ARRIVING IN IKSAN

My first week here is coming to an end, and I'm beginning to get settled in--almost. I need my own nest. My apartment won't be ready for a couple of weeks. So until then I'm living out of 4 suitcases. Yes, four! I just couldn't narrow it down any further. I'm still getting tired early in the afternoon and getting up early in the morning. But day by day it's getting better.
I've had two observation days at school and will begin teaching next week sometime. Koreans are very study oriented. I'm amazed how these little kids go from class to class with only an hour lunch break. The meals are large with lots of Korean variety. They all eat everything on their plates. Then they can play until the next class. Everything is in English. We don't speak any Korean to them. However, Bible class is interpreted. The children take turns saying the prayer for each class. The classes are only 30 minutes long; then they change. The teachers teach 13 classes a day. You have to be very organized to get everything in that needs to be covered. The children range in age from 3 to 7 years. However, here their ages start from conception, not birth. So, it is difficult to understand. I guess they have a conception day?? Anyway, once a month the school celebrates birthdays for those born in that month. It's a really big deal. I did a video of the celebration yesterday, but can not post it yet as I don't have my laptop hooked up to internet yet. I'm using my roomates computer now.
Today is a Saturday. I went shopping for a few necessities and cleaned the apartment. Carrie is busy with her Church all weekend. I may go with her tomorrow, but I want to go to the church in Kunsan eventually.
I will be writing again next week. Everything is so new right now. I'm sure I'll have alot to talk about with my new adventure. See you then!

SEARCHING FOR MY PLACE

Two days to departure. I leave Monday morning to San Francisco where I will connect with Singapore Airlines to Seoul, Korea. I've been so stressed out the last two weeks getting everything done to leave. These last two days I'm staying with Tommy and Stacey and the girls. Samantha is being baptised Sunday. That will be a fun day. I'm so proud of her. Leaving is bittersweet. I'm excited to begin this new adventure, but sad to leave my family. I will miss them so much. I wish I could be happy here in Atlanta. I'm not. Cities are lonely places for me. I pray for guidance in finding my place in this world.

Trip to Arizona

Oh, I know, alot of time has passed since my last post. What a roller coaster I've been on! Not surprised? Me either. Seems par for the coarse in my life. This week I had a 3 day estate sale, a farewell party, rented my house, sold my car, borrowed a car, cancelled my utilities, OH, and had my debit card number stolen. And I booked my ticket to South Korea! Yep, I'm really leaving on March 23rd. My grandaughter, Sam, is being baptised on the 22nd, and I have to be there for that. Saturday the 14th we move the last of my things out of the house.
BUT--two weeks ago I was in Arizona. I flew out to see and say goodbye for now to family and friends there. I stayed with Laura, my good friend and ventured out from there. She and I went up to the White Mountains to see another good friend, Mike McMillan. He lives in Luna, NM which is a tiny village of 190 people. He's pretty much a hermit up there. He lives in a small cabin (3 rooms) in a forest on a ranch. It was really great-so quiet and peaceful. He has a big beautiful white dog, Velvet, that was amazing. He had his own cot in the living room. Mike also has a cat named Callie Kitty who was pretty big herself. And two horses-also pretty big. Needless to say, we ate very well there. I used to live in this area, so we did alot of visiting local sites. We found some wonderful pottery shards down on the Blue. Since it was winter, there weren't many people roaming around, but I did see some old acquintances in the Bear Wallow Cafe. The weather was beautiful and the air so fresh--pine scent in the air. Great!
Back in Tucson, Jolene and I did alot of running around. Josh took her and I to lunch one day. We had dinner for 10 people at my sister's place. The whole Kucko family was there, and I had to cook. It was so much fun. Jody and I went fishing at Parker Canyon Lake down south one day. It was really the first time I've actually fished from a boat. It was so relaxing. We caught 15 rainbow trout. We could only keep 6 so we did some catch and release (which I'm not sure I understand). Fish dinner that night.
I really had a great time , and it was hard to leave. Thanks Laura for being so hospitable!