2010/2/13

Right now, I'm sitting in a coffee shop a few minutes from my house. It's small and cozy. The coffee is okay, but think it could be a good place to come from time to time. For those who don't know, I have recently moved to a new place in 건대 (Kondae) which is located in Seoul. I have been trying to get my place to look nice and am awaiting the arrival of my couch. Hopefully it will be here by Tuesday. It was suppose to arrive by Thursday, but apparently a little snow stopped that from happening. Other than that, the place is coming together. I like it.

I just found out that I will be transferring to another branch for my kindergarten. It is located in Jamsil which is about 10 minutes away from where I live by subway. The other place took me about an hour and a half to get to work. This means I will get to sleep an extra hour!! That's good news for me. The director I work for now is moving there also. It will be good to continue to work for the same boss. That way, we already know how each other works.

I'm done with Seoul National University. Since I am in the musical, I will not have time to go back until after the musical. I'm also thinking of not going back to SNU, but instead to a school closer. Maybe Kondae. We will see how things work out after the musical.

Speaking of the musical, that is going... well... it's hard. Trying to learn a script that is in a language you don't fully understand is really hard. However, everyone is trying to help and makes it a lot of fun. Friday, we had an interview with tbs efm, a radio station here in Korea. That was fun. Apparently, Tuesday KBS will be coming to document the rehearsal process and take some photos. I guess I should look decent for my TV appearance.

I honestly cannot say how thankful I am. God has truly blessed me with this amazing opportunity. I work with wonderful people and have met so many people. It truly is a great experience. I'm anxious and excited about the performance. I just hope Koreans understand that we are giving our hearts into it, but it will not be perfect. I mean, we are foreigners acting in a language we don't know. But I believe they will understand.

Pray for us. We will all need patience during this time. People can become frustrating during situations like this and we all need to stay cool and calm.

A Man Sitting on His Shoes

I'm walking home from the bus when I see a man sitting on the ground barefoot. He is barefoot because he is using his shoes to keep him off the wet ground. It is raining slightly and the man looks cold.

I want to do something for him, but what? I reach into my pocket for my change before deciding to pull out my wallet. I grab a few thousand won and hand it to him. I put my wallet away and cross the street.

"Is that all you can do?" my heart cries.

"He's Korean. I don't speak Korean. What more could I do?" I reply.

I walk to the bus stop thinking about the man sitting on his shoes. Could I have done more? How do I communicate with someone who speaks a different language? How do I show Christ's love without words?

After I got on the bus, I went home where it is dry and away from the cold. I can't stop thinking about the man sitting on his shoes. Guilt tries to come in, but I know guilt is not needed. Action is needed. But what action? I'm in a foreign land with a foreign language. What can I do? God has called me to stand up and stand out, but how?

This man sitting on his shoes has stirred something inside me.

Larry David Should Move to Korea

If Larry David thought he had awkward moments in the States, he should move to a country where people speak a different language.

Today, while riding on the subway to rehearsals, I got a phone call from my realtor. She, nor anyone in the office, speaks any English.

*Also, it is difficult to spell out how Korean sounds in English so maybe to all those who can't read Korean; you will understand how frustrated I was during this situation.

Realtor 1: 여보세요.

Me: Hello. 여보세요.

Realtor 1: 쟈니예요?

*쟈니 is Johnny in Korean. One of the ways to spell it that is.

Me:네

This is where I can no longer understand the situation. A lot is said in Korean and I understand words such as bank and deposit. However, I have no clue what they were saying. Then, I hear, "One moment please."

Realtor 2: 여보세요.

Me: 여보세요.

Realtor 2: 쟈니예요?

Me: 네. 네.

Then, she says the same exact thing the first person said... all in Korean. I tell them I do not understand in Korean. Then, I hear, "One moment please."

Realtor 3: 여보세요.

Me: 여보세요.

Realtor 3: 쟈니예요?

Me: 네.

Again, the same thing is repeated all in Korean. At this point I have given up on trying to even speak Korean. On several occasions I said I was meeting a friend and would call them back all in Korean. They just said okay and kept talking. Then, this happened.

Me: I'm meeting a friend. I will call you back.

Realtor 3: What?

Me: I'm meeting a friend and I will call you back.

Realtor 3: What? (In the back ground I hear, "어뗳게" which is what Koreans say when they don't know what to do.)

Me: I will call you back.

Realtor 3: Okay.

After about 15 minutes of this conversation, I finally hang up. Then, they apparently realized they knew my teacher's number who is Korean and called her and had her talk to me. Apparently, if the same thing is said by three different people, you will eventually understand what is being said. This gave my friends and I something to laugh about later at dinner.

Just in case you are wondering, everything is going well with the house. They apparently couldn't find the money I deposited, but eventually did find it. Not sure how they couldn't find it, but at least it was found and I am still able to move in on Sat!!

Umm... What?

Okay, I told you I had some big news and I wasn't lying. I finally have a few moments where I can tell you a little about what it actually is. I can tell you it involves Korean and singing. I can also tell you that it involves acting. Can you guess what it is? It's a Korean musical that yours truly will be part of.

Now before you start, I know, I'm not Korean and I haven't acted since I was in high school. However, the director saw something in me and decided I would be good for it. Here is a little bit more info. The people I am working with are doing a musical that is equivalent to Romeo and Juliet in Korean without the tragedy part. There will be a Korean cast and a foreign cast. I am pretty sure you can guess which cast I am part of. This is a great opportunity for me and am ever so thankful I was asked to be part of it. I have already met a lot of people who are extremely nice and always willing to help. Pretty much, it's amazing.

In case you still don't understand, I will break it down for you a little more.

