overt government censorship. That's right folks... via my IP address, i am Korean and well, i have no business reading it. Articles claim the South is protecting it's people from the propaganda the North . Hmm... sounds a little like the past, no? A top down enforcement of an national position. Last I checked, folks, that'd be what i call a propaganda. Isn't that what we're censoring?? I mean, isn't that what you're censoring?

Maybe not. At least that's what they're telling me.

So. You in the free world, read the articles for yourself. And for my twitter buddies, confirm for me if you will if you can access the Twitter account. You can use the lovely Google Translate to read the Tweets. As of this morning i have been officially warned and redirected, from the Korea Communication Standards Commission, to steer clear and back off the Tweets... http://www.warning.or.kr/

Fine. You want to fight? I'll change my IP address... and pray a uniformed man doesn't come to my door.

(Just kidding mom.)

Check out the deets for yourself.

BBC News
NY Times "North Korea Takes to Twitter and YouTube"
Christian Science Monitor "Why South Korea is Blocking Access"

World Change and Rock Music

2010-08-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

If you can't tell already... i'm a fan of this awesome organization called MountainChild!

They're pretty awesome and are doing some wicked awesome things in the Himalayas! Which, if i were you, would get me all kinds of pumped inside!

I've have the blessing of getting to know and helping serve alongside some of the staff , and well, it too has been awesome!

I recently wrote a blog for them... you should check it out! While you're at it, check out the awesomeness that is MountainChild and if you so fancy... send them a check! They could use all the support they can get!

Awesome.

"World Change and Rock Music"

by: yours truly

Greetings!

2010-08-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

Hello there!

I was kindly reminded by my lovely Madre this morning that it has been a while since my last post! I have been waiting to cross over the 13th, and in doing so, realize i haven't written in almost 2 weeks. My apologies!

I can, now, officially, say i've been in Korea for more than 7 months! Friday, August 13th marked my 7th month and like i write, and sincerely mean, in each Greeting, i really can't believe it! My days fly by here, and well before i know it, it's friday. Another week down! I am constantly reminded that my time here is short! My sista Kel's last day was Friday and my other sistas D and Kati will be following suit next Friday! It's crazy! When i arrived in Korea they were pushing their 5/6 month mark. Well, friends, I'm well over that!

This morning I woke up to a cloudy morning which quickly turned into a crazy thunderstorm. But, fear not, it dried up as quick at it came on, and the sun is pushing to get out as i type! We've entered Typhoon season and i have one thing to say about that: BOO FACE! I HATE RAIN. Folks who know me well know that full well! Yea, that's all i have to say about that one. I am counting down the days until fall, which some folks say will make an appearance in mid-September! PRAISE BE! Folks who know me well, will also know that it is around then my itching to live in a brick fashioned town where leaves fall, jazz plays and it smells continuously of spice sneaks up. It is then i force myself upon mother nature and rock my scarves and flats regardless of temperature. Oh, how i love fall! I delightfully learned that even Koreans like Starbucks Gingerbread Lattes. CAN I GET A "PRAISE BE"?

Don't mind if i do!

But i digress.

This last month was quite eventful! I celebrated my 23rd birthday. I went to Pentaport Rock Festival with MountainChild, which was awesome! My sista Amy left Korea and we welcomed new sista Sheila to the team! We also enjoyed a nice vacation from school for a few days! Four of us, Kel, James, Becks and myself, made our way to Busan, and it was fantastic!! Read below for the full update! We enjoyed 4 days in the sun, eating good food, and doing a whole lot of nothing! What we did do was relax, and it was much needed!

Birthday Dinner at Yeti. An awesome Nepali restaurant in Hongdae.

I not really sure where July went, but August snuck up on me, and it's started off pretty well! My brother face celebrated his 17th birthday, my sista Kel celebrated her 21st, my bestest friend celebrated her 24th, and well i thank Jesus again for Skype! What would i do without it!

August is moving along just nicely, and some pretty cool things are happening! I just returned today from a small recording job. I sound cool, right? Recording gig? Never thought i'd have a future in that, but at the price i was paid today, it might be worth considering. 150,000 won (150 bucks) for two and a half hours of reading English vocabulary words. Umm... twist my arm. Let me pray about it. I'll get back to you. UH... COUNT ME IN! Two cool things came from that gig. Two pretty awesome Korean guys who are looking to make it rich in the English business who have money to pay me. First project, an iPhone English Flashcard App. They pay me for my voice. Next project, an audio Bible. Do they love Jesus? Negatory. Do they read the Bible? Negatory. Will it make them money in China? Most certainly. To do so, they need someone to read the Bible in English. Why, count me in Sir! "Sure, i'll read the Bible to you for a few hours." It never returns void. Wa wa wa.

Let's see, funny stories from this week.
I was teaching one of my Elementary classes this week about "towards and away from". I actioned by walking towards the door, " Students, i am walking ______ the door." Unanimously, "towards!" Yes students, I am walking towards the door. In kind, to teach the opposite, I proceeded to walk backwards, "Students, I am walking ______ from the door." Silence... and then one sweet, sweet voice. "Moonwalking!" Yes students, i am moonwalking! Shall we take a moment of silence? Oh, how I love my job!

I also learned from my tutoring student JiYun that Korea is home to a liger. Yup, that's right Napoleon, only in Korea, for your viewing pleasures! I think i'll have to add that to my "To-Do List". Um, Liger? Really? It's home is Everland, so when I visit to ride the Asia's largest wooden roller coaster (the World's steepest), I'll have to check out the zoo.

Well, that is my update friends! This month promise some good times! Rumor has it i might have an opportunity to attend Ignite 1040, a missions conference in Seoul, with MountainChild. Which would be fantastic! Have i told you i really like them? I do. Also, team meetings start up next weekend for my trip, which i think will hasten the weeks until i leave for Nepal! Continue to pray for me if you will, and for the folks who i will be meeting in Nepal! God is moving... and i want to just step into it!

Love you all! (Except the randos who follow my blog! But thanks for reading!) I promise to keep things more recent!

-Sarah, Potts, Pottsie, Capa, Pat

To The Roof: Nepalese Customs

2010-08-04T18:16:00.000-07:00

Read an awesome article on Nepalese Customs. I think you should read it too!
Visit the blog at MountainChild.org

If UNESCO Says So

2010-08-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

Seoul is now recognize as a "creative city of design".

I'd have to agree... one of the reasons i love parts of Seoul so much!

Check it out!

Dynamic Busan

2010-08-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation couldn't have come at a better time. Six months of teaching, without so much of a vacation, will suck the best of teachers dry! Vacation fell right at the end of July, and it was the perfect opportunity to plan a trip to Busan.

Busan is the second largest, however most fortunately located, city in Korea. Located on the southeast coast, it is most famous for it's beautiful beaches and awesome city life. A city any beach-sick Californian can appreciate. Haeundae Beach heralds it's fame in a saturated blanket of well-oiled bodies and copious amounts of "parasols". Which you can rent, along with two chairs a mat, and free water, for only $15. Not the well oiled-bodies- the parasols.

The beach.

Unless one owns a car, plans to fly, or I guess navigates the city streets on your moped all the way to Busan, you must take the train. A $48 round trip ticket will save you a seat on a less than fancy, however fully functioning Mungungwa train. But, to be completely honest, it's quite enjoyable! If you're traveling with friends, bring snacks and games. The seats turn towards each other; it makes for a quite enjoyable ride! The train drops you off at Busan Station, perfectly connected to the simple Busan subway line. A short ride up line 3 will drop you right off at Haeundae Beach, and set you back a one way ticket for 1200W. Not too bad!

Unknown to us, we planned our trip on one of the busiest weekends of the year in Busan! The 15th Annual Busan Sea Festival preparations were gearing up when we arrived on Thursday, and were in full swing when we were leaving Sunday. You can probably guess what that means. Hotels we're full, at least the ones who we could call from afar, who could understand English. Though we booked in advance, I would recommend finding a room when you show up! I didn't really believe the Google Map of "motel, Busan" with it's own sea of red location dots, but it was perfectly accurate. The masses of motels is real with PLENTY in walking distance of the subway station with perfect views of the ocean! Most of which, at normal off season rates, will keep you up for $30-70 a night! Not to shabby.

Our accommodations were less than impressive, and sadly pricey. However, considering we were a short 2 minute walk from the sand, could see it from our room, and spent more time on it than in our room, it's drab soon faded and it became well worth every won. Let's be honest, you're only in your room to shower for dinner, and to crash after the sun's soaked the best out of you-- who cares what it looks like in the end, right?

On a more personal note, this trip had one goal. Relaxation. We wanted nothing more than to roll out of bed, eat delicious food, soak in the glorious sun, and do it again the next day! And that's what we did! It was delightful! I got more sun the first hour than I probably should have the whole weekend, what can you do? I have little to report about what we did during the day, except the conditions of the beach. Because my days consisted of tanning, napping, reading, music, and friends. Simple, yet sooo lovely.

The beaches however, were crazy! Literally. By 2 or 3 o'clock, no sun could be found on the sand. The beach was literally covered inch by inch with umbrellas, under which huddled folks of sun-stricken folks. Myself included. My favorite part of this was the fast food salesmen. Hunched over, most often in jeans and tennis shoes, jumping over towels and through rubber tubes, they sold everything from fried chicken to patbingsu, beer to "iced" coffee. I have never seen more people in one place with so many large objects before. And that was just on the sand.

"Parasol" city.

The water scene was an epic display as well. Thousands, literally, thousands of squealing wave riders! Many rocking the yellow inner tubes they rented for $5. Most of who were in full clothing: jeans, long sleeve shirts, hats. But my favorite were the young bikini clad women rocking the waves in hats, jewelry, denim bottoms, sunglasses, and a full face of make-up. Though comical, so impressive! How the heck do they keep it all on so well? Waterproof in all aspects of the word. Impressive i tell you. Impressive!

The masses.

We ate a lot of fantastic food in Busan. Can vacation promise anything else? I think not! Busan is known for it's fresh seafood. Fancy that. We were set on eating a delicious sashimi meal during our time, and oh, we found it! Saturday night we traveled down the coast to find a famous jazz club called Monk. Well we found it, and right down the street stumbled across what looked promising for a delicious seafood meal! We sat down. No English menu. No Korean. No English speaking staff. AWESOME! I cannot tell you what I ate, however, it was delicious! The most delicious sashimi and banchan i've ever eaten. We also found a fantastic Mexican restaurant, Fuzzy Navel, which had the most delicious taco I've eaten in Korea. Shrimp fajitas? Mojito? Um, ok! We ate it twice, once for dinner. Again the next day for lunch. How could you not?

Dinner at Fuzzy Navel

Our delicious sashimi dinner.

Saturday night, as mentioned, we visited Monk. Only a short subway ride from Haeundae, it was relatively easy to find. For 5,000W we found a table in a cozy, underground jazz club. I sipped my classy glass of house red, a chilled homeland Carlos Rossi Sangria, and sat back to enjoy the music! It was good! It's been a while since I've heard some good live jazz, and it was fantastic!

Music at Monk

Busan was fantastic! We said countless times, "Man, this really feels like vacation!" A feeling sometimes hard to come by when everything is foreign and a quiet place is hard to find. But we accomplished our one goal- relax! And well, we came back, relaxed, well-fed, and tan.
I'd say a pretty successful vacation, if you ask me!

Haeundae Skyline from the window of a random bar.

Stumbled upon this view after finding an awesome stepped path across the beach.
Gwangan Bridge.

And now we're back! Thanks for the love Busan!
-s

MountainChild Visits Pentaport Rock Festival 2010

2010-07-27T01:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday, a group of MountainChild fans, myself included, traveled to Pentaport Rock Festival 2010 in Incheon. A short-ish trek took us to the middle of a huge field- obviously staged for a massive event. For one of the first times in Korea, this festival hoped to marry the love of rock music and a heart for social justice. This invitation for MountainChild to join the festivities was a big deal, and a rather foreign concept to most Korean concert-goers. We staged our booth, and set out to talk to folks about MountainChild with high hopes to spark an interest in things greater than rock music. (If one can actually aspire to such in the fanatics at a rock festival.)

I'm stoked to report, against several factors, that it was a huge success!

Small Stage.

Main Stage.

The two stages at the festival were separated by a rather long walk. The staggered band schedule provided plenty of transitions between shows and we found ourselves located perfectly. Right in the middle of the mass exodus. Over the weekend, the team talked to over 250 people who were interested in MountainChild (or the free ipod). But regardless, we made connections with over 250 people, most of who bought arm bands to fund clean water projects, some of which took more specific information on getting involved with MountainChild, all of from whom we got follow up information. It was awesome!

Humid. But SO awesome! I do believe the hours of 2-4pm were possibly the most humid and hottest hours I've experienced in Korea yet. But, we made it though and soon thanked the good Lord for a setting sun.

All said and done, Pentaport was fantastic! But, more than that, i am thankful for the sweet taste i got of MountainChild! I have yet to visit Nepal, and still have so much to learn, but i am falling in love with that place and the folks who are working full time to bring life to the people there! May Jesus come to that place now as a picture of the hope of what it will one day be. Beautiful. Saved. Redeemed.

New friends. Zeke. JiYun, YoungMin(back), and Peter

Can i get a whoot for MountainChild? That's what i thought!

Visit for yourself.

Daily Still #1- My Track

2010-07-21T08:33:00.001-07:00

Things have started to feel like normal here in Korea. Life is getting into a groove and well, slowing down if you will. Which is both really nice, and a little mundane at times. While there is plenty excitement in my week, the groove of daily life is settling in. Not a bad thing, just a season. But, I did realize that I haven't taken many pictures recently nor do i have much material to write about. For two reasons, i think.

