bawston

hi all!

two weeks ago we spent about 8 days in the states for my work--in good ole' boston, massachusetts. peter joined me for a little vacation time to spend with his pops, brother phil, and took a side trip to boulder to visit his sister lizi and brand new niece (& the little olive neph). we were also greeted by rodney and suzanne and spent a lovely two days with them. we were glad to catch them on the tail end of their northeast excursion. it was really refreshing to be around so much family. i think being so far away helps you realize just how imperative it is to have family visits. so refreshing and warming.

boston was a much needed slice of america. i was hungry to see the christmas decorations, lights, and SNOW! it was as if i had walked into a christmas movie. we had a few inches of snow, and the city was decorated with all of the wonderfully cheesy decorations i love! we stayed in a small town 1 hour south of boston, which was perfect! it was nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of a big city.

we ate some great food while we were there (of course, this was a priority), i made some lovely new friends at the conference i attended, peter got some good skiing in, work was interesting, but the best part was being with family. wish we could have seen all of you!

merry christmas

approximately one year ago from this week, we arrived and moved into our apartment, brand spankin' new to korea. it's been quite the relationship with many ups and downs for sure.

at the beginning of our time here i was really quite unsure of this place, but a true fondness has grown in my heart for this country, my country : ) peter is growing more and more korean by the day and prides himself on "his country".

so, this christmas, i am so very thankful to have this past year of growing pains, the fun, the difficult, this not-so-easy process of getting to know this country of my heritage has produced so many more beautiful blessings than i had anticipated. thank you, Lord.

merry Christmas, everyone! hugs from Korea!

thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Peter and I had a lovely time with a small gathering of friends in our home. It was nice to have the smell of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and pumpkin pie fill our apartment. it was heavenly.

but...we missed you all. very much!

bossy and helpful

one of the complaints some americans have about koreans is their manner of "helping people". koreans tend to be a bit aggressive when offering help. a great example of their pushy helpfulness is with food. when you go to someone's home for dinner, be prepared to eat until you need to unbutton your pants and lay down for a while. the host or hostess will say (repeatedly), "eat more please!" or "you hardly ate anything, you need to eat more!" you can't just say, "i'm full", because to koreans that just translates into.. "sure! i'll have some more!"

i learned to pace my eating when with koreans because almost always they eat their meals in courses....and you must eat each course otherwise you'll be bombarded with all kinds of awkward questions like "are you dieting?", "do you not like the food? It doesn't taste good?", "do you want something different?" (and you don't want to go there, cause that opens a whole new can of worms)

i realize how this type of behavior can be interpreted as overbearing, which at times it is, but most of the time it is done with good intentions. koreans have a very common trust with one another and often help one another, stranger, friend or family. strangers frequently ask mothers if they can hold their baby or play with them. strangers offer one another food when in public places, like sharing fruit with someone they notice is sitting alone or offer candy to a child. americans don't do this...we don't touch other people's kids, we don't share food with strangers (unless you work the samples aisle), and we definitely don't take candy from strangers.

the other day i saw a blind man on the subway. he was transferring from one line to another. at the transfer station there were huge crowds of people, which makes it all the more difficult to go up and down stairs and walk down narrow ramps. i noticed how the people around him would quietly and gently take his elbow and guide him to the ramps or direct him to the subway sliding doors. there was no exchange of words, people would just jump right in and offer their help when they saw when help may be needed. it did not seem pushy and the help was all well accepted. the exchange of help and gratitude was just like watching a smooth dance. it was beautiful to see people taking care of each other well and people accepting help well.

i'm finding this balance of taking in some of the refreshing qualities I see among Koreans and fitting it into my "american" perspective. I've grown up with the idea that I need to be independent and not rely on other people to bail me out when I'm in trouble. I've learned to be cautious of strangers and be "smart" about who/what I trust, but while i've been in korea i'm seeing there are different and lovely ways of being that may be very different from the cultural ideals i've known for so long.

getting close

in the united states people are much more cautious about "intruding" the space of other people or respecting their "bubbles". well, in korea, there is no such thing as a bubble. you learn that quickly when you ride on the bus, subway, or escalator. people are constantly rubbing shoulders with you, bumping you, standing inches from your face. i think most americans would be completely shocked by this intrusion of personal space. i was at first. there were times buses or subways would be so crowded i think i could have lifted my legs off the ground and still be left standing the space was so tight. crazy.

it's interesting how korean people don't mind this closeness. for example, in america if a person is waiting for the elevator, and, when it opens it is full of people they will wait, smile, hold up their hand to say, "i pass. thanks anyway, you all can just close the doors cause i don't want you all up in my space and i don't want to be all up in your space." but in Korea....a crowded elevator opens and the Korean is thinking..."i'm just going to try to squeeze on in there....I'm sure I can find a little spot". Peter and I have been on an elevator where so many people were inside that the elevator wouldn't move. all of the poeple kept trying to push the buttons to make the elevator doors close, and the "emergency-there-are-too-many-kilos-in-this-tiny-elevator-dinging was squealing. no matter now fervently they pushed the "close door button" the elevator was not moving. eventually someone had to give up and just get off and take the stairs....it was a stand-off....and i lost.

also, even when we're packed like sardines, face to face with strangers, there is no sense of awkwardness among the people. in the u.s. if we're in a crowded space, someone will always try to cut the tension with a cheesy joke...."i hope no one ate egg salad for lunch.." or "i hope everyone put on their deodorant today..." but koreans just stand there, silent, avoiding eye contact (cause then it really becomes awkward) and wait for the bus/subway to become less crowded. i've become very used to it. in fact, when i return to the u.s. i think i may be popping some personal bubbles, standing closer to you than necessary. korea is rubbing off on me...

prodigal blogger returns

hi everyone.

it's been a long time. how are you? things in korea have been busy, fun, and full of good things. peter's dad, dash, was here for a two week visit which was really wonderful. it is always nice to have family around...it makes you realize how much you miss being only a short drive away.

we traveled to various cities in korea, had lots of good food, and many lovely conversations.

here are some quick updates about us:

-school and work are going fine. we're getting to know our co-workers better which has been great. making new friends is always nice.

