August 3rd- Flour Power

I did not want to attend class at all today, nor was I enthused about teaching overactive children in any way, shape, or form. I trudged to class in the sweltering heat. Korea is situated on a natural peninsula called The Korean Peninsula, and from the vast array of mountain ranges - those being three major ones- the impregnable walls of stone act as an isolator, making Korea a living and breathing incubator. Home to wet and sticky heat, cloud covered skies with scorching heat and clouds that pillow in the sunlight and boil everything and anything that inhabits the peninsula. This is my daily reminder of where I am. Apparently the combined land mass size of South Korea and their counterpart North Korea is approximately the size of Minnesota. In essence the country is steamed with combined efforts of the mountain ranges and the perpetual cloud cover.

I must confess that my attitudes vary and are quite fragmented day to day. I am by no means a pessimist, though I am not quite an optimist, and possibly not even, Lord willing- in-between. As I arrived to class I knew that the afternoon was going to be bearable. I just as I had expected it was. The day flew by rapidly and we moved into the evening hours.

The rally was hysterical to say the least. We had the kids dive for pieces of bubble gum in pots filled to the brim with flour. As they emerged from their hunt, their faces were gaunt and extremely pallid. A fine powder floated down from their flour creased faces like snowflakes, striking a stark resemblance to ashes as they tumble in firefly-like sporadic jolts to the floor. Later in the evening, Eric ran up behind Dan with a bowl of flour- before Dan could act in resistance- he was covered in the sawdusty powder. I ran up to assist Dan and lend him aid in attempting to take vengeance on Eric, but Dan was swift to act and threw a a face-full at me.

Then it escalated. I, in my furious state hurled yet another pot full of flour at Eric, and having missed at least half of him, hit instead the vents by the glass windows. Then another pot was thrown, and soon we found ourselves in a winter wonderland. But this wonderland did not have snow, and indeed it was not in the North Pole either, but held more of a resemblance of a snow covered bakery. After the laughter ceased, we had a white room to mop up. In all honesty, the ten seconds of pleasure was more than worth the thirty minutes of clean up. The consequences were folly, and it was one of the most freeing experinces we've had the entire trip. I wish I could throw that flour, but ten-fold, at my students on most days. I guess caking two of my team members will have to suffice, at least for now.

The night is wet and humid, the two staples of Korea. I hope that tomorrow yields chillier fruit. I am learning that hope carries one through uncomfortableness. Two weeks remain, I hope that I last.

August 2nd- Korean Worship

The first day after the weekend is always a bummer, and today definitely felt like a Monday. It was just another day of teaching. As we left the rally I heard a familiar thumping of a kick pedal, and the phat bass slides that only a worship service could produce. I walked in through the glass door threshold and made my way into the service. I hesitantly peeked in and my first sight was literally hundreds of Korean youth with their hands outstretched toward the alter and many crouching on the ground crying out to heaven. God's presence was so thick. If I could describe the spiritual presence in regards to what water does to clothing, then the students in that lowly lit room would have been drenched. Soaked in a spiritual stream. It is so encouraging to see students just as on fire as they are in America. Praise be to God for the Korean church.

When asked about the array of cultural disparities among Korean culture and the culture of the west I would have to answer that there is a lot. To begin with, Koreans cannot stand it when one blows ones nose in a public place, or in front of elders for that matter, moreover, taking off ones shoes is an absolute must when entering a Korean living space. Here is a small list of little cultural trifles that may come in handy in the near future.

Here is a picture of a typical Korean Laundry mat- Essentially you just hang dry your clothes, which due to the humidity usually takes an entire afternoon. That being three to four hours. So the next time you attempt to do laundry, make sure your clothes are not blown asunder by an unruly breeze, and that they receive adequate sunlight.



Here is another picture of the typical towels that are utilized on a daily basis here in Korean. Large beach towels are atypical in this nation, possibly because the people are smaller than 'normal' functioning Anglo-Saxons.














