On Sunday, our culture class went to the SBS Studio (one of the broadcasting networks here) to see a KPOP REHEARSAL for the show, 인기 가요 (if you google "Inkigayo," you can find information on it too, but I will post some videos from their youtube channel). I was surprised by the fact that the stars are just walking around the building like it's no big deal (we see at the door while we are waiting for the next rehearsal), using the same bathrooms as us, etc. ...and people are all that excited about it. I just thought~~if this were in the USA, they would have to have bodyguards, taped off sections, own private dressing rooms/bathrooms/etc. Oh, and there would be TONS of screaming fans!!!! Duh!!!! But it was kind of ho hum here~~some of them got cheers, but mainly, just clapping when they got on stage and off stage. Granted, this WAS just the rehearsal, but STILL! THESE ARE KPOP STARS FOR GOODNESS SAKES!!!! AHHH!!!! I wanted to just go jump on stage (mainly be 이기광 was an emcee, but stilllll!)
Later, talking to one of my friends back in the dorm about it, I come to find out that the actual "fans" who are there screaming and everything show up in the wee hours of the morning to get tickets and then THEY come line up after the rehearsal for the actual LIVE streaming show. Well, either way, it WAS pretty cool to be so close (3rd row) to some famous people (except, where were you, Beast and 2pm??? *sigh* 사랑해요! (I love you!))
Here are some clips from the Live Broadcast~~~
Sunday, July 31, 2011
flea market in 홍대
This past Saturday, I had my first meet up with a facebook group I joined called "What's Up Korea." This group is a mix of foreigners and locals~~it's description is: " 'Changes for the better'
Korea has been categorized into a racially homogeneous nation for a long time. For that reason, most old generations feel awkward to live with different races and it's very difficult for especially those Koreans who have never lived abroad or have no foreign friends to learn differences between different races. Unfortunately, foreigners in Korea sometimes feel like it's racism..So I made this page to help both Koreans and foreigners become friends..'What's up Korea' gives information related to Korea so that foreigners can understand Korea more and makes events for those who want to make friends and have more fun in Korea..Everyone who loves Korea is welcomed.."
It was absolutely a BLAST!! We started off all meeting outside the subway exit and played rock-paper-scissors to see what order we would pick the 5 money envelopes (because that's how one ALWAYS decides things here in KOrea~~I don't know how to write it in Korean, but they say something else~~they take this game really seriously ㅋㅋ ~it's great! ^^). I won R-P-S, butttttt I picked the envelope with 1,000 W (equal to about 94 cents!). The other envelopes were 3,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 W. With this envelope, we had to pick out TWO gifts at the flea market, while practicing our Korean (with the help of each of our Korean buddies). I knew it wouldn't be easy, but we knew we could bargain something for cheaper! I had two of the coolest language partners~~박지원 and 양기석. 지원 is even a music major too (percussion)! How cool is that! 기석씨 is a grad student in economics. Super smart!
After walking around for awhile and seeing what all there was and wondering how we were going to do it, we happened to see some beautiful postcards for 1,000 W each. I, using my broken Korean skills, even bargained it down to 2 for 1! Success!! We were supposed to buy for one of our friends or give to someone. Well, I had two language partners, who are also my two new friends, and so I decided to buy for them! I got a postcard with clouds and music notes/staff on it for 지원 because of our shared passion for music, and since there were not any cards with money on them (ㅋㅋㅋ), I got the prettiest one for 기석 of a nature background. We had plenty of extra time, and it was soooo humid and hot outside from all the rain (thank goodness it stopped for Saturday while we did this!), we went in to Smoothie King and cooled off and talked.
From there, we all met back up and went for Mexican food. I was really interested in seeing how "Mexican food" tasted in Korea. How do I describe it now that I have had it? Well, it sure wasn't as BAD as I thought it was going to be, but I wouldn't say it's great lol. But even still, it was a fun dinner talking with the people from the other groups, meeting more foreigners like me and new Korean friends too. ^^
When we were finished, some of us still didn't want to leave, so we carried the conversation over to a coffee shop, which involved lots of laughter and good memories. This was one of the first times that I have really felt connected to people and feeling like I have new Korean friends, as well as foreigners who have been here awhile and have the wisdom that comes along with that. Thanks, God, for Saturday. ^^ (Below photos courtesy of our lovely Hyejin Lee~~the founder of What's Up Korea)
Korea has been categorized into a racially homogeneous nation for a long time. For that reason, most old generations feel awkward to live with different races and it's very difficult for especially those Koreans who have never lived abroad or have no foreign friends to learn differences between different races. Unfortunately, foreigners in Korea sometimes feel like it's racism..So I made this page to help both Koreans and foreigners become friends..'What's up Korea' gives information related to Korea so that foreigners can understand Korea more and makes events for those who want to make friends and have more fun in Korea..Everyone who loves Korea is welcomed.."
It was absolutely a BLAST!! We started off all meeting outside the subway exit and played rock-paper-scissors to see what order we would pick the 5 money envelopes (because that's how one ALWAYS decides things here in KOrea~~I don't know how to write it in Korean, but they say something else~~they take this game really seriously ㅋㅋ ~it's great! ^^). I won R-P-S, butttttt I picked the envelope with 1,000 W (equal to about 94 cents!). The other envelopes were 3,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 W. With this envelope, we had to pick out TWO gifts at the flea market, while practicing our Korean (with the help of each of our Korean buddies). I knew it wouldn't be easy, but we knew we could bargain something for cheaper! I had two of the coolest language partners~~박지원 and 양기석. 지원 is even a music major too (percussion)! How cool is that! 기석씨 is a grad student in economics. Super smart!
After walking around for awhile and seeing what all there was and wondering how we were going to do it, we happened to see some beautiful postcards for 1,000 W each. I, using my broken Korean skills, even bargained it down to 2 for 1! Success!! We were supposed to buy for one of our friends or give to someone. Well, I had two language partners, who are also my two new friends, and so I decided to buy for them! I got a postcard with clouds and music notes/staff on it for 지원 because of our shared passion for music, and since there were not any cards with money on them (ㅋㅋㅋ), I got the prettiest one for 기석 of a nature background. We had plenty of extra time, and it was soooo humid and hot outside from all the rain (thank goodness it stopped for Saturday while we did this!), we went in to Smoothie King and cooled off and talked.
From there, we all met back up and went for Mexican food. I was really interested in seeing how "Mexican food" tasted in Korea. How do I describe it now that I have had it? Well, it sure wasn't as BAD as I thought it was going to be, but I wouldn't say it's great lol. But even still, it was a fun dinner talking with the people from the other groups, meeting more foreigners like me and new Korean friends too. ^^
When we were finished, some of us still didn't want to leave, so we carried the conversation over to a coffee shop, which involved lots of laughter and good memories. This was one of the first times that I have really felt connected to people and feeling like I have new Korean friends, as well as foreigners who have been here awhile and have the wisdom that comes along with that. Thanks, God, for Saturday. ^^ (Below photos courtesy of our lovely Hyejin Lee~~the founder of What's Up Korea)
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| Shopping at 홍대 flea market |
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| 기석, me, 지원 |
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| another shot |
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| Awww you two ^^ |
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| all so sweet! |
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| explaining about my two gifts |
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| our table~~one of my favorite pics |
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| ^^~some of the group at Tom n Toms Coffee~^^ |
Thursday, July 28, 2011
i.am.like.the.lotus.flower.
The flower I have always loved, I have come to find out, is ACTUALLY the flower for those born in July (I discovered this here from my Korean friend). How PERFECT!