-we are headed to BOSTON in december! my school is sending me there to participate in a conference. i'll post more details later.

-we miss you all very much. please shoot us an email or comment on a blog to say hello.

i will do my best to be a better blogger..thanks for still reading despite my negligence : )

i'm still here!

hi everyone. i haven't forgotten about you or the blog. sorry to leave you in the dark these past couple weeks. i will blog soon with many little narratives... but for now, i must head to bed. love you all!

funny moments

• scenario: while in a whole group activity, a boy whispers into his friend's ear that he's in love with one of the girls in our class. the friend impulsively yells out while pointing his finger, "He's in love with you!" The girl reacts saying, "Disgusting." The boy in love buries his head in his hands in embarrassment and rejection. Then the girl feeling a little guilty for her strong reaction, places her hand on her chest and says very earnestly, "I mean...it's just that I'm so young."
• I mentioned my mom in class one day and nearly all of my students' heads cocked to the side with bewilderment. Then four or five of them yelled out, "silly mrs. watt, we know you don't have a mom!" my students believe i live in my classroom, orphaned, and do math worksheets in my free time for fun. love it.
• each morning the kids have a "mystery number" to guess. I give them lots of hints, such as "this number has 5 tens, it is greater than 56 but less than 58". the other day i gave a hint for a mystery number (the first hint): "this is how old my sister is..." immediately, hands shot up in the air to guess (with much enthusiasm and certainty might I add) "65!" I responded, "not that old..." another kid guessed "61!" now, my students have never seen a photo of susan, but only have me as a reference. my last class guessed i was still a teenager...i guess i've aged 40 years since... ha!

mr. announcer guy

Each apartment complex has a management office where they dilligently help any/all residents with their various needs. once we had a clogged drain and within 10 minutes 2 repairmen were at our door ready to unclog. great, speedy, and helpful service.

another interesting thing about korean apartments is they have a built in PA system. every few days we hear an anouncement bell go off (do-so-do, for you musicians out there) with a voice following. the announcer is an older gentlement, usually the same guy each time. he has this same pattern of words and tone every time. in fact, i usually say it along with him when the announcement begins: (all in korean, of course) "excuse me & hello. this is the management office..." his sounds like a tired, college professor trying to explain something to his thick-headed students for the fourth time. when we first arrived in korea i hoped they weren't making any critically important announcements since i couldn't really understand them...like "don't take the elevator. it's broken and you may plunge to your death" or "be sure to avoid the front door because of snakes". i know, my imagination runs wild sometimes...

it turns out the announcements are often reminders or gentle admonishments to the residents. something like "don't forget to drain your food trash before you pour it in the compost" or "please don't smoke in the public restrooms." or "did anyone leave a crying 4-year old child on the fourth floor? please come claim him"

as my korean improves, the more i understand. the more i understand, the more i realize these announcements/interactions with people are usually not so serious. i have yet to translate an announcement about plunging elevators or snakes (knock on wood). i'm improving day by day and i feel really proud of myself when i understand something that i didn't understand last week. i'm becoming more independent and trying to handle some of my "business" on my own without relying on others. it feels good.

first graders are...

• happy, excited, and eager to embrace all the world has to offer
• messy. snot and boogers don't seem to bother them. in fact, some of them seem to really enjoy having that stuff on their fingers.
• cuddly. i couldn't count the number of hugs i get each day. 1st graders are not at all passive aggressive about their need for affection, they just get up, walk toward me and give me a big, massive bear hug. even in the middle of a math lesson : )
• not always interested in sharing. i've heard my share of arguments about "my crayon!" "no, my crayon"... it's not like they're made of gold, kids. arguing about not sharing has been outlawed in our classroom
• not shy to revel in their glory. one of my favorite things to tell my kids after they've done something great: "wow. i'm so proud of you. you must be so proud of yourself, eh?" and always always my kids give me a grin as bright as the sun and nod their head with pure delight. love it.
• eager to be first. first in line, first to go to the bathroom, first to get their paper, first to eat lunch. first, first, first.
• peacemakers. when there is conflict in the classroom, i encourage kids to "talk through their problems". they are quick to forgive, hug, and be friends again grudge-free. if only adults emulated first graders in the way they forgave..
• funny. man, oh man, the things first graders say. i think i crack up at least once a day.
• "improv-ers". they like to raise their hand without having any clue what the question is or what their answer will be. I could ask my kids to explain why 'e=mc squared' and i'm 99% sure at least 7 kids would raise their hand and fumble their way through a contrived explanation.
• sweet hearted, innocent, and brave little people. they are sensitive to the world around them and are vastly aware of the injustice of the world. they desire to see good around them and are not afraid to point out wrongdoings. their big hearts are constantly churning and changing by their daily experiences.
• my teachers. they teach me something every day.

