So, as I may have mentioned in one of my blog posts last week, I was really excited about my lesson plans for this week! I decided to spend this week getting to know my students. So, my lesson plan was focused on learning more about the students and teaching them how to creatively express/introduce themselves. I found myself feeling incredibly inspired by the song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KadOjVl6VCc) from The King & I, "Getting To Know You... getting to know all about you!" I figured I'm definitely not an expert at getting to know my students yet, but was pretty excited about the possibility! They would be picking English names and making nametags so that I could call them by name. Oh, the visions... oh, the dreams... it was going to be a FANTASTIC lesson plan... I was even going to use the song "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music for my upper-level classes. They were going to re-write the song... and who knows, maybe even sing it in front of the class. lol!
I am such a dreamer! Haha...
So, Monday morning, I rushed about making copies and last minute preparations for my lesson plans. I was nervous (as I often find myself being before the first lesson of the week), but excited. What a special lesson I have in store for my classes, I thought. All of my lessons (all TWO of them) have gone really well for the most part... so I think I was feeling a little over-confident... and dreamy.
My students quickly jerked me back to reality Monday morning. It was disastrous. I planned 5 minutes for choosing English names and making nametags... it took more like 25 (and even then, some hadn't chosen names). The students didn't seem to appreciate the video clip (and I realized it was poor quality, particularly on a big screen. They were super-chatty... and barely seemed to notice I was there. Classroom control? Ha! Definitely was lacking. I gave worksheets to some of the students who finished their nametags early... and they finished the worksheets before other students had even chosen an English name. This of course, left the faster students bored and ornery. To make things worse, I had forgotten to bring my microphone and stickers (rewards for good behavior) to class. My sweet plans and visions quickly crumbled. I was frustrated and disappointed... and definitely humbled. I had done a terrible job communicating to my co-teachers what I needed from them... and I didn't give very clear direction to my students. I had a difficult time transferring what was in my head to what I wanted to see happen.
After my third class of the morning, I was spent. I waited until much later to go to lunch in effort to try to collect myself. However, I started talking with one of my co-teachers (Kim Mi Ok - her desk is right next to mine) and ended up in tears... much to my embarrassment. Crying over a lesson plan? It seemed a little ridiculous to me... but I knew it was more than that. I had spent HOURS preparing and really was HOPING to get to know some of my 700+ students. I was wanting to show my students that I care about them. Instead, I got frustrated and upset. Kim Mi Ok was a good listener and did her best to encourage me.
I thought I had things under control until I went to lunch and Kim Yeong Chae (she's basically been like a mom to me here) asked me, Why did you wait to come to lunch, Holly? I was the last one to lunch and most everyone was already finished eating. She sat with me, though... and I started crying again! She was incredibly gentle and understanding though. She reminded me that when she first started teaching, she cried a lot because it was frustrating. She told me that Korean students are difficult to teach. She also reminded me that it was Monday morning and that students are normally not very well-behaved on Monday mornings. I'm so thankful to work with so many kind, nurturing, understanding women!
Thankfully, I had a break after lunch, so I had some time to pray and re-group. I adjusted my lesson plans significantly and things went much better after lunch.
Over all, I think the whole experience was good - the crying and all. I think it built bridges with some of my co-teachers and I noticed that they were especially helpful with discipline in the classroom. Also, I'm noticing that word certainly travels QUICKLY at Cheongryang Middle School among the teachers... at least in regards to the foreign teacher. I had one teacher email me Monday night because she had heard that I cried at school. It was thoughtful of her to send the email. The following morning, I attended the Korean Bible Study/Prayer time with some of the other Christian teachers and they prayed for me because they knew I had a rough Monday. It was an incredible blessing to have their love and support... and I totally see God working through it. (I'll have to share more about the Morning Bible Study another time - a completely different story!)
So, I'm thankful. I'm learning a lot. My lessons are going better for the most part. I'm still using "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music (when the computer works in the classroom). I'm still learning about the students - through their lists of favorite things. I'm not learning names (gave up on the nametags idea at least for the moment). I'm learning "hangman" is a great way to start class and gain the attention of all of the students. I'm learning that I really enjoy the 7th graders and their sweet innocence more than a lot of my 9th grade classes. I'm learning more and more what it means to love my students. Sometimes it is really difficult to be patient with them (particularly when they are falling asleep in class, smacking each other, throwing things across the room, yelling in Korean at each other, and/or refusing to participate). Most of all, I'm learning a whole new aspect of what it means to depend upon the Holy Spirit moment by moment... and NOT to depend on my limited teaching experiences.
