Monday, January 28, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
a brief physics lesson about collision...
collision
noun
1. (physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together; "the collision of the particles resulted in an exchange of energy and a change of direction"
Collision #1: Vikingitis
My friend Aaron from North Park came to impromptly visit this past weekend. He lives and works as a hagwon teacher in the small town of "sparkling" Gumi, otherwise known as the industrial capital of South Korea. It was great to see someone from the past and catch up on college stories. I haven't seen him for almost four years!
Collision #2: CAJ Smash
Aaron knew my cousins. In JAPAN. Aaron spent time working at CAJ (Christian Academy of Japan) and knew them in high school. It was fun to see his shock and delight to witness them as full grown adults. I gathered everyone together and huddled in my friend Meredith's apartment for a fun reunion. My TCIS, North Park, and family worlds came crashing together like a cosmic collision. We spent the night catching up and singing our hearts out at the noraebong.
Collision #3:The German-Cali-Korean-Chicago-Sconnie-Utah-Mudduck Crash
I headed up to Suwon on Saturday with Aaron, Sarah, Meredith, Don, Will, and my German friends to go visit the Korean folk village and the walled fortress that surrounds the city of Suwon. We spent the looking at ancient Korean buildings, watching a horse show, catching five different cabs to go see the wall, hiking up a mountain to go see the wall, looking at the breathtaking scenery of apartments buildings and taxis, and enjoying good conversation.
Collision #4: A Dead King and His Mountain
I had a great moment to myself to stop and reflect when I was on top of the mountain. I felt like I was in the presence of ancient greatness. Kings and queens used to use rule the land that stretched for miles in front of my eyes. It caught my breath for a moment to realize how OLD Korea is. The small peninsula has grown through so much turmoil I couldn't help but feels it confusion and sadness atop the mountain. I fell in love with my new home a bit more. I shivered inside my jacket, said a quick prayer of thanks for living overseas and my wonderful friends, took a deep breath, and rejoined my group. I like collisions. :)
noun
1. (physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together; "the collision of the particles resulted in an exchange of energy and a change of direction"
Collision #1: Vikingitis
My friend Aaron from North Park came to impromptly visit this past weekend. He lives and works as a hagwon teacher in the small town of "sparkling" Gumi, otherwise known as the industrial capital of South Korea. It was great to see someone from the past and catch up on college stories. I haven't seen him for almost four years!
Collision #2: CAJ Smash
Aaron knew my cousins. In JAPAN. Aaron spent time working at CAJ (Christian Academy of Japan) and knew them in high school. It was fun to see his shock and delight to witness them as full grown adults. I gathered everyone together and huddled in my friend Meredith's apartment for a fun reunion. My TCIS, North Park, and family worlds came crashing together like a cosmic collision. We spent the night catching up and singing our hearts out at the noraebong.
Collision #3:The German-Cali-Korean-Chicago-Sconnie-Utah-Mudduck Crash
I headed up to Suwon on Saturday with Aaron, Sarah, Meredith, Don, Will, and my German friends to go visit the Korean folk village and the walled fortress that surrounds the city of Suwon. We spent the looking at ancient Korean buildings, watching a horse show, catching five different cabs to go see the wall, hiking up a mountain to go see the wall, looking at the breathtaking scenery of apartments buildings and taxis, and enjoying good conversation.
Collision #4: A Dead King and His Mountain
I had a great moment to myself to stop and reflect when I was on top of the mountain. I felt like I was in the presence of ancient greatness. Kings and queens used to use rule the land that stretched for miles in front of my eyes. It caught my breath for a moment to realize how OLD Korea is. The small peninsula has grown through so much turmoil I couldn't help but feels it confusion and sadness atop the mountain. I fell in love with my new home a bit more. I shivered inside my jacket, said a quick prayer of thanks for living overseas and my wonderful friends, took a deep breath, and rejoined my group. I like collisions. :)
Monday, January 14, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Surfing is my religion.......
I heard those words uttered a myriad of times over the last few weeks. I also learned that half of the island has the first name of name of Wayan, due mostly to a rigid and intricate caste system. Hinduism, Buddhism, and surfing are the dominant religious options. Every morning many Balinese eat mangoes for breakfast, brush palm-laden sidewalks with a banana leaf chopped down with a twenty-year old machete, go fishing, surf in the afternoon, and play the guitar into the sunset.
Welcome to life in Bali.
I just returned from my Christmas/New Year's vacation in Bali with four of my girlfriends from Korea. There are so many intense, delicate, and humorous moments to highlight, but I'm not sure where to start. I guess I"ll have to start with Buri.
