Easter 2011-My Adventure at an African Pentecostal Church

Happy Easter! Being in Korea means I get to learn a lot about Korean culture. What's even better is that I have made friends from all over the world and have had the advantage of being in Korea yet also learning about my Canadian, South African, Australian, and English friends' cultures. I've tried all kinds of food and visited many places. However, it has been difficult to find a place to worship where the service is not entirely in Korean, especially since I live in such a tiny, small town.

I recently met an American soldier stationed in Seoul who invited me to attend church with him on Easter Sunday. I was ecstatic! FINALLY!! Church in ENGLISH!! With no sight of chocolate bunnies in Uljin and no hope of my little Korean church suddenly accommodating me with an English sermon, I was thrilled to accept the invitation and make the four hour trek to Seoul to celebrate Easter with people who shared my language.

Upon arriving at the church, I immediately noticed there were not many women in the midst. Happily, they did come in a bit later, though I was still the only Caucasian person accompanied by one Filipino and one Korean woman. The service began with praises in English, French, and a native African tongue.There were no words on a screen to follow and no hymnals to read. Even though the band, containing a keyboard player, drums, African drums, bass guitar, and trumpet had not practiced, they made beautiful, rhythmic music together.

As the music continued, the men all seemed to move forward into the front area of the room. They danced together in a circle praising God with song and dance. After the men left the area, the women all began to move forward. A beautiful woman in traditional African attire grabbed my arm and insisted I join them in dancing and praises, so (with a bit of protest) I did! It was amazing! I mean, here I am in the middle of Itaewon (Seoul), South Korea, in a basement church with a group of people of African descent, dancing and singing praises to God on Easter Sunday! This ain't your Grandma's church! Words cannot describe the feeling of knowing these people were praising the same God I was praising every year prior in a far different fashion, and now I was a part of their worship and being accepted as a sister in Christ. Amazing!

The praises and worship went on for quite some time. There was time for individual testimonies and people went forward one by one to give God praise for something in their lives and some even sang short songs. Just prior to the sermon, the pastor introduced me and asked me to come sing. I led the church in a popular chorus I was sure they knew, "Our God is an Awesome God". I was right...they knew it, the band chimed in and we all sang about our Awesome God!

The service continued with a short sermon being delivered in an unfamiliar African tongue and was immediately translated into English by an interpreter standing next to the Elder who delivered the message. Throughout the sermon, people were called upon to read passages from the Bible. They were read in English, French, and an African tongue so everyone could understand.

More singing and dancing ensued after the sermon and things finally wrapped up two and a half hours after beginning! To make things even better, the service was followed by a potluck lunch full of new and exciting foods I had never seen or tried! Though we had plans to return to the military base for a traditional American Easter brunch of ham and prime rib, we opted to stay and savor the delicious offerings of this potluck gathering. Oh! I am so glad we did! I had two kinds of rice with various seasonings on it, carrots that were both sweet and intensely spicy, along with spicy hen. It was absolutely delicious!

Somewhere along the way, I managed to make friends with this little miniature man who really took a liking to me. It was nice to see and interact with a child smaller than five who understood English!

It was a wonderful Easter Sunday. Though there were no Bunny Big Ears, jelly beans, or Peeps, this was a time filled with true praise and worship for the Risen Lord, which is exactly what Easter is all about.

The Happiness Factor

Visiting the ocean near my apartment

"I have never seen you looking so happy."

"It's been a long time since I've seen that smile!" 

"I think you should stay another year!"

"You seem so happy there. Are you?"

These are just a few quotes I have heard in just the past 24 hours. This comes at a good time for me as I enter the seven month point in my contract and must start contemplating my next move. EPIK (the public school system in Korea) started accepting applications today for Fall 2011. Schools back home that have openings are in the midst of the hiring season now for Fall 2011, however, there are less jobs posted this year than in previous years.

What is it about Korea that puts that smile on my face? Is it Korea at all? Is it me discovering more about myself? Is it the students at my school? What is it about this strange land full of people who don't look like me or speak like me? How can I be happy in a land of which I knew nothing of until a few short months ago?

