tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70058397252256505392024-03-14T01:37:44.601+09:00Adventures in KoreaChristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-22096113033180675402014-09-10T20:09:00.000+09:002014-09-10T21:28:09.116+09:00"He Restores My Soul"<br />
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For many years, I never cared much for the beach. With it came the hassle of lugging towels and food and a change of clothes and shoes, all of which would get covered in sand in the process. Even eating was rather unappealing, as grits of sand would inevitably end up somewhere in my food and later in my mouth. Swimming meant that with every wave, salt would burn my eyes, and after swimming for too long, I'd start to swallow the salty water and feel sick. And as my imagination wandered, guessing what could be swimming around with me in the murky water, I decided to get out for a while and take a walk along the shoreline. I always was walking around with dirty feet, trying to protect them from broken shells, glass, crabs, jellyfish, and anything else that could damage them along the shore. And even when it was time to go and I washed them, sand would still find me and squish between my toes and flap between my flip flops, causing some discomfort and irritation. Showering afterward back at the hotel was the best part of the experience, when all of the sand collected in unexpected areas came off, and I was completely clean again and could also eat food without worrying about grits of sand.</div>
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But this year.....my opinion of the beach changed drastically.</div>
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Living in one of the biggest cities in the world, surrounded by noise, air pollution, light pollution, merely manmade things, and a hustle and bustle one could never imagine without experiencing it, led me to appreciate nature in a way that I never had before. Last year I took up hiking as my escape from the city, but this year, it has been the sea.</div>
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There is something very special about the sea and all the little islands I've visited in Korea. They have taught me to love what I used to hate. Now I regal to take off my socks and shoes and squish my toes into the sandy shore and wade out into the sea, whether or not I have a change of clothes available or an opportunity to wash off the dirtiness of it all. I have sudden urges to swim, and when I am able to do so, an indescribable joy arises within my heart. Granted, in Korea, I can see what lies below, and it is nothing but lovely water and sand filled with shells and crabs--that or lots of mossy rocks, mussels, and seaweed.</div>
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The silence and tranquility I can experience walking down the seashore, listening to seagulls, watching children learn how to fish, and petting puppies here and there refresh my spirit. The peacefulness of the cool breeze running through my hair and refreshing my lungs with its purity gives me great pleasure. The slowly rolling waves and a walk along the shore at sunrise or sunset thrill my soul....they thrill all that within is crying out for what it has been deprived of for so long. Nature. Now the dirtiness doesn't seem dirty....it has become a welcome reality of nature. And watching the clouds and sky fill with colors at the rising or setting of the sun reminds me of God's continual love for humanity. Although we have so damaged this world, one thing we have no ability to damage or take away is the sunrise and sunset. It it His new creation every day, filled with beauty in His expressions of love. How often do we take the time to look up--to see this wondrous act of nature--and remember its Creator--<i>our</i> Creator? </div>
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Now the words of the Psalmist have come to mean more to me....they have come alive to me: "He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul" (from Psalm 23).<br />
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*I took these pictures at Seonjae Island in Korea (West Sea).</div>
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Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-1042651920471179782013-12-19T13:54:00.001+09:002013-12-19T14:04:13.106+09:00America-struckEvery missionary has a thing or two to say about reverse culture shock. There's something to it. People who have never experienced working in the mission field abroad simply cannot understand the feelings and thoughts that go through the mind of a returning missionary. Here are a few things (mostly frivolous) that struck me after coming back from Korea and re-assimilating into USA life. Some things are positive, and some are negative. That's just the way it is. (I'll be going back to Korea in a few weeks, so it'll be interesting to see if it all hits me again in some way or another...)<br />
<br />
Upon arriving at the airport in the USA, I noted the following:<br />
"Where are all the Koreans?"<br />
"How are there so many blonde-haired, blue-eyed children??? I've always told the Koreans that that was a generalization."<br />
"Wow. I can understand every conversation around me! I'm not too thrilled about that, though. :P I'm already tired of hearing this woman complain about her job to her coworkers."<br />
"Everyone is sooooo kind and helpful.....and talkative."<br />
<br />
After almost falling asleep waiting for my connecting plane to arrive at my gate, a lady working at the gate came up to me and apologetically asked, "Are you going to Dalton?" But I heard, "Are you going to Daejeon?" Daejeon is a city in Korea. I told her no, and thankfully, I wasn't going to Dalton because I was so tired, I could've been mistaken.<br />
<br />
After landing at my small, local airport:<br />
"Where is everybody????"<br />
<br />
While riding home in my mom's car:<br />
"It's sooooo dark. Where are all the lights? It's dangerous to drive like this."<br />
"Wow! There's so much nature....so much space between buildings....so much land. Only one-story buildings???!!"<br />
"Where are all the cars? It's only 10:30 pm."<br />
<br />
After arriving at my house and getting ready for bed:<br />
"It's sooo cold. Are you sure the heat is on? What's the temperature??"<br />
"My bed is so high off the floor! I feel like a queen up here. I practically have to climb to get up here."<br />
"Where can I put my shoes? I shouldn't walk with them through the house."<br />
<br />
After eating Western food for the first few times:<br />
"This is sooooo salty! You could get a heart attack if you ate too much of this."<br />
"Why does this have so much oil?"<br />
"Ugh. That's tooooo sweet!"<br />
"Ah, I still love Mexican food. REAL Mexican food. But yes, it's salty and oily. :("<br />
"I think I forgot how to use a fork...."<br />
"Ew....city water. :P"<br />
<br />
While eating Korean curry or tteokbokki with my mom and friends:<br />
"Are you sure this is spicy?? I can't taste anything!! Just potatoes. :P"<br />
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After shopping in Walmart and Sam's Club:</div>
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"Where are the escalators?"</div>
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"Wow! EVERYTHING is on one floor!!!"</div>
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"No free samples?? :("</div>
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"Where are all the employees? I have a question. Why can't I find someone to help me??"</div>
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"Aw, no exercise music. :(" (Many Korean businesses such as these play exercise music intermittently for the employees to exercise in unison. It's so funny to watch! I love it.)</div>
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Gradual observations:<br />
The American accent is strong. I think I lost a bit of my accent in Korea...<br />
Oh yeah, I have to pay tip....even though American restaurant waiters don't do much more than Korean ones.<br />
Taxes?? I wish they'd already counted that in the price. I thought it really was $1.99. :P<br />
It's so quiet and dark at night, and there are STARS! :D<br />
I have way too much free time. It's easy to get bored.<br />
Nature is EVERYWHERE. :D<br />
Internet, especially free wireless internet, is so hard to find!!!<br />
I have to drive if I want to do something...anything.... :(<br />
Everyone invites me to their home. Yay for comfortable, friendly home gatherings. :)<br />
HUGS!!!!!!!! I love hugs. :D<br />
And VOLLEYBALL!!!<br />
Why did it snow two weeks ago, and now it's 68 degrees Fahrenheit?? in December??<br />
Asking "How old are you?" is a taboo question....got to remember that.<br />
Strangers smile at me and say "Hello." This is weird....but kind of nice. :)<br />
Ah, a REAL church Bible study!!! So refreshing. :) And the songs and service are allllll in English. Real English! And I'm learning new things!!!<br />
Wow. I have a lot more friends than I thought I did!<br />
Why are there Christmas decorations up already??? (in November) Why do Americans decorate so much for Christmas?? What is the point of this holiday? Where did this tradition really come from??<br />
Hurray for a REAL massage and a chiropractic adjustment! Sigh. :)<br />
A bathtub!!! I forgot about those.<br />
Yay! No more squat toilets. And bathrooms smell so much better when the toilet paper is flushed.<br />
Why don't we have a separate trash bag for food?<br />
You mean there's <i>not</i> a button I need to press to turn on the hot water?Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-86268242769602641822013-11-04T01:15:00.000+09:002013-11-21T07:31:05.006+09:00How Korea Has Changed MeFourteen months have passed since I came to Korea. Initially I planned to only stay for six months. Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching, and so is my homecoming, as I am planning to be home at that time. Thinking about going home has filled me with eagerness but also with some trepidation. I have changed a lot since coming here. Perhaps I won't fit in quite the same mold when I come back, but I don't necessarily need to, do I? I have also adapted to Korean culture and become comfortable with it....and with rarely hearing my own language spoken fluently. You know, I didn't really experience much culture shock in coming here, but I'm thinking that I might have a significant amount of reverse culture shock upon my return. We shall see.....<br />
<br />
With these thoughts in mind, I decided it might be wise to compile a list of ways that I have changed since coming here for those who will interact with me upon my return. Please don't be offended if I do or say something you do not expect when we meet again. I will likely be oblivious to the fact. Just know that I have grown to love Korea and Koreans who are in many ways very different from Americans, and I will have to re-adapt to my own culture and societal norms. Still, I feel like Korea has not seen the last of me...... :)<br />
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Miscellaneous:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>My taste in food has changed. At first, I couldn't stand Korean food. Now I can eat it every day...granted, I am a bit picky about it. But, I'm no longer sensitive to hot and spicy foods. I can eat a plate of vegetarian tteokbokki just as well as any other Korean. :) While I still enjoy some Western foods, others have lost their appeal.</li>
<li>My language has been saturated with every kind of English imaginable....South African, New Zealander, Australian, Canadian, Korean, Vietnamese, Philippino, Indian. I might've acquired a few characteristics from some of them....</li>
<li>I have grown accustomed to not speaking to strangers and to being very quiet in public places....and to showing respect to older people and being respected by younger people.</li>
<li>I bow my head to greet someone older than me. I hand things to someone with two hands or with one hand touching my elbow. I think these habits will take some time to break. </li>
<li>My personal space block has been reduced, so if I get too close to you when we're talking, I'm probably not aware of it. </li>
<li>Giving and receiving hugs is not common here, but I've at least got the English Club used to doing it now....and they rather like it. :) But you won't catch them doing it with each other. Hugging a foreign friend is more comfortable. hehe.</li>
<li>I haven't used an oven in a year....</li>
<li>I haven't driven a car in over a year, and I'm a bit afraid to do so now. Driving in Korea is terrifying! Glad I don't have an international license. :P</li>
<li>I've learned how to sleep just about anywhere, as long as I can stretch out. I've pretty much been a nomad since August and living out of a suitcase since then, so I'm more flexible than ever before. I've also been spoiled by the Korean floor heating system. It's going to be soooo cold in America. :P</li>
<li>Sharing food has become a part of my everyday life. In Korea, our own plate is not our own plate. We eat off of each other's or out of a center plate/bowl. It's going to take a while to get used to the "My food is my food only" mentality again....that and using knives and forks.</li>
<li>Korea doesn't charge extra for tip and taxes. The price you see advertised is the final price. Why does America have to be so complicated?? Korea's system is so much better!!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Physically, I have:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>become comfortable in my skin. Throughout my life, people have always told me I am too small and need to eat more to put on more weight. I have had trouble finding clothes to fit me and always have had to shop in the teenage section to find something, but usually the style is provocative or unattractive. In Korea, I fit in. I can shop anywhere and everywhere and find nice, cheap clothes that fit me without having to try them on. No one ever says I'm too small, but occasionally I'll be told that I need to lose some belly fat, which I totally disregard. kk. </li>
<li>adopted chopsticks as the best eating utensils in the world, even for cake. As a result, I struggle to use a fork and knife comfortably when the opportunity presents itself</li>
<li>learned how to walk and stand for hours without thinking about it to the point where sitting still for two consecutive hours generally feels tedious and uncomfortable</li>
<li>come to prefer Korean food over Western food!! I know. I can't believe it either</li>
<li>lost the muscles I had for playing volleyball, but gained muscles for hiking</li>
<li>acquired some gray hairs (immediately plucked), a small scar on my left arm from an iron, dark circles under my eyes and a few wrinkles there, and freckles on my face from the sun</li>
<li>traveled and explored the grand majority of this country</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Mentally, I have:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>become a responsible adult</li>
<li>gained confidence in the talents and abilities that God has given me to teach English to speakers of other languages</li>
<li>learned much from the wisdom of those dear people surrounding me</li>
<li>acquired patience for almost any situation and the ability to be flexible and adapt at a moment's notice. As a result of the situations I am used to, I have become a more spontaneous person than before.</li>
<li>learned that people's behavior is always an expression of what lies underneath and, therefore, to especially pray for those who hurt me because they are in a place where they reallllly need God.</li>
<li>come to consider a lodging place as a lodging place and not a home, as I have relocated 11 times within 5 cities throughout the past 14 months. As a result, I have learned to be thankful for a bed, blankets, heat and air conditioning, a shower, and a kitchen. I have also learned the importance of frugality and simplicity in life and am content and rather pleased with that. The nomadic lifestyle is a good way to remember that my home is not here, but rather I am waiting to dwell in the home God has prepared for me in heaven,</li>
<li>enjoyed a year's respite from the commercialism of Western holidays</li>
<li>decided that if I ever get married, I want to marry a missionary</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Emotionally, I have:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>had more highs and lows than ever before in a single year</li>
<li>been drained to the very core</li>
<li>felt loved, honored, respected, appreciated, admired, hated (by a select few and not as an individual, but for the nation I represent), stressed, and more</li>
<li>become stronger and learned more and more how to depend on God, particularly in times of need, but not limited to them</li>
<li>seen the value of true friendship in hard times</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Socially, I have:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>become very active</li>
<li>nearly become an extrovert</li>
<li>learned how to interact and enjoy time with people of almost any age and social standing in almost any atmosphere</li>