1. There will be a Korean play with two sets of cast; Korean and foreign.

2. I am in it. I will be singing and speaking in Korean.

3. I am in a musical in Korea!!!!

Keep reading for more updates. I will constantly update as much as I can and am allowed to. Yes, I know this might seem really random, but come on, it's me we are talking about.

December 4th Should Have Been a Snow Day

I was awaken with the great joy of snow today. I am from the south and have only lived in the north for a little over a year and have never had much snow. Last year in Korea, it didn't really snow either. Last night however, it did!

I felt like a child today as I walked to the bus. I kept grinning as my feet were sliding around and I was trying to keep my balance. I can't explain the joy I felt. I believe today was a gift. A little bit of joy to wash away the frustrations of recent. All day, I heard people complaining about the snow; I just smiled. It wouldn't leave. When people were slipping around me and I, myself was struggling to stay up, I just laughed. It was nice. It was pure.

I truly haven't felt this way in awhile. I felt like a kid again. No worries, no pain. Just pure joy. I am so thankful for the God I have. This joy I have, I know comes from Him. It is such a blessing to have a God who does love us and cares for us. I know the snow wasn't just for me, but it brought a smile to my face... and giggles (even if giggling annoys me 99% of the time). I had a good day.

I just wish it would have been a snow day so I could have laid in the snow, haha. Maybe next time.

One Year in Korea

Since it is January 1st, I thought I would try and recap the past year. (I will try to keep it short.)

I began my new adventure living in a new country. (Technically, I moved here in November of 2008, but who's counting?)

I met my first friend in Korea, 정길. (Jeonggil) He introduced me to many others.

I participated in my first "big bow" with 정길의 엄마. (Jeonggil's mom.) This is done at New Year's. You stand in front of your elder and bow all the way to the ground. (They usually give you "pocket money."

I went to 거제도(Geoje Island) with 정길, Amy, and my 선생님 배소영(Teacher Bae So-young.) It was a beautiful place. If you ever get a chance, visit.

I worked and met many more friends. (Sorry, not too sure what I did between 거재도 and Japan.)

Well, I guess that brings me to Japan. It was my second country to visit outside of Korea. I would like to go back and experience more of it. My goal is to visit an onsen, but because I have tattoos, most will not let me enter. **Background Info** Korea and Japan both have ideas of people with tattoos being yakuza(Japan) or 깡패, 조폭(kkangpae, jopok, Korea) which are gangsters or mafia. Therefore, in Japan, if you have tattoos, you aren't allowed into their onsen. What is an onsen? It is a natural bathhouse. Because Japan has so much volcanic activity, its springs are naturally heated. These are used in bathhouses. Just something I would like to try one of these days. If you are Japanese and reading this, maybe you can help me!

I got back from Japan and met some more friends. I met these cool kids who are part of an English study group. They are a lot of fun and we have traveled around together. They say they enjoy my cooking, haha.

I got to enjoy my first ever mud festival. I went with a few friends to Korea's annual mud festival and got well, muddy. I had to walk around all day without my glasses which is partly the reason I ended up buying contacts a little bit later. I can't stand not being able to see clearly.

Around September, I had to start deciding what I wanted to do at the end of my contract. I didn't feel, I was done with Korea so I had to figure out what to do. I knew I wanted to really dive into Korean since I had only been studying it here and there with my private teacher. I applied to Seoul National University for their language program. Then, I actually got accepted. A friend introduced me to a kindergarten school that would allow me to work in the mornings and go to school in the afternoon. I guess you could say it worked out perfectly.

I went to move into the dorms, but found them completely disgusting. I don't think I would have been clean even if I showered. Luckily, my friend 정우(Jeong-woo's) family said I could live with them for the semester!!

Now, I am working with Kinder Schule and love "my" children and going to school in the afternoon. I have a midterm next week and will hopefully do well on it. So far, I haven't done too bad. Currently, I am looking for a new place to live and trying to listen to God for where to go to next.

Well, I guess that will be all down memory lane. Hopefully I didn't forget anything too important.

2009/12/26

What's new? Well, I had my third speaking test in 3 weeks. So far, I have made a perfect score on each. Hopefully, I can keep this up. I think if I am at the top of my class I can get some scholarship money!! I guess you can say school is going well. I enjoy my teachers and classmates.

Christmas was Friday. On Christmas eve, my friends and I met up at a hotel room for our party. It was a good way to celebrate Christmas. Other than the fact I was extremely tired from work and school all day, I had fun. I cooked chicken and hotteok. I am pretty sure I have explained it before, but I will do so again. It is basically a pancake with cinnamon sugar and crushed nuts inside. Oh so good!! After the party, I went home.

On Christmas, I met with my friend 정길 and had lunch. Afterwards, we went to 교보, but it was so crowded, we decided to leave. We both went home and I rested for a bit. I met with my 선생님 and had dinner. We ate some sushi, then went to a bar and played darts. Apparently, last night wasn't my night. I ended up losing 2 out of the 3 games. I'm not saying that I am good at darts, but I am better than how I played last night, haha. Afterwards, we went home.

Today, I will meet with a friend and watch Sherlock Holmes. I'm hoping it is good since it has been a movie I have been looking forward to all year. Maybe in my next post, I will let you know what I think.

This week has been a week of thought. It seems as if I hit a brick wall and couldn't figure a way around it. Today, I was able to talk to a good friend, David Miller, and we had a good conversation. I think through the conversation, some things were made clear. I know I need to find some time for myself and that is my goal for this week. To find a place where there are no expectations of me. A place where I am alone and can think. A place where God and I can have a conversation like we use to. I want to come back to that.