Thanks for "listening." :)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Midnight Madness
On Saturday evening, I had an unexpected adventure... probably the most panicked incident I've had in Seoul thus far (and perhaps the only one that I can recall). I should back up, though. Saturday afternoon was lovely, despite the rain. Sara, Hil, Josie and I met up in Insadong to have a look at the tourist souvenirs and had our share of street food tasting. It was a lot of fun. Perhaps my highlight was sitting down at a coffee shop and just enjoying each others' company for hours. It was quite refreshing. I like those girls.
Saturday evening started off well. We decided to go visit Sara's apt. (out in the boonies). She invited us over for a movie night and was an excellent hostess... made a lovely fruit plate and made sure her guests were well taken care of. Hospitality is something I love and wish to do more of!
Anyway, around 11 p.m. I glanced at my watch and made a mental note, just thinking that it was going to be late when I got home (if you remember, in one of my previous posts, I mentioned that my self-appointed bedtime is generally around 10:30 these days), but the movie was still going. At 11:24 p.m. I looked at my watch again and suddenly realized that the subways close around midnight! I had completely forgotten about this element of getting back home earlier... so, we snapped the movie off immediately and three of us ran out the door to catch the subway as far as it would take us. (Remember, Sara and I live nearly an hour away from each other). As we waited for the subway (which seemed like an eternity), I realized a few things:
1) I only had 8,000 won on me (about $8.00).
2) I had accidentally left my subway map in my apt. (I ALWAYS have my subway map with me)
3) The subways close around midnight. I'm still unfamiliar with the bus routes.
I realized I would probably have to take a taxi. This made me extremely uncomfortable for the following reasons:
1) I didn't have enough cash for a taxi. They are much more expensive than buses & subways.
2) I usually feel VERY safe in Seoul, even when I am alone. However, I did NOT feel comfortable taking a taxi alone, particularly because I've heard some things about females taking taxis alone late at night.
I was scared... and kind of freaking out. Fortunately, Josie and Makeeya were still waiting at the subway stop with me. One subway zipped right by us with the lights all out. It didn't even stop. I was afraid that we had missed our chance. We waited for probably ten minutes until a subway that was still running picked us up (usually you only have to wait 2 minutes MAX). I was thankful to catch the subway, but knew it wouldn't take us all the way. However, I was still thankful for Josie, Makeeya and a random Korean American from Boston that we ran into. I also knew that the friends I had with me did not live near me... so I figured we'd be splitting up soon.
Makeeya got off a couple stops later. Josie, David (the Korean American - referred to as a kyopo here), and I stuck together until the subway stopped running. Then we looked for a bus route. Fortunately, both of them can read Hangul... I still need to learn how to read Korean! Since I live in a pretty central place, we figured I might be able to find a bus. All three of us ended up catching the same bus and Josie ended up going all the way to my apartment with me... which I was really thankful for. It was the easiest way for her to get home (I think)... and I was just thankful to have her with me!
So, we made it back to my place around 1 a.m. Much too late for this girl! Oh, did I mention that I also had to haul around my laptop throughout the whole thing because we were using it to watch Sara's movie? It just made me even more exhausted, I guess. Upon returning to my place of residence, I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief, praising God for His protection and grace... and somewhat ashamed that I flipped out instead of trusting Him to take care of me. (Did I really think that He got me all the way here to Korea only to leave me stranded on the streets at midnight?)
Anyway, I think I learned a lesson or two... I don't like being out late at night anyway... and now I have even more reason for being home at a decent time!
Saturday evening started off well. We decided to go visit Sara's apt. (out in the boonies). She invited us over for a movie night and was an excellent hostess... made a lovely fruit plate and made sure her guests were well taken care of. Hospitality is something I love and wish to do more of!
Anyway, around 11 p.m. I glanced at my watch and made a mental note, just thinking that it was going to be late when I got home (if you remember, in one of my previous posts, I mentioned that my self-appointed bedtime is generally around 10:30 these days), but the movie was still going. At 11:24 p.m. I looked at my watch again and suddenly realized that the subways close around midnight! I had completely forgotten about this element of getting back home earlier... so, we snapped the movie off immediately and three of us ran out the door to catch the subway as far as it would take us. (Remember, Sara and I live nearly an hour away from each other). As we waited for the subway (which seemed like an eternity), I realized a few things:
1) I only had 8,000 won on me (about $8.00).
2) I had accidentally left my subway map in my apt. (I ALWAYS have my subway map with me)
3) The subways close around midnight. I'm still unfamiliar with the bus routes.
