Maemueal do Trip :)

This was my first vacation that didn't involve family! That mostly meant, I missed my family but also realized things like this cost money! All in all i had a great time with my friend Grace and after all was said and done was glad to have spend my time as I did and fully enjoyed the beauty and the refreshing atmosphere of our island.

Our room was perfect, our food was good and all self made, our timing couldn't have been better and at every turn we saw Gods grace and his guidance.

Our little vacation was toped off by a perfectly timed bus trip back to Seoul in order for me to play volleyball on our church team. We won both our games and that means june 6th we play in Jamsil Olympic stadium for our church's big "Sports Day" event :)

I don't have any pictures of the games but lots of everything else!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water Skiing on the Han Gang

This outing was fairly off my radar and didn't really expect to be going water skiing until they gave me a my gear and we were off!!! The main plan or so I thought was to check out a section of the river for a canoe program. We did end up canoeing around and I was able to bring both my students up to speed on the art of stearing. After many circles and laughs we were able to go in a straight line.

When we arrived at the dock, it was just employees and one club member hanging around the stove area inside the office/practice area. As we walked up the wind was whipping through the valley and the waves were small but very much in existence and larger than I would like to skii over. I soon learned through translation that the wind just picked up before we arrived and was likely to soon die down, I was not so sure...

In the end they were right and after about 20 minutes the water was calm and the sun almost shinning. Yet it was still cold and the water looked even colder to add to the interest of the whole affaire I was not given any instruction, because I have done it before and was deemed fit for the line as soon as it was my turn!

It was good to watch my companions have a go at it first, I was able to remember the challenges and techniques I had used in the past to have a successful go on the ski's. When my turn did come I was nervous to be sure but found courage and was soon in the water and shocked at just how cold it really was.

The good news is I got going no problem and only face planted once when I tried to maneuver back into the wake zone and my ski edge hit the wave causing me to lose balance and find myself face first in the water. That was when the cold really hit. After I communicated how cold I was, had my ski's back on and the driver/instructor was on a course for the dock we launched off once more and this time the cold seemed to go right through me but thankfully adrenaline was also kicking in and I was yet able to enjoy the flying sensation and the pleasure that comes with a good water ski.

Back at the dock I was cold and shaky but happy to be their and grateful for the experience!

Gardening

This spring has been spotted with farming and gardening :) Part of my job is as a director for a twice a month Nature School and in between our saturday meetings we have been working to prepare the land and plant our own ILF Garden! As part of the Nature School each student has their own garden so we have been planing all sorts of vegetables and such! We are always in suspense when we go to check on the land. Neither myself or my partner Daeboum have had much first hand experience with this much planting. We are currently mystified over the sweet potato process and how it seems to be working! I am looking forward to watching our peanut plants grow and all the rest looks very promising. I have also had my hand at some beautifying gardening around our office. I am even more surprised and excited about my success on that front. Our flower beds are thriving and all sorts of plants that I have been taking care of and that appeared to be near death are quite happy!! I was especially happy to see our office orchids begin to bud again and now it looks as though we will have a number of new flowers to grace us with their presence

Spring!!!!

I have really been blessed by Spring here in Korea. I can't say as i have ever experienced such a magnificent spring transformation and one that has happened so gently and yet explosively. The mountains are yet transforming while the valleys and river areas are in full spring swing! I never could have imagined all the early spring flowers that have come and gone like a beautiful procession overlapping and complementing each other. The amount of tree's that have blossomed and are still blossoming is incredible, the season of cherry blossoms was particularly enchanting especially with how quickly they came and went and with such exuberance! Pictures don't do justice and really I am glad to be able to experience a spring like this one first hand.

River Adventures

I just put these pictures on the ILF website and thought to upload them here :)

 

Yesterday we had a good time water skiing and canoeing on the Hangang River, even though the water is uber cold! I was quite happy to find that it was fairly easy to get up and get going. The only problem was how my hands were quickly turned to ice in the wind.

