The fish market run

It's 5:30 on a Monday morning. I groggily punch the snooze button on my gigantic, blue, plastic alarm clock and attempt to find my way through my apartment for my keys and running shoes. I stumble out the door half-asleep but excited to meet my cross country team for our early morning practice. We start our with a 3-mile route called the "fish market run". I run with slower runners in the back to make sure they know the route. I circle back to catch three runners when suddenly my nose meets the smell of the fish market and stale garbage . I wrinkle my nose, hold my breath, avoid stepping on any stray fish heads, and wildly run through the mass of withered old Korean men attempting to make a few won before breakfast.

Moments like this make me stop and think, WHAT?! Is this really my new life?

A routine has started to take shape here. As odd at this sounds, I was scared of this point. I knew it was coming, but that meant the newness of something was over. The anticipation of moving overseas has climaxed and the daily grind has settled. For a high-stimulation seeker such as myself I always hate when this point hits. I go through a temporary disdain of my new surroundings and crave anything that reminds me of my former environment. I missed my family, my old house, my students and old co-workers horribly. I didn't want to to get to know a new batch of students. I wanted my sophomores from last year back. Is this really what I wanted?

To answer the questions, yes. I did want all of this, even the daily grind and teacher routine. My grandfather once told me "you have to want where the wants lead you". This is where it lead me. The greatest part of this whole experience is the surprises, delights, and challenges that God has thrown my way in such a short time. He has given me amazing single friends to bond throught this experience with, animated and curious Korean students that giggle at my antics in class, and an opportunity to reunite with extended family. He has also challenged me to take an honest look at Christian faith, see where I was going, and being OPEN to who I can become. All of this has become part of my new "daily routine". :)

Apart from this adjustment, I have still manage to encounter a new cultural experience everyday. I find new restaurants around my neighborhoods every week with my new friends. (For those that come visit I will take you to Jin and Kino's- best sushi and banana pancakes EVER!) I continue to try new foods, including the crunchy Korean delight known as fried silkworm larvae. The cleaning lady at school attempts to teach me new Korean words every time I see her. She giggles as I struggle to say the days of the weeks, but gives me an "A-plus" for my efforts. I am secretly God allows a little newness to creep in a few times a week.

Koreans have a harvest celebration called Chuseok that falls the last week of September. In school terms this means fall break and the opportunity to travel! I will be traveling with eleven other teachers to Jejudo Island off the southern coast of South Korea. I am excited for a small interruption of newness in the middle of my daily routine. I have a sneaking suspicion I will be attempting to run through fish markets down on the island. Sometimes it's comforting to know you will have your "fish marekts runs" no matter where life takes you.