<li>learned how to grade my language to match the level of those with whom I am speaking and consequently make learners/friends comfortable</li>
<li>obtained a fair amount of cultural awareness and required responses to various situations</li>
<li>established life-long friendships with some amazing people, regardless of cultural and language barriers and religious differences</li>
<li>become friends with almost every English-speaking nation's people and been blessed to enjoy and understand their different accents :)</li>
</ul>
<br />
Spiritually, I have:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>learned that sometimes God's greatest enemy is <b><i>in</i></b> the church, but that is no reason to leave it or give up on it</li>
<li>learned that we must remain faithful where we are and in what we are doing until God calls us to move on</li>
<li>learned more about forgiveness, mercy, and repentance</li>
<li>learned the beauties of friendship evangelism and the joys of teaching the Bible to students who have never heard the Word of Life before</li>
<li>learned the dangers of compromise and fear of offending others with truth</li>
<li>learned the vital importance of fellowship with other<i><b> like-minded</b></i> believers, particularly in a church setting</li>
<li>been in the process of learning how to trust God like Abraham, Moses, and Joseph</li>
<li>learned the impact that various friendships can have on our spiritual lives and, therefore, that we need to choose our closest friends wisely and never place any of them above God</li>
<li>learned that when people know I am a Christian, particularly a missionary, all eyes will be on me. As a result, I must ever cling to my Savior to make me the example I ought to be to those He sent me to reach. I can't do it on my own.</li>
<li>learned that personal devotions are of the utmost importance to maintaining my walk with God and a positive relationship with others</li>
<li>learned that God's ways are not my ways, and His thoughts are not my thoughts. He is wiser and greater than I and worthy of my trust and my life</li>
<li>learned that faith and trust are hard to come by, but God can give them to me if I surrender my life to Him.....<b><i>every day</i></b></li>
<li>seen the power of genuine prayer focused on another's life</li>
<li>seen that providence is real and amazing</li>
<li>learned that ultimately God is in control, and He can turn any of Satan's evil attempts into good outcomes</li>
<li>witnessed and experienced Laodicea</li>
<li>thirsted and fainted for God as in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1)</li>
<li>prayed for personal revival and revival within the church because of the many non-Christians I've met who are better Christians than those who claim to be Christians and there is no one to receive them once they accept Christ as their own</li>
<li>witnessed and experienced the love of Christ through those who do not yet know Him more than through many of those who claim to, including myself</li>
<li>seen my many faults and cried out to God to change me. May I be a true follower of Christ!</li>
</ul>
Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-57820011951903028892013-10-16T00:11:00.001+09:002013-10-16T00:49:12.087+09:00Robbed"Take stuff out of your purse. You're going to get robbed." The words struck me loud and clear one Sunday evening...in my mind. I was about to head out of my hotel to walk to a Korean restaurant I'd found in Vietnam and enjoy a late dinner alone. <i>Well that's got to be the most random thought I've ever had</i>, I briefly considered and then walked out the door, locking it behind me. <i>But what if there's something to it?</i> Nearly at the bottom of the two flights, I decided to go back. I returned to my room, opened my luggage, dumped my most valuable items inside, locked it up, and then went out for dinner. (At least, I think that's how it went down...my memory is a bit foggy at the moment.)<br />
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The walk to the restaurant was dark, but normal. Motorbikes whizzed by, leaving their trail of fumes behind them. I coughed a few times as I crossed the various streets I needed to pass in order to reach the restaurant. Then I enjoyed my dinner and left.<br />
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A day passed and then came Tuesday. I taught a lesson in the morning and then went out for lunch with one of my classmates. We've become rather fond of a vegetarian restaurant across the highway and a few blocks down from the language school. After a delightful meal, we started our trek back to the school. Only a short distance before we reached the main road, two men in a motorbike rushed by. I felt a quick jerk and turned around to see them racing away. I suddenly felt like something was missing. Looking down, I discovered that my purse had been stolen, ripped across my body. Clearly, they were professionals.<br />
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My mind started racing. <i>What was in that bag??</i> I began chasing after them. I ran as fast as I could down the alley, and one of them watched from behind. I yelled "Stop them!" to those nearby, but of course, they couldn't understand my English. Eventually a break came in the traffic, and they darted off a side street before I could catch up with them.<br />
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Looking back, when I shared the experience with some of my classmates, I started laughing. "I don't know what I expected to do if I caught them." My classmate laughed, "But your initial reaction in the moment was to chase them!" Odd, I know. I guess I've got some fighter instinct deep down. In any case, when I realized that all hope was lost, I walked back to the school with my classmate, notified my teacher, and started making phone calls with his phone. I canceled and blocked credit cards and then decided to go back to the hotel to see what I had stashed. In my mind, everything was in that bag--driver's license, bank information, Korean money, credit and debit cards, my flight information. I asked my hotel owner to break open my luggage with a hammer (I lock it every day, and the key was in my purse), so he did. It only took a minute of searching to find that everything was there....My heart was relieved.<br />
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All in all, I lost my phone, my camera, my iPod shuffle, and about $150-200 in Vietnamese money. Yes, that is quite a bit, but you know what? They are only things....material possessions. And I had the most important things kept in a safer place.<br />
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Today I am thankful to God for many things: for my health and safety, for the protection of my other valuables (especially my passport), for the people surrounding me who have been so helpful in the process, and for His warning.<br />
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Recently I asked God to reveal Himself to me again. I was starting to have doubts because I've been under a lot of stress lately and have had a lot of uncertainties about my future, so I made this request to Him. I never expected such a <i>real</i> answer. He <i>told </i>me I was going to get robbed! And I didn't believe Him. I didn't realize those words were coming from Him. But He was looking out for me. He protected me and tried to prepare me for this experience. I only wish I had listened more closely and taken out more things. lol.<br />
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Some of my classmates have been surprised at my composure following this experience. Yes, there was an initial shock, but it has been followed by peace and comfort. All I can do is attribute it to God. He has been with me all along, every day of my life, and has continued to protect me everywhere I have gone. Though my faith often fails and is weak, He never ceases to be faithful.<br />
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"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.'" (Lamentations 3:21-24)Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-46737346809994582552013-09-13T04:30:00.000+09:002013-09-13T04:31:34.244+09:0021 Lessons in Korean CultureLong time, no write. I have been in Korea for over a year now and am about to step into a new adventure. But before that, I feel like I have lots to update the world on....maybe one day I will have time to write about all of the awesome experiences that have encompassed this past year, but today I have another topic on my mind--culture.<br />
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You know, culture is very important. We can step into another country thinking that all of our thoughts and feelings are the same as those whom we will encounter abroad because we are all human, but in reality, we all have starkly different histories, foods, families, traditions, and customs that have shaped who we are. We cannot change or adjust to large differences easily. One or two cultural misunderstandings might slide, but after a while, it is vital to know and understand the culture that surrounds each of us, especially if it is not our own. Success in the workplace and within relationships depends upon it.<br />
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This year I have learned many cultural things, primarily petty ones, but within the last few weeks, I have learned some of the most useful cultural idiosyncrasies of all. And so now I write them to educate those like me who once thought that ignorance was bliss. Trust me. It's not.<br />
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Some of these were learned the hard way, and others were more simply and forgivingly taught. In no particular order....<br />
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1. Don't stay at someone's home past 7 or 8 pm unless they absolutely, positively, strongly insist that you stay. Even if they invited you to come late and there is no indication that they want you to leave, you should still talk about leaving at least two or three times to be sure of their feelings about the situation.<br />
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2. Be aware that <i>yes</i>, <i>no</i>, and <i>ok</i> rarely mean <i>yes</i>, <i>no</i>, and <i>ok</i>. You must read between the lines and break through them to learn the true meaning of those words. More often than not, it will be the opposite of what you expected. For example, if I say, "You didn't finish your homework?" a Korean will typically answer, "Yes." This means, "No, I didn't."<br />
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However, if you hear the word <i>maybe</i>, you can almost guarantee that it means yes or no, depending on the context. For example, someone may tell you, "Maybe I won't attend class tomorrow." That means, "I won't attend class tomorrow." Or, "Maybe I will go on vacation to Malaysia." It most likely means, "I will go on vacation to Malaysia."<br />
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3. The sentence, "I'm okay," means "Yes" rather than "No." So if someone offers you some food that you don't want, and you say, "I'm okay," you will surely receive it.<br />
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4. Teachers and students can RARELY be friends. Because teachers are so highly valued and respected, once you are someone's teacher, you will always be their teacher in their mind. They will treat you like a friend by spending time with you, but they do not necessarily feel like this is a friendship in the same way that you will because rank and age form a kind of hierarchy in relationships that is very difficult to break through. Still, it's not entirely impossible. Evaluate each case with care and consideration.<br />
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5. When someone asks you, "What are you doing tomorrow?" don't consider it a simple getting-to-know-about-your-life kind of question. It most likely means, "I want to spend time with you tomorrow, so please make room in your schedule for me." You will have to initiate the plan-making, though, in this situation.<br />
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6. Koreans are known for their generosity, but never take advantage of it. For example, as their teacher, they will always attempt to pay for your meal (if you are younger than them; if you are older than them, they will expect you to pay). Always insist several times on paying. If they reject your offer more than two times, then give in, but if not, they probably actually want you to pay and will appreciate your understanding. If you have a hard time getting the chance to pay, one day find a way to secretly pay for everyone at the table, and even though they might feel a bit surprised and embarrassed, they will secretly appreciate it. The dutch-pay system is rare.<br />
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7. Always be willing to share your food or drink, and often without being asked. There once was a time when Koreans were starving, so even now that there is no food shortage, they continue to share their food, eating out of the same bowls, and so on.<br />
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8. Consider it a privilege to be invited to a Korean's home, and especially to meet their family. It is a rare opportunity, as Koreans are very private about their lives among themselves, but even moreso with foreigners. (Still, they might share secrets with you that they won't tell their own Korean friends because you are safer knowing them.) This privilege should be highly honored and respected.<br />
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9. When invited to a Korean's home, bring a gift for your first visit, but nothing like you would bring in Western countries, like flowers or chocolate. Koreans like practical things.....like toilet paper or cleaning supplies. Don't ask me why. I don't know the reason.<br />
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10. Never ever say anything negative to anyone older than you, even if it's a remark usually stated in jest. For example, "You're so picky," or "Wow, you're stubborn!" Even if followed by laughter, you could damage or completely ruin a relationship that way. It is not your place to say anything negative except maybe to someone younger than you.<br />
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11. Don't cry in front of anyone. You might make them feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Only your closest friends will understand and be okay with your tears, but even for them it might be a bit uncomfortable.<br />
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12. Stay at work until your superior leaves, even if you're finished with everything you needed to do and have to wait for hours and hours. (Foreigners tend to be exempt from this expectation, but if there are many Korean coworkers, understand that they might envy you for leaving when they have to stay, so you might want to stay a little longer some days to empathize with them.)<br />
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13. Always remember that education and work ethic are of the highest value in Korea, so respect them and do your best to meet everyone's high expectations.<br />
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14. Be extra sensitive to the feelings of Koreans, as you could lose a friend over something petty without even realizing the reason.<br />
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15. Recognize that sometimes laughter indicates embarrassment, which is of serious consequence in this "saving face" society. Be careful to encourage students as much as possible and to be aware of each situation to avoid publicly embarrassing others as much as possible.<br />
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16. Don't buy the same kind of gifts that you would buy for your foreign friends. Special food packages are usually a good choice. Remember to keep your gifts practical.<br />
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17. If someone tells you, "It's ok. Don't worry," 9 out of 10 times what they really are thinking is, "I secretly wish you would care about this and change your mind or plans, but I don't want you to feel bad about the situation, so won't you please read my mind and change by yourself without my having to tell you??" Take care to observe the true meaning in every situation....<br />
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18. If someone says, "Let's meet at 10:00 am," expect the time to be earlier and arrive earlier, even if the other person is usually late. Never cancel an appointment or reschedule on the same day of the appointment except for super serious reasons, and apologize profusely when you do. Appointments are like verbal contracts that should never be broken. However, if you don't have a set appointment with a person and that person knows you are with another friend and they tell you to stay longer and enjoy your time, know that what they really mean is that they want you to hurry up and come to see them.<br />
