Summer is Coming

After what seems like weeks, I have finally found a moment to slip away from my adorable, but demanding host sisters, to sit in my favorite coffee shop and try to formulate my thoughts into words.

The oldest and youngest host sisters (8,4) at our day at the park

Let me start by recounting a conversation my host parents and I had a few weeks ago. It went like this:
Host dad: Tessa, we have a problem.
Me: Really? What can I do?
Host dad: Can we fly to France with you in July?
-on the inside, I'm like, "Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm------------"
Me: Yes...but I am not flying to France, I am visiting my grandmother in Germany.
Host dad: Hmm, when are you in France?
Me: August.
-here my host dad and host mom exchange looks and speak non-verbally
Host dad: Can we come in August?
Me: Sure!

And just like that it will be my turn to host my host-family for one week in August. I am excited for this, but I am also aware it will cut my time with my family a bit short, and leave me quite tired, right before my studies at Gordon-Conwell start...especially because my host mom cannot come, leaving me to share my host dad's burden of being sole entertainment providers for my host sisters (aged 8,6,4).

Jeungpyeong country side

My host family's upcoming trip to Europe has left the girls very excited. Every day they ask questions about what life in Europe is like. Often at the dinner table I will get questions like, "Do they have rice in Europe?" "Do they like spicy food?" "Do they have seaweed?"

A trip to the country side with my host family

Just recently the eldest makes me watch baking videos with her. Not just your average muffin, or cookie either, but elaborate recipes of unicorn cupcakes and kakao-talk animal muffins. She asks me after each one, "Can we make this in France?" Since their trip to my home is two months away, and I don't really know what we can and can't make, I don't want to say no yet. But it has gotten to the point where the list of things she wants to make includes:

• kakao-talk muffins
• unicorn cupcakes
• totoro pudding
• Lion (Korean character) cookies
• Spongebob cookies
• Pokemon cake

Now anyone looking at that list could tell that even making one item would involve a bit of work...add to that the fact that my host sisters are all under the age of 10, and don't know how to bake...recipe for disaster...

Lastly, one thing that has been on my mind a lot, partially because of my host family's trip to Europe, is Europe itself. In light of the London attacks that have happened over the past three months my host mom asked me the other day, "Is Europe safe?" Even just a year ago I would have replied without hesitation, "Absolutely. You don't have to be afraid when you visit Europe, nothing bad will happen to you."
Now the answer is so much more complicated, because yes, I still believe Europe is much safer than certain parts of the world, but one thing is clear: It is not the Europe of my childhood anymore. And this makes me sad.

A view of my neighborhood. My house is behind the white one in the middle of the picture.

Happy New Year from Japan

This year I got to spend New Year's Eve with one of my best and oldest friends. I am visiting her in Japan, where she is currently working, and spent New Year's Eve with her and her friends. After an evening of Japanese New Year's TV, we went to bed for a few hours before waking up at 3 am to hike Mount Takao, from which we watched the first sunrise of the year, and then crossed to the other side of the mountain, from which Mount Fuji is visible.

The first sunrise of 2017, as seen in the Land of the Rising Sun

Currently, I am sitting in Starbucks in Tokyo, filling out graduate school scholarship applications, sketching, journaling and reflecting. I will be here until Sunday, when I return to Korea to start teaching my English winter camp. I am so thankful for this break and rest. Looking back on my time in Korea so far, I know I have only survived with my sanity in tact because of prayer and support from friends and family. It is not easy living and teaching in Korea. But it is fun, and it is rewarding and I wouldn't change a thing.

Some difficult things this past year:

• Language barriers. I notice this most, because it keeps me from truly being able to connect with people on a deep level. I love intellectual conversation, talking about books I'm reading, things I'm learning about God and other sometimes serious matters. I can't do this in Korean. And I miss it. 
• Cultural differences like directness. You can't just say what you are thinking in Korea. I notice this especially at work, where I often have to bite my tongue from pointing out the inefficiency of the system. 
• Being away from friends and family.

Some wonderful things this past year:

• Realizing that it is possible to connect with people with out language. I notice this with my host family who truly do care about me, and connect with me, even without speaking each other's language. 
• Learning to love Korean culture. I love the value Koreans place on aesthetics in art, music and daily life. I love the food. I love the patience people show me when I try my Korean. I love the Noraebang culture (karaoke). 
• Learning about God and myself. This year has been preparing me for graduate school in big ways. I'm learning that I need to grow in humility where my faith is concerned.
• I am learning that there are things I love about American and European culture.

Boarding the cable car to go half way up Takao-san (4am)

 

The temple on top of Takao-san

My friend, Elsa, and me in front of Fuji-san 

Tying our fortunes at the temple (Japanese tradition)

View of Tokyo (the famous skyline is visible, very small, in the distance)

Why do this?

As my American family gathers in Virginia to celebrate Thanksgiving, I ask myself, "Why do what I am doing?" Why take a year off, knowing full well I want to continue my studies in grad school? Why spend a year away from your family, missing your favorite family holidays like Thanksgiving, and Christmas? Why spend a year teaching children when I know I do not want to teach children in the future?