~~Do you know the story of the lotus flower? Well, sit back and get ready because you are in for a treat~~
***It is amazing, the Lotus Flower--its story from beginning to end. The lotus flower is something so beautiful and delicate, but you would have no idea where it came from. It is the only flower that is able to do what it does. It grows out of the bottom of dirty, muddy, murky pond waters to create something beautiful. Sadly, it only shows its beauty for but a few short days after which all the petals quietly float off into the water. Despite this, the large green seed pod remains while the seeds inside it grow and mature. During this time, one must be aware, that although the stem may bend easily, it is very hard to break due to its many strong fibers. Once the seeds are fully ripe, the pod then turns back down into the dirty water, to the bottom of the pond, where it releases its seeds for many more beautiful lotus flowers to bloom and continue the process. . I am like the lotus flower in so many ways. Out of the dirty, muddy, messy life I went through in the past, something beautiful has come out (all thanks to God, I must say!), and I continue to live to share that testimony with others to plant seeds and help cultivate with a beauty that is "of one's inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves" (~1 Peter 3:4-5).
The lotus flower may be a symbol in Buddhism or Hinduism, but ultimately the lotus flower was created BY God, FOR the glory OF GOD, and it is the perfect story of what He does with us. He is able to turn our lives from something ugLy and into something beautifuL (sound anything like Camp rEVOLution, Refresh friends?? ^_^), and although we may bend, we ARE NOT EASILY BROKEN. AMEN to that! We are created to glorify Him, taking that story of Him turning our ugly lives into something beautiful~~our testimony~~and sharing it with others, planting the seeds, helping to nurture the seeds in others, and then watching as they grow into something beautiful in Christ.
I cannot write this without thinking about this song~~listen and be blessed. <3 <3 <3
~~Another With Lyrics~~~
~~Do you know the story of the lotus flower? Well, sit back and get ready because you are in for a treat~~
***It is amazing, the Lotus Flower--its story from beginning to end. The lotus flower is something so beautiful and delicate, but you would have no idea where it came from. It is the only flower that is able to do what it does. It grows out of the bottom of dirty, muddy, murky pond waters to create something beautiful. Sadly, it only shows its beauty for but a few short days after which all the petals quietly float off into the water. Despite this, the large green seed pod remains while the seeds inside it grow and mature. During this time, one must be aware, that although the stem may bend easily, it is very hard to break due to its many strong fibers. Once the seeds are fully ripe, the pod then turns back down into the dirty water, to the bottom of the pond, where it releases its seeds for many more beautiful lotus flowers to bloom and continue the process. . I am like the lotus flower in so many ways. Out of the dirty, muddy, messy life I went through in the past, something beautiful has come out (all thanks to God, I must say!), and I continue to live to share that testimony with others to plant seeds and help cultivate with a beauty that is "of one's inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves" (~1 Peter 3:4-5).
The lotus flower may be a symbol in Buddhism or Hinduism, but ultimately the lotus flower was created BY God, FOR the glory OF GOD, and it is the perfect story of what He does with us. He is able to turn our lives from something ugLy and into something beautifuL (sound anything like Camp rEVOLution, Refresh friends?? ^_^), and although we may bend, we ARE NOT EASILY BROKEN. AMEN to that! We are created to glorify Him, taking that story of Him turning our ugly lives into something beautiful~~our testimony~~and sharing it with others, planting the seeds, helping to nurture the seeds in others, and then watching as they grow into something beautiful in Christ.
I cannot write this without thinking about this song~~listen and be blessed. <3 <3 <3
~~Another With Lyrics~~~
Give me the attitude of Christ
~~~I do not want you to be uninformed, dear friends, about the hardships I suffered in the province of Asia. Indeed, away from you and feeling so alone, my heart felt the sentence of death. BUT THIS HAPPENED THAT I MIGHT NOT RELY ON MYSELF BUT ON GOD, WHO RAISES THE DEAD.
Ok~~~So after last night, I really felt I needed to take some time today to share my array of emotions as I have been living here in Seoul for the last 3 weeks. Some of you know some of what has been going on, and to many of you, this will be a surprise/new news, but my first three weeks are not what I would call "floating on cloud 9" for me. First, do not get me wrong, I have had a LOT of fun here and explored many parts of Seoul, but inside, I have been struggling, which is not something I expected (making it even harder). I expected I would get here and it would be like a vacation at first~~everything new and exciting and lost in the hype of everything. On the contrary (ok, yes, I HAVE been amazed at HOW BIG SEOUL IS and how COOOOOOOL it is here but...), I have had a hard time adjusting for many reasons. At the moment, I've been feeling out of place and lonely. It's amazing how, in such a big and busy city as Seoul, one can feel lonely. Seemed like such a paradox as I thought about it.
First of all, I am in a 5-week Korean Immersion Program (KIP) here, and I feel sort out of place because I am one of the older people in the program. Most of the students here are in college (some even in HS) and see this more as one big party in Seoul for the summer. This just is not me. They also seem to have a lot more money too. I want to go and explore and eat out and spend money (which I did do WAY too much the first couple weeks here and am paying for it, no pun intended). I am here with what little savings I have, and it has to last me until Sept. 25th when I get my first paycheck. Let me tell you, after having to pay for the plane ticket to Japan (way more than I thought), it was a HUGE chunk out of my assumed budget. So, that was getting me down too. I want to go out with friends, but I also have to remember that I will be living in Korea for awhile, so I can always come visit Seoul some other time. This is also something that hit me: I AM LIVING IN KOREA FOR AWHILE. This is my new home. That is so entirely weird to think about. Unlike for all my friends in this program, this is not some temporary summer vacation and then back to my daily life and friends and activities. THIS IS MY LIFE NOW. One day I was walking and said to myself, "Dang, Laura! You just moved half-way across the world by yourself to live and teach. WHat were you thinking??!?!!" ㅋㅋㅋㅋ (Said jokingly, of course! ^_~)
Last week, I just got to the point where I just wanted to move into my apartment and get settled into Gyeongbuk~~get to know the area, make some friends, decorate my own permanent living space (and not some dorm where I'm living out of my suitcase), enjoy COOKING!!! (I MISS IT SOOOOO MUCH!!!!), etc. I was tired of the temporary and soooo bored with language classes. Not being challenged in language classes was really getting me down. I was extremely bored the first week because I already knew the alphabet, and then last week, I knew a lot of the phrases already because I had been studying online on my own before I came. I did learn some vocab words, but still. If you know me well, and yes, Mother, I can just imagine you shaking your head in agreement right now (and to my other music friends~~think me in Parsons' classes...yeah, like that, except these teachers are WAY cool), you would know that I--despite how my lack of common sense and somewhat ditsy-ness may come off--am actually kind of smart lol If I am not challenged in a class, I will not do well. I cannot take "bird classes," as they are called (so easy that you can fly over them and pass)~~if I am not challenged to use deeper parts of my brain and work for answers and personal discovery, I tune out and can't focus and become somewhat "annoyed" by the class and lose all motivation to try. For a language that I once LOVED and lOVED discovering new words and using them, I came to dislike it because of the boring classes (for me) which made me lose interest. (Now do not get me wrong, I LOVE my teachers, ALL of them, and the class level IS right for those people who had no prior experience with Korean, but I did, and so it's been hard.)
And so....all this sort of getting me down, not feeling attached to a Church group (although I have gone to Yoido Full Gospel Church Int'l Service the last 2 Sundays since I've been here, I wonder if I will still be able to somehow catch a bus from wherever I am in Gyeongbuk and still be able to go on Sundays or not or whether there will be an Int'l Service nearby where I will be), and then just really missing everyone back home and wishing I had them all here to be with~~~~well, it was all really getting me down, and I was so sad. I was upset that I felt this way, upset at myself for letting myself get this way, upset and wondering where happy, bubbly Laura went. Satan was really using this transition as a way to try to get at me, and I recognized it, but I didn't know what to do to get away from it. I felt like I was back in HS while here at KIP with all the younger people and drama and just wanting to party and drink and who likes who drama. Satan was trying to use this to make me feel insecure again. All of that has been behind me, so why bring it back to surface? Yes, I admit, I used to party and drink and get myself in trouble (sorry, mom), but through Christ, that person is NOT me anymore. It is so true that it is easier when you surround yourself with positive people and Christians/friends who will lift you up. But what happens when you are surrounded by people who are NOT uplifting? WHo are not Christians? Who are only interested in the things of this world??? These things are not uncommon to man, no matter where in the world you are. Let me tell you a little secret, that is not really so secret~~~And here is what God has been speaking to me all along. In a quite whisper over the last 3 weeks JUST when I needed that grace and peace, and finally quite loudly last night, just when I was having one of the hardest times (talking with the program director, etc. with school and classes).