My camera is mid-croak. It milks all batteries in a matter of minutes and well is just rather frustrating. (forgive the lack of digital love my friends)
Things are more normal and i guess less exciting to document? Maybe?

But, i was walking to the track this morning to go for a run and realized what it is that makes my walk to the park so exciting. It is not the jog that awaits me, but the fact that for a year i get to go for a morning jog... in Korea! That doesn't happen for a lot of folks! For those who follow my blog with hopes to get a glimpse of my life here... well... the little things are interesting! Where i jog, where i live and what i do between the work and daily life is interesting. And well, it is for me too! Life is good and i enjoy it! So i've decided, until i find something more intriguing to write about, i shall document the little things in my life.

For starters, the track i've recently converted to. It is here many a lap is run and plenty of sweat is poured. Simple, but this is my life!

Daily Still #1- My Track.

A nice sports park at the base of a little mountain. A little more out of the city than the other track i used to run at. A lot of people are the track in the morning, playing soccer, running, etc. I like it because the mountain is beautiful to look at while i run... and well... if i'm going to run in a circles, it's nice to have something nice to look at! Can i get an amen?
( Plus, the soccer players aren't too bad on the eyes either. )

Corporal Punishment

2010-07-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

One of my first questions in class is, "How was your day at school?" A typical, "let's warm the waters" and get that English flowing, while i take attendance question. Most of the time it is followed by a one word answer, "horrible", "so-so", and a sometimes i'll manage a "good". Anyway, on a great day, they will deluge the details of their day. I'm hopeful that they had a good day and have something awesome to share. But, most of the time they talk about the massive amounts of homework they have, how tired they are, how much namogie they have, or how they hate their home room teacher. Most of the time followed by a story of how he/she beat them in class for forgetting their homework, talking too loudly, messing around, etc. They often also have bruised or red marks to show for it. Not ok. I've heard stories of teachers beating them with padded PVC pipe, sticks, bare hands. Yea, not ok. SO, not ok. So i listen to these stories and am quick to reassure them that it is wrong. Even if the law says it's ok... it's not. It's these kids in particular, i am mindful shower with positive attention and love!

How the hell can a male teacher hit a female elementary/middle school student? That, in no book or right of mind should ever be tolerated.

Corporal punishment, is legal-- or was legal, in Korea. A bill recently passed that banned corporal punishment in schools, but somehow i doubt that will change anything. In a less than impressive quote from the Korean Federation of Teachers Association, they oppose the recent ban handed down form the Seoul Office of Education, on grounds of Korean culture.

“Also, despite the negative effects of corporal punishment, it is irrelevant to put a sudden end to such a custom which has long existed in our educational culture."

"Educational culture"? "Custom"? Since when did beating become a tolerable "custom"?

Holy heck. Read the article for yourself. I'll stop writing before i get really angry.

Corporal Punishment Ban Opposed.

Guilty as Charged.

2010-07-18T00:48:00.000-07:00

I am often accused of optimism. And while at a loss, most of the time, navigating how to respond to such a label, I can’t exactly disagree. I'm guilty. So shoot me. You see, in prime cliche fashion, my glass really is half full. I like it that way! While I acknowledge the pain and evil on this globe we call Earth is vast and deep, my experience proves that fixating on the problems never provided solutions. It doesn't really fix anything! What if we were to take a step back? One step out of the mire and eyes set on something more beautiful. Would that make a difference?

I am convinced that the objects you fix your eyes to, and the direction in which they are moving, makes all the difference. You can’t escape it. For where your eyes are fixed there too your feet will move. The promise of a fantastic view, will keep your feet moving upward-- past the shaky knees and screaming lungs one switchback after another. The promise of prestige will keep ones feet quick up the ladder of success. The intrigue of a connection will move sweaty palms and an awkward pick-up line across a crowded room. It’s simple. The things that captivate our affections and hold our attention will move us to tangible action-- in the direction of that object.

What about the bigger things in life? What about when life seems to be hard? What if we were to fix our eyes on beauty? On things that are most beautiful? Eyes lifted from the bad we find in this world, and fixed on the one thing that is most beautiful. Wouldn’t that change things? I have to argue, yes. Not only does it change things... it makes like just a bit sweeter!

You see, there is a beautiful Creator. One who has fashioned the world in which we live. One I have decided to fix my gaze on. One, who has captured my attention and wooed my affections. It is this Creator who has ordered and orchestrated the natural beauty I find in this world. The same Creator has also fashioned the people who fill it with capabilities and passions that reflect his grand beauty. Human hands, hearts, and minds capable of creating impressive beauty of their own!

Yes. People are hurting. Yes. People are hungry. Yes. People are dying. Starving. Suffering. I get that! I see it, and it settles deep in me. But, I have been created in the beauty of the Beautiful One, and live in a place surrounded by that same beauty. My hands have been empowered and I've been given a new heart motivated to create beauty of my own. So, with one foot in the mire, getting dirty for things that have caught my heart, I am steadfast. I am strengthened and excited! Beauty is present! It is transformative, increasingly so, in the most dire of situations in real, tangible ways. I am an agent of that! In the daily moments Beauty has the power to change things. It is on this I have chosen to set my gaze. As I do, it is changing me. As it does, the more I have to share. The more beauty in this world, the more it is changed for the better. How could it not? That is something worth getting fired up about!

In light of that, optimism is inevitable! Good things are happening and the promise of greater things is real, even when things look bleak! There is hope in that! Optimism, or maybe joy, is the fruit of that promise!

So, let my culprit be momentum, and beauty my charge-- not to positive naivety, but to action! Radical, joyful, awesome, powerful action with eyes set on that which is most beautiful! Life really is good! And Beauty really does change things!

To the Roof

2010-07-15T17:32:00.001-07:00

I am preparing for my trip to Nepal. As i do, i hope you'll follow! In the next few months, i'll be posting some information, pictures and fun Nepalese things... so ya'll come back now, and enjoy!

My trip to Nepal will be only a week but i don't doubt it will be life changing. I have much to learn and these people have much to teach me! I'm hopeful they will be touched by the love of Jesus and i trust that his Gospel can bring life to these people. Physically and spiritually! What a mission to be apart of!

First, a bit of information for you! Some essential Nepalese phrases. Enjoy!

greetings.
[namaste]
A greeting and farewell paired with hands palm to palm in front of you. Used only once a day. Just like my "anyanghasaeyo"teamed up with a bow, in Korea.

[tik chha]
A less formal greeting, "how are you?" "how is your day". Also serves as a response- a general "so-so"as my students tend to say to avoid a more complicated answer.

[diddi, dai, bai, bahini]
Family is important in Nepal. People are addressed in affectionate familial names. Just like in Korea. In Korean "oppa" means older brother. Most girlfriends refer to their boyfriends as that. "Onie" is older sister. I refer to the sweet ladies who i see often in restaurants or who are helping me as "onie". In Nepal "diddi" is older brother. "Dai" is older sister. "Bai" is younger brother, and "bahini" is younger sister.

my essentials.
[piro?]
"Spicy?" In a land know for it's curry and spicy dishes, this will be critical. I am sure their dishes of minimum heat may max out my taste buds. So if they describe it as spicy, even for the natives, i shall steer clear! My body will thank me.

[ramro!]
One of the first few words i learned in Korean were "delicious" and "beautiful". When i was eating or looking at something awesome, i wanted to be able to compliment the cook or the artist! Even if i couldn't have a conversation, i wanted to tell them what i thought! "Ramro" works just the same. It's just a nice, general word for everything delicious, fantastic, beautiful and good! I like words like that! Ekdahm ramro! (very good!)

There you have it!

2010-07-13T17:38:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

This week marks a few big days! As of yesterday, I am one day closer to being finished with one year than having started it! That's right folks, I've hit my six month mark and, like always, it's still a little unbelievable. This week also marks the start of my 23 year of life! :) Can I get a "whoot" to that? It's been awesome! And from the look of things, I think it's only going to continue in crazy awesomeness! God is good, and he brings life and fullness to his children- and that, my friends, is truly awesome! Happy day to that for sure!

So, an update for me followers. Again, i shall break it down for you!

work.
Work is good! My middle schools have just returned from studying for their big tests (our SAT equivalents) so we are getting back in the groove of normal class. Motivating them past cucumber like brain activity is my newest challenge. It makes sense though. Students study, literally, all day the few weeks leading up to their test. Cramming crazy amounts of material for every subject in to their heads to spit out into a test. For my middle school students, these are very important tests. They will say which high school they'll go to. That high school will weigh heavily in which university they will get into. It's very important. When they're finished with these tests (which they have every 3 months or so), they're fried and want nothing to do with any sort of studying-- especially English. I have led many incognito English lessons lately.

It was this month that I began to realize that I'm making some sweet relationships with some of my students. Noah. Adam. Julie. Grace. Annie. Sonic. There are a few who have become dear to my heart-- ones who just make me smile! They make going to work a joy! And a riot!

life.
I am going to Nepal! Late this September, I'll be joining a team and making my way to the "Roof of the World". I'm SO excited! A little over a year ago, after attending a few events, the Lord opened my eyes to the real issues of sex trafficking, and it's global presence-- even in my California neighborhoods. It was then a seed of compassion and hatred for what is happening to women and children was planted. Unsure of how to immediately get involved, with many questions and still much to learn, I began to pray that the Lord would show me how he'd have me be involved. This is my opportunity! Sex trafficking in Nepal is pervasive. The organization I'm traveling with, Mountain Child, was conceived in Nepal. While trekking through the Himalayas, a group of Christian men stumbled upon a group of sex traffickers and a host of children. The children were being transported-- to be sold. These Christian brothers had to do something. Mountain Child was born. I am not entirely sure what the Lord is going to do while I'm there, but I do not doubt for a moment that he has big things waiting. Check out the organization.. support them if you'd like.

crazy korea moments.
This past weekend was Amy's birthday. Let me take a moment to explain one of the craziest things i've ever seen. We went to a club. Cocoon. I am not a "clubber", nor really enjoy the clubbing scene, but I do like to dance! We paid our money, and descended down into the pit of a place that would fail all fire codes to the nth degree. It was literally as if I were descending into a steam room, packed should to shoulder with men and women-- all of who were drenched with the sweat of a night of dancing. Or just standing. There was really too little room to even dance. Actually, rather Cocoon like. Swaddled in a sack of sweat drenched people and a awful addition of the fog machine (who invented that thing and thought it would be awesome?). Though I'm a bad judge of numbers, I can safely say there were at least 1000 people in this club. It was intense. And i wish with everything in my i had my camera to document-- but sadly, no such luck. We danced for a while, and departed. We emerged into the "fresh" air... in an unimpressive display of sweat and nastiness. One thing i can say: Been there. Done that.

big things coming.
The last weekend of July, we have a few days of vacation. A few friends and I are making our way to Busan! Beach. Book. Relaxation. Awesome.

I've begun thinking about what is next for me. And while I still have a lot of time, I am praying for what the next season holds for me. Join me? I could use all the wisdom I can get! Six months is kind of a long time, but no so much when I think job placement, living situation, and good things like that! But, like he has done in my life unwaveringly... God provides! Always. We'll see what is next on the life adventure. Though I am 1000% sure that includes home for a while... I've got some people I need to hug and a few summer BBQs, coffee dates, football games, Sunday get togethers, sushi dates, high school baseball games, and auntie play dates to attend to. That should keep my busy for a while!

There you have it! God is good! Life is full and I am well!

Love and miss you all!
sarah, sarie, pottsie, potts, capa

I like Rooftops.

2010-07-07T18:09:00.000-07:00

I am not used to living in the city. Though I appreciate the hustle and bustle of a city, my little soul just needs some open space! I spend a lot of time looking for ways to "get out" of the noise (and i mean literal noise) that i find myself in, even in the grocery store. Wait a minute...ESPECIALLY in the grocery store! Don't get me started on that.
Parks have become my good friends. And even though Korea has yet to discover the value of picnic tables and benches with backs, for the most part i can get some quiet! Especially in the afternoon, when most folks have caved up in their apartments. I think it's safe to say there's an unhealthy fear of sunshine in this place! Just as i'm going out to get some sun, the people are packing up for the day- perfect!

I also like rooftops. Necessary to get above the craziness that is life in Korea sometimes. They are pretty hard to find, but OH! so coveted! The roof at my work has become my little oasis. It is nothing special- just a dirty wall i can sit on and eat my dinner, but it does the trick. There just something kind of urban-chicin' awesome about sitting on a roof. And a smiting joy of escape that comes over me as i sip my Coke Zero (no Diet Coke in Korea) and look down at the madness below. I'm always on the hunt for the an awesome rooftop treasure! I'm just a fan!

Anyway, on to the real purpose of this post. Fancy me for a bit longer about rooftops!

This September I will be traveling to the "Roof of the World" to work with an awesome organization called MountainChild. MC carries hope to the children living in the Himalayas! Who doesn't want to be apart of that? Half of the kids growing up in the Himalayas will die before their 8th birthday- due to a multitude of factors. MC runs the RANCH in Kathmandu, Nepal which houses, raises, and loves children who've escaped the harshest of lives. These children are showered in love, educated with purpose, and raised up to return to their people and end the cycle of suffering. I could be spending my week working at this RANCH doing whatever needs to be done to make that happen!

MC also treks to reach the ethnically Tibetan, who live in the mountains above Kathmandu. Many of who don't have the proper medical attention and supplies to treat critical injuries and illness common on the mountain. This team will be delivering aid in several ways. Medical supplies and basic medical attention will be hiked in. A lot of the medical issues found are rooted in the lack of clean drinking water, this team will address this issue in a water treatment facility. Something foundational to improving the health and living conditions of these people. But above medical supplies and clean water, these folks need Jesus. We've got him in surplus and plan to deliver some of his love and grace to the folks up there too. I could be spending my week on the mountain rocking a backpack.

