Blast from the Past - 1996

Now that Sara is back home and I'm still here in Korea, we've started writing letters back and forth again (the old-fashioned way). We first started exchanging letters way back in 1996 - when our friendship was just beginning. In the package she recently sent me, she included a bunch of old letters that I sent to her. As I started reading through the things we used to write back and forth, I could hardly contain my giggles. Fourteen years brings a lot of changes...

Here's the first letter I ever wrote to her, postmarked May 15, 1996:

Dear Sara,

I hope you like our school next year. We had a lot of fun with our teacher this year.

How many brothers and sisters do you have? I have 3 brothers. Zachary is 8 years old and in 2nd grade. Joshie (I forgot we used to call him that!) is 4 years old and Caleb is going to be 3 in August. I don't have any sisters (Emmie wasn't even born yet!).

What church do you go to? We go to NLCF.

Do you play an instrument? I play the piano and Mrs. Sherill (our music teacher) made us learn to play the recorder.

I have a piano recital at school May 16 (tomorrow). I hope I do a good job and don't make any mistakes. Last year I made a mistake. This year I'm playing 2 songs from Little Suite in Baroque Style. There is four songs in it, but I didn't get to the other 2 songs this year.

I have a softball game Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and a game Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

What kind of books do you read? I like to read mysteries, Mandie books, Anne of Green Gables books, and books by Janette Oke, June Masters Bacher, and Lois Walfrid Johnson. I like to read Elizabeth Gail books too.

When do you get out of school? We get out May 30, Friday.

Do you have an American Girl magazine? I have a bunch of magazines you could borrow them if you want. Do you have the calendar and posters? I do, you could look at them if you want to.

What you like to spend your time on? I read, play with a girl in my neighborhood, help my mom clean, watch movies and T.V., play school with my brother, and play office with my friends or brother.

What are your favorite T.V. shows? Mine are Full House, Family Matters, and Hanging with Mr. Cooper. I sometimes like to watch cartoons. What are your favorite movies? I have a lot of favorite movies, but I don't know if I could tell you all of them, it would take forever.

Does your mom work? My mom doesn't work. Well, she works at home. She likes to be there when we get out of school or if we need her to come to school if we forget our things, she can most of the time come if she does not have a really busy day.

Do you buy your lunch at your school? We only can buy our lunch on Fridays at school. We have to turn-in our order form by Wednesday morning.

I hope we can see each other soon!!

Your new friend,

Holly

P.S. What is your middle name? Mine is Nicole. Bye :)

Never in my wildest dreams (especially at 10 years old!) would I have dreamt that 13/14 years later Sara and I would spend 18 months together in South Korea, of all places. God has truly blessed me with a treasure of a friend! Although I sure do miss her now, I cherish the time we were able to spend together in Korea and look forward to spending more time together again soon!

Hanging by a Moment

Over Christmas, Kate and Paul sent me a mix of fun songs, one of which was titled, "Hanging by a Moment" by Lifehouse. The lyrics of the song finally sunk in this evening, as I was hiking around the lovely little mountain behind my apartment building.

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer to where I started
Chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely incomplete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me now...

I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

There's nothing else to lose
There's nothing else to find
There's nothing in the world
That can change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
There is nothing else

I'm so thankful for these sweet moments to hang onto - falling more in love with HIM.

O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.
-Psalm 59:17

Speaking Tests, Volleyball, & Cherry Blossoms

That's the abbreviated version of my day yesterday. For more details, read below:

I'm giving speaking tests this week to my students. Each student has 1.5 minutes to demonstrate his/her speaking ability and earn up to 20 of their 100 possible points for their English grade this semester. Pretty intimidating for most of them. (Note: This is the only time I'm able to give grades to my students. The Korean English teachers factor in the speaking test with the rest of the assignments/tests of the semester).

This year, I stressed to my students that I really want them to be as creative as possible. I got so tired of hearing the same thing 350+ times last year. I'm thankful that I was able to have more input in the test content and procedures this year, as opposed to last year. We chose more useful questions and phrases that students might actually be able to use in the future! Although it's not as much of a speaking test as it is a "memory" test, I think the students are learning. As a former psych major, there are still parts of this test that make me cringe. However, steps of progress are being made! [Perhaps I should write a more thorough reflection and place it in my emerging teacher's portfolio]...

After a long day of giving tests, I practiced volleyball for about 30-45 minutes with a few other teachers from my school. We're getting ready for the annual district volleyball tournament. I played last year and had a great time. This year I was hardly even given the option not to play. After another lesson on cultural differences, I'm honored to be playing on the team again. Our first game is next Monday.

Since the weather was so nice when I was practicing for volleyball, I felt inspired to spontaneously go to see the cherry blossoms with one of my co-teachers. We've been talking about it a lot recently. She asked me again yesterday to go, and although I was planning to spend the evening at home, I just couldn't resist the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful evening with my friend and co-teacher. I'm glad I went. We went to Yunjungno, a street lined with cherry blossoms in Yeoido (also home of the largest church in the world - Yeoido Full Gospel Church).

Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me, since this was a spontaneous venture. The good news is, I'm not the only one who likes to take pictures of cherry blossoms in Yeoido:


So thankful for these beautiful spring days...

Welcome Back

Tuesday was a long day for me. Since my flight was delayed from Japan to Seoul, I didn't get back to my apartment until nearly 2 a.m. I slept for about 4 hours, then went to school for a FULL day of teaching - 7 total classes. Needless to say, I was exhausted. I think I visited the teacher's nap room twice - to sneak in a couple of 10 minute power naps.

Although the day was crammed full, I was really blessed by the thoughtfulness of one of my students, Ha-Young. Before I went home, I taught a lesson about Easter. Ha-Young had been particularly touched by the lesson. Upon my return to school on Tuesday, she presented me with this:



So sweet.

Wonderful Whirlwind

Arrived Friday, April 2 at 4:45 p.m. Greeted with roses from Mom. Attended Good Friday service. Played Wii for the first time. Bought lots of Easter candy for my students. Ate Mom's homemade PIZZA. Celebrated Josh's birthday. Went Shopping. Celebrated Easter Sunday. Caught up with amazing family members. Ate homemade cheesecake. Drove to Purdue with Zac, Josh, & Mom. Encouraged by Proverbs 23:18. Hope & Panera. Visited Korean food store. Made 된장찌개 (Dwenjang chigae - Korean soybean paste soup) with Sara. Lunch at Hacienda with my parents. River walk with my lovely family. Ice cream at Coldstone. Tasted Victorian Pantry's delicious Walnut Roast coffee. Sweet deals at a consignment shop. Made sweet potato burritos with Kate & Liz. Lovely phone chat with Jana Alexis. Wedding Rehearsal Dinner. Kate's personal shower. Met Kate's awesome husband. Pizza King. Got my hair done up. Had a ball being Kate's maid-of-honor. Celebrated the marriage of Paul & Katie Cronenwett!!! Enjoyed Caleb's baseball games. Got sunburned. Ate Chick-fil-A. Played Apples to Apples. Looked at Emma's China pictures. Heard lots of country music. Tears. Departed on Sunday, April 11 at 11:25 a.m.

Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Proverbs 23:18, ESV

Travels, Travels, Travels

Well, 2010 has certainly turned out to be pretty eventful with travels thus far!
January 12-21: Trip to Turkey
February 12-21: Trip to China with Sara
(no the parallel dates were not intentional, though I like the way it worked out...)
March: actually stayed in ONE country... even the same city the whole time!
April: Trip home for Easter & Kate's wedding

About the April trip...
It's amazing how the Lord has demonstrated His provision to me this year. When I found out about Kate's wedding, I desperately wanted to go, but was afraid it wouldn't work out for several reasons, particularly finances, vacation days, and teaching. God has demonstrated His provision for this trip in so many ways... I'll be working on the list while I'm on the plane tomorrow.^^

It truly is a miracle that my principal gave me permission to go, especially since it's during the regular school year. It's pretty much unheard of to get days off like that. All of the teachers at my school have been in shock - so surprised that I actually get to go. God has really lavished His favor... I'm so thankful.

The timing is really perfect - Easter weekend, spring break with (most of) my family, and Kate's wedding!!! I only wish that there was more time to catch up with everyone I've been missing...

Well, speaking of time, I think it's about time for me to get some rest so that I can avoid jet lag as much as possible!^^

Transitioning to a New Season

I've been anxiously awaiting spring here in Seoul, and I think it's finally almost here! When I first started to see flower buds on the trees a couple of weeks ago, I was overwhelmed with anticipation. I'm so ready for spring!!!

Random things that have happened over the past month:
- Said good-bye to Sara
- Started a new school year with 350 new students, 350 former students, 2 new co-teachers,and four former co-teachers
- got to re-connect with some former teachers over dinner
- learned to send text messages in Korean
- had an "extreme makeover" sermon series at OEM (my church)
- started reading Keith Green's biography, No Compromise
- tasted cactus chocolate
- hosted a birthday party at my place
- it snowed three times (after I thought spring already came)
- experienced God's amazing provision (once again) through a dear friend at church. I inherited a bunch of clothes from her sister... God is amazing - He knows EXACTLY what I need!
- received a drive-through campus tour of Seoul National University via a friend who works on campus
- celebrated the baptism of a former small group member
- learned how to cook 된장찌개 (dwen-jang-chi gae; a bean-paste soup) from my Korean "big sister"
- taught my students how to answer the question, "How are you?" without responding, "I'mfinethankyouandyou!"
- noticed my little rose bush beginning to grow wildly (and begging for a bigger pot!)
- attended a former small group member's long-awaited wedding
- tasted chrysanthemum tea
- started teaching an elite class one night each week
- taught my 3rd graders about Easter
- prepared a speaking test for 1st & 3rd graders (to be taken in a couple of weeks)

Although this month started out pretty rough, I'm really thankful for God's faithfulness and provision. There have been so many blessings, amidst the many challenges.
Looking forward spring...