I think the answer lies within myself. Before I came to Korea, I did not know one single word of Korean. I had no idea what those symbols (called Hangul) meant that they could read. I was illiterate. I had done some basic research on the culture so I would not embarrass myself, but still did not know everything, and still don't. I think my attitude has made the difference for me in what I would like to call the "happiness factor". 

Some people come here with an attitude that Koreans are ready for change and want to be "westernized" and they were sent to westernize this ancient culture AND will succeed in doing so in one short year. That is so not going to happen! Others come to party, get a Korean girlfriend, and work as little as possible. Partying can happen, however, the rest is variable. Some come here to Korea to teach ESL to escape something back home. This is a viable option, but must be approached with the right attitude. 

Enjoying traditional Korean BBQ 

You see, I came to Korea because I have a love for teaching, a love for travel, and needed a break from my so-called "real life". I had no fantastic notion of changing the world, but did want to learn about it. I am fascinated every time I take a cultural trip and learn more about the Korean people. I am fascinated every time I go out with a large group of Koreans and witness hierarchy of the social structure and how each member of the party behaves. I try to speak the language and have found myself understanding quite a bit, though I am not always successful at answering. I respect the culture even though I don't always understand it. 

This is why I am happy here. I have embraced a culture I knew virtually nothing about. I have tasted food I never would have tried back home. I have visited places I have only heard about or seen pictures of. I have found an inner strength and peace within myself that allows me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things, visit new places, and make new friends despite not knowing the language and being moderately illiterate. 

The question I keep getting asked the most by friends and family is, "What are you going to do in September?" The answer is, I don't know yet. I do know I have a job here that I can continue or I can extend my Visa and move to a different part of the country for a different position. I have a comfortable place to live and I make enough money to pay my bills and travel. I could pack up and head home to a crummy economy with no job, no home, no car, and no certainty of what I'd find once I got there. I have heard, "Come home and struggle like the rest of us." Why? Why would anyone choose to struggle if they did not have to? Isn't the American dream to be successful and happy? To have "enough" is what everyone wants.

Maybe that is why I smile. Maybe that is why I seem happy. Maybe I actually have "enough". Funny thing is, I have so little material possessions, it would only take me about two hours to pack my whole place. Friends, I seem happy because I am happy. The only thing that would make me happier is to have all of my friends, family and my two boys here with me.

Will I stay abroad for another year? Perhaps. Right now I am happy and keep praying for guidance. I have applied to jobs here as well as jobs back home and in other countries. I am leaving it in God's hands to guide me to where I should be in September, and I have to trust that He will show me the way.

Until next time...

Deal or No Deal?

Yesterday I took a day trip to Pohang to visit friends and do some shopping. I did get one INCREDIBLE deal I simply must tell you about! I bought new glasses. Now, I know back home it would cost around $50 (at least) for an eye exam and I know some stores have cheap frames starting at around $39 or so, however, the average cost (based on an unofficial poll of my friends who buy glasses) is anywhere from $200-$300 for an exam, frames, and lenses. Well, dear friends, I left the eye doctor yesterday with an eye exam, frames, and lenses with a scratch resistant coating and easy-cleaning for 30,000 won (appx $27 USD). Yes, I am serious! Jealous? Read on...

I also found myself to be a bit hungry while trolling around Jukdo Market. As I made my way down the alley with all the fish and seafood, I happened upon some mighty tasty looking crabs. Now, I know back home you can find a decent crableg dinner for around $20 or so depending on the time of year and the restaurant. Well, how about 1 kilogram (appx 2.2 pounds) of delicious FRESH crab for only 15,000 won? (appx $13 USD) Yes, my friends, see my delicious meal that came with all of these delectable side dishes for a mere 3,000 won more. Yes, you see two oysters, mussels, shrimp, and a host of other Korean side dishes. I have yet to find a deal like this back home!


Now, on to the not so good deals. Every now and then one just NEEDS some ingredient from home to make life a bit more manageable abroad. Here are some our prices we have to pay (and are sometimes willing to pay) to enjoy the comforts of certain foods. (Prices courtesy of HomePlus in Pohang by the bus terminal)

One of my personal faves, Zesta Crackers...$5.00

How about some chocolate chips for about $6.00?