There you have it! Pray for me. Pray for my team! Visit the MountainChild website and support them. God is doing big things! And it's beyond awesome i get to join in!

More to come!

World Cup 2010

2010-06-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

For the first time, in an overseas competition, Korea made it to the top 16 in the World Cup. Celebrations and screenings dotted the entire country with gathering of red masses, as if the beloved Red Devils had made it to the final game. Even though the celebration were a little premature, I cannot hate. I have enjoyed every moment spent celebrating alongside the greatest of all soccer fans! The red. The beer. The soju. The horns. The inflated plastic slapping sticks and abundant clap-clap-clap-clap- "DAEHAMINGUK"! It's contagious! And Korea definitely puts up a fight for worlds greatest fans!

Last Wednesday night work let out at 9:30. Around 11pm some friends and I boarded the subway into Seoul. An all nigher for the sake of soccer! Dressed in red, pumped with espresso, we were headed toward Coex, one of the many national, outdoor screening locations. We arrived shortly before midnight and were kindly greeted with a sea of red and a contagious air of excitement... such things needed for a 3:30 am game.

Though the time difference between South Africa and Korea has made for some unfortunately timed games, Korea has shown up unwavering in support and dedication. We emerged from the station onto the streets closing down and thousands of people finding their seats in the middle of the street. A scene rather foreign to a foreigner like myself, but addicting nonetheless! How has America not caught the World Cup bug yet?

For those of you who didn't watch the game, which i assume is most of you, we tied Nigeria 2-2 and it was a fantastic game! I found myself sidelines on the curb sandwiched between two good looking Korea men for the second half-- and it was a good place to be. Surrounded by true fans, watching a fantastic game, yawning as the sun rose over Seoul. It was magical. The game clock ran out, Korea went crazy! In one massive, untied display of love, Korea advanced into the Top 16. Everyone packed up and headed for bed. Most of us headed to work in a few short hours.

Last night was Korea's final game in the World Cup. The celebration preparations started early and the fever spread. As I made my way to the track for an early Saturday morning run, I was greeted with a massive stage and screen set up on one half of the track. Sanbon had caught the bug too. Horns and music, chanting and red filled the streets early-- waking up a lazy fan like myself early Saturday morning.

This game was much earlier than the first. Just before the game some friends and I found ourselves sitting curbside of a Yongin corner dive called Cheers. We ordered some beer and sat surrounded by true fans. Some of who, under the affects of a few too many beers, took a particular liking to us foreigners. He and his cell phone dictionary found their sweet way to the step on my side. "May i ask what is your name?" he asked. I was short. Not usually rude, but dude, just watch the game. I know i stand out, but that's not an invitation to introduce me to the entire bar.

Anyway, he left just before the game really got started. Right after he pulled up into the middle of the intersection, on the wrong side of the road, to say farewell and pass along his business card to our table. Oh brother- you should really not be driving.

Well the game, again was fantastic! You could feel, literally feel, the joy and pains of each goal. Unfortunately, in the end Uruguay prevailed with a late game goal. Silence came over the country. After a short applause and a few last glass raises, Korea packed up and headed home. Korea showed up this year! I'm thankful to be in a place who appreciates soccer and the World Cup like Korea does! It's fantastic!

Introducing

2010-06-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

I have a hard time narrowing down my favorite class. However, given several factors, this class puts up a good fight! Thee little guys are my Elementary 3 class and they are FANTASTIC. Though a little rowdy at times, they just melt my heart! I took over this class in the Meysen, which is more of a story telling, song singing, poem learning curriculum. Unfortunately, we've moved into a regular desk-ed classroom where we have to work out a ridiculously boring reading comprehension book. They're growing up.

But we make do- and we have fun while we do it! Let me introduce them to you!

henny. My sweet Henny is a quiet one, but her chuckle is contagious! She is not smiling in this picture, however she rocks a smile that will melt the roughest of hearts! She loves two things that i find particularly cute. The first: when i ask her how she is doing, she always answers with a shy, “I’m fine.” So consistent that the other students finish her sentence before she is able to. Second thing she likes to do is wear my jewelry. If i am wearing bracelets one day, she will come over, take them off my wrist, and wear them during class. In the beginning before we moved into a classroom with desks, I would sit with them on the carpet an read them stories. She would come over, and sit as close as she could to me. Often times rubbing her cheek against my sweaters. I think she has a rough family life-- i'm praying she feels the love of Jesus in me (or my sweater!)

sonic. My little Sonic! His “real” English name is Gerald, but he likes to be called Sonic. You know, “the hedgehog” he once told me. I joke that if he were 15 years older I’d marry him and if her were an orphan i’d adopt him. He’s that stinkin’ cute. First, in one of my first classes I taught him the world “pretty”, which he later used to call me “Miss Pretty Teacher”. Sold. Favorite student award now taken. Everyday before class, he makes his way to my desk. Where we play two games. One, he’ll poke his head around the corner, i’ll notice him, make a funny face, he’ll laugh, and run back to class. The second is as i make my way to class i’ll pretend to chase them, they get all scared, scream, “SARAH TEACHER” and run back to class. He hides in the corner until i “find him”. It makes me smile! When he tries to tell me a story, most of the time horribly complicated, in which he cannot think of the English words, he becomes a charades master. It usually ends with him on the floor somehow, making sounds akin to Evan in Bruce Almighty. Without fail- he brightens my day! Except yesterday he asked me, "Teacher, expand?" pointing to his stomach and suggesting a pregnant belly of sort. Translated: "Teacher, are you getting fat?" I chuckled and said... "Oh Sonic!" The things they ask you. (I'm hoping it was my loose fitting sweater.) : )

kevin. Oh Kevin! Kevin is smart! I am constantly impressed by his ability to understand and comprehend what i’m saying, at such a young age! And like Henny, his favorite thing to do is to see how often he can tell me “I don’t know!” Oh, he knows, but i play along for kicks. “Kevin, how are you?” ... “I don’t know.” “Kevin, what’s your name?”... “I don’t know!” It continues. He laughs. I laugh. All is well. One thing he does know is what his “dream” is. Yesterday i was teaching them jobs and the question, “What is your job?”. Focusing on the “I am a...” and “He/She is a...” you know, a good ESL lesson. Anyway, i had a picture vocab worksheet of different jobs. After finishing the worksheet he chimed in, “Teacher, what is your dream?” Translated- “Teacher, what do you want to be when you grow up?” They’re smart i tell you! I answered and reversed the question, “Kevin, what do you want to be when you grow up?” “I want to be a science man,” Kevin answered. “ A scientist! Kevin, you’d make a wonderful scientist!” I told him... he smiled!

cloara. You never know what you’re going to get with Cloara- but it always makes me happy! Before moving to our classroom, she would make her way as close to sitting in my lap as she could manage while I read our stories. Often times just wanting to hold my hand or play with my rings while i read. Her sweetness is also coupled with a stubbornness that makes me laugh inside! Sometimes i’ll ask her to do something, like sit down, and she’ll stand there and say “No” with a face straighter than my laughter can contain. She just likes to push my buttons and if she weren’t so dang cute, it could be really annoying. The other day she came over to me with her little princess-set clip-on earrings and put them on me. Little blue and silver stars. I struck a pose. She looked over at me, shook her head, planted her hands on her hips, shook her head and said “uhhhh” in much disapproval. It was pretty funny! Oh Cloara, i like her!

Here they are! My Elementary 3 Class. I like them!

Well Done Korea!

2010-06-22T22:44:00.000-07:00

WE WON!

For the first time ever, in a foreign match, Korea has moved on to the top 16 teams in the World Cup! A huge feat! Catch the whole story here!
(more personal anecdotes when i can process thought more clearly. after pulling and all nighter in downtown Seoul with thousands of Korea fans watching the game, i'm struggling. I'm Currently running on 4 hours of sleep, a half empty cup of coffee, and baggie of Special K... and have 5 classes ahead of me. Wish me luck!)

A Sweet Collision

2010-06-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

Travel is more than sightseeing. It’s reach is beyond the gates of an un-ventured city and it’s end far above a brilliant skyline of the world’s most impressive shores. Though sadly it’s often boiled down to a pursuit of the most impressive and a constant pressing onward to the next thrill. All the while, simple alleys and worn door frames are passed over. The very places which house the people that make these wonders so rich. These people fill the streets and their hands make the trinkets we buy. Guilty travelers look through these faces, past the ticket booths, onto to the golden statues. After all, that’s what we came to see, right?

Let me digress for a moment.

I believe in a Creator. A creator who creates good and beautiful things! Things which flow out of who he is. I’d even venture to say that he might create beauty simply for the delight of his children. Does the grandness of Yosemite Valley serve a purpose? Can it’s extravagance be calculated? Or maybe, it exists simply to display the beauty and expanse of a good Creator who takes delight in creating awesome things. A photo-op, road trip worthy, account of a God whose hand is mighty and whose brilliance is breathtaking! Could it be that he would create things just for our enjoyment? Does he smile when giddiness rises out of a soul seeing the first glimpse from the summit? I think so! But I must venture still to say, without question, that the people whom he scatters across this globe in the very places we esteem worthy of travel, are even more so astounding. Created in the very image of this great Creator, far more intricate and highly cherished than the greatest of all the world’s natural most bewitching wonders. Worthy of more affections than the best of these.

Allow me to venture a bit further. What if one’s desire to see the world’s treasures collided sweetly with one’s deep seeded personal convictions? Could these ordained soap boxes of sorts, planted in the heart of a fearfully fashioned heart, move from personal conviction to action, in a place fantastically awesome? Could travel be the means by which I fulfill what I was created to do? Something greater than a full passport, a collection of anecdotes to share with friends, and a collection of tailored pieces for publication?

I have to argue yes.

Change is possible. Travel is the means by which we do it. Writing is the method by which I steward my gift of a voice.

A year ago I sat, fixated on my now retired iBook, in a dimly lit dorm room. A week long, campus- wide discussion prompted my own investigation. Article after article, hour after hour, I was left shaken. Forever so. That night a deep seeded fury took root in a young heart. A young heart ambitious to see, explore and write about the world one over. Convicted of the massive problems that plague it, convinced she knew someone who was coming to make things right, and two hands free and longing to do something about it in the meantime. You see, in the midst of a beautifully created, brilliantly orchestrated world, there is evil. Evil that is stealing, killing, destroying that which was created to flourish. This wasn’t new to me; I knew things were broken. But I was shaken with the urge to do something about it. Shaken beyond the ability to sleep, and so I read on.

International Trade: A Marketplace of Humans. For vile, horribly defiling, repulsively debasing, purposes. Men. Women. Children. In all corners of the world. From the bungalows of Thailand, the weathered cobble stone of Europe, to the iconic comfort and perceived greatness that is California and Las Vegas. People! Bought! Taken! Used up by the superior-ly vile in the most exotic, intoxicating, sought after world wondrous locations. A white washed extravagance of a beautiful place secretly rotten within. Funded by travelers themselves.

I stand at a balance. On it sits an awe and wonder of a world waiting to be explored, and its counter in a fiery mission to change it. Repulsed to think I could have some contribution to it. How do I, as a traveler, uphold, admire, and pursue the beauty of this world without treading past the souls of people who I was created to touch?

I am convinced it’s a rather delicate balance. Passions and convictions have the opportunity to move to powerful world change when eyes find their way off the golden statues of a foreign land, and into the eyes of the people who live there. To dive head first into their stories, venturing relentlessly to listen and love in radical ways. I was given a heart, a mind, a relative restlessness, and a MacBook, wired to go and be and do big things. Not for thrill’s sake, or outside accolades, but rather on mission to make a change in things. And to tell people about it! To bring life where death threats, and light where darkness looms. Nothing fancy. Just an overflow of love into the lives and land of folks who need it most.

Ironically, I find this very mission dropping me into the loftiest of world wonders. Adventure awaits. But my eyes are fixed. Heaven forbid travel ever again be simply for the next grand wonder over the people who I might meet there.

Introducing

2010-06-12T00:03:00.001-07:00

My work days start in class with these munchkins. They're fantastic! If you can't tell by this picture, my boys are crazy. My girls are sweethearts! And i LOVE it.
Let me introduce you to them!

the boys.

Adam. Is a stinkin' riot. He is always doing KPop dance moves attempting to wrestle N0-ah. Which , considering the size difference, is almost impossible. I hardly walk into class and not find them in a full out wrestling match. No-ah and Adam are buddies.

No. Or more class room appropriate Noah. Some of you might remember the story, but on No's first day in my class, i asked him to to pick an English name. He told me he wanted to be called "No". I was thoroughly confused. I asked him, "Do you want to be called Noah?" And he said, "No. NO!" A joke and a joy ever since. This kid is brilliant. My favorite moment in this class thus far is with No and Adam. Adam was talking a lot on day in class. Answering a lot of questions and well, No was getting ticked. So, No, nonchalantly reaches over and covers Adams mouth with his hand. No, without any hesitation and impeccable timing sticks his tongue out and licks the heck out of his hand. I couldn't hold back the laughter! It was SO funny.

Alex is a my rebellious teacher's pet. He's great! He is just learning English and his favorite thing is when i ask him what the weather is. Part of my curriculum teaches the weather and the differences between rain, raining, rainy, etc. So, i start a lot of my days asking the kids what the weather is like today. Alex will answer and say " Today's weather is sunny, and hot, and rainy, and snowy, and wet and dry and Sarah Teacher, and Alex... yada yada yada." until i cut him off with an "Oh Alex!"