I realized I would probably have to take a taxi. This made me extremely uncomfortable for the following reasons:
1) I didn't have enough cash for a taxi. They are much more expensive than buses & subways.
2) I usually feel VERY safe in Seoul, even when I am alone. However, I did NOT feel comfortable taking a taxi alone, particularly because I've heard some things about females taking taxis alone late at night.
I was scared... and kind of freaking out. Fortunately, Josie and Makeeya were still waiting at the subway stop with me. One subway zipped right by us with the lights all out. It didn't even stop. I was afraid that we had missed our chance. We waited for probably ten minutes until a subway that was still running picked us up (usually you only have to wait 2 minutes MAX). I was thankful to catch the subway, but knew it wouldn't take us all the way. However, I was still thankful for Josie, Makeeya and a random Korean American from Boston that we ran into. I also knew that the friends I had with me did not live near me... so I figured we'd be splitting up soon.
Makeeya got off a couple stops later. Josie, David (the Korean American - referred to as a kyopo here), and I stuck together until the subway stopped running. Then we looked for a bus route. Fortunately, both of them can read Hangul... I still need to learn how to read Korean! Since I live in a pretty central place, we figured I might be able to find a bus. All three of us ended up catching the same bus and Josie ended up going all the way to my apartment with me... which I was really thankful for. It was the easiest way for her to get home (I think)... and I was just thankful to have her with me!
So, we made it back to my place around 1 a.m. Much too late for this girl! Oh, did I mention that I also had to haul around my laptop throughout the whole thing because we were using it to watch Sara's movie? It just made me even more exhausted, I guess. Upon returning to my place of residence, I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief, praising God for His protection and grace... and somewhat ashamed that I flipped out instead of trusting Him to take care of me. (Did I really think that He got me all the way here to Korea only to leave me stranded on the streets at midnight?)
Anyway, I think I learned a lesson or two... I don't like being out late at night anyway... and now I have even more reason for being home at a decent time!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Whirlwind
That's my word for the week. Whirlwind! It's been a crazy week, but a good one.
Dried Squid Anyone?
I tried dried squid this week. I should have taken a picture! The baseball coach gave each teacher a bag of dried squid. One of the dear teachers that sits near me warmed it up for me and tore it up in strips so that I could taste it and eagerly watched me taste it (as she informed me that most Americans don't like it). Dried squid falls in the category of foods that I would never ever try on my own unless it was offered to me by a Korean... It is also one of the foods that I never plan on trying again! The smell is terrible (even the Koreans admit it). The consistency is kind of like chewing gum... except it is REALLY tough. I think I chewed a small piece for nearly 2 whole minutes before it was gone! Thankfully, the teacher (Moon Sangsaenim) only smiled when I gave her the rest of my dried squid. I figured I might as well give it to someone who will enjoy it... because otherwise it definitely would have gone to waste!
Health is on the Mend...
I'm feeling healthier! Thanks for your prayers. I still have a little bit of nasal congestion, but I feel like I can function much better! Special thanks goes to Miss Sara Nelson for coming to take care of me on Tuesday night! She brought me medicine, green tea, and REESES (a rare commodity around these parts)... along with a sweet card. What a good friend! :)
Unfortunately, my computer got a virus this week (both of us were sick together, I guess). I think one of the computers at school must have a virus on it because I think it got transferred from my jump drive. Norton Antivirus and I are becoming better friends (unfortunately Norton is someone you have to pay to be your friend). I think everything should be okay soon, though.
Mail!!!
This was my first week getting mail! I can't tell you how excited I was to see my room # on the white board! Two incredibly encouraging cards and a package from my Grandma - full of food! I celebrated with one of the macaroni & cheese packets that she sent. :)
Grocery Shopping Successfully Completed
Last night, my new friend Brianne (lives in my building) and I went to E-Mart together. It was a 4 hr. adventure! We made it to E-Mart just fine and had a great dinner together. Shopping went pretty well too. We did a lot of exploring because we wanted to have a general idea of what's available. I found bagels, wheat bread, yogurt, cheese (though it's kind of expensive), veggies, salt & pepper, cinnamon and some small household items. I was elated! The real adventure began on our way back... Somehow we managed to get on the train instead of the subway (both were above ground at this particular stop). After getting on & off several different railways, we finally made it back to Dongdaemun. We were both so glad to be together! It was definitely a good bonding experience. :) I'm really excited that Brianne lives in my building - she's super-sweet. I'm hoping we'll be able to share a lot of memories together this year!
