~~~
Church has been most refreshing spiritually and emotionally. The other night, after some frustrations at work - I went to church for prayer meeting. And in the small group prayer meeting, I feel that I experienced true fellowship with people I only met a month ago. During the time we were talking about 1st John, Chapters One to Three, and from what I heard from a translator - people were simply honest with their insecurities, their problems, there was trust I have never felt before, there was honesty I have never experienced before. Everyone was unified, everyone was sincere, everyone was true - and that just brought so much joy. What I experienced in that group - I have only experienced before with a few close friends privately. Never in such a large group. It is so encouraging.Guam
Just a beach
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Busy Busy Busy
Wow it has been ten days since I have last posted, and the last ten days have been busy busy busy. But one thing that I find most interesting is the ease of going to the hospital here in Korea. At the sign of any cold symptoms, my coworkers run to the hospital. And within a few hours, they come back with medicine, or whatever treatment they need. It really makes me question, and see the reality of the health care system in the USA. In the US, to me the hospital is the last resort, I am willing to try anything to cure a sickness, whether that be flu, cold or some minor infection at home before I run to the hospital. I dread the calls ahead of time to make an appointment, I dread the long hours in the waiting rooms, knowing that the air you breathe puts you more at risk for being sick.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Random Thoughts
For lack of better terms, my host father Mr. Seo is a businessman at SK. And he works morning to late night, every day. I rarely see him, he never eats at home, and his children never see him either, except for the weekends. This lifestyle reminds me of my dad during his residency, but Mr. Seo is much more busy. I have been told this is the life of Korean business man, I cannot imagine, so many men and women in this country working this way, day in and day out. It must be exhausting, but it seems to me, that Mr. Seo returns home with a smile each day, and a peaceful look on his face, he never looks stressed, though I am sure he is, nor does he look too tired. As a man, nearing 50 I believe, it is amazing. I don't know the schedules or demands of businessmen in other countries, but the demands on Mr. Seo, I have never seen before. But on a lighter note, one night he came home late, because he decided to go play Starcraft 2, with his colleagues from work, until 2 or 3 AM.
To be honest, I work all day here. Though it never feels like work, because, A.) everyone else is working just as hard, and it is quite fun to be working with a purpose, and B.) the people here at work are really fun, though stressed, we find time to laugh and tell jokes. Everything though stressful, feels less like work but a family collaboration. My co-workers and I are all working very hard for the opening of school and also, several other endeavors planned in the future. I am enjoying every moment, here, but I do miss kids, of course soon they will be scampering here - I haven't extensively interacted with children for more than a month, and everything just seems too quiet. I am anxious, nervous, at times while writing curriculum, sudden pangs of uncertainty hit, and I am not confident of what I am doing, but with some prayer, and more reading, once again I am at peace. But the first day of school will be tough, I think, having never worked with children with no experience in English, there must be other ways to reach these children, and my toughest challenge is to find those ways. Although of what I have done so far, my supervisor approved of, I think a lesson plan always has room for improvement.
I read an interesting article today, about how Egypt practically shut off all the internet during the protests for a few days during the revolution. Egypt, having been an authoritarian state, controls its networks via the government. China, has a history of censorship of course, but they too have the power to shut off the web for specific regions. What a scary thought, instead of the government controlling what we hear, or see, or learn, instead they can completely cut off all information exchange, in and out of the country. Everyone should check out this link of the article...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/technology/internet/29cutoff.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=egypt,%20internet&st=cse
Argh, it is 2AM. I don't know what I am typing anymore. But one last thought, two things that has affected me the past couple days is Hebrews chapters 6 to 11, and Interlude 5 in MTV Unplugged 2.0 by Lauryn Hill. Both have redefined, or reminded me of this faith I profess. In Hebrews chapters 6 to 11, it is a summary of the new covenant, and what the death of Christ means in the covenant, and also it is a call to persevere, and a call for us to serve God. In Interlude 5, Ms. Hill, defines what I believe the inner life of a Christian is. I don't know whether she is a Christian or not, but obviously she has some background in the church, and has important insight into the human condition.