Being sent out as an apostle of the Lord, these are the things I should be expecting and be praising Jesus for! DUH! If I am to be the example and light of Christ, I will have to be in the WOrd THAT much more and thirsting for Him. I have to be in prayer THAT much more to stay in communion with Him against the attacks of Satan. Satan is scared, people. He KNOWS God has a big purpose for me here, and he is scared. He is scared of the souls that will be won back for Christ. He is scared of the Hope that I have and the determination and strength. I allowed his thoughts to begin to seep in, but NO MORE! If God is for me, what is there against me that I should fear? I prayed and prayed and prayed last night. I wanted a heart change. I took back all of the ground that Satan had begun to capture, in the name of the Lord. I warned Satan that EVERY THOUGHT was going to be taken captive and sorted out before I let it get ANYWHERE. I prayed for a renewed heart. Being upset and down is a choice, I said, just as being happy is a choice. I choose to be happy, NOW. I have hated the distant, unmotivated person I am in class, sad that it is the only person some classmates are seeing. Is that the example of Christ I want to be? Lord, I want to put on the attitude of Christ!
So many times along my way here, I have felt alone, but in the still whisper, you have been speaking to me! Whether it was the kind word from a friend (shout out to my SGF friends (and fbk friends) back home who, despite the distance, are there to offer a kind word), thoughts of friends back home and my AMAZING REFRESH/FELLOWSHIP kids who I miss so much and think of everyday (seriously, thoughts of you all ALWAYs make my day brighter), whether it was introducing me to two new friends in the program who ARE out of college, STAYING IN KOREA, and are PAST all the drama (I love you guys, shout out to 데이지씨 and 잭씨!! ^_~ you two have been a blessing for me), whether it was walking through Hongdae, hearing a band, walking over, and then realizing it was a worship band singing HILLSONG, whether it was finding a Korean-English bible, worshipping my heart out through song and tears and experiencing your presence at Church, getting opportunities to talk about You to others, whether a stranger walking me all the way home when it was late and I was tired and lost, to a new Korean dad in a cell phone store or a sweet girl covering me with an umbrella and helping me with my luggage on my arrival lost in Seoul, or simply to the sweet blessing of such kind Korean friends like JiHae who takes care of me and is there when I need help and encouragement, someone I can laugh with and explore with, and just spend quality time with~~~~God, you have been there in it all!
And let me tell you, I definitely feel the change today. Thank you, Lord! I feel a renewed excitement for the language and with learning (shout out to my new language partner, Ji Woong, who reminded me that "Hey, don't worry or think too much. Korean is FUn!"~~which, btw, can you all be praying for him~~His grandfather just passed away. T.T). With my teachers giving me extra work and even special 1-1 tutoring on the side, I am ready to get back into being serious about things and a good student ^_~. I am going to smile, even when I may not feel it (and with all this gloomy weather, bad flooding, death rates rising, seeing the sun sure wouldn't hurt in helping that. **Prayers for Korea!**), and I am going to be in the Word even more now than ever. As Nicholas Sparks writes it, "So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want You. I want ALL of You, forever, everyday. You and me...everyday" (emphasis, mine). Granted, this quote is from The Notebook, but I emphasize it as a promise to between myself and God. It is true~~it's NOT going to be easy, and I WILL have to work at this everyday, but I want ALL of Him and want to glorify all of Him.
As seemed fitting as I began this journey to Asia, I wanted to read on the experiences, struggles, and ways to overcome by someone who has gone through something similar...so I turned myself to 2 Corinthians, and I will be meditating on this book for quite some time. To end this out, I would like to share with you some words of wisdom I am holding to during this time (emphasis and paraphrase, mine)~~ As if said as my OWN prayer~~~
~~~"Praise be to the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
WHO COMFORTS ME IN ALL MY TROUBLES, SO THAT I can comfort those in ANY trouble with the comfort I myself first received from God.
For just as the SUFFERINGS of Christ flow over into my life, so also through Christ my comfort overflows...And my hope for you, my Beloved friends, is firm, because I know that just as you share in my sufferings, so also you share in my comfort.
I do not want you to be uninformed, dear friends, about the hardships I suffered in the province of Asia. Indeed, away from you and feeling so alone, my heart felt the sentence of death. BUT THIS HAPPENED THAT I MIGHT NOT RELY ON MYSELF BUT ON GOD, WHO RAISES THE DEAD.
He HAS delivered me from even more such deadly peril before, and He WILL deliver me. On Him I have set my hope that He WILL CONTINUE to deliver me, AS YOU HELP ME BY YOUR PRAYERS. Then MANY WILL GIVES THANKS on my behalf for the GRACIOUS FAVOR GRANTED me IN ANSWER TO THE PRAYERS OF MANY."~~~2 Corinthians 1: 3-11
He HAS delivered me from even more such deadly peril before, and He WILL deliver me. On Him I have set my hope that He WILL CONTINUE to deliver me, AS YOU HELP ME BY YOUR PRAYERS. Then MANY WILL GIVES THANKS on my behalf for the GRACIOUS FAVOR GRANTED me IN ANSWER TO THE PRAYERS OF MANY."~~~
~2 Cor. 1:8-11 (paraphrase & emphasis, mine)
Ok~~~So after last night, I really felt I needed to take some time today to share my array of emotions as I have been living here in Seoul for the last 3 weeks. Some of you know some of what has been going on, and to many of you, this will be a surprise/new news, but my first three weeks are not what I would call "floating on cloud 9" for me. First, do not get me wrong, I have had a LOT of fun here and explored many parts of Seoul, but inside, I have been struggling, which is not something I expected (making it even harder). I expected I would get here and it would be like a vacation at first~~everything new and exciting and lost in the hype of everything. On the contrary (ok, yes, I HAVE been amazed at HOW BIG SEOUL IS and how COOOOOOOL it is here but...), I have had a hard time adjusting for many reasons. At the moment, I've been feeling out of place and lonely. It's amazing how, in such a big and busy city as Seoul, one can feel lonely. Seemed like such a paradox as I thought about it.
First of all, I am in a 5-week Korean Immersion Program (KIP) here, and I feel sort out of place because I am one of the older people in the program. Most of the students here are in college (some even in HS) and see this more as one big party in Seoul for the summer. This just is not me. They also seem to have a lot more money too. I want to go and explore and eat out and spend money (which I did do WAY too much the first couple weeks here and am paying for it, no pun intended). I am here with what little savings I have, and it has to last me until Sept. 25th when I get my first paycheck. Let me tell you, after having to pay for the plane ticket to Japan (way more than I thought), it was a HUGE chunk out of my assumed budget. So, that was getting me down too. I want to go out with friends, but I also have to remember that I will be living in Korea for awhile, so I can always come visit Seoul some other time. This is also something that hit me: I AM LIVING IN KOREA FOR AWHILE. This is my new home. That is so entirely weird to think about. Unlike for all my friends in this program, this is not some temporary summer vacation and then back to my daily life and friends and activities. THIS IS MY LIFE NOW. One day I was walking and said to myself, "Dang, Laura! You just moved half-way across the world by yourself to live and teach. WHat were you thinking??!?!!" ㅋㅋㅋㅋ (Said jokingly, of course! ^_~)
Last week, I just got to the point where I just wanted to move into my apartment and get settled into Gyeongbuk~~get to know the area, make some friends, decorate my own permanent living space (and not some dorm where I'm living out of my suitcase), enjoy COOKING!!! (I MISS IT SOOOOO MUCH!!!!), etc. I was tired of the temporary and soooo bored with language classes. Not being challenged in language classes was really getting me down. I was extremely bored the first week because I already knew the alphabet, and then last week, I knew a lot of the phrases already because I had been studying online on my own before I came. I did learn some vocab words, but still. If you know me well, and yes, Mother, I can just imagine you shaking your head in agreement right now (and to my other music friends~~think me in Parsons' classes...yeah, like that, except these teachers are WAY cool), you would know that I--despite how my lack of common sense and somewhat ditsy-ness may come off--am actually kind of smart lol If I am not challenged in a class, I will not do well. I cannot take "bird classes," as they are called (so easy that you can fly over them and pass)~~if I am not challenged to use deeper parts of my brain and work for answers and personal discovery, I tune out and can't focus and become somewhat "annoyed" by the class and lose all motivation to try. For a language that I once LOVED and lOVED discovering new words and using them, I came to dislike it because of the boring classes (for me) which made me lose interest. (Now do not get me wrong, I LOVE my teachers, ALL of them, and the class level IS right for those people who had no prior experience with Korean, but I did, and so it's been hard.)