rough day + beatles = not so bad

today was one of those days. you know, the kind where so many things are going on your head is spinning... one of those days when you put your shirt on backwards and don't realize it until after lunch kind of day. i won't (and shouldn't) go into the details of my day, but i'll say that i felt stressed, upset, and exhausted.

the day was coming to a close and i was getting ready to hide my head in a pillow...or rather a pile of construction paper and crayons (i work in a first grade classroom, you know) when a repairman in the office started blowing into the intercom system. it seems the intercom in our building stops working every other day so i'm always in for a treat when the intercom starts acting up. Usually I hear one person try to make an announcement, someone in the background chiming in, "It didn't go through! Try again!", so the announcer tries again, then I hear someone say, "Why isn't this working?", "Then I hear a crowd of Korean men gather around the microphone, speaking in korean saying, "what's wrong here? Did someone push a button?, etc. etc" It's quite entertaining.

but today was a little bit different. the intercom started having some problems and the secretary got on the mic and said, "excuse the interruption. we are working on repairing the school intercom system." Then I heard the usual muffled "the intercom isn't working. Why isn't this working, etc. etc." But then, the secretary made an announcement that he would relieve us of the all too familiar chatter and play a CD instead.

suddenly i heard john, paul, george, and ringo singing in my classroom. the mood in the whole building was lightened as you could hear people giggling in the hallway, doing little jigs here and there, or singing along. it was a burst of sunshine on a gloomy day. i was a little bummed when the intercom was fixed and the music was turned off. maybe tomorrow...?

first week of school & family retreat

hi there. i've been quite the "slacker blogger" lately. my apologies. I hope to be blogging more regularly once my schedule is settled.

i wanted to give a quick update for all of you dear readers about our jobs. i started my first week of school teaching 1st graders. i have some really super kids and i feel rejuvenated to be around little ones again. they still wear me out, but i love them. they're so much more independent than kindergartners, it's great! i was so pleased to not be tying shoes, soothing crying spells, or helping little ones with their "wet pants" all week long : ) and 1st graders are really stinking cute. they keep me laughing all day.

peter's been fortunate to have two four day weekends in a row and has had some quality time with the golf course. these mini vacations are well deserved since he's worked so many long hour days.

this weekend, we went to busan with peter's unit for a family retreat. i'll blog about it more later. it was wooonderful. a well needed break that brought a lot of peace and relaxation to two tired minds & bodies. i'll fill you in soon..

goodbye summer

summer is coming to a close and a new chapter is beginning. august has been a very busy month for us. peter has been working a lot lately during the night shift which is keeping him very busy and tired! we are looking forward for things to settle down and to resume normal sleeping schedules. here are a few updates:

• shaun & liz, peter's sister, delivered a healthy baby girl last week, inez catherine. she's a beauty and we're thrilled to have a niece! if only we didn't have an ocean separating us : (
• i began work as a full-time 1st grade teacher at the DOD school (military school on post). I've been decorating, preparing curriculum, and making a little "home" for my kiddos. i'm looking forward to the start of the school!
• i can legally rent a car now. thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes. i had a nice, relaxing day. i missed you all, but was thankful to have so many dear friends and family from far away (and here too!) i'm a lucky girl.

aside from the hectic schedules, we've been doing really well. i am very thankful for a job and am excited to be with little guys again--they help me see the world in a better way. i'll try to be better about blogging more regularly!

four years

four years ago today, peter and i made a covenant to one another to love each other until death do us part. i can't believe how quickly time flies! these past four years have been filled with learning, challenges, rich with love, joy, and the goodness of God.

"I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high." Psalm 7:17

Peter jokes we now graduated with a "bachelors in Marriage" : )

Let's continue our learning of how to love one another better and better each day. I'm so very thankful for you, am continually inspired by your heart, and find you a beautiful reflection of our Heavenly Father.

Let's aim for a dozen ph.d's! i'm game if you are...

the DMZ

susan and i took a day trip with the USO to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) right on the border between North and South Korea. it was fascinating, tense, and sad. our grandparents' hometown is actually located in North Korea (pre-war time). During the war, my grandparents (on both sides) fled to the south. my dad's mother was actually pregnant with my father when she tried to cross the border. fortunately, all of my grandparents successfully crossed the border to safety.

While on our drive, we passed through a village called "Reunification Village" where all families must be in their homes with doors and windows sealed at dark since this village would be most vulnerable to a North Korean attack being so near the DMZ. The village area is not under the jurisdiction of South Korea (?) so the citizens there have no obligation to pay taxes or serve the army (All South Korean men have a military requirement of 22 months.)

Korea is the only nation to remain divided. The tension between both nations is palpitable. We were warned very strongly by both our Korean tour guide (who spoke english) and our U.S. soldier tour guide that we were not permitted to take photos unless given permission to do so. During the tour we saw the JSA, the area where North Korean and South Korean leaders meet for negotiations. We actually saw North Korean soldiers standing on the steps of their building with binoculars in their hands. Apparently, the North Korean building, which faces the South Korean building, has many cameras that take photos of the DMZ tourists to use as negative propaganda against the rest of the world. Our U.S. tour guide told us very sternly that we "do NOT make any gesture of ANY kind toward the North Korean soldiers. We will NOT communicate with them in ANY way as they will react if they EVER feel any sort of threat." One of the North Korean guards actually waved toward us, perhaps to get a rise out of us tourists? We were told North Korean men have a military obligation of 8-10 years! Also, the North Korean soldiers that are visible to South Korea are said to be well-fed to give a good impression of their country, though much of the country is impoverished and hungry.