Hershey's Syrup for only $5.00 and real Maple Syrup from Canada for about $12.00?

To enjoy that expensive Australian steak you had to have, you can add your favorite A1 for just under $5.00 or marinate those pork chops in some Kikoman Teriyaki for about $6.00!

 

 

 

For a mere $6.00 you can enjoy your Special K and not pinch more than an inch! 

 

 

One must enjoy some Prego for about $4.50 per jar! While this is my preferred sauce, I won't pay that much.

So, there you have it folks. Deal or No Deal? What would you be willing to pay for these tastes of home? Funny thing is, the longer I am over here, the less I am willing to play for imports. I'm learning to do with what's available and am finding some American processed foods to be to much for my system to handle. I'm also becoming a better cook! :-) Of course, nothing beats a good, old-fashioned American burger with all the toppings! Yeah....I'd pay for that!

Being Grateful

I was talking to my son, Bryan, this morning and he was telling me how he is thankful to have the things he has in his life. The road has been a bumpy one (especially over the last couple of years), but he is one tough kid. He was telling me about being at a birthday party where the birthday child did not express (in his opinion) enough gratitude for the gifts received. He said he always says, "Thank you" even for the smallest things. He is right. He does. Bryan has experienced a loss of some material things recently, but tells me he is thankful for what he has and tries not to focus on what he does not have.

He then spoke of the people in Japan and how much they have lost and how he cannot imagine losing everything like that. "Mom, they have lost everything...pictures, their homes, everything..." The devastation in Japan is almost too much to even comprehend. I have been glued to CNN for the past three days or so watching the stories unfold about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The images and stories are frightening, sad, inspirational, and surreal. It really makes one evaluate life and things we have and how quickly it can all be taken away.

The one thing that really stands out is how orderly and graceful these people are in the wake of disaster. People are helping people. It's not "every man for himself". It's like they completely understand they must work together for the greater good. No looting, no stealing, no meanness or malice. They are just a group of people crushed by great loss who are trying to put some sort of order back into their lives.

So, one has to wonder how things will turn out after this is all over. Will the Japanese people triumph over this great catastrophe? Will they become bitter and hateful? Will they remain proud and poised? Japan has done many horrible, horrible things to other countries in the past. I have even heard some Koreans say they are not upset about this atrocity at all because of the pain Japan has caused Korea over the years. Understandable but hard for me as an American to comprehend. All I can do in the wake of this disaster in Japan is pray for the people and, in the words of a very intelligent 15 year-old, "be grateful for what I do have and try not to focus on the things I don't". At this point, I think that is all that our Japanese friends can do.

My Birthday in Korea

I have so many things to be thankful for; a great family, incredible friends, a good job, and one more long, trying year on the planet. Yes, I have survived long enough to have a birthday in Korea. I must admit, I was not sure what to expect, so I expected nothing and got EVERYTHING!!!

Upon arriving to work, I was greeted by the Korean teachers with a Korean version of cheesecake, which is more like a light spongecake with some sort of "danish-style" cheese stuff in the middle. They were soooo happy to do this for me; excited even! The first picture is Jennifer and Ellie putting on the "Happy Birthday" candles and getting quite a kick out of doing so.

After the lighting of the candles, I received an odd rendition of "The Birthday Song" (second pic) where they all sang and clapped off-beat. It was truly awesome! :-) These women are incredible and I am so blessed to have such great people to work with!

They all enjoyed eating their pieces of cake with chopsticks out of paper cups while I just bit right into mine! I mean, I do manage macaroni and cheese with chopsticks, but cake?? Nah...I'll pass. It was very sweet of them to do this for me. Three of the teachers gave me gifts "in secret" as not to offend the other teachers who may have not given me a gift. I received very pink lipstick, some pink cosmetic that appears to be eyeshadow, and some hand cream. Their thoughtfulness is overwhelming at times. :-) (As I write this, I am having some trouble with a tendon in my ankle and one of the teachers is meeting me in the morning to go to the "Asian Medicine Clinic", aka acupuncture, to translate for me.)