Chuseok Lessons
Apparently the teachers really liked my lesson plans on Chuseok this week! I made a PowerPoint about a young Korean girl named Eun Hae and used it to introduce English vocabulary while explaining Chuseok traditions. I think the teachers liked it... and they asked me for a copy of it, which was encouraging to me. On Wednesday, I was so nervous about giving my lesson because I was basically teaching the Korean students about their own culture! It worked out well, though. We taught the students some vocab to hopefully equip them to explain Chuseok in English. Unfortunatley, 45 min. goes so quickly! So, we didn't get around to the dialogue for most of the classes. So, this next week, we'll review the dialogue. I'm hoping it doesn't take too much time to do the dialogue because I'm really excited about my lesson plans for this week! I'll share more about them later on... but I'm going to be incorporating some music from The King & I and The Sound of Music. Definitely excited.
I'm definitely learning to think on my feet! This morning during first period, I had some incredibly sleepy, uninterested teenagers. As I asked them to repeat vocabulary words, I barely saw their mouths moving and heads were bobbing. I couldn't help but laugh at their comatose state. It was killing me at the same time, though. I was pretty sure they weren't learning a thing. So, I finally stopped the ppt. (abruptly) and made them all stand up. I numbered them off in groups of 4 and made them stand the rest of the class. (I have to confess, as I was numbering them off, I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with the groups). However, we ended up playing a game with their vocab worksheets. Each team got 1 pt. for each team member that repeated the vocab word loud enough for me to hear. They received an additional 5 pts. for matching the vocab term with the correct definition. It was good for the teacher inside me to see them engaged. Hopefully they'll be more awake next time...
I really am loving teaching and I LOVE my school! I promise I'll try to share more about it!!! (thanks for reminding me Jana...)
Random Questions...
Is it weird that I am really excited about getting to recycle waterbottles, cardboard, etc.?
Is it wrong that I was slightly disappointed that we only had 3 days of school this week?
Does it mean I'm old if I give myself a 10:30 p.m. bedtime (at least on school nights... and maybe sometimes on the weekends...)?
Maybe yes... but I think I'm okay with it. I'm loving life!
Dried Squid Anyone?
I tried dried squid this week. I should have taken a picture! The baseball coach gave each teacher a bag of dried squid. One of the dear teachers that sits near me warmed it up for me and tore it up in strips so that I could taste it and eagerly watched me taste it (as she informed me that most Americans don't like it). Dried squid falls in the category of foods that I would never ever try on my own unless it was offered to me by a Korean... It is also one of the foods that I never plan on trying again! The smell is terrible (even the Koreans admit it). The consistency is kind of like chewing gum... except it is REALLY tough. I think I chewed a small piece for nearly 2 whole minutes before it was gone! Thankfully, the teacher (Moon Sangsaenim) only smiled when I gave her the rest of my dried squid. I figured I might as well give it to someone who will enjoy it... because otherwise it definitely would have gone to waste!
Health is on the Mend...
I'm feeling healthier! Thanks for your prayers. I still have a little bit of nasal congestion, but I feel like I can function much better! Special thanks goes to Miss Sara Nelson for coming to take care of me on Tuesday night! She brought me medicine, green tea, and REESES (a rare commodity around these parts)... along with a sweet card. What a good friend! :)
Unfortunately, my computer got a virus this week (both of us were sick together, I guess). I think one of the computers at school must have a virus on it because I think it got transferred from my jump drive. Norton Antivirus and I are becoming better friends (unfortunately Norton is someone you have to pay to be your friend). I think everything should be okay soon, though.
Mail!!!
This was my first week getting mail! I can't tell you how excited I was to see my room # on the white board! Two incredibly encouraging cards and a package from my Grandma - full of food! I celebrated with one of the macaroni & cheese packets that she sent. :)
Grocery Shopping Successfully Completed
Last night, my new friend Brianne (lives in my building) and I went to E-Mart together. It was a 4 hr. adventure! We made it to E-Mart just fine and had a great dinner together. Shopping went pretty well too. We did a lot of exploring because we wanted to have a general idea of what's available. I found bagels, wheat bread, yogurt, cheese (though it's kind of expensive), veggies, salt & pepper, cinnamon and some small household items. I was elated! The real adventure began on our way back... Somehow we managed to get on the train instead of the subway (both were above ground at this particular stop). After getting on & off several different railways, we finally made it back to Dongdaemun. We were both so glad to be together! It was definitely a good bonding experience. :) I'm really excited that Brianne lives in my building - she's super-sweet. I'm hoping we'll be able to share a lot of memories together this year!