Tim is my man of many voices. Holy heck this kid is full of energy and quickly established himself as my class clown. I say that he is the man of many voices, because every time i ask him a question or ask him to read is does so with an absolutely hilarious voice. And while most of the time i cannot understand a bloody thing he is say, i cannot stifle the fun because he's taken speaking English to a whole new level and it just makes me smile! I do believe he also holds a record for most request to "SIT DOWN."

My boys like to give me high fives. I let them give me a high five when the can tell me their poems by memory or when they leave class. They thoroughly enjoy a little game we're created: How many rapid high fives can i give Miss Sarah before she pulls her hands away. It's fun.

the girls. my sweet girls.

Diana. Oh Diana. She is one smart girl and does she have a lip on her! Holy toledo. But i can handle it. She loves to speak Korean in class, which is a no-no. So I often encourage her by saying, "Only English ladies!" To which she responds, "But Miss Sarah, this is Korea." A comment most often accompanied with a half-scared look of rebellion. A funny one she is! : )

Julie. Is a knockout sweetheart. First in line to turn in her homework and always trying to tell me a story about her day or weekend, she just melts my heart. Most of those conversations go like this. "Teacher. Jessica. After A-Class. Game." Which means "Teacher, guess what! After A-Class, Jessica is coming to my house to play!" I've become a professional decoder. Anyway, Julie loves to play Simon says. One day after i had had it with the daily, "TTEEEEECCCCHHHHEEERRRR. GAAAAMMMMEEEE!!!! " I taught my class to say "Miss Sarah, may we play Simon says please?" I start almost every day with it and Julie's eyes light up. She rocks that madness with all seriousness and it just makes me smile. She's a pro.

Hannah. Miss Hannah. My royal Space Cadet. This girl has mastered the art of spacing out, and almost daily, as i'm making my way to class, she b-lines it to the bathroom. She likes to hide, or escape, or whatever it is she is trying to do. If my reflexes are oiled my quick "HANNAH" will stop her mid dash and she turn around defeated and trudge back to class. Most of the time i cannot find her, and she doesn't make it to class until well into the first 10 minutes. She doesn't speak English very well at all, BUT i would say she has improved the most. When i first took over the class she was not even willing to read out loud, now, she bolts out what she knows!

The girls love it when i secretly tell them to lip sync the songs on the girl part. It confuses the boys and they giggle uncontrollably. It makes me happy!

This is my first class!

Greetings!

2010-06-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

It's 9:45 am, June 7th, and I think it's safe to say summer is here. My windows are open, the fan is blowing, and i'm sitting here, basically inactive, sweating up a storm. So unfortunate. But, until the humidity swamps over, I just can't bring myself to turn on my air conditioner yet. I'm from the desert- i got this!

Much has happened since my last greeting. I'm pushing 5 months in Korea, and life is good! I'll break my update into a few categories to make this greeting more organized.

School
Work is good. Though the past few weeks have provided moments and days of pure chaos, for the most part, my job remains the same and i'm still enjoying it. I am really enjoying my writing classes. In one of my middle school classes, i was teaching them how to write "How-to" or procedural essays. I told them to pick anything. Serious. Funny. Crazy. Boring. Whatever they wanted to write about, WRITE ABOUT IT. (And like it!) One of my favorite students wrote: "How to Blink". And let me tell you, it was a brilliantly written, hilariously funny essay that just made me smile! Writing is fun... and i hope my kids are learning that!
Excerpts to come soon.

Travel
I have taken a few small trips since my last greeting.
The Lotus Lantern Festival was great! I missed the parade, but got to see some of them on the river at night, which was beautiful .

Kelly, Nick, Steph, Ames, and Me

Over the weekend of Buddha's birthday, the ladies and I traveled to Gyeongju. It was a great, horribly less than ideal trip, but much needed trip out of Seoul. Check out my blog below for the full story! I also attended my second baseball game, and like the first, it was awesome. I like to say im an official Doosan Bears Fan. Korean sporting events are just fantastic, and for 5,000W... you can't pass it up. I also made my way to the Korea- Ecuador soccer game! Which was also awesome. Korea likes soccer. Again, check out the post below for a more complete story.

World Cup
Speaking of sports, the World Cup starts this weekend, and unlike the good USofA, soccer is a big deal in Korea. And when i say big, i mean MASSIVE. This weekend is a major game: Korea vs. Greece. Thousands of people will be flocking to the center of Seoul to watch the game in one large, red sea of fans. It's going to be awesome, and undoubtedly overwhelming. But, not something to miss out on. More to come on that soon, but it's going to be awesome.

Life
I recently applied for a Glimpse Correspondent position. If chosen, i'll embark on a 10 week endeavor this fall to write and produce features for the online magazine www.glimpse.org. In doing so, i'll have access to journalists from whom i'll learn the art of travel writing.
Ah! I get excited thinking about the possibility.

Upcoming
A lot is coming up. I'm pushing my 6 month mark and the summertime is promising a lot of awesomeness.

DMZ Tour. There is rumor that they might shut it down if tensions continue, and I will be horribly disappointed if miss it.

23. Whoot! My birthday is coming up, and i'm going to rock it Korean style.

Mud Festival. Summer time. Mud. Awesome.

Summer Break. Last weekend of July, we're hoping to make it down to Busan for a long weekend on the beach in a new place. Ahh... just delight to my heart.

Thailand at some point in my tenure to visit a good friend!!

Good things are to come this summer! The awesome team of foreign teachers I work with will be turning over this summer too... which is sad. So so sad. They're awesome and I will miss them dearly, but, it's also exciting knowing that new folks are on their way, and new things are to come.

If there is anything I've learned about life, it's that things change. Sometimes things change in big ways. But, God is good. Life is made up of choices. And life is a awesome adventure! Even more so when you're living in a foreign country!

Blessings to you all!
sarah, capa, potts, pottsie

Things to look forward to

Taste Test: The Korean Sausage Phenomenon.
Meet the Kiddos: Want to meet my students?

I'm Registered.

2010-05-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are following the news. It seems like things have heated up on the Korean Peninsula. The history is long, and the details are hard to confirm but I think it's time to be prepared. Preparation in the sense of mindfulness, not an overnight bag. I don't write this to scare folks, but I think it's a great reminder.

You see, I feel safe in Korea. I walk around without even the slightest amount of concern and it's easy to go on with daily life thinking all is well. Though less safe than in Korea, I felt relatively safe in California too. Aside from running outside past 5pm, walking to my car in a parking lot, or journeying around in a city by myself, life is California is pretty safe. For most of us, we live a safe life.

But, what happens when the threat of war looms? In a country where you are a foreigner? You see, the embassy offers an official registry. As an American, in the case of an emergency, they will notify me and work to get me out of the country. Even then, in the midst of chaos, I am hopeful of an element of safety. But what about the folks who live here? What about the beautiful Koreans who live on this peninsula? Who call this place home and will stay? What hope do they have? Does Jesus even call me into safety? Is he calling me to something bigger than praying for no war?

I am sweetly reminded that life is short and that human endeavors fail. While I am surrounded by elements of safety, even living in a foreign country, I live in a world where evil is working. Yes, it it is beautiful, life is sweet, and God is good... but there is work to be done.

Folks, fear not, i am hesitant to even suggest that an actual war would break out. But, one would be naive to not consider the possibility. I don't want to be caught with my eyes closed leaning on the "promise" of safety!

Keep up for yourself...

Yahoo News

Clinton:World must act on SKorean ship sinking.

Korean Herald

LA Times

US pledges support of SKorea

To Less Than Ideal

2010-05-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday night 4 lovely ladies and I raised our glasses. Here’s to “less than ideal!” I sit here, Monday morning, reflecting on the weekend, thinking about when it all started, and I can’t help but chuckle. It all started when we arrived.

That’s never a good start.

Thanks to the birth of Buddha, Korea celebrates May 21st as a national holiday. Every calendar marks that day with a lovely shade of red. For teachers like me, it’s a hue of excitement. You see, though neither Korean nor Buddhist, I’ll be celebrating right alongside the best of them! A national holiday for the common “waygookin” means no work. No work on a friday means a nice long weekend. And a long weekend means time for adventure. Adventure is what we did.

Friday afternoon we caught a train south to the beautiful city of Gyeongju, capital of the ancient Silla kingdom. Many folks harold Gyeongju as a “museum with no walls”. Hard to argue with that. The timeworn treasures of ancient Korea find themselves kindly fused with the ways of a modern city. It’s rather impressive, subtly beautiful and well worth a visit.

We arrived with hopes of a relaxing vacation. A weekend out of Seoul. visiting the sights it’s so well known for, and of course, our full fixings of delicious Korean food. We also wanted beds. Yo, we’ll pass. We were determined! We rushed off the train, gathered a map, and decided to mosey our way to our hostel. The weather was beautiful, we were ambitious and curious, and the world, correction Gyeongju, was ours for the taking.

Ready to take on Gyeongju!

Well Gyeongju got the best of us. We’re going to blame it on the map. After walking well past our destination, possibly by a few miles, we wayfarers found a nice old man who could help. He kindly walked us all the way to our hostel, turned down a juicebox offering, and disappeared. He was awesome. Surprisingly, on our walk back to our hostel the following day, we walked past him working in a bakery. What he must have thought: “These girls! They have no bloody idea where they are!” Our adventure to the hostel, and really all street outings of the weekend were filled with the gawks of countless men, the bulging eyes of fear stricken children, and the horrendous sounds of Korean local elections. Campaigning tactics unfathomable: absurdly loud speaker systems, shoot-yourself-in-the-face children’s jingles with platform altered lyrics, and foam fingered, dancing ajimas aboard a open air truck making its sweet way through the city. They’re everywhere I tell you, unfortunately. But, i digress. We arrived at our hostel and were sadly greeted with horribly dampening words: “Why are there so many of you?”

Again, that’s never a good start.

We thought he was joking. Negative. He was serious. In kindness I’ll leave the name of our hostel unmentioned. I’d hate to ruin their reputation. But it rhymes with Ban Kim. First word: starts with a H. Last word: starts with a J. Famous for its “Martiol Arts Show”. No corrections needed. This unmentioned hostel gave our rooms away on the “busiest weekend” of the year. Oh, we know! Hence the reservation my friend!

Starving, sweaty, and pretty stranded, we settled for a “guest house” in “need of cleaning”, and headed to dinner to wait it out. No beds. No hot water. And a host of bugs. Awesome.

On the way to dinner we met a group of delightful Europeans looking for a place of their own to stay. Folks who quickly became friends, with whom we met up for a “laugh” later that night. And laugh we did.

All I can say about Saturday is that we woke up to rain, and it never really stopped. With a tasty breakfast and two shallow cups of coffee we were on our way. It was Buddha’s birthday, and we were determined to visit the famous Seokguram grotto to see him in massive golden proportions before the hordes made their way. When the the taxi meter on the way up turned over 30 bucks, we rounded ten too many outside turns up an unprotected mountain road, and halted in parked traffic four kilometers from our final destination, we realized we were behind the truly zealous. In sad surrender we decided flipping around and heading back down the mountain to the main temple was best.

Again, that’s never good. One beautiful, painfully expensive trip up... and back down the mountain. For Buddha’s sake!

Bulguksa is a beautiful temple, however the scene upon arrival was pure madness. Truthfully. Crowds in Korea are always close quarters and I’ve grown rather used to it, but add the surprise element of overzealous umbrella using, in the hands of folks who have yet to master the unwritten walking direction and photo op-ing laws and you’ve leveled up in ranks of madness. In a short time I was ready to leave.

Bulguksa Temple.

It's really beautiful!

Beautiful and sadly insane!

After another long, quite pricey taxi ride, we found ourselves outside headed to more outdoor adventures. And while it was still raining, we had escaped the damp mugginess that is a overstuffed taxi car of wet travelers. Thank heavens! We headed to the Gyeongju National Museum, and the mugginess followed. Except this time I had no window to roll down and the stagnate air of weariness, crowding, and indifference for the bronze pottery and noseless Buddha collection was a bit funky. In an increasingly short time, I was ready to leave.

Leave we did. Thankfully so.

It continued to rain, but we were outside and that’s all that mattered. No more taxis. No more crowds. No more mugginess. Some would prefer otherwise, but at this point in the trip I was ready to be out of confined quarters and ready to see something beautiful in the fresh air. That is just what we did. We stumbled upon Tumuli Park, home of royalty tombs that look more like buried giant size bowling balls, and the Cheomseongdae Observatory, the oldest standing astronomy tower in Asia. They were impressive. The rain coated the recent spring greenery to add a layer of vibrancy that was truly beautiful-- our walk was much needed.

Tumuli Park

Oldest Astronomical Observation Tower in Asia

We continued to walk. For a long time. Along the way we enjoyed a delicious, Gyeongju famous ssambap lunch, a hot cup of coffee in the quaint Coffee and Cookie shop, and many laughs. Though still raining rather hard, we continued to walk. Mostly in exploration of the city and all Gyeongju had to offer. We found and took a short browse through a local covered market and were met, again, with many a stare. Ajimas (old Korean women). Hung octopi. And ajusis (old Korean men). We met out match, however, in the face, the literal face, of a pig, a literal pig. Lined up on the floor with 5 of his friends, waiting, quietly, to be purchased. For what you ask? I haven’t the slightest idea. Shock factor possibly? I sure hope so.

“Anayaghasaeyo! Dwaejiui eolgul hanna jusayo!” (Hello there! One pig face please!)
“Jigeum god!” (Coming right up!)

Nothing good, or faintly delicious could ever come of that!

The look happy.

Yea, I’ll pass. And we kept walking. This time in route to our hostel, ultimately headed to a jimjilbang. With no hot water, or adequate showering accommodations at our hostel, we needed to take matters into our our hands. Grunginess, fatigue, and slap-happiness were climaxing, and all we needed was a shower. We needed to get “home”. Friends, all I can say about this is that we’re good at getting lost. Horribly lost.