 

Our main reason for water skiing was so we could try out the canoes in that part of the river and see if it would work for this summer and other programs we hope to offer. 

Surgery

I have to admit, the last thing I was expecting today was an eye surgery!

The good news was its over, the rest was fairly awful. I am going to write this story and go home to rest my eyes.

The last few days I noticed a kinda sty forming in my eye(The doctor called it a Chalazion - well he said something close to this so i just assumed). When I was younger, I remember having been through these before and just figured it was something to wait out and wait through. I was prepared, but Korea seems to be in no mood to wait around for anything. I have decided not to include any pictures because that would be gross!

Anyway, when my co-workers insisted I go to the eye specialist, I fought but in the end figured that it might be good to have some pain relief and everyone would be more at ease if I just went. I did, grateful for the chance to stretch my legs and talk with Minji, our intern for the year.

We got some beverages at a cafe near the eye specialist while we waited for their lunch break to be over. While speedily sipping a warm lotte we talked about dreams, fears, the future and trusting God. Little did I know what was awaiting me next door!

Looking back it all went so fast, the Doctor saw my eye, proscribed surgery, I asked when, he said now, I said no I don't have insurance yet, he said it only cost so much, Minji said i should, the doctor again said i should, i was hesitant, i gave in and was on a table in the next room. The doctor and assistant followed me into the room, Minji stayed by the door, My head was layed back, stuff was in my eye, the needle was quickly and somewhat painfully inside my eye lid, I was informed it was an antistatic, 10 seconds of uncomfortable pushing and prodding before some other thing was going at it in eye lid, now the tears where coming, prayers and gasps escaping, heart beating sweat pouring and mind racing. Yes it hurt and I dont think the anestectic really had any time to do much of anything. All in all, it took about 3 min tops(that felt like an eternity) and I was applying pressure to a throbbing bloody eye while attempting to put my shoes on. After another 30 seconds I had paid, grabed my perscription and was out the door with my instructions.

It may also add to the effect when you realize the doctor and his assistant didn't speak English durring the process, my friend translated some and for the most part I got the gist of the most important things.

I paid, about $35 then we left for the medicine store. I cant even begin to describe how vulnerable this experience left me and now a few hours after the fact my eye is free of its bloody bandage, swollen, red, tyred and ready to go on vacation.

Nam San Traditional House and New Year festivities

I meet up with two ladies from my church over the Lunar New Year and we enjoyed the festivities at the traditional house located near Nam San Tower! We made tal (traditional masks) with this weird modern kinda clay, i will have to post a picture of mine soon. Bellow is part of the duk(rice cake) process, he is letting the kids take turns pounding on the large mound of very sticky rice :)

 

 

Here we enjoyed hearing quite a bit of English as we watched a live radio broadcast unfold before our eyes. It was kinda fun because i believe i have heard them on the radio as we go to work in the mornings. It is always nice to get a little English in!

 

After our Time at the Traditional house, where we also watched some traditional performances and music (picture not available) we walked around the base of Nam San(Mountain) and on our way down Julia took a few pictures of Grace and myself.

 

Overall I enjoyed the day, it was good to get some traditional stuff in and learn a little more about the culture. A few days before this I got another opportunity to learn about the Lunar New Year celebrations at Kuk's House where a number of ILF staff and family's gathered to celebrate and honor our elders. It was cute to watch all the young children in their traditional outfits bowing and asking for many blessings. My plan was to enjoy watching, eat the great food, participate in conversation when possible and be on my way. This was not to be. Kuk seemed intent on my experiencing this tradition first hand. I refused a few times with excuses all the while feeling it a little strange to strait up bow to anybody. Yet in the end my resistance broke they showed my how told me the words and with a friend I bowed, asked for blessings and ended the deal with about 50 bucks worth. I realized just why i was asked to bow so intensely, they just wanted an excuse to give me some money! Not really, but in the end it wasn't so bad and I learned one thing about the particular style of bow. It was a one knee bow, easy to go down and easy getting back up. I like that and cant help but feel their is some significance to that fact.