And so....all this sort of getting me down, not feeling attached to a Church group (although I have gone to Yoido Full Gospel Church Int'l Service the last 2 Sundays since I've been here, I wonder if I will still be able to somehow catch a bus from wherever I am in Gyeongbuk and still be able to go on Sundays or not or whether there will be an Int'l Service nearby where I will be), and then just really missing everyone back home and wishing I had them all here to be with~~~~well, it was all really getting me down, and I was so sad. I was upset that I felt this way, upset at myself for letting myself get this way, upset and wondering where happy, bubbly Laura went. Satan was really using this transition as a way to try to get at me, and I recognized it, but I didn't know what to do to get away from it. I felt like I was back in HS while here at KIP with all the younger people and drama and just wanting to party and drink and who likes who drama. Satan was trying to use this to make me feel insecure again. All of that has been behind me, so why bring it back to surface? Yes, I admit, I used to party and drink and get myself in trouble (sorry, mom), but through Christ, that person is NOT me anymore. It is so true that it is easier when you surround yourself with positive people and Christians/friends who will lift you up. But what happens when you are surrounded by people who are NOT uplifting? WHo are not Christians? Who are only interested in the things of this world??? These things are not uncommon to man, no matter where in the world you are. Let me tell you a little secret, that is not really so secret~~~And here is what God has been speaking to me all along. In a quite whisper over the last 3 weeks JUST when I needed that grace and peace, and finally quite loudly last night, just when I was having one of the hardest times (talking with the program director, etc. with school and classes).
~~~He reminded me of what it is to be a Disciple for the Lord and that His WOrds are true and a comfort in our times of need.~~
Being sent out as an apostle of the Lord, these are the things I should be expecting and be praising Jesus for! DUH! If I am to be the example and light of Christ, I will have to be in the WOrd THAT much more and thirsting for Him. I have to be in prayer THAT much more to stay in communion with Him against the attacks of Satan. Satan is scared, people. He KNOWS God has a big purpose for me here, and he is scared. He is scared of the souls that will be won back for Christ. He is scared of the Hope that I have and the determination and strength. I allowed his thoughts to begin to seep in, but NO MORE! If God is for me, what is there against me that I should fear? I prayed and prayed and prayed last night. I wanted a heart change. I took back all of the ground that Satan had begun to capture, in the name of the Lord. I warned Satan that EVERY THOUGHT was going to be taken captive and sorted out before I let it get ANYWHERE. I prayed for a renewed heart. Being upset and down is a choice, I said, just as being happy is a choice. I choose to be happy, NOW. I have hated the distant, unmotivated person I am in class, sad that it is the only person some classmates are seeing. Is that the example of Christ I want to be? Lord, I want to put on the attitude of Christ!
So many times along my way here, I have felt alone, but in the still whisper, you have been speaking to me! Whether it was the kind word from a friend (shout out to my SGF friends (and fbk friends) back home who, despite the distance, are there to offer a kind word), thoughts of friends back home and my AMAZING REFRESH/FELLOWSHIP kids who I miss so much and think of everyday (seriously, thoughts of you all ALWAYs make my day brighter), whether it was introducing me to two new friends in the program who ARE out of college, STAYING IN KOREA, and are PAST all the drama (I love you guys, shout out to 데이지씨 and 잭씨!! ^_~ you two have been a blessing for me), whether it was walking through Hongdae, hearing a band, walking over, and then realizing it was a worship band singing HILLSONG, whether it was finding a Korean-English bible, worshipping my heart out through song and tears and experiencing your presence at Church, getting opportunities to talk about You to others, whether a stranger walking me all the way home when it was late and I was tired and lost, to a new Korean dad in a cell phone store or a sweet girl covering me with an umbrella and helping me with my luggage on my arrival lost in Seoul, or simply to the sweet blessing of such kind Korean friends like JiHae who takes care of me and is there when I need help and encouragement, someone I can laugh with and explore with, and just spend quality time with~~~~God, you have been there in it all!
And let me tell you, I definitely feel the change today. Thank you, Lord! I feel a renewed excitement for the language and with learning (shout out to my new language partner, Ji Woong, who reminded me that "Hey, don't worry or think too much. Korean is FUn!"~~which, btw, can you all be praying for him~~His grandfather just passed away. T.T). With my teachers giving me extra work and even special 1-1 tutoring on the side, I am ready to get back into being serious about things and a good student ^_~. I am going to smile, even when I may not feel it (and with all this gloomy weather, bad flooding, death rates rising, seeing the sun sure wouldn't hurt in helping that. **Prayers for Korea!**), and I am going to be in the Word even more now than ever. As Nicholas Sparks writes it, "So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want You. I want ALL of You, forever, everyday. You and me...everyday" (emphasis, mine). Granted, this quote is from The Notebook, but I emphasize it as a promise to between myself and God. It is true~~it's NOT going to be easy, and I WILL have to work at this everyday, but I want ALL of Him and want to glorify all of Him.
As seemed fitting as I began this journey to Asia, I wanted to read on the experiences, struggles, and ways to overcome by someone who has gone through something similar...so I turned myself to 2 Corinthians, and I will be meditating on this book for quite some time. To end this out, I would like to share with you some words of wisdom I am holding to during this time (emphasis and paraphrase, mine)~~ As if said as my OWN prayer~~~
~~~"Praise be to the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
WHO COMFORTS ME IN ALL MY TROUBLES, SO THAT I can comfort those in ANY trouble with the comfort I myself first received from God.
For just as the SUFFERINGS of Christ flow over into my life, so also through Christ my comfort overflows...And my hope for you, my Beloved friends, is firm, because I know that just as you share in my sufferings, so also you share in my comfort.
I do not want you to be uninformed, dear friends, about the hardships I suffered in the province of Asia. Indeed, away from you and feeling so alone, my heart felt the sentence of death. BUT THIS HAPPENED THAT I MIGHT NOT RELY ON MYSELF BUT ON GOD, WHO RAISES THE DEAD.
He HAS delivered me from even more such deadly peril before, and He WILL deliver me. On Him I have set my hope that He WILL CONTINUE to deliver me, AS YOU HELP ME BY YOUR PRAYERS. Then MANY WILL GIVES THANKS on my behalf for the GRACIOUS FAVOR GRANTED me IN ANSWER TO THE PRAYERS OF MANY."~~~2 Corinthians 1: 3-11
Saturday, July 23, 2011
i.miss.my.chingu.destiny.
I know I am really behind in posting, and SOO much has happened in the last two weeks (some has been shared on facebook), but I was really missing my bestie today, and I wanted to devote this post to thoughts of her. So here goes~~~~
****A FEW RANDOM THINGS THAT REMINDED ME OF DESTINY TODAY****
1. Every time I brush my teeth, I see the sink stopper which says "Daelim," and I think of my D. Lim
2. I bought some Dove conditioner today and thought of you, and now every time I wash my hair, I will think of Destiny.
3. I listen to some part of the Dream High OST soundtrack pretty much every day, and I always think of you~~especially when I am listening to the Dream High theme song and nearly burst out into dancing to my iPod while walking down the street but am stopped by the weird stares.