Turning for the camera! Beautiful fall leaves...

These questions have answers, though the answers are different than they were when I first applied to Fulbright.

 When I applied to Fulbright, as a burned-out senior in college, I thought this year would be my "year off." A fun way to spend a year in between undergrad and grad school. I was wrong. This year is not a year off, because I am working 40 hours a week, trying to navigate a full time job in a culture and language I don't speak. And yes, I am having fun, but I am also working very, very hard.

Here are some of the many reasons why I choose to spend a year away from friends and family:

• This year is a year that is allowing me to grow from a college student into an adult. (Even though college students are technically adults...they also are not. I'm learning that now.)

• This year is teaching me to respect my own teachers in life more (shout out to my Roanoke College professors), as I realize through experience how difficult it is to be a teacher. 

• This year is preparing me for seminary by providing very practical experiences in trusting God and giving me time to evaluate and grow in my relationship with Him. 

• This year is showing me things that I do and do not want in my future. I know now, that I do not want to teach children for my entire life. But I do want to go into teaching. This year (and living with 3 little Korean girls) is also showing me that I want children of my own....one day, definitely not yet. 

We are in the shadows, but I am sitting with two of
 my host sisters underneath the tree.

• This year is teaching me to be patient and content in the moment. Waiting for my co teachers to translate an important meeting for me, or waiting for my little host sisters to get ready for school (quite a lengthy process). And most of all enjoying this year, even though my heart very much longs to be at school studying again. 

• This year is an opportunity to grow in humility. I am not always a good teacher, I make a lot of mistakes, but people are very gracious with me. I am not that great at Korean. I do not always trust God, and I do let fear get the better of me. I am learning that there is so much to learn, and that it is a good thing. 

Autumn in Korea features amazing vibrant colors.

Weekend in Sokcho: Hiking and More

View of Sokcho from the hotel restaurant

Last week concluded with a weekend field trip to Sokcho, further in the north, on the east coast of South Korea. After a lecture on Buddhism in Korea and a trip to a temple, some of us ETAs spent the rest of the evening on the beach, listening to the waves break on the shore. I always find something oddly comforting about the water, as it connects all parts of the world together. The water that laps on the shore of Korea also touches the shore of Australia, Japan, and somewhere far off Europe. I know they are technically all different oceans, but the water is connected, and through that the entire world is. I like the thought.

Our lecture hall in the hotel

Saturday in Sokcho was spent enjoying nature as a big group of us went hiking in Seoraksan National Park. It was simply breathtaking, and if possible, I'd like to return in the fall to hike under colorful foliage. A few of us chose to hike to the waterfalls, about a 1.5 hour hike. Once achieved, hikers have the option of continuing on for .4 km, to the outlook. However, the .4 km are climbing straight up stairs. I am afraid to say I only made it half of the way before my head began to pound unbearably and my legs became jello. One of my many goals for this year is to one day make it back to Seoraksansan and conquer the remaining .2 km!

Korean hikers are so fit!!

After our hike, we payed 10 000 won ($10) to take the cable car up to the top of one of the many mountains in the park. The money was well spent, as I have never seen a more breathtaking view. The jagged cliffs, and the beautiful, resilient trees growing in high up places; the mist surrounding the mountains like a blanket. It was beautiful.

View from the cable car

View at the top of the mountain

Sunday we returned to Goesan for another week of orientation, Korean language classes and F.E.P. (Fulbright English Program, an English camp for middle school and high schoolers). Tomorrow and Friday are midterm days for Korean classes, and Friday I teach my first ever lesson plan in class for F.E.P. I am nervous...I think almost all of us are. But I am also very excited to finally meet students first hand, and begin the life long learning process of how to teach, something I think only experience can truly teach.

Jeju Island Day 2 and 3

Two weeks after the actual trip I finally get around to posting about the last two days of my Jeju Island adventure! Life of a University Student...busy...well, actually not that busy, but I've been struggling with a bit of a cold. Well, really I have no excuses for posting so late!
So, without further ado, here is my last post on Jeju Island:

Day 2 Part 1

After the weather fiasco of our first day on Jeju Island, we decided to go to the opposite side of the Island to see if the weather would be any better! And it was, praise the Lord! We had no rain, and even a little sun! It was beautiful.

The grass of Sangumburi made beautiful music!

 On the morning of the second day, we took the bus to inland south east. There we visited Sangumburi the world's only flat-land crater. It is over 250 meters deep (800 ft) and simply breathtaking! The fields around the crater are some sort of grass that rustles in the wind and turns silver in fall. When we arrived the fog was just lifting, and it gave the whole area a rather mystical air. I will attempt to capture it in a painting one of these days, but I haven't gotten around to it yet! :D

The crater itself. It seemed like the footprint of a giant.

 Day 2 Part 2

My first thought upon seeing Ilchulbong was,
"This is gonna be hard to paint!"