Walking around, in the pouring rain was nice for a while. When you know where the hell you are! Being lost, however, unable to find your hostel while walking in the pouring rain is a different story. At this point we were in desperate need of a clean body, dry jeans and good nap. Praise God for Lotte Coffee. Not for their coffee, or really anything other than their signage. A source of hope, if you will. We were close. Our stay was short and we were off again.

We walked to a less than impressive bathing facility in a pretty shady hotel and again were met with stares. Longing, overdrawn, borderline inappropriate stares. This time not purely as foreigners, but as naked foreigners. I’ll withhold the details, but they got a free viewing and they milked it for all it was worth. After a little relaxation and a much needed shower, energies were filled and we were dinner and nightlife bound.

Hope deferred makes the newly clean and dry heart sick. A little rain had turned to downpour and we were blocks away. I, again, rolled up my recently hair-dyer dried jeans for another go around, stepped into my last fresh pair of shoes, be it regrettably flip flops, flung open my umbrella and made a go for it. I didn’t make it very far before I was once again drenched, cold, and borderline pissed. We trudged on.

By the time we made it to dinner, we were soaked--spirits dampened and starving. It would make sense they’d forget to put your order in. But, considering the weekends events, it was of the least.

Later that night we found ourselves sitting in the classy establishment that is WaBar. Spirits and toes warmed, memories and laughter flowing, and my friends, it was perfect. Drinks in hand, friends around, KPop ringing, we toasted to our weekend. To “less than ideal!” For a moment, it seemed like all of it was kind of worth it. Though chronically less than ideal in so many ways, it was a great weekend.

Thanks for the love Gyeongju!

Our delicious ssambap lunch!

We had a great time!

Dancing ajimas: a NEW powerful campaigning tactic.

Since When Does Sushi Sport Relish?

2010-05-17T06:13:00.000-07:00

Sunday I traveled into Seoul with Amy and Kelly. Fancy that, right? We're always in Seoul.

We took a long subway trip up to the mysterious orange line and made our way to World Cup Stadium. For what you ask? A Cup Festival.
Just kidding. A soccer game, of course! A Korean National Soccer game against South American rival, Ecuador. Shield your eyes my friends, spoiler alert for those who care to watch the game: we won! 2-0 and it was awesome. The stadium was MASSIVE. A venue truly suited for the international weightiness of such an event. Soccer is big folks. So is the world cup-- i recently learned.

A few things perplexed me, however about the Korean soccer culture.

First, why do Koreans, not just soccer fans, like to take pictures with foreigners? Espcially with my friend Kelly? Two boys came up and asked her to take a picture. She agreed and grabbed for the camera. Au contraire. They wanted to take a picture with her. So interesting.

There are, like baseball games, cheerleaders. 4 of them. Still don't understand that. But hey. Korea likes good lookin' ladies. In intimate quantities?
The Korean team is the RED DEVILS. However, their mascot is a bear. A fluffy, couldn't intimidate the most angelic of creatures, more cute and cuddly than fire and brimstone kind of bear. A teddy bear if you will. Interesting.
Again, much like baseball, Korean's like their soccer. These fans don't mess around. However, unlike baseball games, folks are more intent on watching the game than they are beer consumption. Not without the awesome fan display!

In a valiant effort to find Amy a cheap Korean Devils shirt, we made our way around the various hustlers. Most perplexing: the ones selling shirts that had "Korea" spelled wrong. Never seen it with a "C" before. Somehow I think spelling your country's name wrong is pretty bad. Especially for the folks who bought in and rocked them proudly.

What got me most was the food situation at Soccer Games. Let's reflect back to the baseball game. I was prepared. Fried chicken and beer. And there was a fine share of both, with a nice variation for the free thinkers. Hamburgers. Snacky snacks. Drinks. You name it. There were many a well stocked snack bar. Like any real sporting event.

Not the same with soccer. Maybe their more serious about the game. We got worried when we saw the hordes of people huddled around a GS Mart, (a 7-Eleven equivalent) selling a box of chicken, a sandwich/sushi combo, a sad collection of chips and dried squid. That was about it. Add a few bev options and there you have it. This can't be good.

And it wasn't. Where's the pizza at yo?

I settled for a hardly vegetarian, or really anything, sandwich/sushi combo. Which was a tad strange of a combo, and a sad attempt at both. After the de-meating of the sandwich, left was the remnants of a tomato slice, a slightly warmed slice of fake cheese, some relish-esk sauce, cased in white bread triangles. The "sushi" was some crazy mixture of tuna and a taste of something, again, I likened to relish. Not exactly sushi. Not exactly sporting food, either. And what's with the relish?

It was a big game. I was super stoked to go! Next up for Korea- the World Cup. Big game against Greece June 12th and I shall be visiting Seoul for the final game July 11th. Which I hear is going to be massive.

The world loves soccer. With the exception of America that is. Which is also interesting.

Outside the stadium about an hour before the game.

The kickoff.

The lovely Kelly and Amy on a lovely bridge overlooking a lovely park.

2010-05-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

Our feast was phenomenal. We had it all folks. Chips. Salsa. Guacamole. Fijitas. Black Beans. Cheese (the real stuff!).
Rachel and I even attempted Spanish rice. For those of you who know me well know that when it comes to rice, and i am anything but proficient. To be frank: i suck at making rice. But we were determined to do Cindo proud.
We got close to butchering it when i smelt smoke and realized the bottom was burning. However, quick hands quickly solved the problem. Remove pan from heat. Don't scrape too deep. I must say, it was quite delicious. And folks...it wasn't crunchy!

There you have it! Happy Cinco de Mayo! Also celebrated as Children's Day in Korea... i shall call it Happy Awesome Day. No work. Delicious Mexican Food. Great Friends.... awesome indeed!

Rock Climbing

2010-05-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

Another Feature on Adventure Teaching!
Enjoy!

I think I am going to stop looking at the weather forecast. It just makes me sad. For instance, this weekend was prime spring weather. Clear, warm, just lovely, right? This week, you ask? Rain. All week. Everyday. Rain. All I can say is all this shower better make for a lot of May flowers. Insert shake of fist here.

In spite of the weather reports and worsening weather woes, I was determined to get outside this past week. To do what, you ask? Rock Climb. I was going to go rock climbing, and no one, even you Mother Nature, could stop me. I had read about a free climbing clinic in Seoul through Sanirang Alpine Networks, successfully found them on Facebook, confirmed my attendance, and was stoked to get out and climb again. It had been a while and despite all the forecasted gloom, I was determined to make it into Seoul. And so I did.

The weather was a bit chilly, storm threats loomed, Sadang Station almost got the best of me, but I didn’t suffocate and the rain held off nicely; and thankfully so! I enjoyed a wonderful Wednesday morning in Seoul rock climbing and met some great folks in the process.

I met up with a team from Sanirang Alpine Networks for their Free Wednesday Climbing Clinic, and it was great. I must have been the only weather smiter this week. I had the whole clinic to myself. Which was great! The guys were really kick back and helpful. Because I had some previous climbing experience they didn’t spend a lot of time on the basics, and actually spent some significant time teaching more intermediate techniques, which was awesome. But fear not, the clinic is perfect for those who want to try something new with little or no climbing experience. They’ll teach you! And it’s free! What more could you ask for?

Free Wednesday Climbing Clinics are offered through the end of June, every Wednesday in Daechi-Dong (Line 2 at Samsung Station) at an artificial wall in a pretty cool park. For those of you who works nights, like me, the morning session conveniently runs from 9-12 am. Come and go as you like, or per the croak speed of your forearms. For those of you with more flexibility, there is also an afternoon session running from 3:30-6:30pm. Equipment is free. The wall is free. Folks and fun are on the house! Awesome, right?

For those of you interested in more advanced rock climbing adventures and schools, be sure to check out http://sanirang.net. They offer many climbing schools and adventures, and the guys who run it are wonderful! There is also an online community of rock climbers called KoreaOnTheRocks.com (KOTR), which offers Korea specific information on artificial walls and gyms, bouldering and climbing areas, climbing comrades, and upcoming climbing adventures.

There you have it. Outing o’ awesome: Sanirang Free Wednesday Climbing Clinic. Invite some friends. Set your alarm, don’t forget the coffee, and avoid Sadang Station at all costs. You’ll enjoy yourself, get a nice workout, learn something new, and be back in time to suit up and teach some English.

When JM Greets You in the Park.

2010-05-02T00:41:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know me, you will know that my heart is bent toward a boy named JM. He gets me every time! He's a good looking man. His voice. The hat. Straight to the heart, folks. Straight to the heart.

He's done it again, friends. Without even knowing it.

I was in Hongdae. An awesome city, which I believe is quickly becoming one of my favorite places in Seoul. Filled with life and music, good eats and art, and just a lively bunch of folks out to enjoy life. I'm a fan, which is why I've started to love this little place. Last night confirmed said feelings.

You see friends, I love live music. The beat. The crowd. The long instrumentals and freestyle jammin', if you will... I just LOVE it. Stage it somewhere outside, give me a warm night, some lovely friends. Mmm. Could it really get any better? I think about that one to confirm, but i think not.

Last night was just that. Live music in the park. A talented band bringing it hard in a low-key, kick-back, free flow performance. Beat boxing, eclectic covers, tap/break dancing, comedy which I could not understand but was undoubtedly funny. Friends. FRIENDS, it was good! Like so good. We probably stood there for close to two hours, oh and thankfully so.

At one point, following an awesome Glen Hasard "Falling Slowly" cover... i heard a sweet, sweet plucking that could never be mistaken for anything other than my boy Jason Mraz. Oh, and sweet it was! I'm Yours and Lucky sung by a nice lookin' man with an equally nice voice. Second to the man himself. I got really happy really fast! And I was already really happy! So that was happy to the max! Only to escape in what I know was a lively set of wide eyes, a glowing smile, and bobbin' bod. It was good... so very good!

It really is the small things.

Now. If I will ever suggest the characteristic of a man i'm really lookin' to bend my heart toward to, this is the time. So listen up. : )

A (tall) Jesus lovin', music makin', world travelin', joke crackin', JM listenin', fish taco eatin', simple livin' kinda man who likes the Packers, the Colts, and the Cowboys.

Breath.
(no wonder this seems to be taking a while.) : )

Greetings!

2010-04-30T05:36:00.000-07:00

Hello there friends and family!

Tomorrow is the first day of May. Which makes today the last day of my third full month in Korea. Therefore, perfectly fitting for another update. It's been a few weeks anyway! I think I write this every time, but I really can't believe I've been for for as long as I have. It's really quite crazy. Just to reiterate.

I will start with most recent news first. Yesterday started off wonderful, talked to my best friend, enjoyed a nice conversation session my tutor-ee, Kyeong Min, and then I headed home for a quick bite to eat. Sadly I must share that my apple and peanut butter got the best of me. I quickly finished my lunch when i realized my back tooth had broken. Needless to say the past two days have consisted of two appointments, one root canal threat, a temporary cap, and a future capping ceremony. Lame right? Yea, I don't get worked up over much of anything. Most things ic an take in stride... however I can confidently say I hate the dentist. They hate me too. I didn't think I needed to confirm it on Korean soil, but what do I know?
Two things I can confirm from this experience:

I still hate the dentist. No normal human could enjoy the sound of drilling in your head and the taste of metal in your mouth.
If dentistry can even qualify for being rank-able, Korean dentistry trumps American dentistry ten fold. 6$ for an x-ray. 50$ for a capping procedure. Yea... not optimal, but pretty outstanding considering that is without insurance. I can confidently say that after an hour of pretty intensive work I sit here with no pain. Impressive. (Don't get ahead of yourself though, I still hate you.)

Since writing, I have not just become owner of a new tooth, I also became, for the second time around, the proud sister and auntie to another beautiful girl, Taelyn Elice. She is beautiful. I will, again, shower Skype with piles of accolades because meeting her screen to screen was priceless. Literally. I am so thankful. Don't get my wrong though, I count down the days to hold that sweet thing with my non-virtual arms! Oh man. Moving on.

Some awesome highlights of my last few weeks:

Saw Nanta, an internationally recognized Korean production where cooking meets Stomp somewhere between a Korean drama and the reject skits of SNL.
Visited a local brewery and enjoyed a BBQ that felt a little like summer and being home. Minus the country music, but i'll take what i can get.
Went to a free rock climbing clinic and enjoyed a great morning killing my arms and learning some new technique.
Had my first blog published on the Adventure Teaching Travel Blog, which was both encouraging and exciting! Hopefully more to come with that!

Work has been great! My middle school students have been taking their "big tests" and have not been attending academy. Which is nice for me (and for them too I'd assume, unless they really like me, but I doubt it.) Most days the past week I've had my last 2/3 classes canceled. Next week will look similar. May 5th is Children's Day, and students don't have school that day. Our academy will be celebrating them the entire week. Which means movie and munchies for them... and little or no prep for us! Awesome.

I think May will fly bye. The third weekend of May is a three day weekend and we're headed to Gyeounju for a few days of touring and relaxing. Which is going to be AWESOME. The weather is also starting to warm up, so i am anticipating much out-age and exploring this month! My heart will also be back home this month. My cousins will be graduating from high school. My roommates and dear sisters will be graduating from Biola and my Madre will be celebrating Mother's Day.

Again, moving on before my heart gets real sad.

So there it is friends! I am doing well. Life in Korea is chugging along in full steam and I really am enjoying it! I miss my family and friends terribly... but hey... im 1/3 of the way done! : )

God is good. Life is sweet and i am terribly blessed!
Blessings to you all!
-sarah, capa, potts, pottsie,

My Morning at the Museum of Modern Art

2010-04-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

I work nights. Getting off around 10 somewhat limits my nighttime adventures, and while my weekends are spent exploring parts of Seoul, I’ve decided that my week day mornings are also prime times. Not only do I feel more productive that I would having spent my entire morning finding new podcasts and blogs to follow, I get to experience Seoul in a fresh way. Waking up with a city, in all its morning glory, is worth an occasional early subway trip if you ask me.