Chuseok Lessons
Apparently the teachers really liked my lesson plans on Chuseok this week! I made a PowerPoint about a young Korean girl named Eun Hae and used it to introduce English vocabulary while explaining Chuseok traditions. I think the teachers liked it... and they asked me for a copy of it, which was encouraging to me. On Wednesday, I was so nervous about giving my lesson because I was basically teaching the Korean students about their own culture! It worked out well, though. We taught the students some vocab to hopefully equip them to explain Chuseok in English. Unfortunatley, 45 min. goes so quickly! So, we didn't get around to the dialogue for most of the classes. So, this next week, we'll review the dialogue. I'm hoping it doesn't take too much time to do the dialogue because I'm really excited about my lesson plans for this week! I'll share more about them later on... but I'm going to be incorporating some music from The King & I and The Sound of Music. Definitely excited.
I'm definitely learning to think on my feet! This morning during first period, I had some incredibly sleepy, uninterested teenagers. As I asked them to repeat vocabulary words, I barely saw their mouths moving and heads were bobbing. I couldn't help but laugh at their comatose state. It was killing me at the same time, though. I was pretty sure they weren't learning a thing. So, I finally stopped the ppt. (abruptly) and made them all stand up. I numbered them off in groups of 4 and made them stand the rest of the class. (I have to confess, as I was numbering them off, I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with the groups). However, we ended up playing a game with their vocab worksheets. Each team got 1 pt. for each team member that repeated the vocab word loud enough for me to hear. They received an additional 5 pts. for matching the vocab term with the correct definition. It was good for the teacher inside me to see them engaged. Hopefully they'll be more awake next time...
I really am loving teaching and I LOVE my school! I promise I'll try to share more about it!!! (thanks for reminding me Jana...)
Random Questions...
Is it weird that I am really excited about getting to recycle waterbottles, cardboard, etc.?
Is it wrong that I was slightly disappointed that we only had 3 days of school this week?
Does it mean I'm old if I give myself a 10:30 p.m. bedtime (at least on school nights... and maybe sometimes on the weekends...)?
Maybe yes... but I think I'm okay with it. I'm loving life!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Invisible Ticket: In Memory of Dr. Liz Hossler
I cannot express to you all how many times I praise the Lord for you. Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for caring about what's going on. Thank you for the mark you've left and are leaving on my life. Your prayers mean so much to me.
I would like to dedicate this particular blog post to one (of many) who has significanly influenced my life: Dr. Elizabeth Hossler. Last night I received word that Dr. Hossler, my adviser throughout my 4 years at Bethel College went home to be with the Lord on Thursday evening (9/11/08). She battled with cancer for a number of years, but had incredible faith that God would heal her. He finally has brought her healing and freedom from pain! I was informed that the memorial service was held Tuesday afternoon. My, how I wish I could have been there! Liz has had such an incredible influence upon my life.
During our advising appointments, though paying attention to the meticulous details to be sure I'd be ready for graduation, she was even more concerned with my life and how God was working in my heart.
I'll never forget the "invisible ticket" she gave me my freshmen year of college. At that time, I was incredibly anxious and worried about choosing a major and figuring out my life. I was definitely wound pretty tight! She handed me an "invisible ticket" with the words, I don't have to decide today. Liz was so great about putting things into perspective for me! From time to time, when I was trying to make a particular decision (whether it be related to career, friendships, being a resident assistant, boys, summer plans, classes, or something else), she would gently ask me with a slight (sometimes mischievious) grin, Are you still holding on to that ticket?
My senior year, both Liz and I noticed that I had definitely become more "relaxed" since my freshmen year. Liz made a comment like, Wow, this isn't the tightly wound, anxious Holly Birkey I knew four years ago! It was an exciting moment.
When I returned to Bethel after studying abroad my final semester, I was informed that Liz was not doing well at all. She wasn't able to teach her classes or advise her students because of her stage of cancer. I am so thankful for the privilege I had to visit her in her home before graduation! Though the visit was short (she was incredibly weak, thin, and pale... not bursting with life like the Liz I knew) and the drive was kind of long, it was so worth it! We caught up briefly... and of course she asked me: So Holly, are you still holding onto that ticket? When she asked me, I pulled out a little box I had bought for her while I was in China. When I gave it to her, I began to explain. It's empy Liz because...
I know, the invisible ticket, right?