We were able to take photos inside the JSA where South Korean soldiers stand guard. All Korean soldiers that work at the DMZ must possess at least a black belt in TaeKwonDo. One soldier I took a picture of had a black belt in TaeKwonDo, Jiujitsu, and Hapkido. U.S. Soldiers also are also placed there based on their excellent records and abilities.

It was a chilling sight to see such tension, even in their stance. I suppose witnessing such intensity made me realize how hostile the relationship between North Korea and much of the world remains.

this photo is of the North Korean building. You can see a soldier standing at the top of the steps. He must have found all of us very interesting as he continued to look at us through his binoculars.

North Korean money I got from the DMZ shop. The photo is of Kim Il Sung, the father of the current dictator, Kim Jong Il.

Susan is standing at the Dora Observatory, which is a lookout point that juts out, very near the border of North Korea. It is said that on a clear day you can see where Kim Jong Il has erected his own gigantic bronze statue of himself very easily with binoculars. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day, so we couldn't seen a lot, but we were able to see the Wildlife Sanctuary between North and South Korea where various plants and animals of endangered species have thrived since no human contact has been made in the forest for over 56 years.

it was a sobering experience. i imagine we have family that still exist in North Korea and may not see them or ever know them. Not just our family, but hundreds of thousands of families were separated and long to see one another. I pray for a peaceful reunion and evil to be defeated.

daegu

in daegu, susan and i went on various larks. since peter has to work during the day, we did many things on our own. we went to various markets to buy gifts for when she returned home, went to the spa for some pampering, got our hair cut and permed (not such a good idea after all...), visited the downtown area for people watching and shopping, went to a daegu baseball game, rode the city buses for the first time (trying to figure out their routes was like trying to solve a rubix cube), and climbed Mount Apsan.

the mountain climb was fun and tough. i read somewhere it is a 20% grade mountain; the hike was at an incline the whole way up. i learned from our tour book that Mt. Apsan is where avid hikers go as it is quite beautiful. the entire hike took us 4-5 hours. while going up the mountain there would be several little "rest stops" which were actually outdoor gyms with free weights and elliptical machines. maybe i'm just lazy, but i don't think i'd hike for 2 hours to use the outdoor machines to exercise some more, but i'd really like to high-five the people who do. : )

another interesting observation were the lack of people climbing up the mountain alongside us, but we'd see several "ajummas" = middle aged ladies, sitting on blankets with picnics or playing cards with their friends on the edge of a jagged cliff. it was an odd sight since the mountain is on an incline the whole way up so they'd be perched in crevices or jutting rocks in the mountain like little birds in a nest. less than half the way up the mountain, the trails were not clearly marked and several boulders lined the paths so much of the "hike" was actually rock climbing. i wondered how all the ajummas got up here... the hike wore us out! nearing the top there were tons of stairs leading to the peak of the mountain. i hummed the rocky song while shaking my fist in the air....our victory to the top!

the view at the top of mountain was beautiful. unfortunately i didn't bring my camera since it's so bulky. but susan had hers with her. i'll have to steal a photo or two and will post later.

this is a little shop in downtown daegu that serves drinks in ziplock baggies. it has a cool vintage art feel to it. i'd like to go back again.

ulsan and gyeongju

our uncle, weh sahmchoon, my mother's oldest brother lives in ulsan, just 1.5 hours away from daegu. on occasion he and his wife make the drive out to daegu to take peter and i out to lunch. since susan was here, they came and took us to a yummy lunch and invited us to come to ulsan where he could show us around. peter, susan, and i drove down to ulsan and stayed one evening at their home.

ulsan was breathtakingly beautiful. it is situated right on the eastern coastline (on the southern end). the beaches are rocky and the water is a rich greenish purplish blue. i could have perched myself on a rock for hours just listening to the crash of the waves.

the second day of our trip we visited gyeongju. since it is only a 30 minute drive from ulsan, my uncle and aunt frequent the area for golf or the spa and know a great deal about the history.

the city of gyeongju is quite famous for its history. It was the home of the Silla dynasty and so possesses numerous ancient tourist spots. within the city are several famous temples, buddhist pagodas, and burial mounds.

my uncle, who is in his mid 70's has the energy of a 12 year-old and, in true korean fashion, wanted to show us as much as possible. we probably hit a dozen or so famous spots within ulsan and gyeongju in less than two days. it was fun, gorgeous, busy, and at the end of the day, we were beat. there were dozens and dozens of postcard perfect views of the ocean and the huge jutting boulders in the water. i'd like to go back again, but maybe for a relaxing lunch and nap instead. : )

here you'll see some female divers dressed in wet suits. in a few areas of Korea there are famous female divers located in Jeju Island, at times known as "mermaids" who are known for the ability to hold their breath for 2 or 3 minutes at at time. They use no special breathing apparatus, only a floater to help them locate where they need to surface. they dive many feet to dig up clams, abalone, and other seafood. as you can imagine, this sport is extremely dangerous, nevertheless, many of the divers are middle aged. i once saw a lady on television in her 80's still diving! you can read more here:

http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=309618

susan's visit

for those of you who didn't know already, my sister came to visit from seattle. we had a lot of fun together and traveled throughout the country. she left only today after a four-week visit. it was nice to have her here with us to show her our city and also have a traveling partner. we did so much i think i'll have to post several blogs to describe our experiences.