Several of my students brought me gifts, including chocolate candy, a lollipop, triangle kimbap (I got three of those!), rice cakes, and a piece of coffee chewing gum! One class decorated the whiteboard with all kinds of sweet messages and sang to me, in addition to a couple of hand-written notes.

After school, I met with a local Korean teacher who bought me a chocolate ganache cake! Let me just say, as far as Korean cake goes, this one was INCREDIBLE!!! :-) I met up with a couple of friends later and we shared a pizza and the cake (videos on Facebook). On top of everything else, because of the time difference, I got two whole days of birthday wishes on my Facebook page. How cool is that? The best thing is, this was just ON my birthday and not even my birthday party!!! My party is not until Saturday! Wow!

So goes another year of my life. If someone would have told me I was going to spend this birthday in Korea, I would have never believed it. Now, I'm not even sure where I will be next year on my birthday. Regardless, I know I will be amongst friends, maybe new, maybe old, and will know I am enjoying my life and trying to make every moment count. I have a few plans for this next year, but, of course, am open to all the adventures and possibilities that may come my way. God has a plan for me and I have to believe and trust.

Until next time, keep living your own adventure....

Six Month Check-up...

Wow. I am halfway through this one year contract and, my, how time flies!! If someone would have looked at me this time last year and told me this is where I would be, I would have totally laughed them out of the room. I mean, really? Korea?? C'mon! Who goes there?? Well, apparently I go there! :-)

These past six months have been exhilarating, happy, and fulfilling, yet at the same time been frustrating, annoying, and depressing. Living abroad is like living on a roller coaster. Up and down, up and down, up and down. Find a food you like--find a food you hate. Make new friends--miss the ones back home who know you best. See an incredible, breathtaking site--feel lonely because you know someone who would love to see this but he/she is on the other side of the planet. Communicate accurately to a taxi driver--end up paying too much for something because you cannot communicate effectively enough in the shopkeeper's language. Feel proud for taking this risk--wonder if everyone thinks you have totally cracked up. Yep, it's a roller coaster ride.

Here are a few observations I have made in these first six months about myself and living abroad:

1. Toilet Paper: It's not just for the bathroom and you should carry some with you at all times. Just because you go into the toilet does not guarantee there will be anything other than a place to *ahem* "do your bizness". It's also a good idea to carry hand sanitizer because there is never a guarantee of soap. :-) Additionally, TP can also be used to blow your nose, clean up messes, wipe a table, dry your hands, or as a napkin. Yes, this is an essential travel item here.

2. Korean English on T-shirts is a really bad idea. Misspellings, double meanings, and things that just don't make sense end up on these shirts. WHYYYYY??? I took this pic of my adorable student to demonstrate a right and wrong way to spell "beautiful". It was a spelling word that week and this is the shirt she just happened to wear. Additionally, how is it "smile" is correct in one place and not the other?? This is a huge pet peeve for a teacher of English!! Yep, this one annoys me and, people, this is just the tip of the iceberg of these kinds of shirts!

3. I am not Korean. Yes, I know this may come as a shock to many, but I am a tried and true, red, white, and blue, All-American girl-next-door. I like hamburgers, steak and potatoes, backyard barbecues, swimming outside in a (gasp) swimsuit, and, yes, I even like an occasional country song. I don't like kimchi or pickled radishes. I cannot bring myself to eat the fish from the market after it sits in the sun all day and I have yet to figure out why rice cakes and red bean paste are so darned popular! Though I do occasionally get a hankering for some decent Korean barbecue or even some noodles, I'm American. No changing that!

4. I am comfortable with people who are different than me. Here is the funny thing...I am more comfortable around a group of Koreans I don't know than I would be going to a party where everyone speaks English. I have not figured out why that is, but it is. The strange thing I have noticed is that there is a definite pattern in my life of me integrating myself into cultures and groups of people I have nothing or very little in common with. I find people fascinating! I enjoy getting to know them and learn about their cultures and how we are the same or different. Sometimes, I can get "sucked in" to a culture or group without even realizing it. This can be both good and bad, I suppose. I would like to think it is always good, but we all know getting sucked in to the wrong group can have major issues.