Yes Liz, I've still got that ticket with me! I'll always keep it with me. I'll miss you. Thanks so much for caring. Thanks for taking me to Pizza Hut the summer after freshmen year. Thanks for asking me to stop by your office just to catch up. Thanks for helping me relax and enjoy life. Thanks for being a great listener. Thanks for our prayer times at the beginning of each class. Thanks for being okay with me not liking Psych Measurement. Thanks for being okay with me not planning to go to grad. school right out of college. So thankful that you're celebrating with our Lord right now! Looking forward to seeing you when I get HOME!
Note: I apologize for the emotional-ness of this post... kind of. I would like it to be more polished, but I wanted to write while things were fresh on my mind. I'm so thankful for the faculty and staff at Bethel College! What an incredible impact you all have had on my life... I wouldn't be here in South Korea if it weren't for you! Same goes to my incredible family and dear friends. I feel like I could dedicate countless more blog posts! Know that I love you all... and miss you dearly!!!
I would like to dedicate this particular blog post to one (of many) who has significanly influenced my life: Dr. Elizabeth Hossler. Last night I received word that Dr. Hossler, my adviser throughout my 4 years at Bethel College went home to be with the Lord on Thursday evening (9/11/08). She battled with cancer for a number of years, but had incredible faith that God would heal her. He finally has brought her healing and freedom from pain! I was informed that the memorial service was held Tuesday afternoon. My, how I wish I could have been there! Liz has had such an incredible influence upon my life.
During our advising appointments, though paying attention to the meticulous details to be sure I'd be ready for graduation, she was even more concerned with my life and how God was working in my heart.
I'll never forget the "invisible ticket" she gave me my freshmen year of college. At that time, I was incredibly anxious and worried about choosing a major and figuring out my life. I was definitely wound pretty tight! She handed me an "invisible ticket" with the words, I don't have to decide today. Liz was so great about putting things into perspective for me! From time to time, when I was trying to make a particular decision (whether it be related to career, friendships, being a resident assistant, boys, summer plans, classes, or something else), she would gently ask me with a slight (sometimes mischievious) grin, Are you still holding on to that ticket?
My senior year, both Liz and I noticed that I had definitely become more "relaxed" since my freshmen year. Liz made a comment like, Wow, this isn't the tightly wound, anxious Holly Birkey I knew four years ago! It was an exciting moment.
When I returned to Bethel after studying abroad my final semester, I was informed that Liz was not doing well at all. She wasn't able to teach her classes or advise her students because of her stage of cancer. I am so thankful for the privilege I had to visit her in her home before graduation! Though the visit was short (she was incredibly weak, thin, and pale... not bursting with life like the Liz I knew) and the drive was kind of long, it was so worth it! We caught up briefly... and of course she asked me: So Holly, are you still holding onto that ticket? When she asked me, I pulled out a little box I had bought for her while I was in China. When I gave it to her, I began to explain. It's empy Liz because...
I know, the invisible ticket, right?
Yes Liz, I've still got that ticket with me! I'll always keep it with me. I'll miss you. Thanks so much for caring. Thanks for taking me to Pizza Hut the summer after freshmen year. Thanks for asking me to stop by your office just to catch up. Thanks for helping me relax and enjoy life. Thanks for being a great listener. Thanks for our prayer times at the beginning of each class. Thanks for being okay with me not liking Psych Measurement. Thanks for being okay with me not planning to go to grad. school right out of college. So thankful that you're celebrating with our Lord right now! Looking forward to seeing you when I get HOME!
Note: I apologize for the emotional-ness of this post... kind of. I would like it to be more polished, but I wanted to write while things were fresh on my mind. I'm so thankful for the faculty and staff at Bethel College! What an incredible impact you all have had on my life... I wouldn't be here in South Korea if it weren't for you! Same goes to my incredible family and dear friends. I feel like I could dedicate countless more blog posts! Know that I love you all... and miss you dearly!!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Chuseok Sunday
Mountain climbing on Saturday definitely wiped me out. As I mentioned in my last post, I woke up feeling not-so-great. I decided to push through, hoping that my wonderful Chuseok plans would not be affected too greatly...
So, Sara and I visited Sarang Community Church on Sunday morning. Because of Chuseok, I think a lot of people were missing. We also attended the traditional service, so there weren't as many people our age there. We are considering going back for a second visit later on. We also saw another teacher from our SMOE orientation there, so we grabbed lunch with him after church. It was nice to related with another westerner, once again.
After lunch, Sara and I scurried to meet one of my dear co-teachers, Kim Kyung Han. She offered to show us around the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Since it was Chuseok, the gate entrance was waved, so we were able to enjoy a free afternoon. Visiting the Palace reminded me a lot of The Forbidden City in China, although the Gyeongbokgung is quite a bit smaller (quite pleasant, though).