coming soon

dear friends.

i haven't forgotten about you. I have lots of stories and photos to share and will post soon!

scrub a dub dub

one of the musts when visiting korea is going to a spa. they are incredibly popular among the natives and very affordable. one of my friends, who is a native, invited me and two other ladies to go to a spa in chungdo. it's a well-known facility and i understand why. it was beautiful, nestled among the mountains, in the middle of the gorgeous korean countryside. the facility itself is sleek, clean, and luxurious. the spa has tons of saunas, natural spring water pools infused with precious rocks that are said to give your body all kinds of strength to fend off any diseases and give your skin a glow. there are pools of hot water, cold water, warm water, waterfalls, etc. it's amazing.

i was very excited about going to the spa, but i was nervous about one thing: what you wear or rather what you don't wear. in order to go into the spa you don't wear anything. just the birthday suit. (!) this is quite difficult for a westerner, but koreans are quite used to it. once you get over the initial shock of being naked in front of strangers, the experience is exhilarating. the water feels phenomenal. some of the pools were on the rooftop so you could rest with a view of the mountains, orchards, and farm land. my girlfriends and i got a facial and body massage and scrub. ladies work hard to scrub you of any possible dead skin so you leave with an amazing glow and feel baby soft. i'd have to say the amazing relaxation and benefits far outweighed the awkwardness.

afterward we had a delicious lunch of bbq and lettuce wraps, and took a short tour of a wine tunnel. mingki, our tour guide, was wonderful. she laid on her charm and got the four of us great deals, free extra stuff, and she even talked someone into giving us a ride to the train station. (don't worry, hitchhiking in the country is pretty common and very safe : )

all in all, this is definitely a day I wouldn't mind repeating.

step up to the microphone

we finally did it. we went to a "noraebang"...the ubiquitous karaoke room. i had been holding off on going since we've arrived. the cheesy synthesizer accompaniments, disco balls, and microphones with way too much reverb....it's a bit too much for me. however, our new friends made it all worthwhile and pretty fun.

we were kindly invited by peter's coworker, a korean national. he took us to a tasty dinner of korean bbq and lettuce wraps. he was a generous host, encouraging us to eat to our heart's content. he also invited a couple other korean nationals who work on the U.S. army post. the dinner conversation was light, playful, and interesting. it was good practice for learning about korean hospitality and dining etiquette. we toasted one another about every 5 minutes celebrating and wishing each other all of life's happiness, health, and in the words of our gracious host, "to have a good time." a good time was had by all. we were asked if we wanted to go to the noraebang. one of the other guests, ms. k, quickly responded to the idea with a "i'd rather not. i hate karaoke!" I replied we hadn't been yet. our host quickly fired back, "“You haven’t gone to a noraebang? Then you have to go!!” We were cornered : )

it was an experience to be had. that's for sure. we just walked a couple blocks away to a nearby karaoke room (these things are literally on every street corner in korea). We entered this empty basement to find a middle-aged man to greet us. He looked like he was bored and had been doing sudokus for the past seven hours and was, as a result, very happy to see other human beings in this dark, quiet basement. We chose our room and after the traditional tug of war game of who’s paying, we entered our disco ball lit room with vinyl booths. Inside the room is a massive remote control and two binders, each weighing about 10 pounds of lists and lists of Korean and other international songs. This was serious stuff. We made a few selections. our friends take karaoking quite seriously, but in a good way. You simply pick a song and sing…there is not question of do I know all of the song? Do I really know the melody? Instead, it’s a simple..”I think I’ve heard this song before…I’ll sing it.” The binders had “American” sections, but it appeared the book hadn’t been truly updated since 1976 with a few eminem and Justin timberlake numbers thrown in. of course, within the first few minutes of being in the room, we were encouraged, rather pulled toward the front of the room, mic shoved under our chins and urged to pick a song quickly. I seemed to have a niche for picking songs that seemed to have endless choruses..you know the song that never really ends, but just fades out? Well, with karaoke, you just keep repeating and repeating until your voice gives out from fatigue…a natural form of fading. I naively chose “happy day” as it was the only song from the book that I seemed to recognize before mr. p, our host, chided me for taking so long. I ended up singing or rather mumbling along. It was some “choral” version of the piece that was clearly not intended to be a solo. Nonetheless, our friends waved their arms with huge smiles on their faces as supportive fans/listeners to my terrible rendition of karaoke. Snacks and drinks were brought in and I sat back, clapped, danced and watched as my friends and myself sang various oldies and tried to sing along to some of the Korean songs as best as I could..considering it was the first time I had heard them.

Peter had his turn at the mic also. our friends grabbed peter’s shoulder and sang along to “hey jude” and “what a wonderful world”. During slow songs mr. p would grab my and peter’s hands and pull them together, his way of asking us to slow dance. And to top the night off, as tribute to the late Michael Jackson, we sang “we are the world”. Clearly, none of us knew the song, but that didn’t stop us from still closing our eyes, raising a fist in the air and mumbling our self-created words and melodies with intense passion. We did know the chorus and would enter it with huge enthusiasm. After all, the chorus of that song is only a couple lines, so we had to make it count.