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19. Avoid hugging unless you have permission. Otherwise you might find yourself standing with open arms in the middle of a room with the other person on the other side of the room just staring at you. Hugs are reserved for close family members only, and them rarely, I think. However, more and more Koreans are getting used to this foreign method and will usually accept a hug from foreigner friends comfortably. On the other hand, you can expect to walk down the street holding hands or locking arms with your Korean friends. This is a normal display of affection and friendship, even among men on occasion. Another expression of love--saying "I love you,"--can be received uncomfortably. I've been told that they mainly say this to their children before they enter teenage hood. After that, it stops. So use discretion in saying this common Western phrase.<br />
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20. When attending weddings or funerals, bring money--at least $50-$100 for a wedding. I'm not sure about a funeral. Gifts are unnecessary. Also, don't expect a Western wedding. Expect a Western-style wedding magazine kind of wedding without any of the sentimentalities attached.<br />
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21. Plastic surgery is big in Korea. Your appearance as a foreigner will be highly praised, while many of those around you feel fat or ugly in some way. Don't hesitate to compliment good aspects of people's appearance on occasion to encourage them and help them to recognize their own beauty outside of their societal admiration of Hollywood actors and actresses.<br />
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And that's what I've learned so far....to the Western mind, many of these things may sound negative, but I think that's only because it's so different from our way of thinking. I'm sure they think many of our cultural peculiarities are strange or ridiculous as well at times. Yet, Koreans still think highly of Westerners. So whatever you do, respect the people, respect the culture, and remember that you are the foreigner. Not them. Gradually you will overcome barriers and make dear friends, though your experiences may be different than you would expect from your home country. In any case, enjoy life, live and learn and grow and change to meet the needs around you. Be openminded, observant, and careful, and all should work out well in the end.Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-42750835311195649792013-04-11T21:56:00.001+09:002013-04-11T21:56:19.044+09:00My Little Lost SheepA few weeks ago, I covered these three parables in my religion class: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. My students had some difficulty grasping the concepts, though I explained the best I could. Little did I know that God had an illustration coming up for me a few days later.<br />
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It was a cold afternoon in March. Even though we had been getting glimpses of spring, winter was still maintaining its chilly grasp on Seoul. Coats, boots, three or four layers--all were required to stay warm. I had just finished my first two junior classes and returned to my office to rest and prepare for my final two classes of the day when Tamin came in the room, flustered and angry. I questioned her about what was wrong. "Sam is missing, all because Rebecca sent him out to find a rock!" Initially, what she had said didn't completely register in my mind. I sat there, continuing with what I was doing, until the pastor and Rebecca came in a few minutes later and were talking about the situation. Then I looked up and asked a few questions. I asked Rebecca why she had sent him outside. Usually calm Rebecca reluctantly, ashamedly, and angrily uttered, "He did something wrong, so I sent him outside to find a stone for punishment. Is that so hard to do?" I'd never seen her like that before. "Well, in Seoul . . . it might be," I hesitatingly mentioned. The situation was real.<br />
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Prompted by God, for I know not where else this motive came from, I calmly stood up, put on my coat, and left the building without being noticed. I still had about 40 minutes until my next class. I started praying, "God, help me find this kid," and just then, I got an instant message on my phone from one of my friends. I didn't think of it at the time, but that would have been impossible under normal circumstances because I didn't have access to wireless internet while I was outside. I responded, "We have a missing kid. Please pray," and continued on my way.<br />
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Seoul has innumerable side streets that lead every which way imaginable, so common sense would have told me that it would be impossible to find him. But I wasn't thinking that way. I know Sam. He is one of our two church members that are children, and the second is his older sister. He is full of life and energy and enthusiasm, and he isn't one to be rebellious or disappear to have a good time. I knew something had to be wrong. So I wandered down a few side streets and looked for him.<br />
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After about ten minutes had passed, I saw a little head pop up behind a car parked on the side of the road. "Is that Sam?" I thought it had to be for sure because of his hairstyle. Most Koreans don't have curly hair, but some get perms, and his hair is curly. He was just about the right height too. The head disappeared, so I ran to the car and looked behind it. Sure enough, there was Sam. I acted casual, like I hadn't really been looking for him. "Hey, buddy, what are you doing out here? Are you lost?" "Yes," he sniffed. He was wearing a T-shirt, so I knew he had to be cold. "Here, let's go back to the school." He started to walk back with me, but this talker wasn't in the mood for conversation. He was either guilty or scared or both. He had gotten quite a long ways away from the school.<br />
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We were back on the main road and almost back to the school when I saw the pastor coming our way. He got a shocked expression on his face and then ran and picked up Sam and twirled him around. He spoke to him in Korean and then asked me, "How did you find him?" "I prayed." Then he asked me again. I said the same thing. There was really no other answer to give. The chances of a foreigner who speaks hardly any Korean finding a missing Korean child down a side street in Seoul and not getting lost herself in the process are slim to none. Once we got him back to the school, everyone was resting easy again, and the pastor drove him home.<br />
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The next day in religion class, the pastor told the story. I hadn't known a few details . . . one of which was that the secretary had tried calling this little 10-year-old's phone many times, as I had a couple of times as well, but apparently his phone was on silent, and he didn't think to use it. The other detail was that the secretary herself had gone out looking for him for about 30-40 minutes before I had and had given up. He had been out there for an hour! I had no idea.<br />
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This was truly a miracle story, and it gave me the answer to a difficult question. The students had gotten caught up in the repentance part of the story that says, "Even so, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents." They asked, "Did the sheep or the coin repent?" The answer is of course not because they are an animal and an object. The point of the lost sheep and lost coin stories was to demonstrate the joy that the owner had at finding them. It is relatable to God's joy over one sinner who repents. He so longs for us to return to Him, but He is the one who actually seeks us out when we're lost and don't know it. I looked for Sam because God prompted me to and because I cared about him. There simply was no alternative. However, if I had known that the secretary had already looked for him, I'm not sure that I would have gone searching because I would've doubted my ability to find him. God prevented that from happening. I explained to my students that the joy of finding a lost child helped me understand the concept better--the joy that God has when someone returns to Him. I'd like to think that they understood it better as well.Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-45946358219727451042013-04-11T15:25:00.004+09:002013-04-14T09:44:42.714+09:00A Jarful of MemoriesI have many fond memories of my time here in Korea so far. My students are precious people that make me smile and laugh and carry me through each day. I admit that on Sundays, I dread going to work the next day--the next week, even. But in reality, that dread comes only from my working hours. For, when I walk in my classroom at 7 am to a class full of tired students who are eager to learn English, I wake up to reality again and find joy in this work.<br />
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Teaching English to English language learners is the best job I ever could have asked for. God knew this years ago, but it was something I never imagined for myself. I also never imagined that I would be in Asia. Of all of the countries I ever wanted to visit, no country in Asia was on my list. But where am I spending this year of my life? Korea. And I have no regrets, despite all of the hardships and regular fatigue.<br />
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And so now, before I forget the many memories that have been multiplying in my mind, I want to record some of them.<br />
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I think that "the ability to read minds" should be a job requirement listed for this field. English students, especially lower level ones, struggle to communicate with the little vocabulary that they have. Their sentence structure is amusing, and their word choices are even moreso. One night recently during vespers, a Level 1 student named Fiona was talking about one of her favorite foods at the park. She called it "sweet cloud." I thought on this for a while and, with the pastor's further description, came to the conclusion that she was speaking of cotton candy. I liked her name for it better. ^^<br />
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I have a number of businessmen in my 7am Level 2 class. One of them, Kevin, used to intimidate me, when he was Liberty's student. He would always arrive 15 minutes early for class and wouldn't say a word. Then he became my student. He's always wearing a suit, carrying a briefcase, and is always very early for class. He usually beats me to the school. My intimidation didn't last long, however. It turned out that he has a cute sense of humor and really wants to learn English. When talking about hobbies (or not), he always tells people how much he loves to read classic books and play screen golf. "My nickname is Kevin Woods (pronounced -oods because Koreans struggle with the w sound) because I can longer anyone else." One other time he said something like, "because I longer-shooter anyone." (Translation: "I can hit the ball farther than anyone else that I play with.") He speaks so confidently, which makes me happy because a lot of Koreans are shy when they speak English and you have to drag sentences out of them. Recently I gave Kevin a really low score on his pronunciation test, and he was upset. Then it came time for my students to evaluate me as their teacher. He announced before the class, "Even you give me low score, I give you good score." I laughed and said, "Thank you." Then a few days after my students had evaluated me, they had term projects, and I gave them their grades the next day. He passed with a 3.0, which is average. He saw his score and exclaimed, "Averagy! But I gave you good score!" All the students laughed at him on his way out of the class. Usually he's teasing, but sometimes I wonder how much of his teasing is a cover-up.<br />
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Pronunciation can also be entertaining. This morning, my Level 2 class of four women were talking about household appliances. Coffee is very popular in Korea, even more than in the States, I believe. There are multiple coffee houses on every street. The ladies began talking about a coffee maker and then started saying a word that I didn't recognize . . . "capture." I sat there pondering what they could possibly be talking about so that I could correct their sentences, but I just didn't know. Finally, I turned to one student and asked, "What is a capture?" They all tried to explain it to me, but, not being a coffee drinker, I just couldn't understand. So, they repeated the word over and over again until I realized what they were saying. "Do you mean c-a-p-s-u-l-e?" I spelled it out. "Yes!!!" So I walked up to the board and showed them that they were saying "capture" instead of "capsule." We all got a good laugh out of that. We've gotten better ones than that, though. I wish I had written them all down.<br />
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Another thing about Koreans is their attraction to Westerners'. They know all of the American actors and actresses and simply adore them, and when they see us foreigners, they begin to compare us to actors and actresses. I've been told that I look like several different actresses since being here, but I disagree entirely. What is cute, though, are the experiences I've had with kids. Once I got in the elevator to go back home, and a young girl and her mother were going down as well. The mother said something to the girl in Korean, and I just waited silently to get to the first floor. When the door was about to open, the little girl looked up at me and said, "She says you're beautiful." Then the door opened, and they walked out.<br />
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Yesterday, I was having difficulty with my favorite junior class. They're getting older and harder to control. In the midst of handling a situation, one of the girls named Jenny turned to Dana and said something in Korean. I heard my name mentioned as well. Korean is strictly forbidden in my class, so I stopped what I was doing and asked her what she had said. She looked to Dana to help her translate. "She said that your eyes are beautiful."<br />
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With the foreboding of war about to start again between the Koreas, our class ended with these 10-year-olds telling me, "Teacher! Tomorrow missile boom! And then we all die."Then they proceeded to act out how this would happen. Of course, they were giggling the whole time and another girl made sure I knew that "It is a joke from the north." Young, innocent children. Although I too am not concerned about the current situation, I couldn't help but think about what could happen to these children. I have gotten attached to them, and to think of them giggling and happy one day and on the verge of death another was painful. I hope they will never have to experience such danger....<br />
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My religion class has really been difficult this term, particularly at the beginning. Satan has not wanted God's name to be glorified, so there have been a lot of questions to answer that are difficult to answer with the language barrier and their little-to-no knowledge of the Bible. But then a friend gave me the idea to pray in each students' seat before class, so I started doing that. Immediately I noticed a difference. They received the message and understood, and even though they still asked difficult questions, God gave me the answers--once even through a cartoon that I drew to illustrate repentance.<br />
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On one of my last days with my two Bible students, we went out for lunch after the study, as was our habit, and we talked for hours. Eventually, happiness was brought up. "I don't really know any Korean who is happy--truly happy," Hailey said. "But you, Christen, I think you are happy." Neo added with emphasis, "Yes! And the pastor and Errol and Vickey looked truly happy too." "And every time I go to SDA, even if I am having a bad day and don't want to go anywhere, I feel better once I go to class. It makes me happy," said Hailey. And Neo added, "Yeah, for me too! I go to class in the morning and then have a wonderful rest of the day, but weekends are terrible!" "What is it that makes Christen and the others happy?" Hailey wondered. She was determined to figure it out, and I didn't get the chance to speak. Quickly she came to the conclusion, "I think it's because she and the pastor and Errol and Vickey believe in God. I think if you can have a deep belief in something without doubting, you can be truly happy. But I don't believe in God," she said. Well, she says that now, but I know God is working on her heart and Neo's as well. This conversation encouraged my heart so much because I often feel like a broken vessel ministering to my students. Another religion class student has told me a similar thing, though. She has attended religion classes at SDA for two years. She says that she always has a sense of peace and happiness when she attends these classes, but the term breaks are always terrible when she is waiting for religion class to start again. "We're afraid that when you leave, there won't be a religion class anymore. So don't go!" she told me.<br />