4. I have my prayer cards for you up on my desk to think of and pray for every day and think of Destiny.
5. I was in the subway today with a classmate and he randomly ran into a sunbae from his uni, and I said to him, "Dang, I wish something like that would happen to me...like, woah! Just happen to be walking up the stairs from the subway and BAM! I'm like, oh, hey, Destiny, funny running into you on the subway.....IN KOREA!"
6. I had a really great day, and God really spoke to me, and I thought of our conversation about me being here~~and He was basically like, "LAURA! i AM here in Korea. I have been here, and I will always be here. You have felt so alone here and wanting to connect, but the truth is, I have been here with you along the way and been revealing myself to you in so many ways that you haven't even taken the time to realize it's me." Today I was able to have a great conversation about God with a friend, I finally got a Korean-English Bible, and on my way to help my friend get a haircut in 이 대, all of a sudden I hear a concert going on outside of one of the department stores. I figure, hey! Let's go check it out for a second. As I start to listen, I realize it is a worship band playing Hillsong. And that's when it hit me. None of my worries matter because HE is with me. He IS here, and He is revealing Himself in real ways! Each time I start to get down about not connecting and missing friends and feeling lonely, He ALWAYS has picked me up and encouraged me, whether through actions, deeds, or the words of dear friends (like my Destiny). Now, not that I deserve ANY of this, but He is doing it for me all the same out of His great mercy. I just want to remain in His presence as He slowly reveals His plans for me here...
7. Even if I didn't have ANY of this~~~I would still always think of you, my dearest 친 구 <3 <3 <3 사 랑 해! <3 <3 <3
****A FEW RANDOM THINGS THAT REMINDED ME OF DESTINY TODAY****
1. Every time I brush my teeth, I see the sink stopper which says "Daelim," and I think of my D. Lim
2. I bought some Dove conditioner today and thought of you, and now every time I wash my hair, I will think of Destiny.
3. I listen to some part of the Dream High OST soundtrack pretty much every day, and I always think of you~~especially when I am listening to the Dream High theme song and nearly burst out into dancing to my iPod while walking down the street but am stopped by the weird stares.
4. I have my prayer cards for you up on my desk to think of and pray for every day and think of Destiny.
5. I was in the subway today with a classmate and he randomly ran into a sunbae from his uni, and I said to him, "Dang, I wish something like that would happen to me...like, woah! Just happen to be walking up the stairs from the subway and BAM! I'm like, oh, hey, Destiny, funny running into you on the subway.....IN KOREA!"
6. I had a really great day, and God really spoke to me, and I thought of our conversation about me being here~~and He was basically like, "LAURA! i AM here in Korea. I have been here, and I will always be here. You have felt so alone here and wanting to connect, but the truth is, I have been here with you along the way and been revealing myself to you in so many ways that you haven't even taken the time to realize it's me." Today I was able to have a great conversation about God with a friend, I finally got a Korean-English Bible, and on my way to help my friend get a haircut in 이 대, all of a sudden I hear a concert going on outside of one of the department stores. I figure, hey! Let's go check it out for a second. As I start to listen, I realize it is a worship band playing Hillsong. And that's when it hit me. None of my worries matter because HE is with me. He IS here, and He is revealing Himself in real ways! Each time I start to get down about not connecting and missing friends and feeling lonely, He ALWAYS has picked me up and encouraged me, whether through actions, deeds, or the words of dear friends (like my Destiny). Now, not that I deserve ANY of this, but He is doing it for me all the same out of His great mercy. I just want to remain in His presence as He slowly reveals His plans for me here...
7. Even if I didn't have ANY of this~~~I would still always think of you, my dearest 친 구 <3 <3 <3 사 랑 해! <3 <3 <3
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
생일 축하 해요
So, yesterday was my birthday, as well as my first day of classes/placement. Needless to say, after looking at the test (all in Korean), raised my hand, ummm "Sillehamnida~~Yeah, um, I have no idea what this says," and then leave the room with a few others to go to the absolute beginner class. So, although I know the alphabet and some basic phrases, I am starting back at square one. Can't hurt, right? I am a little bored now, but it will be better in a few days, I think, when we get past the alphabet and on to phrases and such.
Anyways...I have taken too long to post this and will cut it short. sorrryyyyy.....but, ok, yay, first day of school stuff. Ok, now~~best part of the day! My birthday!!! ㅋㅋ
I went to the cell phone store, and my new " 아 버 지 " (dad) gave me a delicious cake with candles and all. Awww too cute!~
Then~~best part~~I got to see my chingu (which I know, I cannot ACCTUALLY use in this instance since we are not the same age, but I will anyways), JIHAE!!! <3 <3 <3
Jihae took some friends and me to 홍 대 (Hongdae--another popular area of Seoul) for some samgyupsal (Korean BBQ). We ate soooo much foood, but it was soooo good!!! Gumawoh, Jihae! ^_^
I will put up pics from my b-day too, again, when I can find that darn convertor to charge my camera. Sorry it was cut short, but I didn't want to keep being behind on this. Happy reading! ^^
Anyways...I have taken too long to post this and will cut it short. sorrryyyyy.....but, ok, yay, first day of school stuff. Ok, now~~best part of the day! My birthday!!! ㅋㅋ
I went to the cell phone store, and my new " 아 버 지 " (dad) gave me a delicious cake with candles and all. Awww too cute!~
Then~~best part~~I got to see my chingu (which I know, I cannot ACCTUALLY use in this instance since we are not the same age, but I will anyways), JIHAE!!! <3 <3 <3
Jihae took some friends and me to 홍 대 (Hongdae--another popular area of Seoul) for some samgyupsal (Korean BBQ). We ate soooo much foood, but it was soooo good!!! Gumawoh, Jihae! ^_^
I will put up pics from my b-day too, again, when I can find that darn convertor to charge my camera. Sorry it was cut short, but I didn't want to keep being behind on this. Happy reading! ^^
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
faux pas of the day
Ok, so, while I am still working on my birthday/first day of classes post, I thought I just had to share my little ummmm lack of understanding in the cafeteria ^_~ really fast before I go to class.
So, woke up today for breakfast and Yurika (my roomie) and I go down for breakfast. Now, yes, I have had breakfast down there a couple times, but I have never actually gotten something to drink because I usually go back to my room and get my Maxim mocha instant before class. But today, I was feeling like I was dragging AND Yurika is still sick, so I wanted to take some Emergen-C to start the day off right with vitamins.
I find where the water purifier is (they always use those jug purifiers everywhere here), and see the plastics "racks" (you know, like how they wash them in restaurants) of cups right next to the purifier, on its left. So, NATURALLY, I grab one, fill it with water and Emergen-C and enjoy breakfast while still half-asleep. THEN, when I go to return my tray and utensils, the kitchen lady tells me (in Korean, of course, so I'm not QUITE sure what she says)...but basically that I needed to go take the CUP somewhere else (all the rest of the dishes go to her, it seems, except cups). I walk over to where she's pointing at across the room with a confused look. I don't see anywhere for dirty glasses. Yurika then points out that I should put it to the left of purifier. WHAT?!?!?! I was drinking out of someone else's used, dirty cup?!!?!?! And that ACTUALLY, you get a clean cup OUT OF THE FRIDGE AT THE END????????? HOw in the world was I supposed to know??? HAHAHAHAHA sooooo there it goes, First FAUX PAS of the day ^_~ Dear person who shared my cup in our effort to go green~I do so hope that you were in tip-top health and clean. Kamsahamnida~ so please now excuse me while I go brush my teeth, ok. bye.
So, woke up today for breakfast and Yurika (my roomie) and I go down for breakfast. Now, yes, I have had breakfast down there a couple times, but I have never actually gotten something to drink because I usually go back to my room and get my Maxim mocha instant before class. But today, I was feeling like I was dragging AND Yurika is still sick, so I wanted to take some Emergen-C to start the day off right with vitamins.