Buri was our driver for the first leg of our journey and our introduction into small town Balinese life. He attempted to make small jokes with us on the initial drive to our first hostel, but verbally slunked away over our lack of communication. (In our defense, we had been traveling since 5 am that morning!) He even tried to convince us that his tattoes were temporaray, even though his left was definitely inked. We perked up when we got to our hostel, er, bunglaow for the night. If you can imagine Swiss Family Robinson meets the Jungle Book, you can imagine our bungalow paradise called Lambung Damah.
Over the next few days, Buri introduced to Balinese society. We hung out the local surfers, fisherman, and a crazy lady named Rosemary. The five of us quickly became immersed into the small community in a short span of four days. Our new Balinese friends were very gracious with their time and motorbikes. I saw a natural waterfall, went snorkeling and defeated my fear of seeing things underwater, got massages, slept in, went for motorbike rides on shopping trips (including a scary nighttime one dodging over twenty cars-not recommended!), and danced the night away in the rain on New Year's Eve. Vacation was definitely off to a good start.
The next leg of our journey was to a town called Ubud. Sadly, we had to part with our surfers friends and Buri. We waved sadly as he dropped us off in Ubud. I have to admit, I strongly wanted to visit this artistic enclave of shops and cafes. It has captured my attention ever since I finished the book "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert.I spent time with the girls shopping, bartering at the local market, visiting Hindu temples and rice paddies, and enjoying the local Balinese cuisine. If you have read Gilbert's book, I took a side trip to visit Wayan and Tutti at the Balinese Traditional Healing Center. It was an odd experience involving chants, incense, carrot juice, and a seaweed and ginseng lunch. Call me and I'll describe the experience via phone!!
The final part of the trip was definitely my favorite. It involved plenty of sun, sandy beaches, air conditioning, and a private villa! It was definitely worth all those extra hours coaching cross country and English camp! The girls and I rented a villa with a private pool and staff of FIVE. We had a cook, driver, butler, and two houseboys. Our staff outnumbered us when Sarah had to leave our group a day early. I loved the few days of luxury and sun. It was the epitome of relaxation.
I was sad to leave Bali, but eager to experience a few days in Singapore. Our group of five nestled down into two due to sickness and working obligations. Sarah and I went shopping, gazed at the city on a nighttime river boat cruise, made up a self-defined walking tour, and enjoyed wonderful meals of Indian food and Chinese hotpot. I definitely gained a few pounds in Singapore in two days. :)
I am now back in Korea getting back into the swing of school. I don't have any lesson plans or a great tan, but I am glad to be back in Korea. Over the last two days, I often wonder what Buri and his friends are doing in Bali. I can only envision he is trying to chat like crazy with the next set of visitors that come to the bungalow paradise and lie about his "temporary tattoes".
Welcome to life in Bali.
I just returned from my Christmas/New Year's vacation in Bali with four of my girlfriends from Korea. There are so many intense, delicate, and humorous moments to highlight, but I'm not sure where to start. I guess I"ll have to start with Buri.
Buri was our driver for the first leg of our journey and our introduction into small town Balinese life. He attempted to make small jokes with us on the initial drive to our first hostel, but verbally slunked away over our lack of communication. (In our defense, we had been traveling since 5 am that morning!) He even tried to convince us that his tattoes were temporaray, even though his left was definitely inked. We perked up when we got to our hostel, er, bunglaow for the night. If you can imagine Swiss Family Robinson meets the Jungle Book, you can imagine our bungalow paradise called Lambung Damah.
Over the next few days, Buri introduced to Balinese society. We hung out the local surfers, fisherman, and a crazy lady named Rosemary. The five of us quickly became immersed into the small community in a short span of four days. Our new Balinese friends were very gracious with their time and motorbikes. I saw a natural waterfall, went snorkeling and defeated my fear of seeing things underwater, got massages, slept in, went for motorbike rides on shopping trips (including a scary nighttime one dodging over twenty cars-not recommended!), and danced the night away in the rain on New Year's Eve. Vacation was definitely off to a good start.
The next leg of our journey was to a town called Ubud. Sadly, we had to part with our surfers friends and Buri. We waved sadly as he dropped us off in Ubud. I have to admit, I strongly wanted to visit this artistic enclave of shops and cafes. It has captured my attention ever since I finished the book "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert.I spent time with the girls shopping, bartering at the local market, visiting Hindu temples and rice paddies, and enjoying the local Balinese cuisine. If you have read Gilbert's book, I took a side trip to visit Wayan and Tutti at the Balinese Traditional Healing Center. It was an odd experience involving chants, incense, carrot juice, and a seaweed and ginseng lunch. Call me and I'll describe the experience via phone!!
The final part of the trip was definitely my favorite. It involved plenty of sun, sandy beaches, air conditioning, and a private villa! It was definitely worth all those extra hours coaching cross country and English camp! The girls and I rented a villa with a private pool and staff of FIVE. We had a cook, driver, butler, and two houseboys. Our staff outnumbered us when Sarah had to leave our group a day early. I loved the few days of luxury and sun. It was the epitome of relaxation.