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Sara, Kim Kyung Han, and me! Kim Kyung Han is so sweet and such a gracious hostess! Every time we had a question about something she was unsure of, she went and found people to ask so that she could give us the right information. She was also incredibly thoughtful and caring. I am so thankful I get to work with her every day!
Pictured inside one of the buildings... I'm not exactly sure what it was used for though. (Sorry...)
I believe this building was called Gyeonghoeru. It's a two-story building that was used for royal banquets and kind of looks like it is floating on the lovely, peaceful pond (special thanks goes to my tour booklet). :)
This was actually a "parade" that we got to see while we were there. I'm not exactly sure what happened (because it was all in Korean), but we got to see lots of soldiers marching around, got startled by a loud drum (twice), and decided we were really thankful that we didn't have to wear the heavy soldier uniforms on such a hot day!
Here we got to take a picture with one of the soldiers. I'm not sure if you can tell, but I'm pretty sure I closed my eyes accidentally. I decided to post this picture because I thought it was hilarious how obviously scared I was to get too close to that guy! Definitely one of the bigger Koreans I've seen!
Nice background, huh?
We had planned on visiting the National Palace Museum of Korea, but didn't get much further than the coffee shop in the basement. Kyung Han taught us some more Korean (which Sara is doing really well with, by the way) and I did my best to give my full attention. The headache made it really difficult to concentrate. So, eventually, I had to excuse myself and go back to my apt.
I actually teared up a little bit because my Mom always does such a good job taking care of me when I'm "sick"... and she's not here! But Sara took good care of me. She went back to my apt. with me and gave me a much-needed back rub. We had some really refreshing conversations, prayer time, and shared some galbi dinner before she went home.
I feel like I should probably explain Chuseok a little more... but I don't really feel like doing another blog post about it right now. [Sorry] If you would like to learn more about it, I can send you the ppt. that I am using for my classroom this week (my students are going to learn how to describe Chuseok in English). The basic idea of Chuseok: it's a time to be thankful!
So, I'm incredibly thankful for all the Lord is doing, has done and is going to do. I'm thankful for Kyung Han Kim and Sara. I'm thankful for His provision for me even in the midst of my sickness (last week, some of the teachers gave me chicken noodle soup and Kleenex boxes... and they of course didn't even know that I was going to be sick)! As I sit here with Kleenex tissues surrounding me, Benadryl tablets, and a cup of orange juice in front of me, I must admit that it's a little more challenging to be thankful for the sickness. But, I've gotten lots of extra time to rest since we had Monday and Tuesday off from school due to Chuseok. So, even though my plans to go visit Meido Island with Hil this weekend had to be cancelled, I'm thankful for some built-in time to rest and take it easy.
More to come later...
So, Sara and I visited Sarang Community Church on Sunday morning. Because of Chuseok, I think a lot of people were missing. We also attended the traditional service, so there weren't as many people our age there. We are considering going back for a second visit later on. We also saw another teacher from our SMOE orientation there, so we grabbed lunch with him after church. It was nice to related with another westerner, once again.
After lunch, Sara and I scurried to meet one of my dear co-teachers, Kim Kyung Han. She offered to show us around the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Since it was Chuseok, the gate entrance was waved, so we were able to enjoy a free afternoon. Visiting the Palace reminded me a lot of The Forbidden City in China, although the Gyeongbokgung is quite a bit smaller (quite pleasant, though).
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Sara, Kim Kyung Han, and me! Kim Kyung Han is so sweet and such a gracious hostess! Every time we had a question about something she was unsure of, she went and found people to ask so that she could give us the right information. She was also incredibly thoughtful and caring. I am so thankful I get to work with her every day!
Pictured inside one of the buildings... I'm not exactly sure what it was used for though. (Sorry...)
I believe this building was called Gyeonghoeru. It's a two-story building that was used for royal banquets and kind of looks like it is floating on the lovely, peaceful pond (special thanks goes to my tour booklet). :)
This was actually a "parade" that we got to see while we were there. I'm not exactly sure what happened (because it was all in Korean), but we got to see lots of soldiers marching around, got startled by a loud drum (twice), and decided we were really thankful that we didn't have to wear the heavy soldier uniforms on such a hot day!
Here we got to take a picture with one of the soldiers. I'm not sure if you can tell, but I'm pretty sure I closed my eyes accidentally. I decided to post this picture because I thought it was hilarious how obviously scared I was to get too close to that guy! Definitely one of the bigger Koreans I've seen!
Nice background, huh?