Living only 45 minutes from the heart of Seoul, I’m pretty well located to make a weekly trek to someplace awesome, before work that is! Some of you live even closer-- awesome! Set your alarm clock, grab some coffee, bring a book for the subway, and hit the track Jack. Facebook will still be buzzing after work, and we can sleep in tomorrow. There is much exploring to do!

Last week, my destination o’ awesome was the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Mostly because it was free, and some friends of mine boasted about the awesome open air sculpture garden. Which, I have to agree was both outdoor and awesome. (The groaning iron man was by far my favorite.) I learned upon arrival the MOCA is brilliantly located in the beautiful Seoul Grand Park, and was delighted to take in all the recently blossomed cherry trees and other morning fellows on our early walk through the park. Or a hike? It’s hard to tell at times. Seems like people gear up to go for a walk around here. But that’s besides the point.

Seoul Grand Park is home to a lot of attractions. Many of which would make for great morning outings. The natural scenery is quite beautiful, with perfect trails for a short hike, walk, or run, and ample grassy spaces for a nice picnic or book reading session. The park also houses Seoul Grand Park Zoo, a Botanical Garden, SeoulLand, along with the MOCA, all of which, again, are worthy of a visit!

The MOCA, without hesitation, is a perfect morning outing, especially if you’re making the trek alone. Be sure to visit when the weather is nice and you’ll enjoy a pleasant walk through the park to the museum, which is about 15 minutes from the subway station. I spent close to two hours wandering my way around the museum, and it was great. There really is something for everyone. An impressive photography collection of modern and traditional Korean life, and a captivating sculpture exhibit, my favorite being a collection of hands, and a quite provocative painting collection on what I understood to be a depiction of western influences on traditional Korean life. Impressive and definitely worth a visit. On a lighter note, make sure you don’t pass over the Children’s Gallery. However, enter prepared. Mid-week mornings are hosts to school field trips and little children enjoy shouting “wei-guk-in” (foreigner) without any concern for volume control or regard for museum etiquette. Kind of funny. Somewhat embarrassing, but you can handle it. The MOCA is also temporarily home to a special exhibition of Korea’s Artist of the Year 2010, Kiwon Park: Who’s Afraid of Museums, which will be running till the end of May for only 3,000W. I’d allot a little more time to do both portions, but would definitely recommend checking it out.
There you have it. Korea MOCA located in Seoul Grand Park. It’s awesome. For those of you living in SoKo, visit for yourself and I think you’ll agree. For those of you not in SoKo, you'll have to take my word for it. Or visit me! : )

Museum Entrance. Made of wood.

It really is a lovely walk through the park. Hard to see but an air-tram run across the lake through the park.

This little guy welcomes you to the zoo.

The Deets:
Subway Station: Seoul Grand Park, Line 4
Admission: Free, Special Exhibition 3,000W
Hours: March to October 10am-6pm, open till 9 on Saturday and Sunday. CLOSED MONDAYS.
Time Allotment: Travel time + 2/3 hours depending on speed of browse and picnicking habits.
There is a small museum cafe and plenty picnic tables and grass to enjoy a picnic, or pick up some kimbap just outside the subway on your way up to the museum for a perfect Korean picnic.

Korean Baseball.

2010-04-18T01:36:00.000-07:00

Korean's know how to have a good time. Give 'em a beer (or two and a few shots of soju), some fried chicken, and a few lively friends, much fun is to be had for sure!

Yesterday I went to my first Korean baseball game. The same held true. We had a good time! Beer. Fried chicken. Baseball. It was AWESOME. So awesome. The sheer energy, noise, and devoted fan-ery radiating in the crowd was contagious and for the equivalent of 9 bucks, it was well worth every penny.

We were right in the middle of it all. Centered behind home-plate we had the Doosan Bears' fans to the right and the Lotte Giants' fans to the left, and on fantastic view of an awesome baseball game! I rocked at home team Bears hat, for no reason other than it was the first I found under 25,000w, but I think I definitely scored some cool foreigner points! However, around the 5th inning I was wishing I had chosen the Giants. You see, at the top of the 5th, Giant fans blow up orange plastic bags and tie them on their heads. I have no bloody clue why, but I liked it!

A few observations:

You buy tickets. They have seat numbers. However no one sits in their given seats. Unless you're a baseball game rookie. We had veterans in our group, so we knew the rule. Sadly we got booted from our seats around the 5th inning from two rookies who didn't get the "first come, first serve" memo.
Jerky in Korea is squid. Not bagged. Not packaged. Just dried madness in the literal shape of flattened squid. Interesting. Next to other game snacks: kimbap, beer, soju. No peanuts. No sunflower seeds.
Fans cheer the entire game. Yup. Most players have their own chants. And some of the chants borrow familiar English tunes. Mary Had a Little Lamb. Hallelujah. It's a Small World. awesome.
There are many very fortunate looking men at baseball games. There's just something about a man wearing a baseball hat. Gets me every time. : )
There are cheerleaders at baseball games. Clad in more strange than scandalous outfits in a humble group of 4. Strange. Very strange.

So there we have it. Another "To-Do List" activity marked off. Another awesome adventure! I don't even know what the score was. But i do know this: I'm a fan of baseball games in Korea and shall be attending another one here soon!

The happy group!

Rachel, Me and Jin

Fans are crazy. I had to take a video!

For my SoKo Fellows:

Jamsil Stadium
Sports Complex Exit Line 2(Green Line)
Ticketing and Game Schedule for the Doosan Bears
You can buy tickets at the game. However if you want really good ones, buy online.
Ample Korean snacks are available for cheap outside the stadium, however, you can bring your own food and drinks into the park.

Cheers friends!

Black Day.

2010-04-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

If you remember my post titled "For the Love", from a month ago, you'll remember that April 14th is a big day. Step-sister to Valentine's Day, it is a day of lamenting, I mean celebrating, for all the single folk.

April 14th is Black Day and as promised I celebrated. All the single ladies, and one gent, gathered at my place for what was a crazy massive pot of black been noodles (half of which ended up in the trash). And in one accord we partook of a hardly delicious bowl of Jajjangmyeon. I can tell you this, if the sauce sticks to the pan and starts to burn after small amounts of heat, it probably has TOO much sugar for a dinner entree. Just a thought.

Anyway, Black Day... i have two things to say to you:

1. You aren't so bad. Neither is the life of a "solo".

2. I shall never eat Jajjangmyeon again. (looks like i better work on finding myself a man.)

God Answers Prayer.

2010-04-12T07:02:00.001-07:00

Next time I'll learn to be a little more specific.

I have a list of things I must do and see in Korea (see tab above). Seeing the Cherry Blossoms is one of them. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure Korean springtime is marked by the beauty of these little buds and I just couldn't miss it!

I had been checking, religiously, the weather maps and planning a perfect time to see them in prime blossom. 5 days later than last year. 4 days earlier than the annual average. Saturday was the day! They said so. We planned it. The sun was going to shine! We'd bike ride in Yoeuido Park and picnic beneath the pink umbrella of springtime. It was going to be epic. I'm pretty sure we would have broken out into choreographed song and dance at the splendor of it all.

Until I checked the weather report. Cloudy. 60% chance of rain. What the? All week it had been spring. 65. Sunny. Delightful spring weather. Why, on my only day off, was it to rain? "Boo," is all I had to say about that one! So I started to pray, "Jesus, please let it not rain on Saturday. Amen." And I continued my weather checking frenzy.

Saturday morning we woke up. It was cloudy. But, no rain. So we made the trek. Cherry Blossom Festival here we come!

Well friends, it never rained on Saturday. And we saw cherry blossoms.
On a grand total of three trees. I must say, it was less than epic.
The display of other cherry blossom fanatics was sad. Huddled around the small grouping of blossoming trees snapping pictures as if they actually caught them in all their glory, was nothing short of embarrassing. I was horribly disappointed. This is not what we've waited for people. Don't be fouled. There's got to be more!

There they are. In all their naked splendor.

The trip wasn't a total failure. I mean, we did take a nice long walk along the river (because we got off at the wrong subway stop). We saw many a romantic couple peddling away along the riverbank, and strolled deflated beneath a sad skeleton of a Cherry Blossom Festival canopy. Next time folks... maybe next time.

I tell you what though, a lesson quickly learned. Next time- I'll be more specific.

(Sarcasm O' Meter= 70% It wasn't that bad! )

The Han River.

The other hopefuls. And the barren trees.

Pretty sweet picture i think!

15 Places to Visit This Decade

2010-04-12T06:08:00.000-07:00

The Huffington Post heralds Seoul as one of the fifteen "must-see" international cities of the decade! It's noted for its high fashion and impressive city life, and I think I'll have to agree!

Korea, at least the potions I've explored, have far exceeded all of my expectations. Sure, I didn't have very many, but, in no way did I think it would be as modern and cutting-edge as it is! The art and design culture, as well as the modern/traditional architectural beauty is pretty remarkable. It's quite astounding what a country, a city specifically, can become in a short 50 years following a devastating war. There are still traditional areas and ways of thinking, thankfully so! Tis the beauty of a blossoming country!

But, make no mistake, my friends, the fashion scene is pretty rockin' and the city life is unmistakably impressive! Unfortunately, the pants are still way too short and most eateries favor the height impaired. But, other than that, it's awesome!
Check out the whole story here!

Idioms.

2010-04-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

Teaching idioms to non-native English speakers is really funny.

I tutor a kid named David and he's really smart! And when I say smart, I mean smart! His English is almost perfect, and most of the time tutoring means we sit and talk about The Church, international politics, Korean history and about other awesome, non-typical ESL conversation tutoring topics. He's only 16.

Anyway. This week, after the first hour of discussing church discipline (crazy right!), I switched topics and asked him if there were any English words he wanted to know. He said "Yes, slang!"

Awesome. Smart... but a teenage boy nonetheless.

Without any preparation I threw a couple off the top of my head with the promise of a formal lesson to come. My initial sayings of choice...

"scoush"- a little bit
"negatory"- nope
"boat load"- a lot (which led to explaining literal/literally, because a literal boat load full of homework is a pretty funny image)

Then I prepared a formal lesson on idioms. Accompanied with chocolate chip cookies of course.
We learned:

"In a pickle." (Again a literal expression would be hilarious! Hence the picture.)
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" (Complete with voice intonations.)
"Can I give you a hand?" ("Sure, which one would you like? Right or left?")
"I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind." (Again, not literal. And not often used, but necessary.)
"Game on! (Which I over heard him use in the staff room. Awesome.)
"It ain't over till the fat lady sings!" (By far my favorite.)

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. This came after my class of middle school boys where I played "Can/Can't" Battleship. Teach them English and let 12 year old boys blow up ships... done and done.

The life of a camp counselor gone English teacher.

Trust.

2010-04-04T21:08:00.001-07:00

I've been learning a lot in Korea. And like most of you know... i love to write. So when Aurora reminded me to write something for her blog, I couldn't say no. Well i guess i could have... but i had something to write about. Topic of choice... Trust.

GUTS is Aurora's awesome blog. Guest writers have been writing about different topics. She just posted my short piece. Tempting? Good.
Check it out!

Good Friday

2010-04-02T05:44:00.000-07:00

Some days you just feel loved! By people who love you and by God!
Man. Today was such a great day! First day of real spring... flats and a sweater all the way! It was beautiful!! I spent my morning at Costco with some awesome ladies! Got to work and was greeted with a love package from my wonderful parents with some Easter love! Seems like i've had to explain what Easter is to people who have literally NO idea. They can't even begin to understand why i'd want to celebrate... but man... do i have reason to celebrate!! I spread some of the Easter love with Robin Egg Whoppers! So, work was great! And to finish it off nicely, my last class was canceled. So i got off early... on a friday!! Does it get any better than that?
Came home and i'm sitting writing some people back thinking about my awesome day and how awesome God is... and the country song "Sarah Smile" comes on.
Oh! I'm smiling alright! Because God is good. Life is good! And i am blessed!

It's a Good Friday indeed!
Thank you Jesus for life! And for all that means!

Grocery Shopping in Korea

2010-04-01T20:55:00.000-07:00

Grocery shopping in Korea has been relatively painless. I've been able to find most things, some with a litle more effort than others, that I use to cook. I'm not a picky eater. Even being vegetarian hasn't posed as many problems as i tought! Though, it beats the heck out of my why black beans are so hard to find? Anyway, for the most part, it's been rather easy shopping! With a few funny stories of course!

There have been, however, a few items that just perplex me. Some seemingly common, highly desirable items have been either crazy hard to find and too painfully expensive to actually purchase. I don't get it. But let me share a few.

The Bloody Expensive:

Oatmeal. A large bucket of plain. No frill oats. 13,000-18,000 won. ($13- $18)
Cheese. The cheap kind. A little block. 8,000-9,000 won. ($8-$9)
Chunky peanut butter. An patriotic Korean knockoff. 5,000won ($5)
Avocados. 4 of them. Rock solid. 12,500 won ($12.50)
Asparagus. 3 short, measly stalks. 6,000w ($6)
Maple Syrup. In minimal ounce-age. 15,000w ($15)
A box of Splenda. 40,000 w. ($40 bloody bucks.)

The MIA

Salsa
Apple Butter (though i always look- i'm hopeful.)
Apple Sauce
Whole Wheat Bread. Or whole wheat anything for that matter.
Cottage Cheese
Sour Cream
Bacardi Bottled Mojitos

Anyway, today i made my first trip to Costco. It was good friends. Really good! I didn't buy a whole lot, but now i'm prepared for next time.