In Korea, one must remove ones shoes before setting foot in their house. If you fail at remembering this cultural disparity, you will just about get scolded, and a communal gasp will sound throughout the entire complex, enough to make your hair stand on end, whimper, and send you off with your tail between your legs. So take off your shoes when entering a Korean residence.










Here are some suction cupped toothbrush holders. In a quaint bathroom, they make all the difference. Convenience with a suction cup.

August 1st- Desert Day

After attending church in the morning, and arriving with only fifteen minutes left due to faulty directions, I engaged in the doing of laundry. There are many different ways to spend a Sunday afternoon, sundry to say the least, and I spent mine cleaning clothes, and rambling thoughts. God has been revealing many things to me on this trip, and the primary one being patience. I am desperately striving to live my life, even in times of turmoil and hostility, above the reproach of the world. The demographics say I should feel deserted, abandoned and utterly defeated, but that is not the truth that I choose to hold my life to. The decrees of the world hold a malevolent grasp on my life, wherefore, to destroy.

I read James Joyce's fabled, "A Portrait of the artist as a young man", to further my enlightenment. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, which in latin means, "For the greater glory of God. I spent the rest of the afternoon with my nose in the dense pages of a book, and I began to read the book of Daniel. I wrote in my journal and spoke to Sarah on the computer. And right as five o'clock showed it's face, it was time to get ready for the day. If I particularized everything I did between dinner and my shaky enlightenment, it would be much too wordy. Dinner was the usual. At least I enjoy rice to some degree. I digress quite a bit. Now onto my evening.

During the gloaming we once again journeyed downtown and our Korean PA, Judy, who I termed, "Yoshi" showed us around the old fashion styled part of town. The houses stood with impregnable walls like fortresses, standing out, acting as a contrast to the modernized Korean world adjacent to them. Thinking this was merely a sporadic foray downtown, I neglected to bring my camera along for the ride. Along the walkway was a trickling stream bedded in a black marble. There was a handful of quaint shops lingering around the houses like silent shadows. Each one was filled with bustling visitors, most likely from out of town. We then made our way downtown to the shopping district. Until I experience the utter shopping power of Seoul, I will venture to say that my experience in meandering around the JeonJu shopping district was superlative. Our reluctant but self-appointed tour guide, Judy, led the way with here engulfing laughter. I truly enjoy in cultivating relationships with people, especially people of different races and nationalities.

We dined at a beautiful restaurant named, "The Asian Spoon". I leaned more toward the healthy side and ordered an Oriental Chicken salad, while two of the other guys order heaping platters of pasta to compliment their fruity smoothies. Posterior to are little dining experience we headed to Giordano, a trendy store that Judy recommended for my jean purchasing. Low and behold, I stumbled upon the exact pair of pants I was searching for, and fate had it they were marked down from 80,000 won to 30,000 won. Subsequently, we waited for our bus to arrive, and carry us back to our transient home. Sleep came quickly, and I was lost in a florid sea of sound and color, all meshing together to form a dream.

July 31st- Swimming!

Swimming pools in Korea are definitely interesting. We went to one today, and just as I had anticipated, it was shallow all the way around. But, despite the lackluster appearance, I had a ton of fun. We literally catapulted the students into the water, and I would just like to say that I got back at my overactive ones by throwing them over my shoulder into the chilly water. I fee like we are really getting to develop relationships with our students, which makes teaching all the more bearable. Aside from having a blast in the pool, we spent the night exchanging jokes with our Korean friends, Lee and Patrick- I use their American names for confusions sake- and it just so happens that they are completely hysterical.