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A few weeks ago one of my older friends who is a mother asked me to join her for tea. As soon as I met her in the coffee shop downstairs, she said, "Tell me about your life with God." She is not a Christian, but she wanted to know why I am. We are told in the Bible to always be ready to give an account for the hope that is within us, and though I was thrown off guard by her question, God gave me the words. After that she said that she would start reading the Bible again. I don't know if she has yet, though.<br />
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I am so thankful to see God working here in Korea. Sometimes I get frustrated. Many times I am tired. Oftentimes I tend to get discouraged. But it is moments like these that cheer my way and help me to press on.<br />
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Lately I've gone hiking with students and to lunch with others, and it's just wonderful to get to know these dear people outside of the classroom. Koreans are so friendly and giving and they just want to be loved. Don't we all? I'm going to be sad to leave this place, whenever that day comes.<br />
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Every night I give my Korean secretary Sophie a hug on my way out. We have nicknames for each other. I sometimes call her my Sophie, teddy bear, Grandma, or pink panda. She's five years older than me. She only has one nickname for me: "my lovely green turtle." This is because my green coat that I've worn every day for the last five or six months looks like a turtle shell. A few weeks ago she was going through something, and she asked me to pray for her. I said I would pray with her, and at first she said she was too shy and wouldn't be able to understand a prayer in English, but I made it simple, and she started to cry. God is working on her heart too.Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-82660968533852647252013-03-23T17:33:00.000+09:002013-03-23T22:28:22.576+09:00In Memory of Caitlin, Our Wisteria MelodyIn the midst of the bali bali (Hurry! Hurry!) mentality of this fast-paced, dense city of Seoul, I was thankful to find solace and serenity at a picnic table outside of Samyook University International Church this Sabbath. Spring is nearly here, so with the sunshine casting its penetrating rays of light on me and the fresher air breezing by, I enjoyed my moments of silence--just me and God.<br />
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This week I received word that one of my dear friends from my university was dying, losing her battle with cancer, and that she only had a few days left. I immediately sent her an email, knowing that she could not respond, but hopeful that someone could read her what would be my last words to her. Last night I heard the final news--that she had fallen asleep on Thursday night.<br />
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I am thankful for this, for she has fought this disease for a few years. I am thankful that she did not die in pain and that she no longer has to suffer. At the same time, I know that even amid the suffering of her body, she never seemed to complain about her circumstances or stop living a joyful life because of them. I remember something she wrote on her blog last year--about life being a gift that God has given us. And so now, I want to reflect on the gifts that God gave me through the life of Caitlin.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0_4jY47IBuc/UU1jr27CHnI/AAAAAAAABZ0/yd5h_J-KVgk/s1600/IMG_0627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0_4jY47IBuc/UU1jr27CHnI/AAAAAAAABZ0/yd5h_J-KVgk/s320/IMG_0627.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last suitemate picture together, May 2012</td></tr>
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I first met Caitlin during my freshman year in college. She was my suitemate. When I first came to my university, I knew no one, and since I was not good at making friends, I feared the first few months that lay ahead. But from the very beginning, I was welcomed and flooded with love from my roommate Kristin and my suitemates Christy and Caitlin. Because Kristin and I were roommates with the same name, Caitlin was the one who first fondly nicknamed me Little Christen--a nickname that has stuck amid our circle of friends.<br />
<br />
Caitlin had a beautiful voice. Every Friday night, a group of us would gather and sing hymns a capela in a chapel that had a nice echo. Her alto voice was deep and strong. It resounded and many times penetrated my heart. The hymns she sang with such joy, thoughtfulness, and sincerity. Caitlin was also a gifted violinist and pianist. Whenever she played, I felt like the music flowed from the beauty of her soul--of Christ living in her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vnHymSTvEE/UU1joRxOI_I/AAAAAAAABZs/vHY-KkONdIg/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vnHymSTvEE/UU1joRxOI_I/AAAAAAAABZs/vHY-KkONdIg/s320/IMG_0632.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Martina and John's Wedding Reception, May 2012</td></tr>
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<br />
Caitlin's giggle always made me smile and was very contagious. Her eyes twinkled and almost seemed to laugh whenever she had a bright smile on her face, which was more often than not. When she wasn't smiling, it was because she was comforting someone in sorrow. I remember one night in particular when I was alone in my room, she and Jen came over to see me and show pictures from the orchestra tour in Europe. After that was over, they both left, but Caitlin came back to talk with me. If I remember correctly, that was one of the moments when she asked me, "How are things with your heart?" I couldn't speak. I was struggling at that time--I don't even remember what the situation was--and I started to weep. She just held me and waited until I could speak, and then she listened and comforted and advised and prayed with me until my heart was at peace.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bVDe-FBVxsY/UU1jZesw7sI/AAAAAAAABZk/0xTlJWOjjjY/s1600/Southern+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bVDe-FBVxsY/UU1jZesw7sI/AAAAAAAABZk/0xTlJWOjjjY/s320/Southern+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many notes she left on my desk at SAU, <br />
unless this one was from Martina who followed in her footsteps....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I remember how much she loved to exercise. She did triathalons, was a skilled swimmer, and whenever we went hiking, she skipped along, enjoying every moment. She also loved to bake. She taught me how to make bread. Her bread and soups were always amazing, and it was because of her and a few others that I realized I could become a vegan if only I could cook like them.<br />
<br />
Sometimes she would leave notes and flowers on my desk to encourage me.<br />
<br />
I remember that it was mostly because of her godly counsel that I began doing mission work as well. She encouraged me to go to Guatemala for the Share Him series and to go to Korea as well. So I feel like I can say that she played a big part as to why I am here today.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Me5Yzi9Si0/UU1jT_qC0PI/AAAAAAAABY0/8RaAtaLuT-4/s1600/Martina+and+Me+SNOW!+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Me5Yzi9Si0/UU1jT_qC0PI/AAAAAAAABY0/8RaAtaLuT-4/s320/Martina+and+Me+SNOW!+017.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The night of Caitlin's RN graduation, December 2007<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; clear: right; color: black; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cx-OAgrx7K8/UU1jWOdETAI/AAAAAAAABZM/7te32AyOvkA/s1600/Miscellaneous2+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cx-OAgrx7K8/UU1jWOdETAI/AAAAAAAABZM/7te32AyOvkA/s320/Miscellaneous2+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; clear: right; color: black; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />Caitlin & Saralyn, December 2007</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I remember how, during the summer and our times apart, she would call at random times. We always had difficulty connecting, but whenever we did, we had wonderful conversations.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cUSwmDX6dn8/UU1jwydqS6I/AAAAAAAABZ8/j6hpECrcgc4/s1600/_MG_1179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cUSwmDX6dn8/UU1jwydqS6I/AAAAAAAABZ8/j6hpECrcgc4/s320/_MG_1179.jpg" width="320" /></a>One of the most beautiful things I remember about her, though, is how in-tune she was with God and how much she knew about and loved Him. Her Bible was tattered and marked up on every page. She had read it so much that the binding was falling off, so Jen made a lovely personalized, Tree-of Life cover for her and had her Bible re-bound. During our weekly group Bible studies, Caitlin always shared deep, impressive thoughts that led me to draw closer to God.<br />
<br />
Caitlin was beautiful inside and out. When I think of her, I think of this verse:<br />
"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:14).<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dFcD_AweTs/UU1jxU-UN9I/AAAAAAAABaA/PyBy_fHLff4/s1600/_MG_1177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dFcD_AweTs/UU1jxU-UN9I/AAAAAAAABaA/PyBy_fHLff4/s320/_MG_1177.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last picture together, May 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And in my pensive solitude this Sabbath morning, God gave me this verse to remember Caitlin as well: "Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted; for you are the glory of their strength..." (Psalm 89:15-17).<br />
<br />
I look forward to the day when I can see Caitlin again in a perfect body, when the Lord calls her name at the resurrection, and we all go to heaven to live with our Savior forever (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), for it is He and He alone who can transform our lives in this way and cause us to leave such a positive and far-reaching impact on others as did Caitlin.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cUSwmDX6dn8/UU1jwydqS6I/AAAAAAAABZ8/j6hpECrcgc4/s1600/_MG_1179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-1168633873765542172013-03-15T22:23:00.002+09:002013-03-16T09:56:10.998+09:007 Months Later . . .You know you've been in Korea for a long time when . . .<br />
<br />
You start smacking your food<br />
You choose to use chopsticks, even if forks are available<br />
You eat cake, fruit, cookies, and chips with chopsticks, too<br />
You don't say "Excuse me," or "Sorry" when you run into someone or shove your way into or out of the subway<br />
You have the ability to shove in and out of the subway at rush hour without wincing<br />
You choose to stand in the bus or subway car for 30-45 minutes, even when seats are available, just because you're used to it<br />
You walk for 17 km with your roommate just because you can<br />
You bow your head to greet someone older than you or to thank someone<br />
You hand things to people (even other foreigners) with both hands or with one hand touching your other elbow<br />
You catch yourself correcting a student's English mistake with Konglish (Korean English)<br />
You forget how to speak English<br />
You speak three different languages in a single conversation<br />
<i>Tteokbokki </i>is one of your favorite Korean foods--vegetarianized, of course<br />
<i>Jjinja </i>becomes a regular part of your vocabulary<br />
You enjoy eating <i>goguma</i> and only <i>goguma</i> for dinner (Korean sweet potato)<br />
You can play PUMP<br />
You enjoy sharing food<br />
<br />
<br />
You know you're still a foreigner when . . .<br />
<br />
Your landlady comes up to you on a regular basis and speaks to you for 20 minutes or more in Korean and you aren't able to get the message across to her that you don't speak Korean<br />
You sit in silence as the church members jabber away in Korean<br />
You play with your food while students that you went to dinner with talk in Korean and just wait for them to stop to translate for you<br />
You go to Itaewon at least once a month for dinner and imported foods<br />
You still don't like most Korean foods and can only eat Korean food 3 times a week<br />
You get stared at in the subway<br />
Random people come up to you to practice their English<br />
You give your taxi driver the wrong directions<br />
When you mention certain Korean place names, you get blank stares because you didn't pronounce them correctly<br />
You don't like kimchi<br />
You still prefer to eat cereal for breakfast<br />
Fish markets still gross you out<br />
Every day you travel is an adventure<br />
You're the only one you know who can cook pasta and be praised for it<br />
Older women pull your hair in the subway to see if your curls are real<br />
You get told you're beautiful almost every day<br />
You laugh at Koreans for looking in the mirror everywhere they go or for putting on makeup in public<br />
You get frustrated by the lack of human rights that Korean employees have<br />
You know that New York is a state and not only part of a city name<br />
Most Koreans don't want to take a picture with you because "your face is too small"<br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-17629301623198534532012-12-29T01:32:00.001+09:002012-12-29T01:33:39.492+09:00Thoughts on Separation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had my way,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I begged of you to stay.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You chose never to leave <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My side.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our lives went on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How happy we were—<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How happy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i> was<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That you stayed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We laughed together more,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Traveled and explored,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spent every free moment<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In each other’s company.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But if I had known that,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By my way,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’d lose eternity,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would not have selfishly begged you <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To stay.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I had known<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That my selfish desires<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Would lead you astray,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would not have asked you to stay.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Would I?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God, forgive me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These words came to mind as I lay down to sleep this
evening. They struck me in a powerful way. I was thinking of how sad it is that
close friends have to part ways. I have been blessed to make dear friends from
all over the world—from various parts of the USA that I may never see, to South
Africa, to South Korea. It’s only a matter of time before we part company, and
the special times that we have spent together will become only a memory preserved
in photographs. The likelihood of my seeing any of these people again in this
world is very slim. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Separation is hard, especially when our hearts have been
knit together in kindred Christian love. My selfish desires would have all of
my close friends from all over the world always accessible—living nearby and
able to spend time with me. But then I thought, that is not what God put us on
earth to do. Yes, we are social beings meant to love one another and enjoy each
other’s company, but our goal is not to solely develop and enjoy relationships
on this earth. Our goal is to strengthen our relationship with God, come to
know <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HIM</i>, and bring people to Him—for
it is through Him that we have life, and that more abundantly (John 17:3, John
10:10). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because of this, God has created each one of us with special
talents, and God wants us to use those for His glory. He has a great and special plan for
each of our lives. Sometimes that means that He will send us to the ends of the
earth to leave our family and friends behind. Wherever He sends us, we will
start over and make new friends, but then the time may come to move on. If we
choose to disobey God because of our selfish desires, we are intentionally
ignoring His will and weakening our relationship with Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What’s worse, though, is the influence we can have on
others. By pleading with people not to leave us due to the selfish desires in
our hearts to have those dear to us ever near, we are treading on dangerous