All in all, it was a really fun evening. a few days later, mr. p invited us again to have dinner & karaoke but this time with a couple other korean nationals who work on post, peter's new commander and his wife. the evening was quite similar and also very enjoyable. in fact, we ended up going to the same noraebang. we concluded the evening with "we are the world" again by request of mr. s, a fun, easygoing fellow who was adamant that i call him 'uncle' (an example of korean hospitality).

we all stood together side by side, arms locked around one another's shoulders. koreans and americans singing together under the disco lights. cheesy? yes. memorable and worthwhile? absolutely.

food at home.

homemade sticky buns and pedro enjoying them in his BCGs (birth control glasses)--that's what the army calls them. surprisingly, they are very much in style here in korea...very high fashion. : )

homemade pizza. delicious and easy to make!

ode to the high heel wearer

i salute you korean high heel wearers.

your strength and endurance amaze me. you don't wear high heels only on special occasions. your high heels are what nikes are to americans. you wear your heels to go on walks, on buses, on subways, up the stairs, to the park, while hiking, all while carrying babies in your arms. you never seem to show fatigue or pain...do you have toes made of steel? i strive to have the high pain tolerance and perseverance you show daily.

sincerely,

the amateur high heel wearer

p.s. sorry for the lame photo. this pic doesn't even capture some of the crazy heels i see on a daily basis!

grandmother's memorial dinner pictures

stairs we ran up and down as kids when we visited korea long ago.
grandmother's bed.
my dad's youngest sister and her husband
my dad's older brother and older sister
the fam
the delicious food.
so good.

kyung jin & kyung pyo

i've spent a lot of time with these two. they are funny, entertaining, and just lovely people. they enjoy annoying each other, as true brothers and sisters do. i like hanging out with them.

getting to know family...

june 22nd was the anniversary of my grandmother's passing (my father's mother). my family gets together to have a short "yehbeh" consisting of singing some hymns, reading scripture, prayer, and of course, eating. my aunt (my father's older brother's wife) is an amazing cook and she puts together a huge spread. prior to the evening gathering, my cousins kyung pyo and kyung jin picked me up from the seoul train station and we had lunch. i picked their brains for memories they had of grandmother and how they remembered her. all of my memories of her are from when i was just a little girl so i often wonder what it would have been like to know her as an adult. both my cousins confirmed my memory of her as being a kind-hearted, generous person. she loved her family very much. i soaked in all of the memories and funny stories they shared. it was great.

she was my only grandparent. the only grandparent i had the opportunity to meet. it's a strange thing to miss someone you didn't know too well, but i'm so glad i had the time i did with her.

it's a real joy to spend so much time with my family here. they are no longer "family in Korea", people who i've known through pictures more than in real life. they are family.

photo highlights from the trip (or moments i remembered my camera)

cuban sandwich from paseos.  one word: yum.
theo's chocolate factory.  i bought a gift pack for pete.  flavors include: coffee, nib brittle (ground cacao bean), coconut curry, bread & chocolate, vanilla chocolate, hazelnut crunch, fig fennel & almond, chai tea.  they are all really tasty.  i think i ate about 500 chocolate samples at the factory.  our spunky tour guide was raving about all of the health benefits of chocolate which just fed our (the tourists) fire for eating chocolate.  near the end of the tour she remarked she'd "give in" and taste a sample with us, but that she'd need to be careful or she might eat a whole chocolate bar (!).  i thought, "seriously!?" she made this comment after she had dished out dozens of samples and i had already consumed about 5 pounds of chocolate : ) ha!

flowers from pike's place market.  such a great place.  i think people who work with these flowers must be in a good mood all the time.  who wouldn't when surrounded by such beauty!

oliver, the master chopstick eater.  so cute. so smart.  i love his mama too.

ovi loves his grandpa dash.

besties.
japan.  tokyo. sushi. awesome.
green tea kit kats

after writing my summary of the trip I realized I left out some pretty important activities.  so, i was able to have lunch with peter's grandparents: ted & gladys, and Caleb Smith (a cousin) after church.  it was so great to visit with them.  everyone looked great.  i was thankful to spend the afternoon with them.  i just love and admire them so much.

i had lunch/dinner dates with so many great, dear friends who i miss so much.  friends from gulf drive (our old neighborhood) rock hill and grace & peace.  i was able to rub bellies and babies that i hadn't seen before we left!  so wonderful.   

in seattle, susan & I had lunch with some family friends.  we always called them "howard's family" (it's a korean thing).  they were gracious, kind, and generous.  they took us to a really good thai restaurant, which i was excited about since good thai food is kind of hard to find in daegu.  i'm glad to know susan has a "family" in seattle to fall back on. 

and a note about the japanese grandpa.  i called him to see if he wanted to show us his garden, but he never answered his phone.  he did call back, literally as we were walking out the door to the airport for my flight back to seoul.  he was dear and sweet, lamenting our ironic timing.  i've since looked him up and have discovered he's a well published author in the field of environmental science.  he's a pretty fascinating fella.  matsuo tsukada.  you should look him up.

back in Korea!