My cart consisted of a box of Kashi Go Lean Cereal. Whole Grain Crackers. Pepper Jack Cheese. Coffee. And the only Easter candy i've seen in Korea- Robin Egg Whoppers. I shall be sharing those with the kiddos at school today. I don't think i've ever bought a 5lb bag of candy, but i don't think the kids will have a hard time helping me get rid of it! : )

Some interesting items at Korean Costco.

Bulgogi Bakes (like the coveted Chicken Bakes)
A gallon of Haagen Daz ice-cream for 20,000 w. YIKES!
A small bag of pine nuts for 40,000w. 40 bucks for nuts. NO THANK YOU! I like pesto. But not that much!
A box of Dodgerdogs
And yes, they have Costco muffins! Those suckers are international!

We finished our successful shopping adventure with a delicious Costco pizza. One i must say tasted very much like that back home. It warmed my heart. (Or shall i say my appetite.)

Viva la Costco!

Rachel. D, and Jennice. And our delightful pizza.

Jennice's packed car. We did well!

My "big" purchase. Minus the cheese.

Greetings!

2010-03-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings again!

Hope this finds you all doing well! This greeting marks the start of my 12th week in Korea! I'm celebrating, without much say so, with a fair dosage of ibuprofen, a handful of my madre's cure-all (garlic), and a fresh box of Kleenex. I know. I'll try to calm down a bit... but friends, it's a big week! Time to celebrate big! No time to waste!
(Though, for the second day in a row i was happy to walk to work without my jacket! Now that my friends is something worth celebrating over!)

Anyway, let me update you on something a little more exciting than my common cold.

Funny Story Update:

#1 In my middle school 3 class we have been learning about definitions and how people define ordinary words with personal meanings. Like mother and father. Love and happiness. Anyway, our essay tonight was on defining motherhood and traditional views on breadwinning and such things. Before we started i went through the new vocab list. Let's just say explaining "artificial insemination" to middle schoolers is pretty dang funny. And a hint awkward!

This Saturday i visited the Hongkik University, Hongdae area of Seoul. It was great! A very artsy, eclectic part of Seoul filled with many cafes, coffee shops and neat stores! Many second hand stops too...which aren't too common here. But, i am a fan of them! I walked into one and was met by a woman who spoke really great English. She thought I looked like an American actress, but couldn't remember who. ha!

I visited an art gallery and came across something that made my laugh out loud! You see, i'm kind of a large person. I'm ok with that. But when you rock 5'10" in a sea of people hoovering around an head shorter than you... you feel like a giant. And well, people look at you as such.

Yes Korea. Yes, i am! And you're short. OK!

Anyway, the architecture and design in this part of the city was great! A great mixture of modern, vintage, and oddball design. Just awesome. Thought i'd share some photos of the city!!

There are cute little cafes like this ALL over the place! Literally. I love it!

Then you have those a little more outlandish. Like a castle. I made my way around a corner and found this castle nestled between two very modern high-end clothing boutiques. Random. I guess it's home to a fancy restaurant. So maybe it's fitting.

But seriously, though! How do you compete with with a castle? A once small, modest cafe must take on a literary facelift of massive proportions to even compete! "We'll become a book! That's gotta work!"

A few blocks away i ran into some very peculiar sightings. A robot store front sporting the name "Vinyl". Drip Line Beverages. Yup. I don't know exactly what kind of drinks these are, and if i hadn't just enjoyed a latte i would have partaken. But, i shall be returning to investigate further!

Just when i thought i had seen everything. Korea, once again, has outdone itself! Some how i doubt Sanrio Surprise is qualified for the food industry, but what do i know? Hello Kitty! Welcome to the cafe craze!

Some interesting sights for you!

On a more serious note. A South Korean ship sank earlier this weekend. 43 sailors are still missing and investigations to determine the cause are still underway. Initially fingers pointed toward North Korea, however they are pretty sure it was not by missile attack. My prayers go out to the families who may have lost someone, join me. The sunken portion of the ship held the missing soldiers, but they estimated air supply would have run out by Monday night. The Korean Harold is covering the story closely... in English. So check it out!

Tis my long-winded update! Thanks again to all who follow... i hope you enjoy reading!

Until next time... Happy almost April!

LOVE!

A New Face.

2010-03-28T06:43:00.001-07:00

Plastic surgery is a sport in Korea. But, fear not followers, my boobs are still small and my nose is still intact. Though the wrinkle in my brow from naviagating website design might be worth a little botox action! (A class of mine, 6th grade boys, commented on the little wrinkles between my eyes when i smile. They called me Shrek.)

: ) Ruthless i tell you. Ruthless.

Anyway, my blog, as you have probably noticed is looking a little different these days! A little spiffed up! Simpler and cleaner. I think it's fitting and hopefully easier for my readers to navigate!

Let me know what you think! More pictures and videos to come!

2010-03-27T05:56:00.000-07:00

Any coffee shop home to a VW Bus is worthy of mention in my book! Today I adventured to the Hongik University area looking for a local art and culture market. Well i found it! But, on the way stumbled across this awesome cafe.

After walking around for a few hours, acquainting myself with the area, I decided to give my dogs a rest and pick a coffee shop to sit at for a while. I spotted this one from across the street. My eye are bad these day and from that distance, I thought the sign read "My Oil" Coffee. Brilliant i thought!! Coffee. Oil. Fuel for the bod. Fuel for the car. Catchy! I was sold, so i illegally b-lined it across the street. Oh, it's a good thing I did!

This place was extraordinary. A vintage roadshow, filled with the smell of pulled espresso and sweets. I walked past two stuffed E.T. dolls sitting in an ol' RadioFlyer on my way in and was delightfully greeted with the bumper of a van. Not just any van, friends! A VW Van. Awesome.

Hunched inside was a lively barista making drinks for a cafe full of people. I made my way to the back of the cafe and found a corner seat at a bar counter. The detail of this place was impressive. Every inch decorated, haphazardly, but with intention. Down to the miniature house assembled in one of the counter cubbyholes at the bar I was sitting at. An eclectic antique store and modern art studio in one awesome space. After previewing my clipboard menu, I turned around to wave over some service. In doing so I noticed the prime hatchback table for two in the back of the bus. Complete with a Little Miss Sunshine poster.

So awesome. The design of places like this just inspires my creativity!

Anyway... Vanilla latte. Good book. Sweet. Though i could hardly read. My eyes were distracted and I couldn't help but people watch. But that's ok. I sat there. Sipped my latte. And it was wonderful!

All that to say. I'm a fan! And i hope i can find it again!

Please...

2010-03-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

Further Investigation. Completed.

2010-03-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

I am a convert-- an ice-cream-cone-on-a-snowy-day hater to a fond-frozen-food partaker!

It decided to snow today. Again! In massive, blanketing quantities. Is my excitement emanating?

More than once today i walked to the window and silently (most of the time) blasted the winter weather. Can it be spring already? Seriously. My digits are ready to see the sun! If i could have been anywhere in the world today it would have been sitting outside, on grass, under a warm sun with a nice book and no shoes. (With my family, my friends, some chips and salsa and an Irish Cream latte, of course! The food cravings are rather strange these days.) Not cooped up in a school dreading the walk home because forgot my umbrella and will have make the trek home head uncovered. (In secret revolt i wore my hood-less coat to work. I'll show them-- Snow. Schmo. Its a good thing i stopped short of the flats. That would have been bad.)

Anyway, then... it hit me. Operation Experimentation: Ice Cream Cone in the Snow. Tonight. An inspiration of sorts to get me through the rest of the night.

So. I made my stopped at the BR and bought a single scoop of Tart Fro Yo in a nice sugar cone.

And while i cannot fully describe the experience, i can say that it was pretty awesome! Thoughts of freezing body parts subsided, and for a brief 10 minutes i enjoyed my ice cream cone-- along with the the dumbfounded stares of the already fascinated Korean onlookers.

My ice cream was "frozen" when i got home. A little crunchier than when i first bought it. And well, my walk home was quite delightful.

So, there you have it. The final verdict: An ice cream cone on a snowy night is quiet enchanting! I retract my prior judgment. If my prayers for no more snow fail, i will be enjoying another one again soon!

My first bong.

2010-03-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

Well actually my second. First was a Noraebong, or a Korean "singing room". Karaoke if you will! It was a hit! This was my second- a jimjilbong. Also know as a Korean bath house.

And in a sharing spirit I've decided to freely pass these incriminating pictures for my blog followers to see.
1. Because i think they are freakin' funny!
and
2. All must see these rockin' outfits. Gender specific and everything! Girls wear pink, of all horrendous shades. Even down to the Star Wars inspired head coverings. Boys wear blue. It's pretty simple. and AWESOME.

I kind of look giant like! haha...

Oh man! Korea... you just keep me on my toes.

For the LOVE!

2010-03-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

The 14th day of every month is special in Korea.
As if one holiday to commemorate love wasn't enough they have drawn out the festivities all year long.

Awesome.

So, today was White Day. What is that you ask? Well it's the male reciprocation or initiation of the love! You see, Valentine's Day is for the women in Korea. The ladies give the fellas chocolate and other trinkets ... and wait. Tis the woman's job right?

March 14th is when things really heat up. This is the day to man up. Guys either reciprocate the love in the giving of flowers and chocolate (or pitifully massive, stuffed fluffiness of bear), or initiate some love action in a similar way. Here's where I guess things could get pretty juicy. What if the receiving man wasn't interested? He snarfed the chocolates before realizing who gave them, only to rummage unsuccessfully through the trash to find name of the giving lady. What about her? Uh oh. No chocolate for her? No flowers? No massive zoo animals? Operation "Find Myself a Man" has failed. Miserably. I can imagine it would be a rather tearful day. Oh, and horribly embarrassing of course. The month spent waiting in hopeful jubilee quickly turns to a month of mourning.

But, fear not just yet friends. There is a special day for this poor maiden too.

You see, April 14th is for the loveless. The chocolate deprived. The flower failures. And the barren, alike. Their less than lush love lives are lost in loneliness among the luxury and laughs of those lousy love larks. They must, sadly, lay low in the days that follow. One month to be exact, and lament over their losses as love blooms (or looms) overhead.

April 14th comes as a ray of light in the darkness. The losers emerge. Link arms. Dress in black. And, of course, enjoy a steaming bowl of Jajangmyeon. The traditional black bean noodle soup, for losers. April 14th is Black Day. A day dedicated to the losers finally finding camaraderie, joining together in the richness, and meaning of the days motto, "No to couples, and yes to singles!"
It's quite epic i would imagine. Empowering. Liberating. Revitalizing.

I spent the night of March 14th alone. I washed my whites. Took a nap at 5pm as i watched The Holiday. I got up around 7 and made some delicious vegetable curry... for myself. I sat at my table listening to, i'll admit it, my "Always the Love Songs" Genius Mix on itunes, enjoying Chilsung Cider (Korean equivalent to ginger ale) in a wine glass. I think that might put me in the loser category for sure. Which, i think, presumes that i'll be joining the loser masses in a month to eat some soup.

Awesome.

It's a good thing i like black beans. I mean, how awful. End a month of morning with a horribly disgusting soup? That would be sad. (Maybe that's why i can't find any black beans at Emart. They're hording them for Black Day. Ah... things are starting to make sense.)

Anyway, I have one thing to say to you White Day- "You can keep your stinkin' bear. And you can keep your chocolates, too. I'm holding out for June 14th."

Greetings!

2010-03-07T03:10:00.000-08:00

Greeting!

I'll start this update off with some exciting news! I read my first sign in Korean today. Without needing to rack my brain of symbols and what not... i looked up and just read it. "Ah, Kimbap." Kimbap is the Korean version of sushi that i have become quite fond of. Now, the sign was horribly simple but be assured friends, the excitement was quite grand! I'm learning Korean... that's exciting, yea?!

I always struggle writing these updates because so much happens in a week. So i will start with last weekend. I am considering breaking up my updates into sections. I don't really like compartmentalizing my life, sometimes it's necessary--maybe next time. : )

Anyway, Monday was a holiday, Sam-Il-Jul (Independence of Japan Memorial Day), so we had the day off! For this three day weekend we planned a trip to Gangwon-do. Actually, we didn't have to do any of the planning. Two of our Korean friends, Kyeong Min and Chung Yun planned the whole trip for us! Which was such a blessing! And i tell you what, they know how to plan road trips! We spent our first night in Pyeongchung, the snowboard headquarters, in a condo that faced the slopes! It was beautiful! The next day we were headed to a little beach town north of Sokcho. Actually pretty close to the North Korean border (like 10km). On the way we made a few stops. First at Woljeongsa Temple where we enjoyed a fabulous lunch at a famous bibimbap place! (It's my favorite... and an AWESOME vegetarian option!)

After that we headed to a rockin' fish market. And when i say rockin' I mean i LOVED it. Maybe one of the coolest experiences thus far. It was real, traditional Korea. It was awesome! We bought fish for our planned sashimi feast later that night (which was AWESOME!).

We finished up that day with a stop at another temple, Naksansa where we enjoyed a beautiful view of the ocean from the rock cliffs and a cup of traditional tea.

The real fun came Monday when we woke up to snow. A lot of snow. Our estimated 7 hour drive home now threatened closer to 10/12 hours. Happy about the snow and horribly sad about the awful drive, we decided to leave early and cancel Monday's plans. We drove in bumper to bumper traffic from 12:30 to 7pm and decided it best to wait out the traffic. So, we stopped at a jimjilbang. What is that you ask? Well... let's just say i got real natural for a few hours and a host of Korean women got to know me real well. I'll just leave it at that. So... we re-clad ourselves around 10 and got back on the road. 3:30am we arrived home. 15 hours it took to get home, that's longer than it took me to fly to Korea. Long drive. However, it was an AWESOME weekend!