We had planned on visiting the National Palace Museum of Korea, but didn't get much further than the coffee shop in the basement. Kyung Han taught us some more Korean (which Sara is doing really well with, by the way) and I did my best to give my full attention. The headache made it really difficult to concentrate. So, eventually, I had to excuse myself and go back to my apt.
I actually teared up a little bit because my Mom always does such a good job taking care of me when I'm "sick"... and she's not here! But Sara took good care of me. She went back to my apt. with me and gave me a much-needed back rub. We had some really refreshing conversations, prayer time, and shared some galbi dinner before she went home.
I feel like I should probably explain Chuseok a little more... but I don't really feel like doing another blog post about it right now. [Sorry] If you would like to learn more about it, I can send you the ppt. that I am using for my classroom this week (my students are going to learn how to describe Chuseok in English). The basic idea of Chuseok: it's a time to be thankful!
So, I'm incredibly thankful for all the Lord is doing, has done and is going to do. I'm thankful for Kyung Han Kim and Sara. I'm thankful for His provision for me even in the midst of my sickness (last week, some of the teachers gave me chicken noodle soup and Kleenex boxes... and they of course didn't even know that I was going to be sick)! As I sit here with Kleenex tissues surrounding me, Benadryl tablets, and a cup of orange juice in front of me, I must admit that it's a little more challenging to be thankful for the sickness. But, I've gotten lots of extra time to rest since we had Monday and Tuesday off from school due to Chuseok. So, even though my plans to go visit Meido Island with Hil this weekend had to be cancelled, I'm thankful for some built-in time to rest and take it easy.
More to come later...
Monday, September 15, 2008
Dobongsan
Saturday afternoon, I met up with some of my friends from SMOE orientation to go mountain climbing. It turned out to be quite an adventure!
At the beginning of our adventure... unaware of what exactly we were getting ourselves into. You can see our mountain, Dobongsan in the background.
(Me, Kenneth, Josie, Sarah, & Sara... Taryn is behind the camera)
Trekking up Dobongsan...
Break #1 (of MANY!)
When I saw this picture that Taryn took, I couldn't help but think of the amazing Creator we have! "For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him." -Psalm 95:3-4
Another break... the man standing up wearing the white shirt is named David. He was a kind Korean that decided to hike up the mountain with us, practicing his English, taking pictures for us, timing our breaks, motivating us to keep moving, and giving us lots of encouragement. He was very sweet.
A small glimpse of what we found ourselves up against...
We were all pretty pleased with our group picture at this particular break...
Beautiful!
Kind of looks like we're flying... we should have put our arms in the air!
Made it to the top!
Seoul
Breathtaking, huh? It's so encouraging to know that the God who put these mountains into place is the God who loves me and allows me to experience the joy of knowing Him each day!
I definitely had a great time. I enjoyed our numerous breaks, being able to relate with each other as English teachers in Korea, laughing about random things, eating chocolate, and being amazed by the beauty of God's incredible creation. It was incredibly exhausting though! We had planned to have pancakes at Josie's afterward. I was so tired after Dobangsan, I decided to go back to my apt. and rest up. It was a good thing I did... Sunday morning I woke up with a bad headache and sore throat. Little bit of a cold...
At the beginning of our adventure... unaware of what exactly we were getting ourselves into. You can see our mountain, Dobongsan in the background.
(Me, Kenneth, Josie, Sarah, & Sara... Taryn is behind the camera)
Trekking up Dobongsan...
Break #1 (of MANY!)
When I saw this picture that Taryn took, I couldn't help but think of the amazing Creator we have! "For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him." -Psalm 95:3-4
Another break... the man standing up wearing the white shirt is named David. He was a kind Korean that decided to hike up the mountain with us, practicing his English, taking pictures for us, timing our breaks, motivating us to keep moving, and giving us lots of encouragement. He was very sweet.
A small glimpse of what we found ourselves up against...
We were all pretty pleased with our group picture at this particular break...
Beautiful!
Kind of looks like we're flying... we should have put our arms in the air!
Made it to the top!
Seoul
Breathtaking, huh? It's so encouraging to know that the God who put these mountains into place is the God who loves me and allows me to experience the joy of knowing Him each day!
I definitely had a great time. I enjoyed our numerous breaks, being able to relate with each other as English teachers in Korea, laughing about random things, eating chocolate, and being amazed by the beauty of God's incredible creation. It was incredibly exhausting though! We had planned to have pancakes at Josie's afterward. I was so tired after Dobangsan, I decided to go back to my apt. and rest up. It was a good thing I did... Sunday morning I woke up with a bad headache and sore throat. Little bit of a cold...
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