The last leg of my trip was wonderful.  My friend's wedding was beautiful and wonderful.  Getting to see my girlfriends from college was an added bonus.  we try to have our "reunions" every year so i'm glad i was able to be part of this annual tradition.  they are a group of fantastic women who i adore very much.  we always have such a good time with one another laughing hysterically, goofing around, reminiscing, and encouraging each other through the different storms of life.  i hope we will always maintain our friendships until we're old and wrinkled.  

aside from the wedding, i spent a lot of time with different friends and family.  a few of my friends are pregnant or recently had a baby so it was fun to see their new little creatures squirming around.  i was able to see lizi, peter's sister, her baby belly, and dear little oliver (our nephew).  he's quickly approaching three years old and he's a total riot!  he's talking up a storm and is totally adorable.  we played hide & seek together and practiced using chopsticks.  he's so smart...he's becoming quite a little man.  

i left for seattle shortly after the wedding and had some nice, low-key days enjoying the beautiful weather and outdoors.  susan and i went to different parks for walks and ate at some really good restaurants...i had my first cuban sandwich which was amazing.  we also went on a chocolate factory tour of theo's chocolates.  they are the only organic, fair trade chocolate company in the U.S.  it was really interesting and tasty!  

my last few days in the states zoomed by and i arrived in seoul just a couple days ago.  my flight went very smoothly.  i was pretty tired from the jet lag, but was overjoyed to see peter and my family waiting for me at the airport.  reunions are my favorite. 

i will post some pics from my trip soon!

full heart

i've spent the past week visiting with as many people as possible. i've crammed almost every moment that i wasn't already spending doing various errands with visiting people i love. i wish i had another week to spend more time with family and friends, but all good things must come to an end. (i'm sorry if i didn't get to see you during this visit!!! i just ran out of time!)

this weekend i'll be hanging with my college friends to witness a dear friend get married. i'm looking forward to it.

i missing peter tons and thinking of him often. i wish he was here with me. it's fun to compare things here to korea now that we've lived there for over 6 months. now i'm just taking in each new day slowly and enjoying all that happens. let the wedding festivities begin!

show me st. louis

i had a fantastic reunion with rodney, suzanne, and dash all outside the gate to greet me once i stepped off the plane. it was so nice to be able to squeeze them in person. i love reunions.
we all went over to the leeks' house to visit. it was nice to step inside their house for the first time...it was as if i had never left st. louis. it felt comfortable and cozy.

we munched on cookies and told various tales of our lives. we spent a lot of time laughing with each other and trading updates on our jobs, families, and general plans. we also had some gift swapping. i tried to find some fun little trinkets to bring back for all of them from korea. i brought back korean chocolate sticks, socks, handmade bookmarks, handmade pouches, and funny stickers. for those of you who know suzanne, one of her love names for people is "lamb face". the stickers i gave her actually look like little "lamb faces". you just have to see the stickers to get what i mean. if i explain it they would just sound uber creepy.

we chatted and chatted together. mick and donna also stopped by which was nice to visit with them for at least a little bit. it was really great spending time together...it makes me realize how much i miss everyone.

the next day i spent with my mom doing some more shopping.. : ) and we got lunch with my cousin, Sonya at an italian restaurant. she cracks me up. it was a fun afternoon. i had dinner with my parents and we made phone calls back to korea to update them all on what i've been doing and also for my parents to hear how they are doing. i really like spending time with my parents..it's something that i enjoy and appreciate more and more as i get older.

my next few days i have a mission to pick up some things for the wedding and spend some quality time with other family and friends. i'm renting a car tomorrow, which should help me get around the city easier. so, if you're in st. louis and you're reading this, give me a call and let's hang out!

seattle, part I

i spent a wonderful 2.5 days in seattle. the spring air was clean, crisp and had a faint scent of coffee beans (honestly!). i stepped off the plane, took a deep breath of the airport's espresso flavored air and felt a sense of relief my long flight was over. i just needed to grab my luggage and go through customs. i didn't have anything in my suitcase that would warrant any alarm from customs, but i wasn't sure how the whole "check" would go through. according to their website it seems they are quite rigid and harsh. i had no live plants or animals in my bag, which is the biggest no-no when coming from a foreign country, but the rigidity of the customs regulations had me thinking i'd be thrown in jail and slapped with a $1000 fine if they found a leaf stuck on the bottom of my shoe. fortunately, no such thing happened. in fact, i breezed through customs with no problems.

susan arrived the minute after i stepped foot in the "arrivals" area of the airport and we hugged and quickly hurried off to get home. i was anxious to smell that beautiful seattle air, but also hoped to say goodbye to my new friend, but couldn't seem to find him.

the next few days were filled with leisurely walks, food, and fun shopping: we went to several different places downtown, including anthropologie, a favorite shop of mine, and i bought some clothes. some of you may be wondering why i don't just buy clothes in korea. my main reason is that i have yet to learn the art of shopping in korea. i'm still learning what shops are best and also how to get used to the lack of "trying on/fitting rooms" in stores. sometimes a fitting room in korea is make-shift towel thrown over a bar the length of my arm. i'm somewhat modest, or shall i say, 'don't want strangers to see me undressing in public', so i usually just "eye shop". needless to say, my 6 months of no shopping has made these past couple days quite enjoyable. i don't always like to shop, but i had a lot of fun shopping with susan.
aside from shopping, we did a lot of good eating, including some of susan's yummy homemade lasagna, some vietnamese pho, korean bbq chicken, and visits to a lovely bakery where i had a tasty chocolate croissant. mmm. getting hungry just thinking about all that good food.

susan and i also had time to catch up with each other. we always enjoy telling stories about funny things that happen to us or just sharing what's on our minds with one another. it's nice to have a sister to share the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful with one another. i'm really fortunate to have her as a sister. she's really great. really.