Earlier on in the evening we took the city bus to Outback Steakhouse. I regret spending 25,000 won, an equivalent to about 20 USD on a steak. Sometimes a gentle rub from Americanized food helps you to focus and stay sane aside from the daily rations of Kim-chi and sticky rice. We found ourselves in the middle of a Korean hornets nest of designer shops and clothing stores, decked out with white lights, and trendy signs. Consumerism is ripe in this culture to say the least. When faith depletes, consumerist notions emerge. The bus system in Korea is spectacular, it is only 1,000 won to ride the bus practical anywhere, and juxtaposing that with a jolting taxi ride coming in around 20,000 won, I prefer the cheap route, and the metro transit experience as a whole. Just like any other city of 600,000 people, Jeonju has many different styles and looks. I saw two white people today and stared at them, it's amazing how accustomed i've become at just seeing asian faces, that the appearance of a white person almost startles me. Korea is predominately homogeneous society, with mostly Korean people residing there. So on a given day, I see Korean after Korea, and practically no other multiethnic people whatsoever.

The zeitgeist of Korea right now could be most positively defined as: luxuriously stagnant. Koreans are a hard working, intelligent bevy of people, dedicated to superiority in their studies, hard work on the side, and a dictum of progression. All the links in the chain connect when one throws in money, attributed to their incessant hard working ideology, and the emergence of designer ideals and Americanism into their culture. Everybody dresses classy. The Koreans make Americans look like slobs and unprofessional bandits. Nevertheless, depending on your persuasion toward formidable fashion, luxury is only a means to show how much you have accomplished. To me, this is all fleeting, however, to some, it is a lifestyle nonetheless. Koreans are classy, and aside from their streets being littered profusely, they are generally speaking, a kind people group. Though spending 200,000 won on a pair of Levis may seem a bit steep, they look good. And everybody wants to look good.

All in all today was a full, enriching day. I got to sleep in an hour extra, and I read an intriguing article about North Korea's soccer team being ignominiously mauled by their own countries media by their inefficient performance in the World Cup. I am eagerly awaiting the day when I can head home, but until then, I will be taking in the sights and sounds of Korea, and taking notes along the way.

Goodnight from Jeonju, South Korea
David

July 29th- The Trials of Teaching

Apart from being called ugly, big nosed and essentially ridiculed during class, my day was quite honestly from the pits of hell. If my heart were a stained glass window, it would have shattered into a slew of vibrant colors. I wish this metaphor was not fictional, because I would make my students walk barefoot across the mess they've created. I disciplined a student today, a young girl whose utter cuteness almost begs of you to let her get away with murder. This is a picture of her. Quite possibly the most adorable little girl ever, but looks are definitely deceiving. This little tiger has got a paw full of claws, and a bucketful of insolence. I made her stand in the hallway outside of the classroom and stare at the wall for an hour and a half. I wish I could feel pity for her, but I do not at this moment at all. My self-esteem was smacked hard on today, and it made me reconsider my career choice. But now that I have had some time to blow of steam and decompress, I have decided that there are flukes in just about everything, and jerks in even more, but it's my job to stay consistent amidst it all. This is the drawing they doodled on the board for me when I initially entered into the classroom. Ironically enough, the thoughtful sketch was done by who else than the little devil herself. This of course didn't assuage any of the pain she had caused prior to the art. I taught the rest of the afternoon reluctantly and found myself beginning to fade considerably early. I sit in my dorm room in JeonJu searching desperately for a dictum stating that committing two years here is worth it. The utter disrespect on my students part was just plain rude, however, I will move forward, and I hope to teach them more and more fluidly as the days progress.
Grudges don't pave roads, they burn bridges instead. I just hope that my students will begin to respect me as time rolls on, and before the team departs to Seoul in two weeks, I hope to have impacted at least one of their lives for the better.

Later in the evening we had a team get to together with the Korean Assistants and our team. We all shared pizza! I love pizza, and the fact that all I have been eating is rice, just adds to how much more I love pizza. It was an interesting experience sharing with the Koreans our lives and culture, and not to mention their outlook as well. It's amazing how similar we all are.