I was sad to leave Bali, but eager to experience a few days in Singapore. Our group of five nestled down into two due to sickness and working obligations. Sarah and I went shopping, gazed at the city on a nighttime river boat cruise, made up a self-defined walking tour, and enjoyed wonderful meals of Indian food and Chinese hotpot. I definitely gained a few pounds in Singapore in two days. :)
I am now back in Korea getting back into the swing of school. I don't have any lesson plans or a great tan, but I am glad to be back in Korea. Over the last two days, I often wonder what Buri and his friends are doing in Bali. I can only envision he is trying to chat like crazy with the next set of visitors that come to the bungalow paradise and lie about his "temporary tattoes".
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Christmas time reflections.......
I bought a Christmas tree. It was my first one ever! The lovely little fake fir is only two feet high and I bought it for twelve thousand won (the equivalent of 12 U.S. dollars). I think I am officially a grownup.
Christmas shows itself in tiny bits around Korea. It's not a huge holiday to be celebrated. One Korean friend told it was more like a "date" day, or a day to spend with one's sweetheart. The Koreans like to celebrate Chusok and Lunar New Year a bit more than Christmas. I am going to spend Christmas with my extended family in Seoul for four days. I greatly anticipate getting to spend time with my second cousins I haven't seen much in the last ten years. I have vague memories of seeing my cousins during the summers in high school for random visits to SSP basketball camps and dentists checkups. I am excited to actually share a meal with them all at once. On December 28th, I head down to Bali with three of my co-workers for two weeks. I"m still not sure what possessed me to go, or what monetary funds truly exist to fund this trip; nonetheless, I am going. I am excited for sun, relaxation, Bali dances, and the monkey forest. Don't worry, I intend to take PLENTY of pictures while I am down there! (Or steal plenty from Meredith!)
Christmas and New Year's causes one to stop and pause where life has taken them. Since ruminating is one of my favorite pastimes, I think about the past year quite a bit. So much has happened since last December. I got my first teaching job, traveled to the equator and the Galapagos Islands, made a french silk pie for the first time, rode on a Segway with my dad, traveld to Europe, got my ears pierced, and moved to South Korea. Not too shabby for a year, eh? I am now five months into my overseas journey. When I first moved to South Korea, it didn't feel real. I felt like I was on a travel abroad program for college. Over the last few weeks, my life doesn't feel like a vacation anymore. I have a life overseas now. I don't know how long this season of my life will last, but my address doesn't just include the United States anymore. I share an address with one hundred other teachers.
This past year has taught me to be thankful and quiet. I learned to be thankful for what is right in front of my eyes and not to CONSTANTLY be looking elsewhere for contentment. I learned to be quiet in the sense I actually stop once in awhile to be still and reflective. Both lessons have proven themselves over and over, even thought I continually fail to master them :)
I eagerly await the challenges 2008 will bring. I anticipate seeing family and friends in the States. I look forward to writing another entry next year around Christmas time.
Maybe next year I will actually like kimchi.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christmas shows itself in tiny bits around Korea. It's not a huge holiday to be celebrated. One Korean friend told it was more like a "date" day, or a day to spend with one's sweetheart. The Koreans like to celebrate Chusok and Lunar New Year a bit more than Christmas. I am going to spend Christmas with my extended family in Seoul for four days. I greatly anticipate getting to spend time with my second cousins I haven't seen much in the last ten years. I have vague memories of seeing my cousins during the summers in high school for random visits to SSP basketball camps and dentists checkups. I am excited to actually share a meal with them all at once. On December 28th, I head down to Bali with three of my co-workers for two weeks. I"m still not sure what possessed me to go, or what monetary funds truly exist to fund this trip; nonetheless, I am going. I am excited for sun, relaxation, Bali dances, and the monkey forest. Don't worry, I intend to take PLENTY of pictures while I am down there! (Or steal plenty from Meredith!)
Christmas and New Year's causes one to stop and pause where life has taken them. Since ruminating is one of my favorite pastimes, I think about the past year quite a bit. So much has happened since last December. I got my first teaching job, traveled to the equator and the Galapagos Islands, made a french silk pie for the first time, rode on a Segway with my dad, traveld to Europe, got my ears pierced, and moved to South Korea. Not too shabby for a year, eh? I am now five months into my overseas journey. When I first moved to South Korea, it didn't feel real. I felt like I was on a travel abroad program for college. Over the last few weeks, my life doesn't feel like a vacation anymore. I have a life overseas now. I don't know how long this season of my life will last, but my address doesn't just include the United States anymore. I share an address with one hundred other teachers.