ground. We are, in a sense, asking them to choose us above God. And thus, we
are leading them away from Him and from growing in the faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul went to his death in Rome, and in his travels all along
the way, people prophesied what would happen to him there and begged him not to
go. But what did Paul do? Although he wept with his friends, he showed them the
value that God held in His life. Serving God was his top priority, and the
thought of dying for his faith did not sway him from remaining faithful (Acts). This
is the way our lives should be: with God as our first love and number one priority,
we will 1) choose to follow Him wherever He may lead, and 2) not hinder those
dear to us from serving Him. Rather, we can encourage them in the work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the end, we will see that the temporal pleasures that we
would have gained in this life by our selfish desires do not even compare to the
joys of heaven. It is because of Him that we can all meet again in eternity—in
a perfect world void of evil, sorrows, pain, fear, and separation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-73687038657602944552012-12-21T17:35:00.002+09:002012-12-21T17:38:49.273+09:00Thanksgiving DinnerNow that I've got a four-day weekend ahead of me, I can finally catch up. However, now I've forgotten nearly everything I was going to say . . . so we'll start with Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
Thanksgiving Day was just another day here in Korea. We all worked in the office from 8:30-6, and I came home and baked some sweet potatoes for dinner. What I looked forward to all week, however, was the Thanksgiving dinner in Ichon coming up that Saturday night (November 24). I would be meeting up with some friends there, and we would be fed a traditional dinner by some foreign church members. An added bonus to the weekend was that my friend Sarah had no weekend responsibilities, so she came to visit me on Saturday, and we headed over to the dinner together that evening.<br />
<br />
Right after we got off the subway, we ran into Kecha, a member of our orientation group, and an older couple that we had met somewhere before . . . None of us really knew where to go to get to the banquet hall. We walked for a while until Kecha got a phone call and had to go back to the subway station to meet a friend. Then I called the lady in charge and asked for directions. We found that we needed to turn around and go back the other way, so as Sarah and I started back, the man turned to join us, but his wife had other plans. Sarah and I were fascinated with them from the very beginning when the woman refused to take the escalator that her husband wanted to take out of the subway station, and she went to take the elevator alone. Now when we began to walk, she nearly got on a bus without him, and he had to run to catch up with her. We didn't actually see what happened with that, but they arrived at the banquet hall significantly later than we did. Sarah made me laugh when she said, "You can tell who wears the pants in that family." Haha. The woman wasn't mad at him or anything. She just took charge in every situation.<br />
<br />
Anyway, the evening was great. The dinner turned out to be for all of the foreign teachers within our organization, so I met a lot of new people and found some old friends as well, like Kecha and Joy. The meal wasn't the best Thanksgiving dinner ever, but for Korea, it was awesome! I have never been so excited to see familiar foods. The room was decorated beautifully, and the atmosphere was incredible. It truly was one of the best Thanksgivings I've ever experienced. I felt like, for a few hours, I was back at home in the States with one big happy family since all of us are really united through the same experience.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Vu4P7_ps5g/UNQcqS-FokI/AAAAAAAABXk/QPkaf8S0wDc/s1600/IMG_2230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Vu4P7_ps5g/UNQcqS-FokI/AAAAAAAABXk/QPkaf8S0wDc/s320/IMG_2230.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa, Kecha, Joy, and Sarah<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yeUIw6717P8/UNQczy8l3YI/AAAAAAAABXs/_aH4VZ3NLKM/s1600/IMG_2233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yeUIw6717P8/UNQczy8l3YI/AAAAAAAABXs/_aH4VZ3NLKM/s320/IMG_2233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fb6S3wyOwZ4/UNQc4CudMOI/AAAAAAAABX0/J2k4HqqORSQ/s1600/IMG_2234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fb6S3wyOwZ4/UNQc4CudMOI/AAAAAAAABX0/J2k4HqqORSQ/s320/IMG_2234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JF24egP411I/UNQch4oVJKI/AAAAAAAABXc/22D2xJbq5qE/s1600/IMG_2229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JF24egP411I/UNQch4oVJKI/AAAAAAAABXc/22D2xJbq5qE/s320/IMG_2229.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VwKpln_uEg/UNQdDf_gmwI/AAAAAAAABX8/droGJ9_Wstg/s1600/IMG_2238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VwKpln_uEg/UNQdDf_gmwI/AAAAAAAABX8/droGJ9_Wstg/s320/IMG_2238.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade pumpkin cheesecake, strawberry cheesecake, <br />
and carrot bread</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-15838143648767750152012-12-11T21:34:00.000+09:002012-12-11T21:34:04.798+09:00Bargaining in NamdaemunI have so many blogs to write, but before the week escapes me, I simply must record one story that happened on Sunday before I forget. :)<br />
<br />
Sarah and I planned a shopping adventure at Namdaemun Market. Namdaemun is one of the largest outdoor markets in Seoul. Unlike some markets that are geared more towards Koreans or foreigners, this one is kind of a toss up. One can buy souvenirs there, but just about everything else is also sold in the market: clothes, shoes, silverware and tableware, military stuff, traditional Korean fast foods and desserts, toys, stationery . . . I could go on forever. So while Sarah was on the hunt for souvenirs to send home for Christmas, I was on a search for winter boots.<br />
<br />
Our first real snow here was on December 3. It has been bitterly cold ever since. Thankfully the winds haven't come yet, though. On average, the temperature has been about 14 degrees Fahrenheit--that's below 0 degrees in Celsius. It snowed three days that week, and the snow isn't melting. I think it's here to stay for a while. . .<br />
<br />
After we had wandered around the market for a while, we came upon a larger-than-normal shoe store. You see, you can really buy shoes anywhere in Seoul. Shops are all over the place--including every subway station. But it's hard to tell how good the quality is, especially when the price is under $10. So this shop was a walk-in one. We took a peek, and decided to check it out. Thankfully, one of the workers spoke a decent amount of English to understand that I was looking for snow boots. Immediately he took me to the back of the store and showed me a large display of them. I had no clue what to choose! There were far too many options. I stuck my hands down a few of them to check out their warmth and then requested to try on three different pairs. At last, I decided which I liked best, but it just was too small.<br />
<br />
Shoe sizes here are measured in centimeters, so my typical shoe size in the States (7.5-8) is about a 245-250 here. I requested a 245 first. Tooo small! Then a 250. That didn't work either. Granted, I was wearing two pairs of socks, one of which was wool. Finally I asked for a 255. The man stood aghast. Surely my feet couldn't be that big! His coworkers were just as surprised. I just laughed. . .<br />
<br />
Well, he went and got them to try on me (store owners actually put the shoes on for you), and sure enough, they fit.<br />
<br />
In between all of this, I continued to ask him in Korean, "How much is it?" and he continually refused to tell me. Eventually, when he realized I was close to making the purchase, though, he bragged that the boots were made with cow leather and gave me a price for two different ones. One was over 200,000 won, and the ones I was wearing were 180,000 won. I was shocked--especially after seeing so many pairs of shoes for 10,000 won (granted, the quality wasn't that great). After seeing that price on his calculator, I was about ready to walk out. I've never spent that much money on shoes, and I wasn't about to start then. I told him in Korean, "I don't have that much." However, he really wanted to make the sale, so he told me he'd give me a discount, and when I refused that amount, he asked me to quote him a price. So I typed 50,000 won in his calculator. "Oh my-----" he repeated over and over, astounded that I would stoop so low. He shook his head and typed in another number--maybe 165,000 won. I continued to stay, "No. I don't have that much," in Korean. We had this whole conversation with smiles on our faces, and it was actually rather fun. This is the first bargaining experience I've had where I haven't left the shop owner upset. In any case, this continued for a while. I refused to budge much past my 50,000 won mark. I pushed it up to 53,000, and he still couldn't believe it when he was dropping by the tens of thousands. Eventually he got frustrated. He took my hand, and Sarah laughed as she watched what happened next. He took my index finger and blew on it--like gamblers blow on dice, and then used my finger to type in 68,000 won into the calculator. Now I knew I was getting somewhere. I took my hand back and typed in 55,000 won. He repeated the previous action, but once he realized I wasn't going to exceed 55,000 won, he conceded. He let me try on the shoes one more time, and while I was walking back to do that, I noticed another pair that looked nice. He sighed, afraid that I was going to make him go through this all over again, but I didn't. He then pulled out some inserts. "Servic-uh," he said, which means "free service." He put them in the boots, but when I tried to walk, they were too tight again. Still, I asked to keep them for the future when I don't have super thick socks on. So he brought out his calculator again and typed in 57,000 won. "No, no!" I argued. He asked me to type in the amount again, and I returned to 55,000 won. OK. He finally gave up and charged me that amount. (That is the equivalent of about $50.)<br />
<br />
I walked away a happy girl. So did Sarah. She bought a cheaper pair of boots, but she decided not to bargain. She laughed and told me that they could take the extra money as a donation for what I didn't pay.<br />
<br />
And here is a picture of the boots. I figure he wouldn't have sold them to me at that price if he weren't still making a significant profit off me. And now . . . I'm set for winter!<br />
<br />
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-11403031339132443912012-12-06T21:03:00.002+09:002012-12-06T21:10:41.028+09:00Working in TextbooksThis post has been a long time coming. I apologize for the delay.<br />
<br />
So at the end of October, I was moved to the textbook office to edit new junior English textbooks. This experience has taught me five things: 1) patience, 2) that I must never choose a career in the publishing field, 3) that editing is solely a hobby for me, 4) that God's timing is perfect, and 5) that God may answer our prayers as we desire in order to teach us that we don't know what's best for ourselves.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YX9CfAOrwhE/UMB870veJFI/AAAAAAAABU8/E0vL0iYGyxM/s1600/IMG_2316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YX9CfAOrwhE/UMB870veJFI/AAAAAAAABU8/E0vL0iYGyxM/s320/IMG_2316.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first cubicle experience. Seventeen of us work in this room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Months before coming to Korea, I prayed for this opportunity--to work in the textbook office here so that I could decide whether or not publishing should be my chosen career. At the time, I was considering a graduate degree in publishing.<br />
<br />
When I was first moved to the textbook office, though, I was upset. I had not wanted to leave my school and students that I had come to love. Still, God had reasons for putting me in this position at this time, and I am thankful for those reasons. But now I know.....editing can only ever be a hobby for me. As a full-time job, it is painstaking. I recall that Samuel Johnson, the writer of the first major English dictionary, once called himself a "harmless drudge" in his definition of a lexicographer. For the past several weeks, that's what I have felt like--a harmless drudge.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8mJKhfX9Xg/UMB9eDYJ4UI/AAAAAAAABVM/JDbXLS3wobE/s1600/IMG_2319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8mJKhfX9Xg/UMB9eDYJ4UI/AAAAAAAABVM/JDbXLS3wobE/s320/IMG_2319.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I sit in the desk where you see the green coat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Still, there have been some fun parts about editing all day. One is the Korean exercise routine that we do for five minutes twice a day. It is quite enjoyable and hilarious. I tried to record it, but my camera would not allow me to record the whole thing. Another pleasant part of the job is the food. Several days a week, people bring in snacks--tteokbokki, rice cake desserts, ramen . . . I don't always eat what they bring, but it always provides a nice break for everyone to stand around the small snack table and chat while eating. Truly, though, my favorite part has been noticing hilarious mistakes that occur through translation. Since the book writers are all Koreans, I and my foreign friends edit and rewrite a lot. One of the Korean writers, who is my favorite (but don't tell anyone), tends to say "Wow...." whenever I rewrite an entire passage and questions and answers in front of him in such a short amount of time. One day he asked me for my secret, and another day he said, "English is your mother tongue. I cannot catch you up." Clearly he meant to say, "I cannot catch up with you." It was a cute mistake.<br />
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In any case, I gradually have been making up at list of amusing things for this particular blog post, so enjoy! :)<br />
<br />
She looks nice on her outfit.<br />
<br />
"Would you pass me the napkins, first?"<br />
"Well-done, please."<br />
<br />
"Then we all enjoyed walking on the beach and having a sun bath."<br />
<br />
Green Hair Salon (I changed it to Sally's. Images of <i>Anne of Green Gables </i>could not escape my mind when I saw this name.)<br />
<br />
new spapers<br />
<br />
He lost his parents at the amusement park, and one man took him to Lost and Found.<br />
<br />
What is the main purpose of the email?<br />
To look for steak and hamburgers at the restaurant<br />
<br />
A family is planning a travel to India.<br />
<br />
You can learn insect watching and also observing wildlife.<br />
<br />
Steak is made with meat.<br />
<br />
Sometimes I forget to turn off the oven and burn the cookies. (Kinda sounds like you forgot to burn the cookies....)<br />
<br />
Tomorrow he is going there to get a perm. He is so excited. (Sad part: this is not a mistake. Korean men get perms and wear makeup...)<br />
<br />
What do you have to do to take care of your pets?<br />
I clean their house once a week. (talking about hamsters)<br />
<br />
She made snowmen and had snowball fights with them.<br />
<br />
I have a toothache.<br />
Put a Band-Aid on it. (This was actually intentional.)<br />
<br />
The Lost and Found Family<br />
<br />
growing pets<br />
<br />
Why does the girl like going to the bookstore?<br />
Because she can read freshly printed books there.<br />
<br />
"Once I used a spoon to stir the food, and I put it in the microwave."<br />
"Did you see many lightening storm?"<br />
<br />
I love how language is so diverse and how humorous it can be when we try to translate from one to another without one of them being our native tongue.<br />
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And now for a few coworker pictures....<br />
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And here is a short clip of our exercise routine. Enjoy! :)</div>
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Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-40334368723117144262012-11-18T22:20:00.000+09:002012-11-20T21:59:45.896+09:00ThanksgivingThanksgiving is not just a day. It is a manner of living. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:16-18).<br />
<br />
Lately I have been failing in this regard, so I am taking the time now to back up and survey my life--to re-prioritize and review the blessings of the last several months that are leading me into this year's Thanksgiving Day.<br />
<br />
Living in Korea has made me appreciate things that I always took for granted, so while some of the things in my list may seem simple or questionable, it is likely because they mean much more to me now than they ever did before.<br />
<br />
This year, I am thankful for:<br />
<br />
God's faithfulness and constant refuge in spite of my unfaithfulness and lack of trust<br />
the support, encouragement, and fellowship of like-minded believers<br />
untainted mountains and rivers<br />
every whiff of pure, fresh air I get<br />
effective communication<br />
helpful people, whether or not they speak my language<br />