I find where the water purifier is (they always use those jug purifiers everywhere here), and see the plastics "racks" (you know, like how they wash them in restaurants) of cups right next to the purifier, on its left. So, NATURALLY, I grab one, fill it with water and Emergen-C and enjoy breakfast while still half-asleep. THEN, when I go to return my tray and utensils, the kitchen lady tells me (in Korean, of course, so I'm not QUITE sure what she says)...but basically that I needed to go take the CUP somewhere else (all the rest of the dishes go to her, it seems, except cups). I walk over to where she's pointing at across the room with a confused look. I don't see anywhere for dirty glasses. Yurika then points out that I should put it to the left of purifier. WHAT?!?!?! I was drinking out of someone else's used, dirty cup?!!?!?! And that ACTUALLY, you get a clean cup OUT OF THE FRIDGE AT THE END????????? HOw in the world was I supposed to know??? HAHAHAHAHA sooooo there it goes, First FAUX PAS of the day ^_~ Dear person who shared my cup in our effort to go green~I do so hope that you were in tip-top health and clean. Kamsahamnida~ so please now excuse me while I go brush my teeth, ok. bye.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
first day's adventures~~searching out an adaptor/convertor plug
So, for my first day in Korea, after dropping off my luggage and showering, I left my room to go to the electronics store (Hi-Mart) that the emailed map showed me to buy electronics. Let me preface this by saying: I bought a convertor/adaptor at Target before I left for Korea, but after reading how it will be SOOOO easy to get one when I got to Korea and for cheap, I figured, ok, why not just wait? And so I did....and so begins the first day's adventures...
I walked outside (after it had been raining)....OOH OOOH WAITTTTT!!!! I must back track a bit...I cannot miss out on my GETTING to the university...
So, contrary to my previous post, I DID in fact take the bus. I went outside intending to get a taxi, but some guy stopped me (one of the bus drivers, i later find out) and said I could just take the bus and THEN a taxi to the school if I wanted to. It looked like a lot of other people were loading their luggage underneath the bus, so I figured, ok, why not? It will be cheaper, I'm sure. So I wind up paying 10,000 W to get to Sinchon station from the airport. At this point, it is still pouring outside. So here I am, with what is supposed to be a short 10 min walk, lost in the middle of a HUGE intersection. Which way am I supposed to turn? Even though they say it is a 10 min walk, how do I know WHERE to walk that 10 mins??? So here I am trying to drag my luggage across the wet, rugged sidewalk, and ask a girl I run into about where it is. I start to walk in that direction, but I realize my luggage and I are not going to make it, so I ask her how to get a taxi. Ok, I get across, hail my first ever taxi, and hop in. Should be easy, right? They told me if I took a taxi instead of walk, it would be about 2-3,000 W. Ok, no biggie if it will ease my worry and complete lack of knowing what to do or where to go. No, I got even MORE stressed, as he had NO IDEA WHERE HE WAS GOING! I showed him the paper over and over with the map, but nothing. We finally got to campus, and we drove around that place so many times. I think he asked at least 15 people on the way about where. Finally, when I feel like he got an answer that made sense to him and have a little relief, he drops me off, says "It's here" (or something to that effect) and leaves. I'm a little skeptical that it is the right building because it looks all dark. I try all the doors to no avail...and so now here I am...alone, lost, in the rain, outside a building with my luggage, and go figure, here I am in Seoul, one of the busiest/packed cities, and I look around the street and no one, I mean NO ONE is in sight! Go figure lol...so I say a little prayer~~"God, pleasE, PLEASE let someone walk down the street!" ...and BAM! A sweet university girl walks down the street, and I stop her. She is so nice to me, covers me with her umbrella and grabs my carry-on suitcase and helps me all the way into my dorm. So sweet. I will never forget you. ^^
...And then to my next unforgettable moment...
To make a long story short, I got to the dorm, showered, and went out on my adventure to explore around Seoul (well, Sinchon, really....didn't realize how many different areas are in Seoul itself) to find that darn convertor. I looked around in SOOOOO MANY different stores with NO luck at all finding one. The electronics stores, no. The cell phone stores, no. The bookstore on campus (twice), no. The convenience stores, no. Ahhhhh!!! I thought this was supposed to be easy! And so about 2-3 hours later of walking, I happen upon a tiny little cell store next door to an electronic store I went into. Probably at this point, it was no more luck than the next, but I figured, oh well, give it a shot. And oh, yes, long story is supposed to be made short here~~ so, yes, the store owner is very nice, and I show him my iPod touch and he proceeds to charge it for me, free. Ok, kamsahamnida, but I need one of those THINGS that you are USING to charge it. I got the charger (but still no convertor), and then we start talking. At this point, I have awake since before 430am, have been lost by a taxi driver, and it's sooooo humid here! annnnnd walking around for so many hours to no avail. Needless to say, it was so touching when he told me to sit down for a bit and offered me some coffee (yum yum Maxim Mocha Gold). We start talking, and from there, we become good friends. I know all about his family~his wife and two kids. I tell him how I am a student at Sogang and will then teach in Gyeongbuk. He even runs to get me "Korean water," which I have no idea what it really is, but it tasted REALLLLLLY yummmy! I definitely want to get some more. Annnyway, then he gave me a phone. Yes, FOR FREE. I did not even ask for one or mention it~my goal was a convertor today, but look where God took me. He met my need in a friend and kindness right here. It took me probably 30 minutes to understand the concept that he was giving me a phone FOR FREE and I didn't even have to sign ANYTHING. Ahjusshi~~no id? no passport? No,...me sign anywhere? Nothing? He kept saying no no, "I love sungsaengnim!" (No, not in a creepy love-y way, but in I love teachers!). OOOOOooh, the kindness of strangers. As he said, and I agree, this, today will be "forever memory." Lol, yes, it will! I promised to visit again too. Oh, and did I mention, he wanted me to come back Monday (which, as I am writing this post on Monday...grrrr behind, I know...but jet lag has been getting me...but I did return) to give me a birthday cake with candles? I tried to say no like 15 times, but finally I gave in. It was soooo sweet! I will put up a video of it later. I will definitely come back to visit him many times before I go. We decided we would help each other out. Tee hee, and when I came back Monday to celebrate, I brought him a thank you card for all of his kindness (my attempt at writing in both English and Korean), and he hung it on his wall in his store. Awww a "forever friend" indeed. ^^
Saturday, July 9, 2011
starbucks in korea
Ok, so I don't have enough time ORRRR battery left to write everything that happened yesterday on my first day exploring, but I thought I should write this little thing before leaving for lunch while I was thinking of it...
So yesterday, after dinner, a couple new friends and I were walking around in sinchon and stopped inside starbucks to sit down and so I could get my mug (I always collect mugs from starbucks of every country/state I am in...something I picked up from Mrs. Ann Lindemann ^^). So I got my mug...a travel one again like I did in China, only because it would be easier to pack and more practical use I guess. Too bad...I was really wanting a mug for my room too, but perhaps another time on my way out or something, but I WILL be living in a few places before I make it to my actual apartment, so it is better this way. Ok, so I bought this mug. Along with my receipt, I get a coupon for a free drink (at least this is what we could gather, being as though it was all written in Korean lol) Woo hoo!! Free coffee=AWESOME!!!
~~**YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN KOREA WHEN.......YOU WALK INTO A STARBUCKS AND IT IS THREE FLOORS HIGH AND PACKED WITH PEOPLE**~~
Oh, and I should also mention, before I left for Korea, I had to make sure that they actually drank coffee here or that it would be easy to get some coffee since being a coffee addict, I needed to be able to survive lol. I was told they had them all over the place. So here I am thinking they are like Walgreens in America~~"one on every corner"...meaning a lot of them all over the place. Yay! HA!! to my surprise and still complete shock, it is nothing like this. No, not that they are rare but that pretty much EVERY FEW STORES IS A COFFEE SHOP!! DAAAAAAANG!!!!
