A Year Ago Today.

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.

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!)

Traffic in Korea

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.)

KAI BAI BO

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

(Translation: ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS.)

This is fitting.

I'm Registered.

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

• North Korea expels SKorean officials
• SKorea stages anti sub drill

LA Times

• US pledges support of SKorea

Here we go SoKo

Though i would LOVE to call and tell you all the ins and outs of this process... one to keep you in the loop and two to ask for prayer... it is rather impossible to make that many phone calls! And I'm not a huge phone person. But i love you. I really do! : )
So... considering that, i am taking full advantage of the wonderful world wide web and have created this blog to help bridge the gap! And it's what all the cool kids are doing these days!

So stay tuned! As you read, please pray! Pray that i would continue in this process seeking first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness... and from that all else would fall into place! God has big plans for me... i know that full well! And until the door shuts I'm taking a step toward South Korea...and praying that God would use me for his big purposes there!

God is big! Bigger than the US. Bigger than my little faith, and bigger than what I've seen him as thus far! I want to know him greater! As i seek adventure, i want to fall more in love with Jesus, learn how to love and live with his people better, and experience the beauty of Korea! And with that... grow in the knowledge of the Excellency of Christ!
To that end... bring it on world! To Jesus be all glory!

SoKo?

At a family BBQ a few weeks ago... my brother made reference to "SoCo"... and in comical ignorance i hesitated. My 17 year old cousin was quick to not only understand his reference, but to explain it to her confused cousin. SoCo=Southern Comfort. Which i proceed to learn was particularly tasty in coke. Anyway... that's not the SoKo i'm talking about! : )

The SoKo i'm referring to is South Korea The one officially 5971 miles from Victorville! Actually if you look at the map, Hawaii is close to half way between the two!

Anways, i've applied to teach English in South Korea. My application packet has been submitted. I've interviewed. And have been kindly accepted to Adventure Teaching! So... now i wait for a position! This blog will seek to introduce you to the idea, lovingly try to persuade you that it could very well be the experience of a life time, and to keep my loved ones in the loop! So frequent it often... and i'll commit to keep it recent!
More to come!