acceptance<br />
a job<br />
a warm bed<br />
a refrigerator<br />
a stove top<br />
a washing machine<br />
the Internet<br />
warm clothes<br />
legs and feet that can carry me anywhere and everywhere<br />
God's constant protection as I walk the streets of Seoul, one of the biggest cities in the world<br />
friends and family in every corner of the world who contact me at the times when I need them most<br />
good news after a difficult day<br />
prayer<br />
the Bible--those words have LIFE<br />
birds<br />
sunsets<br />
being able to see the moon and maybe one or two stars on a clear evening in the city<br />
bread<br />
beans<br />
the joy and innocence of children<br />
the knowledge that God is using / can use me for His glory if I just let Him<br />
contentment with appearance<br />
respect<br />
laughter<br />
Costco and E-mart<br />
Western food<br />
the values that have been instilled in me<br />
my education<br />
returned smiles<br />
peaceful, familiar music<br />
books<br />
online sermons<br />
my backpack<br />
honesty<br />
integrity<br />
the opportunities for new adventures with new, amazing people<br />
the Adventist connection<br />
providence<br />
sleep<br />
health<br />
life<br />
my mom--yes, I saved one of the best for last :)<br />
<br />
What are you thankful for?<br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-60707123278313831352012-11-18T21:53:00.000+09:002012-11-18T21:55:19.409+09:00"Excuse Me, Sir?"Before another week begins, I simply must report a humorous experience that occurred of late, before I forget.<br />
<br />
Vickey and I had planned a Pepero Day outing in Itaewon. Pepero Day is a Korean holiday similar to Valentine's Day and is held on November 11. It is believed to have been created by Lotte Mart, a major department store in Korea, as a marketing strategy for their most famous dessert--the Peppero stick--a chocolate stick covered in almond slices.<br />
<br />
Due to our different schedules, we agreed to meet there for our Mexican lunch. Well, I arrived much earlier than she did, so I decided to wander around town.<br />
<br />
Shortly after exiting the subway station, I was tapped on the shoulder and heard a young man's voice say, "Excuse me, sir?" I wasn't sure whether to laugh or keep walking. I decided to stop. I lowered my hood (I was bundled up because it was a frigid day) and looked. There stood beside me a tall, young Korean boy.<br />
<br />
"Are you alone?" he questioned me.<br />
<br />
Having learned since childhood to never answer that question with a "Yes, of course, I am," my immediate yet honest response was to say, "No. I'm meeting someone here."<br />
<br />
Well, he introduced himself, and eventually I came to the conclusion that he was harmless. A sixteen-year-old from southern Korea, he had come specifically to Itaewon in Seoul for the first time to practice his English with foreigners. And I, the lucky one, was the first foreigner he had ever spoken with--ever. We walked and talked for maybe ten minutes. His English actually was quite good. I mentally placed him at an adult level 4 or 5 out of the 6 levels taught in our language school. His word choices were amusing at times, though.<br />
<br />
He boldly declared, "I'm awesome. Don't you think I'm awesome? You know, there are handsome people and awesome people. And since I'm not handsome, I'm awesome." I never answered his question, but giggled a bit inside.<br />
<br />
He asked me where I was from, and once he discovered that I was from the USA, he was shocked. "Why did you come to Korea when you're from the greatest country in the world? I want to go there."<br />
<br />
He explained to me that his father wouldn't let him go, but I soon ascertained why. He said that he doesn't like to study and that he doesn't do well in any subject in school except for English because he likes it. I told him that going to the USA is expensive, so if his father knows that he's not going to study there, then he knows that it would be a waste of money. Yes, I was blunt with the kid, but someone had to be.<br />
<br />
I also told him, eventually, that if he really wanted to improve his English, here was a tip: "You don't call women 'sir.' 'Sir' is for men, and 'ma'am' is for women." He deeply apologized, and I assured him, "It's ok. You didn't know. Now you do."<br />
<br />
"You're a good teacher," he said. "Thank you."<br />
<br />
Finally I told him I was going back to the subway station to wait for my friend. It was bitterly cold, and I was still sick, so I didn't want to walk around outside anymore.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, that was an experience I can't forget.Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-30057201037315178582012-11-11T22:59:00.001+09:002012-11-11T23:11:35.207+09:00The Secret Garden of an Ancient Palace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last Friday afternoon, November 9, was the best day of my week. I had spent all week proofreading in the textbook office, commuting to and from work each day (about an hour with walking and subway transfers), trying to get well from my cold/flu, and was just totally burned out. </div>
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When I was working at Seongbuk, Liberty and I had planned this outing for all of us teachers, but when I started working in textbooks, it looked like I wouldn't be able to go. I asked my boss, though, and I just worked longer another day that week so I could leave early on Friday to go on this adventure.</div>
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Unfortunately, everyone waited till the last minute Friday afternoon to ask things of me, so I ended up leaving work 20 minutes later than planned. I was supposed to be at the palace garden entrance at 3:30, and it was already 2:50. I RAN to the subway station, transferred at 3:17, got out at the final exit at 3:20, and RAN to the palace to meet Liberty and Sophie--the only two who were able to come that day. (Liberty is a co-teacher who was teaching me Korean, and Sophie is our school's deskworker.) I arrived precisely at 3:30, when the tour was to begin. Praise the LORD!</div>
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We all three then ran to the Secret Garden entrance, which was a ways from the regular palace entrance. We were certainly a humorous sight. The thing is, though, you can only see the Secret Garden after making special reservations and purchasing special tickets. We had done all of that, but my work had delayed us. Thankfully, Liberty was able to explain the situation to them in Korean, and they let us through after the tour had already begun.</div>
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We had booked the reservation more than a month in advance! It was the only available opening since touring the palace's gardens is so popular at this time of year. Now I know why! It is soooo beautiful! The king had this Secret Garden pathway behind the palace so that he and his family and whoever worked at the palace, I guess, could escape to nature. Wow! That's all I can say. The pictures below will give you a good idea of what we saw that afternoon. The weather was perfect.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koreans don't like taking pictures with Westerners <br />
because they think their faces look too fat in comparison. <br />
So for this picture, Sophie made me <br />
put my head down. Silly girl. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sign read: Eternal Youth Gate<br />
Now that I've passed under it, maybe I'll live forever. ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suspicious behavior, don't you think? hehe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The place was absolutely GORGEOUS!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, Sophie, Sophie!</td></tr>
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I'm so thankful for my Korean friends. They make the stresses of every day worthwhile. :)Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-80427110968178506582012-11-11T21:29:00.001+09:002012-11-11T21:29:32.078+09:00Bukhansan & Dobongsan Fall Hike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The pictures you will see below are from a hike taken on October 28. Five of us had planned to go hiking together that weekend because I had heard that it was the peak time to see the fall leaves before they were all gone. We all planned to meet at Dobong Station that morning, but Sarah called me and backed out because she was sick, and two others decided not to show up. So . . . it was just Calvin and me. Nonetheless, we had a good time. How could we not when the weather and beauty of the nature surrounding us was so astounding??! It was an awesome day--and my last weekend in Seongbuk. </div>
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We began our hike climbing Bukhansan, looking for a particular place called "The Rock." Then we saw a map of at least five places labeled "Rock." Well, Calvin thought he knew which one it was, so we headed up the mountain to look for it. Turned out, that wasn't it, so we hiked and hiked, climbed several peaks, ended up in Dobongsan, and finally found our way back down the mountain, we discovered said "Rock" by happenstance.</div>
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We were sooooo sore at the end of the day, having climbed for about 6 or 7 hours. And let me tell you, this trail was not as easy as it appears. There were MANY rocky steps, among Korean ones. </div>
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The picture you will see of me being hugged by a Korean requires a short story. We had stopped to rest near a peak, and this woman and her husband we resting there, too. For some reason, she wanted to take my picture . . . over and over again on her camera and my camera and then she wanted pictures with me. So I asked her husband to take one on my camera too so that I could remember this lady. I think she would have adopted me if she could've spoken my language! Sheesh. hehe. Afterward the photo shoot, I asked her if she wanted a picture with her husband, and the answer was no.</div>
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Despite all the climbing, my favorite part of the adventure was near the beginning, when we discovered a river and decided to climb over the fence to get to it. It was soooo beautiful, and we just rested there for a while and enjoyed the lovely music of water rippling down rocks on a crisp fall day. I want to go back there someday! :)</div>
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I hope you will enjoy the pictures! Happy Autumn!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw many lovely birds like this one. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a popular day to hike and picnic!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't go far without running into a Buddhist temple in Korea.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A three-layered fall leaf. Amazing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are four rock-climbers on the two peaks to your right.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the sweetest Korean I've met who couldn't speak <br />a word of English.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joy at finding the exit sign! We had been walking for quite<br /> a while, wondering how to get out of the park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe these represent prayers or wishes.</td></tr>
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-81946710387247354292012-11-04T19:40:00.001+09:002012-11-04T19:40:30.819+09:00A Story in Pictures: Seongbuk SDA Term 5<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4H9A_Xxv3pg/UJZBTHa2T9I/AAAAAAAABNk/YMP_xIvYTsQ/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4H9A_Xxv3pg/UJZBTHa2T9I/AAAAAAAABNk/YMP_xIvYTsQ/s320/IMG_1974.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junior Teachers Term 5<br />
Errol, Silver, Vickey, Aileen, and Lucas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdpZF1dLxng/UJZA9LgKn1I/AAAAAAAABNM/7eV_UgR5X28/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdpZF1dLxng/UJZA9LgKn1I/AAAAAAAABNM/7eV_UgR5X28/s320/IMG_1965.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult Teachers, Term 5<br />
Liberty, Errol, Vickey, Kevin, and Director Lee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqvIOmErV-I/UJZCFyl6VjI/AAAAAAAABOk/X7W2A7E4Htw/s1600/IMG_1987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqvIOmErV-I/UJZCFyl6VjI/AAAAAAAABOk/X7W2A7E4Htw/s320/IMG_1987.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie, the most awesome desk worker EVER!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R-D7ZyZSxJQ/UJZBgVlVFEI/AAAAAAAABN4/uFrBrImh8YE/s1600/IMG_1979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R-D7ZyZSxJQ/UJZBgVlVFEI/AAAAAAAABN4/uFrBrImh8YE/s320/IMG_1979.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staff Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVQe4CbC5I0/UJZBowrVvTI/AAAAAAAABOA/w4YfrmuCnbo/s1600/IMG_1981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVQe4CbC5I0/UJZBowrVvTI/AAAAAAAABOA/w4YfrmuCnbo/s320/IMG_1981.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hallway: My classroom was #301.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouGoZwZ1G6s/UJZBw2M7vZI/AAAAAAAABOI/SObpQZphlGs/s1600/IMG_1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouGoZwZ1G6s/UJZBw2M7vZI/AAAAAAAABOI/SObpQZphlGs/s320/IMG_1982.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby & Elevators</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWwBkSPDbxg/UJZB4Q-GS7I/AAAAAAAABOQ/al-yFxRGteA/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWwBkSPDbxg/UJZB4Q-GS7I/AAAAAAAABOQ/al-yFxRGteA/s320/IMG_1983.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church & Miscellaneous Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4MVHan5SNTQ/UJZA1SXW-HI/AAAAAAAABNE/mGe-gHfmq_w/s1600/IMG_1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4MVHan5SNTQ/UJZA1SXW-HI/AAAAAAAABNE/mGe-gHfmq_w/s320/IMG_1963.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remnants of my ajumma class after party day<br />
Heidi, Jessie, Jasmine, and Juna</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBx3Jn6QAG8/UJZBZtyC0MI/AAAAAAAABNw/fs_4ssyoYgs/s1600/IMG_1976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBx3Jn6QAG8/UJZBZtyC0MI/AAAAAAAABNw/fs_4ssyoYgs/s320/IMG_1976.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remnants of my evening class after party day<br />
James, Jay, and Monica</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VL61n4WZGXk/UJY_sbNI7mI/AAAAAAAABLs/34GQcI7UIok/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VL61n4WZGXk/UJY_sbNI7mI/AAAAAAAABLs/34GQcI7UIok/s320/IMG_1776.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite Junior classes: WM Starter 8<br />
Evan, David, Peter, James, Matthew, Bora, Julia<br />
Jenna, Mirae, Jenny, Sunny, and June</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where is the teacher??!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WM Junior 2 class: Can you tell they were my troublemakers?<br />
Justin, Angela, Amy, --, Victoria, Tom, Kyle, Jerry, Ben</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s8sTJlPDnf8/UJZADn3WhbI/AAAAAAAABME/Z4X9BNAdXvU/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s8sTJlPDnf8/UJZADn3WhbI/AAAAAAAABME/Z4X9BNAdXvU/s320/IMG_1789.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YIC6: Boro, Peter, Sam, David, John, and Brianna</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm-jlujcI5M/UJZAJqJ1moI/AAAAAAAABMM/seFEj22wU3g/s1600/IMG_1793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm-jlujcI5M/UJZAJqJ1moI/AAAAAAAABMM/seFEj22wU3g/s320/IMG_1793.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WinPlan teenagers: Toby, Phillip, Patrick, Tina, Rin, Ashley, Millie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YIC4: Daisy, Jane, Annie, June, and Rubi</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqy_PTDP8hA/UJZAeTZeXZI/AAAAAAAABMo/yi4AiUW_Yvs/s1600/IMG_1797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqy_PTDP8hA/UJZAeTZeXZI/AAAAAAAABMo/yi4AiUW_Yvs/s320/IMG_1797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0MboYvI68Ws/UJZAlZ2jpRI/AAAAAAAABM0/noqB_MSWtDA/s1600/IMG_1798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0MboYvI68Ws/UJZAlZ2jpRI/AAAAAAAABM0/noqB_MSWtDA/s320/IMG_1798.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KU_QsrJOjrY/UJZAs738bZI/AAAAAAAABM8/Rb-1nNsgtHo/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KU_QsrJOjrY/UJZAs738bZI/AAAAAAAABM8/Rb-1nNsgtHo/s320/IMG_1799.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Korean teacher Silver</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IjDmcqmgVy8/UJZBDwZH5-I/AAAAAAAABNU/hhqF24kbzh0/s1600/IMG_1968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IjDmcqmgVy8/UJZBDwZH5-I/AAAAAAAABNU/hhqF24kbzh0/s320/IMG_1968.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorites: WM Starter 4<br />
Harry, Dana, Jenny, Justin, Jackie, Blue Toon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Korean teacher Silver</td></tr>
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So this was my first and only term at Seongbuk SDA. A few students and classes are missing. I loved this school and will miss the students and teachers very much. Pictures are forthcoming of my new office.</div>
Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-46069677753071140372012-10-27T15:37:00.002+09:002012-10-27T15:37:56.336+09:00Uprooted<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farewell Party for Lucas, Aileen, and Me</td></tr>
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Two months. 60 days. 1,440 hours. 86,400 minutes. In truth, this is a very short amount of time. I arrived in Korea in August, and if it weren't freezing outside and the leaves weren't changing, I'd still believe it was August.<br />
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Nonetheless, a lot has happened in the past two months. I gained experience teaching Level 3 Adult English classes, English classes to children ranging from ages 6-14, a religion class, and more. I've gone hiking and biking, to concerts and festivals, to mountains and a beach . . . I've prepared presentations and graded even more tests. I've learned how to read Hangul and speak a few necessary Korean words and sentences. All of these are good things.<br />
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But best of all, I have formed friendships--strong friendships. When you live with, work with, cook with, and go to church with the same people every day for two months, you form strong bonds. You learn each other's strengths and weaknesses very quickly in addition to interests and commonalities. You learn from their wisdom and life experiences, as well as from their cultural differences. I am amazed at the deep work that only two solid months spent with like-minded strangers can do for relationships.<br />
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Then there are the students--people I see almost every day, but teach more often than actually get to know. Still, I have had students at the end of this term requesting that I teach them next term also. Others are thanking me for my religion class and what they have learned. And still others have seen in me a kindred spirit and want to get to know me more outside of class, so I have been spending quality time with them. One lady told me just yesterday, "I am very lonely, Christen. Thank God you came." Her words struck me to the core.<br />
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As I write this, I am torn because by next Tuesday, I will be uprooted. My Seongbuk family and I must separate. We've known all term that Lucas and Aileen were leaving and that next term, Errol and Vickey will be returning to their home countries. But two evenings ago, Vickey notified me immediately after she received word that I would be relocated after this term.<br />
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In the paraphrased words of one of my wise friend, "Sometimes we think we know what we want, but when the time comes and we receive it, we realize we were wrong."<br />
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I am moving to the textbook office to work in the Content Development department. New adult textbooks are in the production process, and they chose me to help them. They knew I wanted to work there, so when the position opened, they decided to reserve it for me. I feel honored, but at the same time, what will happen next? Is an office the best place for me? I guess I will find out. But most importantly, what will happen to these relationships? That is my greatest concern.<br />
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I am thankful, however, that I will be only a 30-minute subway ride from my "home" institute, so visiting is doable. I have prayed and left my life in God's capable, trustworthy hands. The rest is yet to come.<br />
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Today at church they threw a farewell party for us. The food was delicious. The fellowship was grand. Everyone has been in denial that I'm leaving, including myself, since it was unexpected. We all had to give farewell speeches. :P The pastor said that I'm leaving because I'm too smart. Everyone laughed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye, my dear family!</td></tr>
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Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-68821527260813395072012-10-21T00:57:00.005+09:002012-10-21T01:21:23.580+09:00Gyeonghoeru Yeonhyang Traditional Music & Dance FestivalKorea doesn't come with anything less than adventures and unique experiences. This evening my friend Sarah and I met up for dinner at an Italian restaurant located near our entertainment for the evening. The food was delicious! I had three kinds of pasta with broccoli and mushrooms in a light cream sauce. As we were finishing up, Liberty, my Korean co-teacher, came to join us and walk over to the palace with us. On the way, we met Liberty's friend Sophie.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U6jkU-LuvUg/UILKZCPKCFI/AAAAAAAABKo/QVkcHTuYB9A/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U6jkU-LuvUg/UILKZCPKCFI/AAAAAAAABKo/QVkcHTuYB9A/s320/IMG_1636.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a lovely part of the palace we saw on the way to the stage.</td></tr>
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We didn't end up sitting together since Sarah and I had booked our tickets together a week beforehand, but we did get to spend time with them before and after.<br />
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The performance was incredible! It was a traditional music and dance festival at the biggest palace in Seoul: Gyeonbukgong. Everything was so beautiful and well-choreographed. Since the part of the palace where the performance was held overlooked a lake, one musical number was done on a little islet overlooking the lake (one man played a bamboo flute and another a mouth organ while two men dressed as cranes flew around) and another was performed from a small boat that journeyed across the lake (a woman sang and playfully criticized her accompanist). My favorite number, surprisingly, was one called "Dance with Five Drums." Fifteen women lined the stage, and each of them had five ancient drums to play. They were standing drums--two stacked on top of each other on either side of them, and one larger one stood behind them. The women were in the middle of these and were twirling all around, playing backwards, playing while spinning around . . . These women were strong and healthy! While they were playing, two men played larger drums on either end of them. Everything was done in perfect harmony. That number lasted at least fifteen minutes, so I can only imagine how tired the performers were afterwards! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmiCI_cW-60">Here</a> is a link to a video that can give you a better idea of what it was like. Still, this performance was way better! :) Another part of the performance was a processional for the king and queen who sat at the top of the building throughout the performance.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even for the curtain call, they had a special encore performance.</td></tr>
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After it was over, Sarah and I waited around for the crowd to diminish, and we went down to the front to take pictures. It was then that Liberty and Sophie rejoined us, and we took pictures together. Then, out of nowhere, two men with a videocamera and microphone came over and asked us (through Liberty) if they could interview us for their promotions. We agreed. Sarah said something so wonderful and thoughtful that I dreaded following her lead. haha. But I said something a little different and then he asked us our names and where we were from. We ended up saying "The USA" simultaneously and then chuckling at ourselves for doing so directly afterwards. We ended up laughing at ourselves the whole way out of the palace because we were so touristy. "All we needed was some blonde hair and baseball caps" to look like genuine American tourists, we thought.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FhGW7ZWJLmc/UILKsIFZwuI/AAAAAAAABK8/9NXj32td1OA/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FhGW7ZWJLmc/UILKsIFZwuI/AAAAAAAABK8/9NXj32td1OA/s320/IMG_1649.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An awesome group!</td></tr>
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Ah, a great evening! That's one benefit to living in such a large city: there are many opportunities for good clean fun and adventure. :)Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-4575482859703234242012-10-18T12:23:00.002+09:002012-10-18T12:23:14.180+09:00"Teacher, Teacher!""Teacher, teacher!" are words I never expected to hear but that daily bring me pleasure.<br />
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For many years I had planned to become an English teacher. I went to college with that goal in mind. It wasn't until my senior year that I chickened out because of the circumstances surrounding high school education in the USA. But now that I'm in a foreign country, teaching English to those who have not been raised hearing and speaking the language, I am enjoying the job more than I likely would have in the States. My favorite part of conversational English with foreign speakers is noting their common mistakes. Koreans tend to say "This days" or "these day" very often, as well as "in my case." They leave out prepositions and articles and have a difficult time with plurals. Now that I'm studying Korean, I know why.<br />
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Koreans laugh when they make mistakes. I don't know if that's their natural coping mechanism, or if they really find their mistakes humorous. In any case, I enjoy talking with them and looking at life from their unique perspectives.<br />
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One day one of our conversation topics was "Western Culture." A question stated something to the effect of, "What Western practices do you find strange?" One of my ajummas answered, "I can't understand why they don't take off their shoes when they enter their homes and why they don't separate their trash." These are simple things that make you and me laugh. But that's because we know why we do these things. For students here, they take off their shoes at the door because the streets are dirty--not as filthy as those in third-world countries, but still less clean than an average street in the States. Therefore, taking one's shoes off is a necessity to maintaining a clean home. Koreans also separate their trash for recycling purposes because pollution is such a problem here. They're trying to reverse, or at least prevent, greater problems down the road. While the States have started instituting recycling programs, no one is required to participate.<br />
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And so I was thinking, why do we criticize so many of other people's customs or cultural practices? Oftentimes we are lacking information and make harsh judgments because we simply never thought to ask for the reason behind the practice?<br />
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One really cool traditional custom here is the celebration of the 100-day birthday. Several years ago, when South Korea's economy was bad, and the people were suffering, newborn children would not live for very long. A new practice began as a result. When children are 100 days old, they have a special party celebrating their lives--especially since by this time, they are "in the clear" to live a long life.<br />
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I'm starting to get attached to my students and form relationships with them. I'm giving Bible studies to one older man, and I'm meeting with three older women once a week to go out for food or beverages and just talk. Yesterday was actually my first day to spend time outside of the class with Jenny, Jasmine, and their friend Eunice. We went to Ediya, which is a coffee shop below the institute, and they bought me a grapefruit slushy (that they were surprised I wanted in this cold weather). We talked for about an hour, and I realized that Eunice and I have A LOT in common. Jenny and Jasmine are my students, and Eunice (who speaks excellent English) helped them explain that they don't skip my class as often as they do because they don't like me. In fact, they want to fail this term so that they can have me as their teacher again next term. I laughed. Little do they know that I won't be teaching their class next term.<br />
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Then there are my children. They are . . . wild and crazy to say the least. But I'm learning to love them, too. It's not very difficult. :) Silver's and Aileen's students are my favorite. They are well-behaved and responsive. And they always have big smiles on their faces. The most common words I hear from my children are, "Teacher, teacher, game, game!" or "Finish-ied!"<br />
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But lately I've been meeting students in the hallway, on my way from class to class, and stopping to chat with them. Harry (a girl) and Jenny enjoy it the most. They are in my WiseMaster Starter 4 class. My students in that class range from age 8-11, I believe. Jenny and Harry are always eating snacks in the hallway before their classes start. Harry always has tteokbokki that her grandmother has made for her. Jenny has fruit rollups, actual fruit, cookies, or tteok (rice cake). Each day when I walk down the hallway, Jenny will run up to me with her snack and hand me a piece before I can speak a word. We talk for a few minutes, and I go to my office for a few minutes of recouping before my next classes begin. Yesterday she came into my office unannounced. All of a sudden I heard, "Teacher, what are you <i>doing</i>?" and turned to see her staring directly at my computer. I was on FB, of course, and so I told her I was looking at what my friends have been doing lately. "Your friends?" she asked--not really out of surprise but moreso out of interest. So I went to the pages of some of my best friends and showed her some pictures. When her curiosity was satisfied, she ran out of the room. "See you later!"<br />
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Another day when I was coming down the hallway, Harry, Jenny, and Dana greeted me, and since I had been studying Korean, I naturally responded with "Anyeonhaseyo!" They gasped in amazement. "Teacher speak Korean?" they asked, in those very words. I explained to them that I was learning and knew a few words and how to read some. So they started quizzing me! They pointed to posters and said, "Read this!" "Wow!!" was their response at my slow, but correct efforts. Later I heard from their Korean teacher Silver that they had told her that I was learning Korean and were pleased.<br />
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Although I have troubles teaching from day to day, I think that, all in all, I am more than content teaching English as a foreign language. I am happy.Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-17381049477559297972012-10-07T22:28:00.002+09:002012-10-08T08:56:45.495+09:00Seoul International Fireworks Festival & Shocking Detour HomeMy latest adventure was a doozy. Vickey and I and many others from my orientation group separately attended the Seoul International Fireworks Festival--a free show at Yoido Park. Italy, China, the USA, and South Korea all participated, putting on their own shows in 30-minute segments.<br />
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I have never seen such an extravagant fireworks display in my life--unless you count the many July 4 celebrations that were based in Boston, NYC, and other places that I watched on TV.<br />
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Vickey and I left home three and a half hours before the show was scheduled to begin and instantly discovered that a larger number of Seoul's population would be attending than we had anticipated. The subway station was nothing shy of a cattle farm. Police officers guided everyone to and from the gates, and everyone who dared squeeze into the next subway car experienced a sardine's life for the few minutes of transport to Yoido. At last, we all reached our destination and exited the station. I couldn't help but wonder if this kind of mass exodus could be compared to that of Moses and the Israelites.<br />
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We followed the crowds to the park and discovered we had arrived just in time. While some had set up tents and slept there the night before, the rest of us wandered around to set up our own "camps." (We have guessed that there had to have been at least 1 million people who attended the festival and watched from either side of the Han River.) Vickey and I found a comfortable location on the steps overlooking the Han River and saved seats for three others who planned to join us. For two and a half hours we sat there, waiting and talking with those around us. Vickey ended up talking to a Korean who had been teaching himself English, and I ended up talking with an American English teacher from Oregon and her Korean friend who speaks good English and is an elementary school science teacher. </div>