The steps of doooooooooom

After the crater, we took the bus a little farther to the actual coast, and I was not prepared for the sight. It was stunning! The Lord truly is artist of artists! Connected to the island by a thin strip of land rises a dormant volcano. It is over 250 meters high (800 ft) and can be hiked via steep stairs. The hike was tiring, but only took 20 min. (however 20 min. of continuous stair-climbing is exhausting!!!). At the top of the volcano our view was breathtaking.

The now dormant volcano.
You feel as if you are on the top of the world

The view overlooking Jeju Island from Ilchulbong volcano

Before us the blue of the ocean faded into the blue of the sky, creating a palette of hues. Behind us the island stretched out far; mountains rose gently in the distance, and a wall of fog and clouds could be seen miles off. However where we were the sun warmed us in the cold wind. It was magical!

Nature is hard to describe. I think that is why I like painting it. Painting comes closest to capturing the beauty of nature. Perhaps better writers could aptly describe the magnitude and underlying meanings nature holds for us humans. I'm sure Lewis or Tolkien could have done justice to it. However I can't. So I'll stop trying! Let it suffice to say, that I was in awe: In awe of nature, in awe of beauty and in awe of God who created it all.

The cliffs of Ilchulbong  

Day 3

Our last day on the island was once again spent in the southern part. We visited one of the three main waterfall sites on the island (Cheonjeyeon). The creek flows through a deep ravine into the ocean and is split into three waterfalls. The first one, seen below, only flows after heavy rains. 

The second is the most idyllic. I felt like I had entered a cove of the Pirates of the Caribbean! 

The third one took a while to climb down to, and was a little smaller and less magnificent. However it was fun gazing into the blue pool of water below, imagining the 6 foot eels swimming below. Supposedly they are a very delicious delicacy....I'm not sure I'll try that....

(I actually didn't take a picture of the third one....guilty as charged!)

Our last night in Jeju we went out and ate Korean Pork BBQ for dinner. It was very good! Our waitress served us seafood as a treat, including little baby octopus-like fish. I ate them! I am very proud for eating the tiny little tentacles! They were good, however I had to close my eyes to keep my imagination in place...

And that's all for tonight, folks!

The ocean on our second day at Jeju Island, at the foot of Ilchulbong

Insadong

A side street in Insadong

My friend and I set out this morning to find Bukchon Hanok village, where you can see traditional Korean architecture. After getting off at the correct subway stop, we decided to walk around Insadong first, which is a souvenir shopping area. Well...we never did make it to Bukchon! Maybe next time!

Street artists

The film shoot 

Along the way, we ran into a film crew. I'm not sure whether this was for a drama, commercial, or what not, but it was fascinating to watch the director talk to the actors, etc. After stopping in numerous shops, and after spending more money than I had meant to... (hehe..yeah...) we stumbled upon the Insadong-cultural center. Here you pay 3000 won (equivalent to 3 dollars) and get to play dress up in traditional Korean clothing! (Hanbok)

Below: The pictures

Traditional umbrella hat?

Beautiful!! ^^

At 한강 (Han River): Is fried chicken American?

Two days ago, a bunch of us Internationals and several Buddies (Korean students who help us adjust to Korean culture, etc.) went to the Han River. Somehow, I hadn't even registered that Seoul has a river, but of course it does! It makes complete sense that a city, centuries old, would have been built near a water source. Still, I wasn't quite prepared for the full effect of the river, it was HUGE! And it was beautiful (I think you say 아름다운 in Korean).

Rivers are a big part of city culture. You walk near the river, you bike near the river, you meet your friends near the river, you pick-nique near the river; Having lived in Innsbruck, near the Inn river, this culture is familiar to me, and seems to be a way of life in Seoul as well. However, the river in Tirol is a lot smaller than the Han river, and the city skyline is not quite so impressive. Here's a picture of the park we sat in.

The setting sun bathed everything in a beautiful warm light. Wish I'd had my watercolors.
However I did attempt to sketch this scene. Photo of my sketch below:

Yeah....still need to work on my sketching! It's definitely harder than watercolors! :)

Apparently the thing to do while you're enjoying the warm evening sun, is to order fried chicken and have it delivered to where you are sitting. We ordered 8 people's worth of chicken, and ate every piece of it. It was delicious! (맛있었어요! I think that's 'it was delicious' in Korean) Our order also came with plastic pick-nique blankets to sit and eat on. Very convenient! However eating over the face of some Korean celebrity was a little unsettling!^^ To illustrate:

The chicken had somewhat of a familiar taste, after all, chicken will be chicken. Yet it definitely had a non-American flair to it. So it leaves me with the question, that I would love to know the answer to: Is fried chicken American? Considering Pizza (a very American meal) is NOT American, there is a distinct possibility that friend chicken will also turn out to be from somewhere else. Maybe from S. Korea?

Most would probably say, "Who cares about food, when you're in South Korea! There's bunches of more interesting things to do!" However, I would have to reply, that I love food, and Korean food is so different, and so delicious, I think I will spend most of my time here eating! (And starting to go to the gym to make up for it!)