WOONUM SAMUL

This is where I live in Iksan. I bet you never thought you'd see me in an apartment again. I like my apartment. It's pretty small with lots of character. I've difinantly made it mine. I am the Queen of my castle--lots of furniture and plants, even outside my front door. There is a shortage of land here so most people live in these apartments. Most don't look great outside, but are quiet nice inside. The problem is they squeeze alot of people in each apartment with no problem. The Koreans don't like much furniture though. Getting home is easy because all taxi drivers know where Woonam Samul is. They don't use street names. They give directions by landmarks. So I only have to say Woonam Samul, and they take me home. To go to church I tell them "The Wedding Hall" (it's across the street from Faith Baptist). They also know the bus station, train station and McDonald's; so I'm pretty set.

Communicating

I've been in Korea now for five months. In many ways, it has gone by so quickly. I'm anxious to learn more Korean so that I can communicate with the people better. If you don't learn the language you really are stuck in a limbo of semi darkness. It's necessary to get into the people's heads to completely understand the culture. So many things here are similar to American culture--I call the Koreans yuppies. They seem to be most interested in cell phones, large cars, FASHION and making money. However, it's the other side I am most interested in knowing. The ones who grow the crops, live in villages, fish for a living. I've visited all of these senarios, but I'm unable to communicate. Christianity is big here. Airports are jammed in the summer with large groups going on mission trips. Going to and from China, there were several large groups stopping to pray in the airports before and after flights. It was heartwarming. Most of the men wore safari hats. I wanted to ask about their trips but didn't know the words. I'm looking for a tutor and may have found one. Hopefully, I'll hear something next week on that. Time keeps ticking on by.

Beijing, China

My week off from school has gone by too quickly--as they always do. The trip to China was terrific. I was so surprized about China. It was not what I expected. It's modern, capitalistic, and much freer than I thought it would be. The people were friendly for the most part. They are very different from the Koreans. They don't mind the sun. Koreans are the yuppies and Chinese the blue collar workers. I'm sure that's way too simplistic, but Koreans do love their fashion and big cars. Both live in modest homes. The Koreans keep their traditions of no shoes in the home, sleeping and eating on the floor at low tables--the men in both countries smoke and drink alot. I felt more at home in China. I don't know why. It was easy to get around. Names of businesses were in English as well as Chinese. We found Bibles at the bookstore and a fully operating Catholic Church. A bride and groom were having pictures taken out front. What's wrong with this scene?? I had a whole different picture in my mind. However, Facebook and some news items were blocked on the internet.

I saw the most magnificant palaces, temples and architectual feats--The Great Wall was "fantastique" as discribed by a Frenchman coming off the wall. We also saw the jade factory, the silk factory, the pearl factory, a Chinese doctor who prescribed herbs for our ailments and visited the inside of a Chinese home in a hutong in old Beijing. Oh yes, and the pandas in the zoo!!