Needless to say, no worries on the coffee front, have my travel mug from Seoul, and have a free coffee drink awaiting me at my next stop by there!
Stay tuned, though, for the best memory of the day! ^^
So yesterday, after dinner, a couple new friends and I were walking around in sinchon and stopped inside starbucks to sit down and so I could get my mug (I always collect mugs from starbucks of every country/state I am in...something I picked up from Mrs. Ann Lindemann ^^). So I got my mug...a travel one again like I did in China, only because it would be easier to pack and more practical use I guess. Too bad...I was really wanting a mug for my room too, but perhaps another time on my way out or something, but I WILL be living in a few places before I make it to my actual apartment, so it is better this way. Ok, so I bought this mug. Along with my receipt, I get a coupon for a free drink (at least this is what we could gather, being as though it was all written in Korean lol) Woo hoo!! Free coffee=AWESOME!!!
~~**YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN KOREA WHEN.......YOU WALK INTO A STARBUCKS AND IT IS THREE FLOORS HIGH AND PACKED WITH PEOPLE**~~
Oh, and I should also mention, before I left for Korea, I had to make sure that they actually drank coffee here or that it would be easy to get some coffee since being a coffee addict, I needed to be able to survive lol. I was told they had them all over the place. So here I am thinking they are like Walgreens in America~~"one on every corner"...meaning a lot of them all over the place. Yay! HA!! to my surprise and still complete shock, it is nothing like this. No, not that they are rare but that pretty much EVERY FEW STORES IS A COFFEE SHOP!! DAAAAAAANG!!!!
Needless to say, no worries on the coffee front, have my travel mug from Seoul, and have a free coffee drink awaiting me at my next stop by there!
Stay tuned, though, for the best memory of the day! ^^
Friday, July 8, 2011
flight and arrival at Incheon Int'l Airport!
Annyeonghaseyo everyone! I have made it safely to Korea and am hanging out at The Coffee Bean here in the airport until I can take a bus or taxi over to Sogang University. Right now, it is 620am ( I arrived a couple hours ago). It takes about an hour to get to the uni in Seoul from here, so I have another 1.5 hours left to hang around. Thankfully, The Coffee Bean opened around 6am. I was in dire need of some 커피 (coffee). I haven't eaten much in the last couple of days probably because of nerves of getting here. Haha, in fact, one funny moment (now) was when I was waiting at the St. Louis Int'l airport. I got through security over 2 hours early, but I didn't care. I was just glad that there were no problems (except for my goal of having one bag~~yeah, I did it with room to spare, but it was TOO heavy, so I had to buy a tiny little one at the airport to fill with some of the gifts and such or else pay $200 extra~~really???!! Seems a little excessive to me, bc what is the difference if I get 2 bags free ANYWAY, but it's alright, it all worked out.) Anyways, back to the funny story...Ok, so there I was charging my Mac and sending messages to people and checking my email, etc. After all that, I was just grooving out to some sweet K-Pop. Oh dang, that reminds me, I have to listen to Dream High, just for you and me, Destiny! <3 Ok, I digress...so I decide to maybe see what books I have or anything else I could work on or something to do/organizing things again when I happen to look over at my laptop and the time reads 752!!! Ahhhh!!!! My boarding time was 650 and the flight was to leave at 733. OH MY GOSH!!! HOW??? THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!! OH MY GOSH, I JUST MISSED MY FLIGHT!!! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!!! With this, I am frantically throwing everything back into my carry-on (can't even find my headphones anymore) and am about to RUN to the check-in when I decide to double check my ticket, thinking THERE IS NOOOO WAY THIS COULD BE HAPPENING?!!! I pull it open so fast from my passport that I rip the stub off~~yes, my times WERE right~~what am I going to do???!! As I am zipping things up and putting my passport back, it crosses my mind to check my ipod because there is just NO WAY this could be happening!
~~~~and then a BIG SIGH of relief, although my heart is still pounding out of my chest, when I see the time is still in the 6 o'clock hour. Oh, praise Jesus! I'm not even Catholic, and I wanted to a few hail marys. Needless to say, after that I ran up to the check-in to make sure it wouldn't be a problem that I ripped my ticket and gave them a good laugh at my freak-out (at least I hope I did~~gotta laugh at yourself and find the humor in those situations lol) then proceeded to sit RIGHT IN FRONT of the check-in (I was sort of far away because I can before the flight BEFORE me took off at that departure gate).
Ok, so after that CUH-RAAAAZY mishap, I made it to ATL and then safely to Incheon Int'l Airport, where I am writing to you now while sipping a straight black iced coffee (I tried to get a frapp, but she couldn't understand what I meant when I asked if it was made with milk (I'm lactose-intolerant, for those who don't know). She gave me a confused look and thought I wanted an iced milk. Iced black coffee seemed the easiest to get across. And boy is it strong! Having not eaten much lately and the nerves still plaguing my stomach I assume, it is still hard to get down. I am trying to eat a protein bar with it to calm my stomach and give me energy for the day.)
Now a little blurb on my flight. KOREAN AIR definitely lived up to the hype from all my friends. The plane is sooo big and clean. You arrive on the plane to find the following on your seat cushion: a large blanket (one of the warmest and most comfortable ones~~I wanted to take it with me~~this was no ordinary airplane blanket) , bottle of water, headphones, slippers, toothbrush, and toothpaste. If that wasn't enough, each seat has it's own touch-screen TV filled with music, movies, news, travel information, etc. After everyone telling me about the delicious bibimbap you get on your Korean Air flight, I am sad to say that I slept right through it. I slept most of the way and probably only watched about 20 min. of a Korean movie before dosing off to sleep again. I will have to try it on my way back (as the saying goes, to avoid bad jetlag, "Rest when going West (and stay awake when going East)." Special thanks to my friend, Kourtney, for that one!) I DID wake up in time for some breakfast. My stomach was still uneasy (I did eat ginger bites I had with me and wore my SeaBands, but it still wasn't perfect), but I knew I hadn't eaten but a little bit of plantanos fritos and gallo pinto for lunch the day before, so I probably NEEDED to eat something. For breakfast I had the choice of an omelet, yogurt, & fruit or porridge, fruit, and pickled radish. OF COURSE I would try the latter! I have really been wanting to try this porridge that I always see in the K-Dramas. And YUM! This one was green tea porridge, and let me tell you, it was so good! I only wish I was more hungry to eat it all. I can't wait for my stomach to go down so I can go eat my first REAL Korean food! ^^
BUt first things, first. Here's my plan for the day: leave in a little over an hour for Sogang, check-in (pray I don't have to drag all this luggage up tons of flights of stairs~~elevator, please?), SHOWER, did I mention I want to SHOWER?? (One of the disadvantages I hate of flying~I never feel clean when I get off a flight), and then hit up the electronics store for a converter/adaptor plug to charge my electronics, get pillow/bedding for my dorm, then explore around Seoul. Busy day, but so excited! I am excited to meet other people in KIP and explore together. I saw a few (maybe 4 or 5) other gringos on the plane with me, and I couldn't help but wonder if maybe they were studying with KIP or what they were doing in Korea. It's around 72 oF (I'd better start learning how to use Celsius!) and RAINING. Too bad it's raining or else I would just leave now for Sogang. I'm debating on whether to take the airport shuttle bus, which will put me about a 10 min walk from Sogang or just take a taxi straight there. I don't have an umbrella, and I would hate to get LOST (KNOWING ME, this is the more LIKELY occurrence) and then be walking around with my suitcases, lost in the pouring rain. Orrrr, just spend a little more money and take a taxi straight there. Here's a thing too, I'm worried I'll get the wrong taxi. For instance, in China or some of the other countries I have been to, there are different color taxis. One is the "official" color, and the others are not "registered" or something. I'm not quite sure how to explain it. Some guy, as soon as I walked out of customs, came up to me and asked me if I needed a taxi. I didn't, honestly, at that moment, but even if I did, would it have been safe/the right choice to go with that person? Anyone have any experience? Also, I know there are different kinds of taxis here in Korea, each with different prices, as some are more "luxurious." I wouldn't know the difference. Oh, but thanks for fREE WIFI (one point for Korea because I had to PAY for wifi at the USA airports)~~I will try to find this information online before I go. Looks like I will probably spend a little more and take a taxi. Ok, well, I am going to leave you here with this. I took a little video of part of the airport, but something is wrong with my batteries on my camera. I charged them fully before I left, and when I put them in, it is flashing red at me for low battery. I will have to look into this. Well, I will try to take a couple more pics on the way before my batteries die, though. Love you guys! Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to get this all out, AND I had time to kill. Off to research taxis~~~Annyeong
~~~~and then a BIG SIGH of relief, although my heart is still pounding out of my chest, when I see the time is still in the 6 o'clock hour. Oh, praise Jesus! I'm not even Catholic, and I wanted to a few hail marys. Needless to say, after that I ran up to the check-in to make sure it wouldn't be a problem that I ripped my ticket and gave them a good laugh at my freak-out (at least I hope I did~~gotta laugh at yourself and find the humor in those situations lol) then proceeded to sit RIGHT IN FRONT of the check-in (I was sort of far away because I can before the flight BEFORE me took off at that departure gate).