This past year has taught me to be thankful and quiet. I learned to be thankful for what is right in front of my eyes and not to CONSTANTLY be looking elsewhere for contentment. I learned to be quiet in the sense I actually stop once in awhile to be still and reflective. Both lessons have proven themselves over and over, even thought I continually fail to master them :)
I eagerly await the challenges 2008 will bring. I anticipate seeing family and friends in the States. I look forward to writing another entry next year around Christmas time.
Maybe next year I will actually like kimchi.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
The legs of an octopus and a dog's hip
I joined a gym. It's full of Korean men that don't speak any English. But they claim I could be the next kickboxing champion in 2008. Apparently I am so tall and big and blond I would knock over any Korean woman that came in my way. Thank goodness that I am "beefed up" enough to receive this honor.
Over the past two weeks I have gotten to know many Koreans outside of my school bubble. It's common for foreigners to stick together when moving abroad, and often miss out interacting with actual people of the culture. I don't want that to be my experience in Korea. To prove I wasn't a typical foreigner, I got invited to a party two weeks at the kickboxing gym to celebrate someone being discharged from the army. A little party of cake and pop was spread out on the mat when I walked in the door and everyone was laughing heartily. I sat down, introduced myself, and allowed my friend Lloyd to translate for me. Over the next two hours, smiles and laughter erupted over the comical dialogue of broken English and ridiculous hand gestures. I grow to love the Koreans more and more.
As I was leaving that night, I honestly didn't think I would interact with these people much more. I was completely wrong! The next night my friend Meredith and I went back to the gym to try kickboxing. We ended up taking a jiu-jitsu class. It's a martial arts class that involves different wrestling moves and chokeholds. To quote Meredith, she can "choke me three different ways, wrap her legs around my head like an octopus and slam me to the ground". I opted for the kickboxing class after the night.
Was I finished with my social interaction? Noooooooooooo. I ended up going to a kickboxing tournament last Saturday. I saw more people getting kicked, punched, and flipped then I have in my entire life. I even saw the champions of Japan and Korea duel one another. I don't think these type of cultural experiences are advertised in Lonely Planet. I finished up the night with a lovely dinner filled with broken English and ridiculous hand gestures.
I decided two days later to join the gym. I am learning to kick and punch with intensity and form. I got the nickname "doghip" because my butt alledgedly sticks out like a dog's hip after I deliver a low kick. That is something I definitely need to work on, even if my sole motivation is to receive a better nickname than "doghip". I continue to share meals, smiles, and kickboxing instruction with my new friends. They even came out to celebrate my 27th birthday on Saturday! We all went for cake at a local coffee shop and had three worlds merge together. I looked across the table to see my new social network. It felt completely surreal for a moment, but I couldn't help but smile to myself what has transpired over the last four months in Korea.
Over the past two weeks I have gotten to know many Koreans outside of my school bubble. It's common for foreigners to stick together when moving abroad, and often miss out interacting with actual people of the culture. I don't want that to be my experience in Korea. To prove I wasn't a typical foreigner, I got invited to a party two weeks at the kickboxing gym to celebrate someone being discharged from the army. A little party of cake and pop was spread out on the mat when I walked in the door and everyone was laughing heartily. I sat down, introduced myself, and allowed my friend Lloyd to translate for me. Over the next two hours, smiles and laughter erupted over the comical dialogue of broken English and ridiculous hand gestures. I grow to love the Koreans more and more.
As I was leaving that night, I honestly didn't think I would interact with these people much more. I was completely wrong! The next night my friend Meredith and I went back to the gym to try kickboxing. We ended up taking a jiu-jitsu class. It's a martial arts class that involves different wrestling moves and chokeholds. To quote Meredith, she can "choke me three different ways, wrap her legs around my head like an octopus and slam me to the ground". I opted for the kickboxing class after the night.
Was I finished with my social interaction? Noooooooooooo. I ended up going to a kickboxing tournament last Saturday. I saw more people getting kicked, punched, and flipped then I have in my entire life. I even saw the champions of Japan and Korea duel one another. I don't think these type of cultural experiences are advertised in Lonely Planet. I finished up the night with a lovely dinner filled with broken English and ridiculous hand gestures.
I decided two days later to join the gym. I am learning to kick and punch with intensity and form. I got the nickname "doghip" because my butt alledgedly sticks out like a dog's hip after I deliver a low kick. That is something I definitely need to work on, even if my sole motivation is to receive a better nickname than "doghip". I continue to share meals, smiles, and kickboxing instruction with my new friends. They even came out to celebrate my 27th birthday on Saturday! We all went for cake at a local coffee shop and had three worlds merge together. I looked across the table to see my new social network. It felt completely surreal for a moment, but I couldn't help but smile to myself what has transpired over the last four months in Korea.
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