my time in seattle whizzed by and i went to the airport to head toward st. louis. susan was working, so ed her pastor, drove me to the airport. ed is also a counselor so it's always interesting talking to him cause he seems to ask good questions that encourage me to reflect on my life. my flight from seattle to st. louis was super fast. i saw some stunning landscapes from the plane of washington and utah. the clouds were so plump and fluffy i wanted to just dive unto them (minus gravity of course).

in America

I'm in the states! i left Daegu on Monday morning at 11:00 and arrived in seattle on monday morning at 9:00 (you do the math). I had a pleasant flight that had a 3.5 hour layover in Tokyo, Japan. While I was there I enjoyed some lovely sushi from a restaurant in the airport. I figured I needed to have the full Japanese experience, raw fish and all. While I was munching on my lunch, an elderly Japanese man approached me and asked me in Japanese if I had a watch. My initial response was, "sorry, I don't speak any Japanese." (sounds too familiar, eh?) He chuckled to himself and asked again in English. I didn't have a watch, but saw a clock hanging in the airport that read 2:30pm. He thanked me and then sat near me. I turned to ask him where he was heading and he sat up, cocked his head and leaned his ear closer to my mouth and said, "what?" I spoke louder and clearer and asked him again where he was headed and he replied, "to seattle. where are you going?" this prompted a whole conversation of why we were going to seattle, where we were coming from and what brought us overseas. I learned he was a former Harvard professor of environmental studies and ecology. He was at the ripe age of 80 and only retired for 4 years. We had a nice chat with each other exchanging little tidbits we knew about our home countries. I tried to learn some things about ecology and environmental studies, but he seemed more interested in talking about korean superstars and asking how much money peter makes per year. after 30 minutes of chatting, he got up to use the restroom and I also got up to peruse some of the shops since we still had 2 hours to spare before our plane boarded. when i returned he was sitting on the other side of the airport lounge. we made eye contact and he cheerfully waved with a smirk. I was glad to have met him.

Once we boarded the plane, I found my seat (an unfortunate middle seat for a 8+ hour flight), but was pleasantly surprised to find my 80 year old Japanese friend assigned the seat right next to me! He dozed in and out of sleep for the next 8.5 hours, as did I, but we had little moments of conversation when we had the energy. He sweetly asked if we could exchange phone numbers and asked if I would visit him at his home to see his garden. I hope I can.

why hello, mr. taxi driver

when i first arrived in korea i was a ball of nerves.  i worried about how we'd transport all of our 10 pieces of luggage (we were crazy), if we had forgotten anything from the states, how we would get around korea without a car, how we'd live without furniture for two months...worry, worry, worry...blah blah.  i hated it.  but the one thing that took me over the top was...taxis.  the first couple months we were here i detested taxis for several reasons: 1. the taxi driver rarely knew where our apartment building was and i had no way to tell them how to get there because i didn't know myself.  2.  i hate being lost.  3.  if you're on a schedule, you never know for sure if a taxi will be available.  4.  taxis cost money 5.  communicating with the drivers was quite hard and made the situations more confusing at times; and lastly 6.  have you seen the way these guys drive?  needless to say, i avoided taking taxis at all costs.

well, i've changed.  don't get me wrong, taxis are not my choice form of transportation, but i've actually enjoyed many taxi rides i've had these past couple months, especially today.

it was raining all day long.  i enjoy the rain, but this was 'pants get soaked, cars drive by and splash you' kind of rain.  i had to run a couple errands after school, so i opted to take a taxi home after i finished my errands.  

i flagged down a taxi and was greeted warmly by an older gentleman, probably in his late 60's.  he had a "best driver" sign on his car and was dressed in a freshly pressed uniform.  i noticed he smelled familiar, like my dad's aftershave.  he immediately asked me if i was from daegu.  i quickly replied "no, i'm actually from the U.S." we had an exchange of my family history and why i was here in korea.  (this conversation happens almost every time i'm in a taxi.  drivers can usually detect my korean accent and ask where i'm from).  he then began to tell jokes of some experiences he's had with westerners and how he hosted a westerner in his home for a short time.  he began to suggest various, beautiful places i ought to visit to observe its beauty, where i could find good hiking spots, cable cars, buses i could take to see lovely landscapes, and where to find some delicious korean pears.  the whole ride was delightful.   i understood nearly everything he said because he courteously spoke slowly and occasionally checked my understanding.  i wished our apartment was farther away cause i wanted to continue our conversation.  

he dropped me off in front of our apartment building and i let him keep the change for a tip.  he refused, but i insisted and he gave a grateful, humble bow of thanks.  it was a great human experience.  two strangers stuck in a car, sharing part of our lives together, laughing together, and enjoying the company of one another for a mere 8 minutes.  

all this to say, taxis are growing on me and i'm even beginning to like them.  i admit, sometimes when i take taxis late at night or early in the morning, it can be a bit of an adrenaline rush watching the taxi drivers skillfully weave in and out of cars to get to his destination as fast as possible.  it's like a real life game of 'frogger'.  also, catching a taxi is kind of like an egg hunt.  i stand on the side of the street, looking for an empty taxi to wave down and finding one quickly is gratifying.  it's a good challenge.  the taxi fare is also quite reasonable, especially compared to the states.  most of my taxi fares (granted if we don't get lost on the way) are usually around 4,000 won, which is about $3.00.  not bad, eh?  

so, thank you mr. taxi driver, for your kindness.  my prejudice against you and your vehicle has greatly subsided.