This week at work was insane. That's really the only thing I can say about that. Man, if you need to learn flexibility, or patience, move to Korea. Yea. I did also learn that one of my students is a computer hacker. In asking him what he would be doing this weekend, he answered, "Hacking into Japan". A little curious i questioned on. Yup. I guess there's some w ar between Japan and Korea to hack into computer systems and crash them or what not. It's horribly undercover and entirely illegal, and well... i guess a leisurely hobby for Korean youth. We had a 30 minute conversation about how one "hacks". Yea, that was a first!

On a more personal note, i have been in Korea for almost 2 months. And it still doesn't seem like that long. However, this week in the midst of work being crazy, it hit me just how far away I am from the people i love the most. And that is hard. When life gets hard for the people you love it's hard to be away. So hard. But in that, God has been so near. I cannot question his hand because on this end he is speaking to me so clearly. This week has been the topic of trust. In my quiet times of prayer and more directly at church this morning. His gentle voice has been asking me if i trust him. I don't find it coincidence that the two personal books I brought over with me are on the love of God and the call to trust him ruthlessly. Knowing the love of God and the character of Jesus prepares my heart to trust when things get rough. In light of what Jesus has done for me, in perfect love, will i trust that he actually wins? That he will actually save and make things new, and good for those who love him?
So good. And so hard.

On a lighter note... my taste buds are quickly accustoming themselves to spicy foods. I ordered a "spicy" option today for lunch (Which i'm pretty sure contained hot orange, tuna fish eggs.) and the server asked me if i was sure i wanted it because it was spicy. I said yes, and ate it with only mild discomfort. : ) Popi, i'll be joining you and Grandpa with the peppers anytime now!

Well, that is my update. Know that i am missing you guys! Until next time!

All my love!

Gunpo Champion

2010-03-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

I live in Sanbon, a small part of Gunpo City in South Korea.

Well today i learned that Korean figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Yu-Na Kim, is a native of Gunpo City and attends Gunpo Suri High School.

That's where i live!!

Awesome.

Yahoo News Coverage.

(What if you were her English teacher?)

Don't Be Fouled.

2010-02-26T23:30:00.001-08:00

You know, it really is the small things that make me laugh. I found this little guy plastered to my door this afternoon. And well... it made me laugh.

Don't know how anyone could possibly create an advertisement with a bottle of oil, two mounding plates of fried chicken, one of them smothered in sauce, and two mugs of beers; title it "Health", and think... "YES! I believe we've nailed it!"

Nice try boys.

I mean the green is working in your favor. And the leaf. Oh, the leaf! It's convincing. It really is! Want to convince anyone of a product's eco-friendliness or health consciousness... change your font to a muted green and add a touch of leaf. It'll get 'em every time! And the the farm house. Touching! You'd make Paula Dean proud.
But even she, the butter queen, wouldn't claim that fried chicken is health. I mean healthy.

Tasty- yes. Healthy- i think not.

But nice try!

Greetings!

2010-02-24T16:22:00.000-08:00

Hello there!

It's about time for another update, eh?

Today marks six weeks I've been in Korea. Crazy, yea? It's flying by! I'm sure not the same is true for some of you reading this, but in the mix of all the past month has held for me, it's been a small whirlwind! Just newness. All the time.

At this point I can say that I'm getting into the groove of my job, and I'm really enjoying it. Though there are times the events at school are just chaotic or comical in all senses of logic, I quickly remind myself that I am the lowly English teacher, and I'm not responsible. It's in my nature to be an overachiever. Most of the time to my error. But, sometimes I just want to help out! Do a little extra. Yada, yada, yada. Well when you have no clue what is going on, cannot understand when things are being spoken of, you can't exactly help out. Right? So, I don't. I just focus on my job. Which mostly consists of printing out worksheets, singing songs, and goofing around with kids.

I always have crazy funny conversations with my students. You can thank me later for the host of stickies accumulating to the funny stories! Just small reminders of things to pass along to you guys back home! There have been some really good ones. One of my favorites this week was with an 8 year old boy.

He came into my class as a new student. So I introduced myself. Most students don't have an English name when they come in, so we ask them to pick one. Great, right? Well, try explaining that to a kid! To any kid for that matter! But for one who doesn't speak much more than "teacher. bathroom?" or "teacher. game?", it's quite the task! So, in all efforts to welcome him warmly I said "Hello, my name is Sarah teacher." Pointing to another boy student I said, "This is Alex.", and to another, "This is Gerome. What is your name?"
Day one. Flop. Miserably. I gave up efforts quickly after his poor face screamed confusion and he told me that it was Monday. I resorted to the ambiguous "you" for the rest of the day. Though, a little while into my lesson I realized he had a pretty good grip on English. For an 8 year old, that is.
Day two i was determined.
Gesturing again to No-Name, I said, "Hello! My name is Sarah teacher. What is your name?" He looks back at me and with all certainty says, "No."
Not exactly the answer I was going for. Even Korean kids have mastered "no". To all parents reading this, it crosses cultural boundaries. Even linguistic barriers.
Then, being proactive I continued, "Ok! We shall call you.... Max!" With a big smile he said, "No! No."
My look of confusion must have translated well. The kid Alex sitting next to him starts to laugh. Pointing to his chest he says, "Yes!" and then pointing to No-Name he says "No!" Indicating that No-Name's name is No, and Alex is Yes. Smart kids! And so stinkin' funny. The class starts to laugh. I couldn't help myself either! So I point back at the N0-Name, "No?" i question. He looks back in all sincerity of heart and in perfect English says, "Yes!"
Sold.
Gerome. Alex. Julie. Jenny. Hannah. Diana. Amy. Jessica and No.
Awesome.

Fun times! Let's see, on a more personal note, I have been learning a lot lately! Moments of being here have been really hard this past week. You see, being in Korea is starting to feel normal. I'm starting to feel like this is my life. At least for the next year! Which is awesome! I am loving it! But at the same time, I am missing and have missed terribly the people back home. Things change, and that is hard!

I tell you what though... I am craving some serious Mexican food! The lack of Mexican food in Korea is not appreciated! Holy toledo. I was reading my recent email of "Eat This and Not That" (which if you're not a follower you should be!) And the picture of a fish taco got me. Man, what I would do for some salsa right now! Or cheese for that matter. : )

Tis' my six week update! I have accompanied it with some recent pictures of my apartment. It's starting to finally feel like "home". I'm a fan of that! Another three day weekend this weekend... and we're headed to the East Sea with some new friends! Should be a great time of relaxation! Hopefully the weather will cooperate with us... : )

Until next time!!
sarah, potts, pottsie, capa

All I Wanted Was a Nap.

2010-02-23T19:09:00.001-08:00

Apartment living is always entertaining. I almost wrote fun, but that would have been a lie. I will spare the graphic details, but let's just say I've partaken of my fair share of Korean sounds in the past month. The paper-thin walls don't exactly help that problem, and well, people are just loud. Though I'm sure at times they don't exactly appreciate my finer tastes in music. : )

Well, today I was feeling rather tired. So i decided to take a nap. The moment i laid my little, tired head down, the little yapper upstairs started making noise. No, not a child. Though at night i am "blessed" with the serenade of "Hot Cross Buns" as a young-something- year-old practices ruthlessly on his new recorder in the apartment upstairs. He'll master it one day. And hopefully take up painting. This morning's musical headache was that of a bloody dog. A barking dog. One of those tiny dogs you have to give a hooded-coat and boots because he's so tiny, unnaturally so. And his little dog voice matches his little rat body? Got a picture in your head? Well that little beast barked for an hour straight as i tried to nap. Boo to that. I think i shall buy him a matching scarf, you know to make sure he's real warm.

So while i still have not mustered up the courage to bang on the ceiling, i can say i have officially confirmed one thing. My detest of dogs is international.
Just in case anyone was wondering.

Etch-a-Sketch Remix

2010-02-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

You remember the Etch-a-Sketch right? That blasted red box? Well I never really got the groove for sketching pictures; it never really captured my attention long enough. However, i do remember one bus ride up to Hume Lake when I dominated that little guy. No pictures folks. Rather, I just wanted to see how long it would take me to clear the entire screen of that mystical dust to reveal the magic, inner workings. Success. It can be done friends. Provided you are trapped in a bus for 6 hours. Sadly, it wasn't as exciting as i thought. (That might be the same bus ride Heather colored my birthmark blue... but that's besides the point.)

Anyway, it snowed again last night. How many days is this? I'm really going to appreciate spring when it comes! Again. Besides the point. You're probably wondering how i'm going to tie an Etch-a-Sketch and another snow dumping together, but don't you worry my friends... it's coming.

The little men of Korea fascinate me. If it snows so much, why has no one invested in more efficient snow clearing tools and methods. I am no snow plow, but i do know that a broom is hardly adequate to "shovel" snow. Just saying! Anyway, like i think i've noted before, from my window i can see the park; including the running track and basketball courts. To my sheer delight and little chuckle, i saw the little men of Korea in another frantic attempt to clear the snow... this time in what i like to call the "Etch-A-Sketch Remix". I mean, with all this snow they've got to mix it up... keep things lively!

Eight or so men with driveway appropriate shovels attempting to clear four basketball courts and four volleyball courts of a few inches of snow. I looked at them and couldn't help but laugh... and snap a picture of course. It reminded me of my Etch-a-Sketch shenanigans and how, there really MUST be a better way. But for now, i will look on and keep smiling!

Slowly by surely.

"Keep it comin' boys!"

Lunar New Year at Lotus Lantern

2010-02-14T23:18:00.000-08:00

I spent 24 hours this past weekend following the life of Buddhist monk, or more properly... a Buddhist nun. (How's that for a Valentine's Day celebration?)

Gangwha Lotus Lantern International Meditation Center was created in 1997 to be a place where foreigners could come learn about and experience Buddhism.

This is just what I did. Fear not folks, I'm not converting, but I am curious. Buddhism, among many other religions interest me. I just don't know much about them. Hence the temple stay. While I sadly cannot say I learned much about the Buddhist religion, in particular, I did learn a lot. Before I continue on this point... let me tell you a little bit out our agenda.

We arrived Saturday afternoon, changed into our hot monk-wear, settled into our rooms, and enjoyed ceremonial tea with one of the nuns. Can i please tell you enjoying tea as she prepared it was wonderful. Not an ordinary cup of tea bag tea. There was something rich about the ritual of brewing a pot of tea of fresh leaf tea. Preparing the cups and enjoying it over conversation. I loved it!

Anyway, our host nun was great! Super funny and very open. We learned a little bit about her life and her journey to become a nun. As you can imagine it was very interesting. It started with her first temple stay. After feeling the "peace" at the temple, she left her life as a successful advertising and public relations professional and hagwan (english academy) owner, and traded it for that of a nun. She told us a lot. One thing that rings loud in my ears and weighs heavy on me heart is when she said " I felt a deep emptiness. Being here helped... but i'm still trying to find the answers."

That night we experienced evening chanting and meditation sessions. Entering the temple of an idol is powerful. Not in the sense of this god having any true power, but in the intensity of being in the presence of people worshiping an idol. I could not look up at the alter for a few minutes. I was taken back by the reality of this false worship and it struck me hard. Everything in me wanted to yell, "Open your eyes!! Look and see!!! The Creator of the freakin' universe created the beauty outside of this place, is giving you the breath you need to mouth this chant. And you're bowing down to a golden man." What Moses must have felt!

But in an indescribable switch in emotion i soon felt empty of the emotion of it. I no longer was intrigued at the intricacy of the temple, or the eeriness of sitting before an alter dedicated to Buddha, but rather overcome with the assurance of its emptiness. People, falling prostrate before a created figurine in sincere hope. Jaded. There is no hope in a dead god.

One of my favorite parts of our trip was Sunday morning on a meditation walk through the countryside. I was just walking, looking at the beautiful scenery around me... thanking Jesus for being beautiful! We were trekking the property of what still looked like temple grounds. At one point I backed off from the group to take some pictures and looked to my right to see a cross in the snow. Of what you ask?! A power line pole had fallen in the snow so perfectly that it was perched up on a hill over all of this Buddhist land. Illuminated so beautifully by the white snowy background. I was reminded that Jesus is present. He's always present.

It was a good weekend. A once in a lifetime experience that's for sure!

Here are some pictures!

Monk Hotpants

The Darma Hall

Inside.

The sunset was beautiful.

Hey. Thanks Jesus!

It's Been Snowing for 2 Days!

2010-02-11T19:51:00.000-08:00

Yup. That's a lot of snow.

But the funniest thing about that has to do with ice cream.

You see, I walk past a Baskin Robbins every day to and from work. It's usually empty. Understandably so! It's winter. And cold. And well for the past two days it's been snowing. Not exactly prime ice cream cone consuming conditions.

But yesterday was different. As I was walking to school i passed more than a few folks rockin' the ice cream cones. Umbrella in one hand, shielding themselves from the snow, and an ice cream cone in the other. Huh? How is that even enjoyable? Oh, it got better. I soon passed the BR and it was packed! What the?!? Why, in the dead of winter, in the middle of a snow dumping, would you want to get ice cream? It kind of baffles my mind. When it snows, my first though is coffee and fireplace. Cozy blanket and hoodie. Not an ice cream cone.

But, i cannot yet judge. So, in full participation of the Korean culture, i commit to buy an ice cream cone when it snows again. The downpour has taken a bit of a hiatus; but, tonight, if it starts again, i will make the purchase. Rock the umbrella. And conclude whether or not there is something magical about enjoying ice cream in the snow.

This is Pottsie reporting from South Korea. More to come on that soon. Back to you in California.