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Just before the show began, J--, Vickey's student and friend, found us after much effort. After that, it was impossible for anyone else to locate friends or family as there was no more phone service or wireless internet accessibility. </div>
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For the next two hours we watched the skies. It was truly the most phenomenal fireworks display I've ever seen--and unique. There were some smiley face fireworks, some jellyfish-looking ones, and I'm almost certain there was a Chinese or Korean word at one country's finale. </div>
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At the very end, they set off special fireworks from the bridge that, falling downward, appeared to be a flowing waterfall. It was so beautiful.</div>
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J-- wanted to leave early, fearing that we wouldn't be able to get out safely or quickly otherwise, but by the time we agreed to leave, it was over anyway. She had driven to Yoido so that we wouldn't have to take the subway home, which was so nice of her. We expected to just find her car and ride home with her, but she had other plans . . . she wanted us to meet her friends.<br />
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We learned something new about J-- that night: she has friends in high places--the National Assembly, to be exact. After asking some questions, I gathered that it is the USA's equivalent of the US House of Representatives. She took Vickey and I there, and we met some secretaries and one NA member who wants to learn English. They fed us lots of fruit and sweet delicacies and just took time out of their busy schedules to talk with us. For most of the conversation, though, Vickey and I were just sitting there, feeling like goldfish in a bowl--foreigners on display. We didn't know what to say, and it didn't help matters that most of them either didn't speak English or were too afraid to try. So Jessica translated a bit for us. In the end, we truly had had a good time, but we were certainly shocked by the whole thing. They gave us souvenirs and told us to come by and visit any time. They even stood and bowed in respect to us as we came and left!<br />
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That was an experience I never ever expected to have! What everyone has said is true: Koreans' social status is becoming more and more clear to me. First come the president and government officials. Second come teachers, and foreign teachers actually have a higher standing than Korean teachers, I hear.<br />
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My mind is boggled. I cannot even try to imagine what the future holds anymore. All that matters is that God is in control.Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-41403265969313297922012-10-03T01:03:00.003+09:002012-10-03T14:05:27.505+09:00RevivedOverwhelmed, stressed, fatigued, insignificant, incapable, empty--these are the words that most capably describe how I felt before this past weekend.<br />
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I won't deny that even though I haven't entirely experienced "culture shock," I have had some difficulty adjusting to my new life in some ways. My appetite, in particular, has undergone the greatest change of all. But then there's the job factor: some days I love my job. Other days I feel incompetent and just want to go back to my apartment.<br />
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My relationship with God has suffered the most. When in the mission field, moreso than at home, missionaries are always giving--giving of their time, energy, advice, knowledge, resources, love, support . . . But missionaries struggle to receive, or be filled. An individual's relationship with God is the most important, yes, but fellowship with other believers is vital to sustaining one another in service. Accountability and encouragement are significant, but worshiping God together is the greatest act and need of all (Hebrews 10:25).<br />
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This past week we had a special term break in honor of a Korean holiday called Chuseok. While Koreans here in Seoul packed their bags and traveled to their hometowns, my three friends and I journeyed to Dong-Seoul Station where we would meet and catch a bus to the eastern city of Sokcho, best known for both its beach and its mountain, Seorak.<br />
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Sarah and I arrived early and later heard from Joy and Simone that they were running late and might not make it in time. Our bus was scheduled to leave at 8:59 a.m., and they were going to be pushing it to the last minute. Once I had that information, I got back in the ticket line and asked if anyone spoke English. A man, who I assume was the manager, came to my aid, and I explained to him the situation. He assured me that we could change out our tickets at no extra charge, so we would just wait until the other girls arrived before doing so. They arrived precisely in time, Sarah and I ran to meet them at the gate and then discovered that the bus had just pulled out. Now what? The manager apparently had seen us running out and followed us. He explained to us as best he could that we could take the next bust at 9:05 without even having to change our tickets. It was such a blessing!<br />
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We got on the bus, and while Joy and Simone slept, Sarah and I chatted away, catching up on our last month of teaching for the duration of the two-hour bus ride. About 30 minutes into our journey, our hearts leaped with joy and anticipation as we began to see mountains! At last we were leaving the city--the hustle and bustle, the pollution, everything we have come to call home.<br />
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When the bus ride was over, we all picked up our luggage and looked around hesitatingly for the direction of our hostel. All we could find was a tourist information desk, and the lady there gave us a map to the hostel, which was quite confusing. We walked around aimlessly for a while until we asked a stranger for directions. Instead of explaining the way, he offered us a ride and drove us to our destination! We probably never would have found it otherwise!<br />
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The House Hostel is incredible. It is so homy and comfortable. Because it was designed specifically for foreigners, we enjoyed meeting all of the other guests. There was an older couple from Sweden who were traveling the world now that they are retired, there were exchange students from Canada and Germany, some French and Malaysian guests, and the list goes on. Everyone at the hostel could speak English in addition to another language, so that was cool. :) We had some really interesting conversations when we were eating breakfast or cooking lunch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seoraksan National Park Entrance</td></tr>
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On Saturday morning, we began our journey to Seoraksan National Park. We had wanted to climb the mountain in time to see the sunrise, but when 5:00 a.m. came along, we weren't as eager to do so as we had been the night before. Therefore, we snoozed a bit longer and left the hostel in time to see the sunrise from the bus stop. It was gorgeous and good enough for us. :)<br />
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Thirty minutes later, we arrived at the park entrance and began our trek. To say that we were thrilled to breathe fresh air and hike in the great outdoors is an understatement. The journey was incredible. The mountains on this side of the world are so different to what I am used to. They have a distinct rugged beauty. We walked for a long time before approaching the stairs of doom--the 800-step pathway that would lead us to Ulsanbawi Peak, one of the highest in the park. Some steps were normal, while others were very narrow or steep. At some point, Joy and Simone broke ahead of Sarah and I due to our constant stopping for picture-taking, which ultimately placed us about 30 minutes behind them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stairway of doom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the most gorgeous views on the trail</td></tr>
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At last we reached the top. We kept telling ourselves that if the older couple from the hostel could do it, and the old British man with the cane that we had just passed could do it, then we could, too! The wind's strong blasts were nearly overpowering, but they did not stop me from exploring the peak. I shivered under my raincoat as I snapped picture after picture of the majestic view. We had feared that it would rain that day, but God answered our prayers and provided us with a beautiful, clear, sunny day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of Ulsanbawi Peak</td></tr>
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We met the other girls at the top and eventually began our journey back down the mountain. It was too cold to stay up there for very long. When we reached a warmer location, still overlooking the surrounding peaks, we sat down and began to sing praises to our God and King. Hymn after hymn flowed forth from our hearts and minds, ranging from "God Is So Good" to "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." God had done so much for us.<br />
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We closed with prayer and then found our way back to a nice spot near the beginning of our trail where we could have a Korean-style haystack picnic lunch. We met some other foreign English teachers and talked some before going back to the entrance to start our next trail, which would lead us to a waterfall.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely waterfall</td></tr>
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Aileen, one of my co-Korean teachers whose hometown is Sokcho, joined us on that one, bringing her mother and a friend. They met us at the end of the trail, and we talked for a while before heading back together.<br />
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At the end of the day we calculated how many hours we had spent at Seoraksan: 12! 'Twas a long day, and another one lay ahead.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at the dock</td></tr>
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The following morning, Joy, Sarah, and I again rose early to see the sunrise, this time walking down to the dock. The site was breathtaking. Pictures could not capture its full beauty. I never fully appreciated the splendor and majesty of nature until this year when I became a resident in a large, stinky city, destitute of any sort of nature. The lights are too bright to see the moon and stars, and the sun always rises and sets while I'm at work, sheltered by the skyscrapers. Trees and mountains and animals are only distant, unreachable figures . . . until the weekends.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">We took lots of fun ocean pictures :)<br />
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The rest of the day we spent at Sokcho Beach, having a picnic pasta lunch, and then at the local cultural history center where I learned how to walk on stilts--at least for 28 steps. We closed the day by watching the sun set over the ocean at the world expo tower. The moon was full and bright and sat parallel to the city's bridge across the way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was addicting!</td></tr>
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By the end of our mini-vacation, we had had many meaningful conversations and worshiped God together every day, praying, singing, and studying the Word. He had done much for us, including providing us a place to stay on the third night since we had to relocate due to a booking misunderstanding. Even more significantly, He put us in contact with many English-speakers to assist us every step of the way!<br />
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Energized, refreshed, revived, prepared, filled--those are the words that describe how I feel today. I'm ready to face what lies ahead, but only with God's strength and the encouragement and support of like-minded believers.Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-82309217384611093702012-10-02T21:50:00.000+09:002012-10-03T21:54:52.534+09:00Climbing Dobongsan Mountain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"10 more minutes"were the infamous words often spoken by our Korean commandeer Kevin to encourage us. The only problem was that they didn't. "Ten more minutes" was simply a ploy to get us to press on toward the prize--the peak of Dobongsan Mountain, which took three hours for us to reach. Nonetheless, we succeeded and enjoyed the striking view from the top. I actually enjoyed every minute of the journey, but the ajummas (older married women) were less than thrilled by the false advertisement. In their eyes this was more of a strenuous Climbing Club than a casual Hiking Club experience. Vickey and I didn't know anything about this mountain, so the ajummas took pleasure in calling Kevin a liar. Haha. Anyway, the climb was most definitely worth it. </div>
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We stopped a few times to snack. The ajummas had brought some fruit for us all to share, so we enjoyed splitting a huge Korean pear among us--and the best mango ever!<br />
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The closer we got to the top, the more physical climbing we actually had to do. Poles and ropes lined the pathway for us to pull ourselves up. It was certainly an adventure!<br />
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Unfortunately, so much time has passed since the actual event that I don't have much to say about it now. In any case, you can enjoy some of the pictures. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three of us took a special picture after accomplishing a more difficult rock-climb.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Let the climbing begin!<br />
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Just 10 more minutes!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Group victory photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-th2YBgHU0/UGwwJRxdVhI/AAAAAAAABIY/m7on8Ra0NVA/s1600/IMG_0949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-th2YBgHU0/UGwwJRxdVhI/AAAAAAAABIY/m7on8Ra0NVA/s320/IMG_0949.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">The almost final ascent</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9a_KIhc6qCU/UGwwUPPLq7I/AAAAAAAABIk/tKcXvRb6GLA/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9a_KIhc6qCU/UGwwUPPLq7I/AAAAAAAABIk/tKcXvRb6GLA/s320/IMG_0972.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Roommate victory photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_h9BEgPro64/UGwweCuVRzI/AAAAAAAABIs/uTDhBxUCnfc/s1600/IMG_0979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_h9BEgPro64/UGwweCuVRzI/AAAAAAAABIs/uTDhBxUCnfc/s320/IMG_0979.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Joy</td></tr>
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Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005839725225650539.post-80419440189506872762012-09-19T14:59:00.000+09:002012-09-19T14:59:33.355+09:00Dog Cafe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On Sunday, Vickey and I went to a Dog Cafe. You see, most people who live in the city do not have pets. For those who would like to have pets but can't afford them or can't have them in their apartments, they can go to a Dog or Cat Cafe. The cafe provides juice or coffee for guests in addition to snuggle time with dogs. It was great! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sPNoO1U8Np8/UFlbw8kLC-I/AAAAAAAABEo/n2oWh_bKYn8/s1600/IMG_0774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sPNoO1U8Np8/UFlbw8kLC-I/AAAAAAAABEo/n2oWh_bKYn8/s320/IMG_0774.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUOTFcWEPxs/UFlb6QLfyGI/AAAAAAAABE0/IVGI464ZXC8/s1600/IMG_0778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUOTFcWEPxs/UFlb6QLfyGI/AAAAAAAABE0/IVGI464ZXC8/s320/IMG_0778.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0OC28GQ08BY/UFlcBuYkmMI/AAAAAAAABE8/La9kCdns5XA/s1600/IMG_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0OC28GQ08BY/UFlcBuYkmMI/AAAAAAAABE8/La9kCdns5XA/s320/IMG_0782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nutY4ALymQA/UFlcSC34gOI/AAAAAAAABFQ/5RuxrW6s5JY/s1600/IMG_0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nutY4ALymQA/UFlcSC34gOI/AAAAAAAABFQ/5RuxrW6s5JY/s320/IMG_0790.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3WPCI4WWfvg/UFldM1VJgiI/AAAAAAAABF8/cBXeLRXc_kg/s1600/IMG_0789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3WPCI4WWfvg/UFldM1VJgiI/AAAAAAAABF8/cBXeLRXc_kg/s320/IMG_0789.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two must have been brothers; they were always close together.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy didn't want to leave my lap for the rest of the evening.</td></tr>
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Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180336178045122410noreply@blogger.com3