Wow. It's been such a ridiculously long time since I wrote last that I don't even know where to begin. I should probably begin by apologizing in advance for the length of the following post. I obviously haven't written it yet, but I know I'm wordy. Being clear and concise isn't always one of my talents. Especially with the amount of time I have to cover, or at least briefly mention, I just know it's gonna be long. Bear with me. Brew a nice cup of tea and settle in...or stop reading if you're not up for the commitment. Totally up to you.
The last post I wrote was around Christmas time. SO much has happened since then. This week marked 5 months since I set foot in Korea. It does not feel real, and I cannot believe how easy it has been to get used to a new place, new food, new job, new responsibilities, new people, new everything. I definitely would not call this "home", but I feel comfortable and adjusted. From time to time I truly miss home and the wonderful people that I left behind, but I know this is where I'm supposed to be right now. I cannot even begin to express the lessons I've learned, the blessings I've received, the people I've met, the things I'm still learning, and how much they have all meant to me. Not even two weeks after my last post was when I first visited PICC (Pohang International Community Church). It's a small church that meets in a cafe on the beach here. It's full of wonderful people from all different countries around the world with the kindest hearts. I quickly found myself involved in different ways. I have been teaching Sunday School for the pastor's kids and one of their friends who are all adorable (I'll post a picture when I remember to take one of all of them), playing guitar when needed, and helping out with the finances. When did I grow up all of a sudden?! Seriously though, I love it there, and I'm grateful for the time I get to spend with these people and the infinite amount of things I'm learning about cultures around the world. Maybe it's just this American, but I can be really ignorant about stuff. My dad always says, "God's not an American" and "Everyone here should leave America at least once in their lifetime." I knew that before, but I feel it now. How true. God is here just as He is at home and everywhere else. Getting to know Him, myself, and others more deeply in a place that is not my home is the hardest thing but also the biggest blessing. I already know I'm not even close to the person I was when I left the States in November, and I also know that the change is for the better.
I've done quite a bit of traveling around Korea on the weekends and the seldom few days that I have off from teaching. All of my travels have been with two beautiful ladies from South Africa I met through PICC, Nida and Ingrid. They have been one of the biggest blessings so far in my time here. I am truly grateful to have found such wonderful friends. It makes me a little bit sad to say that now because Ingrid left us to go back home to South Africa this week. It's not gonna be the same for me here without her. The nature of the work, studies, and lifestyle here in Korea means saying hello to new people and goodbye to new friends frequently. I don't know if I'm gonna get used to it. Ingrid was the first person I've really gotten close to who's left. Dang, man. It just gives me a reason to visit them when they're both back home so I can see the animals roaming free and the faces that I know I'll miss. I definitely can't and won't detail all the trips that we've taken in the last several months, but I'll mention them briefly.
The first trip I joined them for was skiing up at Phoenix Park where some of the 2018 Olympics will be held. It may or may not have been some of the most frigid weather I've ever experienced. It also may or may not have involved Laura taking a tumble down a really large slope. I messed up my knee for a short time, but it seems to be almost perfectly fine now. I only wish I could have seen myself rolling down the hill in a cloud of snow. It seems comical now in retrospect, but it was everything short of funny then. We toured around the city of Busan, which has great shopping and the most beautiful beaches (definitely somewhere I want to go back to in the summer). We went to Jeonju to see the traditional Hanok village and spontaneously climbed up a rather large mountain to see a cathedral at the top with a beautiful view of the city. We went shopping in Seoul and then to visit a friend in Cheongju. We went to a cherry blossom festival in Jinhae. Last but not least, two weeks ago we had a retreat type of day with our church in Gyeongju which involved me running a 5k race. I actually rather enjoyed it, and that's a big deal for those of you who know how I feel about running any distance longer than a pole vault runway. Ingrid and I then went to Gyeongju World, their amusement park, before we headed home. I got my first little sunburn of the year, and boy did it feel nice. Although I've only heard horror stories about the humidity here in the summer. I might take back my words later, but I am definitely ready for some warmth.
This is Nida, Ingrid, and I all matchy, matchy freezing to death at the ski resort in January.
I don't have time to talk about all the stuff I've done or all the thoughts I've had, but I'm gonna try to write more regularly. I said that before, didn't I? Hopefully I can share some little stories and observations in less pathetic intervals of time. For now, I'll start it off by leaving you with a story about one of my students named Jade. I've told a few people about this already, but I feel like I need to share it with everyone. Maybe it's only funny because I observed it first hand, but it's one of the things that made me laugh the most here. He is one of the few students that I taught last semester that I still teach now this semester. He used to have so many problems focusing in class. Something happened a few weeks ago, and he has really changed his tune. He's working hard and doing much, much better. BUT the other day right in the middle of class, quite honestly I was in mid-sentence, Jade looked as if he was having a mild seizure for a few seconds. For those of you who love Chuck as much as I do, I would say it looked like he "flashed". Then he dropped his pencil on the desk, the rest of the class got silent, and he said, "Teacher, I see the future." He proceeded to tell me an elaborate story about how he knew what was going to happen and how someone was going to die, laughing the whole time he was speaking. I have no idea where it came from, but it was hilarious. I love to see them having fun. It reminds me why I love working with kids so much. So, this is where I'll end it, but I hope to have something more for you to read soon.
...my last class on M, W, F. Jade is in the all-navy jacket. The others are Angella, Amy, Erick, Alice, and Harry. They always manage to find a way to make me laugh at the end of a long day.