5. I have an internal GPS. I know my father will read this one and fall onto the floor laughing because I ALWAYS call him for directions. However, since being in Korea, I have been honing my navigational skills and can get just about anywhere without getting too terribly lost. I even carry a map with me along with phone numbers of trusted people...just in case. I have also discovered that if I get lost in a big city, just look for a McDonald's or KFC and I will find at least one westerner there who can direct me! :-)

6. I'm Independent and Strong. I don't know how I do it sometimes, but if I was not independent and strong, I would not survive. I would have already been on a plane back to what was comfortable and cozy. Instead, I made the decision to liquidate my life and move halfway around the globe for a year of unknown challenges and successes. It's been a roller coaster, but I'm still on the ride and holding on!

7. Family is Everything. My father and step-mother have been so very supportive of this adventure. Dad has made calls, ran errands, paid bills, secured a passport for Bryan (in the works), and just made sure my affairs back home stayed in order. I don't know what I would do without him. Hazel has obliged my cravings and picked up foods at the store she thought I'd enjoy and sent them to me. Ahhh...just a little taste of home goes a long way. My boys have also been supportive. I talk to them several times a week and stay actively involved in their lives. This is probably the toughest challenge I face here...being away from my boys.

8. Everyone Needs Friends. My friends back home send me messages on Facebook or funny emails. They keep me up to date on what's happening back home and tell me how lucky I am to not be paying $3.50 per gallon for gas! I know as I type this, I have a package on the way that contains some American goodies and surprises from a dear friend back home. I mean, you know you are loved when your girlfriend sends you new bras because you're shrinking and Fudge Rounds because you are craving them! My friends in Korea...well, we form a tight, tight network. Being in a small town keeps our little group pretty tight-knit and we look out for one another. We have regular get-togethers and exchange chats online or via text often. We are all here alone (aside from the two married couples) and we cherish our friendships. I only hope they know how much I cherish them! I honestly don't know what I would do without my friends.

9. I want Andol heating. No carpet to vaccuum and the floor is warm on a cold morning. Yep. I need this.

10. I miss my bathtub. Korean style bathrooms don't typically have a tub. Usually it is just a shower handle connected to the sink. The whole bathroom is truly a "bath" "room" complete with the drain hole in the middle of the floor. I intend to take the longest bubble bath in history when I return to the USA.

So, there you have it... my six month check-up. I've made it this far, so I think I can finish the race. Stay tuned...

Winds of Change...

Something that is both difficult and wonderful about being teacher in a foreign country is all the interesting people you meet. Not only do you meet people from your host country, you make friends with others who share the same language. I have have made English speaking friends from not only America, but Australia, Canada, England, South Africa, and New Zealand. While making new friends is wonderful, it is difficult when one comes to the end of that teaching contract and is faced with the decision to stay or go.

This past weekend I spent with one of the first English-speaking friends I made here in Korea. I had been in Korea for about two weeks when I ventured to Pohang in search of some good shopping. I happened upon two westerners sitting outside a Starbucks. They invited me to join them and I did. This photo was taken that evening before I hopped on the bus back to Uljin. This was the beginning of a great friendship. We have laughed until we cried and cried until we laughed. We have made fun of each others accents and have various misunderstandings over rules of games (pool, Uno), meanings of words (now, just now, now now), proper pronunciation (bill vs bull, milk vs mulk, etc...), and names of things (bandage vs plaster, stroller vs "pram", etc.) Through this all, however, I know I have made a friend who I will always think of fondly and have great memories of. From our late night talks to early morning (well, crack of noon) breakfasts, to launching "boats" into a rice paddy, to silly sleepovers where we talked for hours on end solving all the problems of the world, we made this friendship work on the basis of trust and honesty.

Until I met her, I had never had a friend from South Africa. I had never been to China or tasted Peking Duck. I never knew there could be so many different names for silly things like q-tips and band-aids. I never knew such a deep friendship could develop in such a short time and it would be this difficult to say farewell.

To my friend, Bronwen, I will say "Farewell", but not "Goodbye". Even if we never see each other face to face again, I know she will always be a part of my great Korean Adventure and I am blessed to have known her.