Ok, so after that CUH-RAAAAZY mishap, I made it to ATL and then safely to Incheon Int'l Airport, where I am writing to you now while sipping a straight black iced coffee (I tried to get a frapp, but she couldn't understand what I meant when I asked if it was made with milk (I'm lactose-intolerant, for those who don't know). She gave me a confused look and thought I wanted an iced milk. Iced black coffee seemed the easiest to get across. And boy is it strong! Having not eaten much lately and the nerves still plaguing my stomach I assume, it is still hard to get down. I am trying to eat a protein bar with it to calm my stomach and give me energy for the day.)
Now a little blurb on my flight. KOREAN AIR definitely lived up to the hype from all my friends. The plane is sooo big and clean. You arrive on the plane to find the following on your seat cushion: a large blanket (one of the warmest and most comfortable ones~~I wanted to take it with me~~this was no ordinary airplane blanket) , bottle of water, headphones, slippers, toothbrush, and toothpaste. If that wasn't enough, each seat has it's own touch-screen TV filled with music, movies, news, travel information, etc. After everyone telling me about the delicious bibimbap you get on your Korean Air flight, I am sad to say that I slept right through it. I slept most of the way and probably only watched about 20 min. of a Korean movie before dosing off to sleep again. I will have to try it on my way back (as the saying goes, to avoid bad jetlag, "Rest when going West (and stay awake when going East)." Special thanks to my friend, Kourtney, for that one!) I DID wake up in time for some breakfast. My stomach was still uneasy (I did eat ginger bites I had with me and wore my SeaBands, but it still wasn't perfect), but I knew I hadn't eaten but a little bit of plantanos fritos and gallo pinto for lunch the day before, so I probably NEEDED to eat something. For breakfast I had the choice of an omelet, yogurt, & fruit or porridge, fruit, and pickled radish. OF COURSE I would try the latter! I have really been wanting to try this porridge that I always see in the K-Dramas. And YUM! This one was green tea porridge, and let me tell you, it was so good! I only wish I was more hungry to eat it all. I can't wait for my stomach to go down so I can go eat my first REAL Korean food! ^^
BUt first things, first. Here's my plan for the day: leave in a little over an hour for Sogang, check-in (pray I don't have to drag all this luggage up tons of flights of stairs~~elevator, please?), SHOWER, did I mention I want to SHOWER?? (One of the disadvantages I hate of flying~I never feel clean when I get off a flight), and then hit up the electronics store for a converter/adaptor plug to charge my electronics, get pillow/bedding for my dorm, then explore around Seoul. Busy day, but so excited! I am excited to meet other people in KIP and explore together. I saw a few (maybe 4 or 5) other gringos on the plane with me, and I couldn't help but wonder if maybe they were studying with KIP or what they were doing in Korea. It's around 72 oF (I'd better start learning how to use Celsius!) and RAINING. Too bad it's raining or else I would just leave now for Sogang. I'm debating on whether to take the airport shuttle bus, which will put me about a 10 min walk from Sogang or just take a taxi straight there. I don't have an umbrella, and I would hate to get LOST (KNOWING ME, this is the more LIKELY occurrence) and then be walking around with my suitcases, lost in the pouring rain. Orrrr, just spend a little more money and take a taxi straight there. Here's a thing too, I'm worried I'll get the wrong taxi. For instance, in China or some of the other countries I have been to, there are different color taxis. One is the "official" color, and the others are not "registered" or something. I'm not quite sure how to explain it. Some guy, as soon as I walked out of customs, came up to me and asked me if I needed a taxi. I didn't, honestly, at that moment, but even if I did, would it have been safe/the right choice to go with that person? Anyone have any experience? Also, I know there are different kinds of taxis here in Korea, each with different prices, as some are more "luxurious." I wouldn't know the difference. Oh, but thanks for fREE WIFI (one point for Korea because I had to PAY for wifi at the USA airports)~~I will try to find this information online before I go. Looks like I will probably spend a little more and take a taxi. Ok, well, I am going to leave you here with this. I took a little video of part of the airport, but something is wrong with my batteries on my camera. I charged them fully before I left, and when I put them in, it is flashing red at me for low battery. I will have to look into this. Well, I will try to take a couple more pics on the way before my batteries die, though. Love you guys! Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to get this all out, AND I had time to kill. Off to research taxis~~~Annyeong
Monday, July 4, 2011
I'm going to miss Tito
Also, really quickly, and completely deserving of a post of his own, I am really, REALLY going to miss my baby Tito. He will be happier staying with his new brother, Eli, but I will still miss him so much TT.TT
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| Here's my precious baby, Tito, asleep with me on my bed. |
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| ....And his new baby brother, Eli. Awwww |
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| Eli is jamming out to some music ;) |
Korea-bound, T-minus 65 hours
Ok, so I can't write much, but I did want to add some pics and do an update. I plan to add captions and explanations for all the pics later (perhaps during my layover or waiting for the plane?)...but it's here, people. I am Korea-bound in T-minus 65 hours as I write this. I leave tomorrow morning to help with Refresh's rEVOLution Youth Camp for a couple days before driving back to Springfield Wednesday night and then driving up to St. Louis with Evelyn and Clara on Thursday for lunch and checking in for my flight. Much to talk about these past couple weeks and Satan's attempts to break me down, but God is faithful and provides strength and perseverance to those who trust in Him.
Here are some various pictures from the last few weeks...stories to come....
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| Dahee and me at the park for a BBQ and Korean Burritos! |
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| Jenn, Destiny, and I went to Gailey's for breakfast a couple weeks ago--yummy! Here's Jenn >.< |
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| Some of our delicious food |
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| SeIn, Destiny, and I really wanted some Dukbokki~~here are SeIn and I cooking away! |
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| DEliSH! Final product! :) |
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| Visiting P. Charlie and Amy at the hospital...Say hello to Vesper, their beautiful newborn baby girl! |
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| EPIC!!!! SEX AND THE CITY NIGHT WITH MY LIFELONG BESTIES!!! MADISON, MELODY, AND LAURA REUNITED ONCE AGAIN! TIME FOR A NIGHT OF SNTC, MARTINIS, AND FUN!!!! |
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| Tee hee, Melody's cute glasses~~perfect! Lemon drops, of course! |
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| ...And the night wouldn't be complete without a spa date too :) Brings back fond memories of freshman year. Let me see if I can find that pic----> |
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| Haha, here we are freshman year!!! Haha, couldn't expect anything less~Love you girls! |
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| And, of course, the night would include quoting entire youtube videos~~Best reuny! |
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| From left: Destiny, me, Melody dancing at my going away party |
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