July 28th- 21st Birthday in JeonJu South Korea

I was quite taken by the amber sunlight that flooded through my dormitory window this morning. I let my aching, sleepy body linger in its warm light. As the honey hued floor boards were set shimmering with a golden glow, I arose in the silent breath of morning. The gentle hues of Northern Korea blew across the landscape, and I headed to class in a groggy state. Upon arriving I noticed that the lights in my room were not on. I eased into the darkness- and as I flicked on the light switch I heard a unison exclamation of, "Happy Birthday Teacher David!" Quite possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen occurred right in front of my very eyes. Three little girls threw notes in the folded guise of airplanes at my head. Only one or two of them made contact with me at all. It was the most precious birthday surprise I have ever seen or heard about. My students are absolute gems.

Class was the ritualistic set of methodically processes as it always is. I am finding it increasingly hard for myself to even find interest in the subject matter, let alone teach it creatively. I have no training in conventional teaching methods, so the application of proven methods is not relevant to me since I do not have the slightest idea of what those are. But the birthday cake that my students drew for me on the board, along with the curvy happy birthday wishes scrawled hastily sufficed just enough. After class I had a pleasant surprise. The Korean staff organized a birthday party for me as a suprise. So this was two surprise birthday fiestas. The first one was my class, and the second was in the guise of a staff meeting. The cake I received from the Korean staff was brought up to Amanda my fellow teacher's room on the eighteenth floor of the complex for our nightly devotions as a team. I originally felt a bit melancholy due to my circumstances, those being, the fact that I am overseas, and not with my loved ones. I also signed a contracted stating that no alcohol is to be drank while I'm sojourning here. Obligatorily, I am under no convictions, however I must feign as though I am on this trip. My stance toward alcoholic beverages is a bit lax in the light of others on my team.

As the light began to wan, and elongated shadows stretched their weary arms across the obsidian pavement, a gentle prick of sunlight brushed it's lips across the horizon, and clouds jettied the whimsical darkness from approaching too quickly. My team took me out to pizza, and I had my fill of American food. Homely foods are a solace when traveling abroad, and quite honestly helps you keep your sanity. My team members treated me with geniality and warmth, and though nothing can compensate for the tenderness of my family and friends back home, my team did a very good job at sating my anxiety with love. Though I did not feel at all dolorous during the course of the day, I still at this moment am feeling the tinge of homesickness.

Although there is no immediate remedy for acute homesickness, I still had an awesome 21st birthday. And even though I can not consume any alcoholic beverages- at the moment- when I find myself at home, drinks are on me.

Cheers from JeonJu, South Korea,
your finally of age writer,
David

July 27th- JeonJu English Camp

It was an extremely hot and humid day outside today. The utter monotony of life as an English teacher is beginning to catch up to me. I have decided that I will pursue a righteous attitude that stands above reproach, no matter what. The classroom was more responsive than normal, however, headaches have still occurred. At the end of the day I feel exhausted and drained of all my energy. Though my mental faculties are nonexistent by the end of the day, I still remain optimistic. South Korea is culturally heavy, but with a little but of laughter, homesickness can by assuaged for at least a little while longer.

Here is a poem I just wrote about my Father
Childhood

I would lay awake
as a child, drifting
in and out of dreams-

Those silk threads spinning
in a tapestry of colors
and dreams newly birthed-

My infant heart kept time
with the steady pulse of
my Father's snoring-

Resounding through the wooden
beams of our home, and
within my child-like bones

was a pledge of sanctuary,
where dreams were havens
and sound a solace.

I now sleep with a fan, and
whether it's the subtle purr
of a whirring turbine

that shuts my heavy eyes
night by night, I will
never know-

But every night I hear
his grumbling odes of
protection, the impregnable

strength of his arms, and
the reassuring light
in his brown eyes-

While the blade slices the
heavy air, I hear melodies
spinning eager threads

about my mind, and I ease
into sleep, surrendering to
sound one more time.