To be honest, I work all day here. Though it never feels like work, because, A.) everyone else is working just as hard, and it is quite fun to be working with a purpose, and B.) the people here at work are really fun, though stressed, we find time to laugh and tell jokes. Everything though stressful, feels less like work but a family collaboration. My co-workers and I are all working very hard for the opening of school and also, several other endeavors planned in the future. I am enjoying every moment, here, but I do miss kids, of course soon they will be scampering here - I haven't extensively interacted with children for more than a month, and everything just seems too quiet. I am anxious, nervous, at times while writing curriculum, sudden pangs of uncertainty hit, and I am not confident of what I am doing, but with some prayer, and more reading, once again I am at peace. But the first day of school will be tough, I think, having never worked with children with no experience in English, there must be other ways to reach these children, and my toughest challenge is to find those ways. Although of what I have done so far, my supervisor approved of, I think a lesson plan always has room for improvement.
I read an interesting article today, about how Egypt practically shut off all the internet during the protests for a few days during the revolution. Egypt, having been an authoritarian state, controls its networks via the government. China, has a history of censorship of course, but they too have the power to shut off the web for specific regions. What a scary thought, instead of the government controlling what we hear, or see, or learn, instead they can completely cut off all information exchange, in and out of the country. Everyone should check out this link of the article...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/technology/internet/29cutoff.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=egypt,%20internet&st=cse
Argh, it is 2AM. I don't know what I am typing anymore. But one last thought, two things that has affected me the past couple days is Hebrews chapters 6 to 11, and Interlude 5 in MTV Unplugged 2.0 by Lauryn Hill. Both have redefined, or reminded me of this faith I profess. In Hebrews chapters 6 to 11, it is a summary of the new covenant, and what the death of Christ means in the covenant, and also it is a call to persevere, and a call for us to serve God. In Interlude 5, Ms. Hill, defines what I believe the inner life of a Christian is. I don't know whether she is a Christian or not, but obviously she has some background in the church, and has important insight into the human condition.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
What I see
Sitting comfortably while riding the second of the Seoul subway system, I stared out into space. Early Sunday morning, I wondered where everyone was heading. But in this city filled with technophiles, everyone else was looking down, gazing at the glowing screens of their portable devices, which I dare not call cellphones any longer. Because these devices function as TVs, MP3s, gaming devices and other applications I probably cannot think of. The girl to the far right, is clearly distressed by what is on her screen. While the woman sitting directly ahead is giggling softly at the program she is watching. The man next to her, with a slant of his eye, is watching the same program on her 'cellphone' unamused. He stares for a good 15 minutes without her noticing. Those whom are not enthralled by three to four inch screens are in slumbering away. This all makes me wonder, what my face shows at various times? Is there someone in this subway car, observing as I am, and making innocent judgments on their fellow commuters.
Although I have not spent much time at all in front of the TV here, the few times I have caught a glance of it, and with some explanation, I am puzzled by the amount of shows that make fun of people or point out features and generally just make judgments on the contestants ( the best word I can find) on these shows. In one show, a series of women are put against each other, while they compare how healthy they are, if they can break a gourd over their head, or how sexy they are in the photo they send in. In another show, a group of 'boys' stand to be ridiculed, while the announcers discuss which one of the 'boys' is a real girl. Finally, another show brings up middle-aged women, who clearly spend way too much time or money on their appearances because they look younger than their kids who are in their twenties. Honestly, I am sure these shows are amusing, but to what purpose?
Walking down the streets of Seoul, mostly everyone looks normal. Having been fore-warned that people like to dress nicely here, I have not been too shocked when I see people on the street. Never have I seen sweatpants, or a general slothful look that is so common on a college campus. But, never have I seen men, who clearly spent way too much time in front of the mirror in the morning. Often they are better and more intricately dressed than the women they are walking with. Basically, here I will always look like I just rolled out of bed.
Although I have not spent much time at all in front of the TV here, the few times I have caught a glance of it, and with some explanation, I am puzzled by the amount of shows that make fun of people or point out features and generally just make judgments on the contestants ( the best word I can find) on these shows. In one show, a series of women are put against each other, while they compare how healthy they are, if they can break a gourd over their head, or how sexy they are in the photo they send in. In another show, a group of 'boys' stand to be ridiculed, while the announcers discuss which one of the 'boys' is a real girl. Finally, another show brings up middle-aged women, who clearly spend way too much time or money on their appearances because they look younger than their kids who are in their twenties. Honestly, I am sure these shows are amusing, but to what purpose?
Walking down the streets of Seoul, mostly everyone looks normal. Having been fore-warned that people like to dress nicely here, I have not been too shocked when I see people on the street. Never have I seen sweatpants, or a general slothful look that is so common on a college campus. But, never have I seen men, who clearly spent way too much time in front of the mirror in the morning. Often they are better and more intricately dressed than the women they are walking with. Basically, here I will always look like I just rolled out of bed.
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