PLANTING RICE

I've been fasinated by the landscape of rice fields in this country. The rectangular fields of water that cover the countryside at the foot of the mountainsides are truly beautiuful. I've been very curious about this grain which is so necessary to the Korean diet--along with KimChee. It grows in water (in mud)and is planted in straight rows. How do they do that? Well, now there are machines that do it, but you still see it being done by hand occasionally. I thought that would be an interesting experience. As it happened, I got to try just that on a recent trip to the DMZ.

I first tried wading out in the mud with tall boots on. That became too difficult very quickly. My boots literally got stuck so far in the mud that I felt like I was in quick sand. I couldn't pull it out, and I was losing my balance. I was told to pull my feet out and leave the boot--go barefoot. At first, I thought, "Is this man nuts?" But it was so much easier, and I quickly got used to the squish of mud through my toes. I made my way into the field and positioned myself along a string that was strung across the field and attached to two poles. There were tiny red strings attached along the string at about 6 inch intervals. People were lined up along the string. We were given little squares of grass looking plants (like sod). You would tear off the sod with 4-5 tiny plants and plant them in the mud at every red string marker. When that was done, you stepped back two feet while the poles at the end of the field were pulled up and moved forward two feet. The process was then repeated. So it goes until the field is planted!!

RECYCLING

Hey, they have it down here in Korea! It's taken me awhile to get organized in this department, but you have to--out of guilt. They don't give you bags at the grocery store--or bag it for you. If you don't have your own, you have to buy a plastic bag. However, you probably won't accumalate too many of those because you can use them in your trash or garbage can. They don't use these big trash cans here. They have these small little cans in the kitchen that are perfect for that plastic bag you get at the grocery store. In the kitchen, you separate your paper trash, plastic, glass and food garbage. You carry this all out everyday--no large cans or bags--to the collection area at the apartments. There you find a place to throw away plastic, boxes, styrofoam, glass, and yes, food (which goes to the pigs). Trash is picked up everyday at the apartments. Pigs eat pretty well too.

SEOUL--FIRST TRIP

Big City, lots of traffic, polution, noise, lots of interesting people, and lots of interesting things to see! Oh yes and the subway! Lots of subway! I'm just a country girl--love that peace and quiet. I did, however, have a great time in Seoul. Traveling with women under 40 can be a challenge now--I just don't have the same stamina. I retired early on Saturday evening while the rest of the group continued on. The King's Palace, Gyeongokgung Palace, was absolutely incredible with over 100 buildings on the grounds in the middle of Seoul. The Beautiful architecture just amazes me--so intricate and colorful. This was evidentally a second home! We enjoyed seeing the changing of the guards with their colorful uniforms and flags. It was diffinantly worth the sore ankles.

We ran into David, another teacher friend, at the palace. Across the street we found a great little English bookstore/coffee shop and stopped in for a latte. We had a good time there with the owners. We played a Korean game and bought some books in English (which are hard to find, by the way)

Other adventures included: the wholesale fashion world where you shop through the night until 4:00am when the wholesalers close. Eaun Hui, our Korean friend, sales clothes in Iksan to clients. I obviously didn't do the all night shopping thing. An hour was enough for me. It was interesting to see all the designer knock off vendors lining the street. They are very popular here. The subway!!!--yes the never ending subway. And my favorite place...Insadong!! Great shopping, lots of foreigners, lots of characters! I loved it!

Visit to Simgoksa Temple

We drove up into the mountains near Iksan to visit a old Budhist Temple located along a beautiful peaceful mountainside. The priests were in prayer for Budha's birthday, but we were allowed to go inside the temple and photograph while the priest was in prayer. This includes chanting for hours. The chanting was beautiful and very soothing. The view from the temple down the mountainside was so tranquil. The breezes were soft and cooling.

BUSY WEEKEND

Busy weekend again this week. Saturday was the Christian Women's Meeting for several churchs throughout Korea. It was held at Faith Baptist Church which I have been attending. It was great to meet other women both Korean and American sharing the same values. The main guest speaker was Mrs Dutton, who has spent the last 30 years in missionary service with her husband, Pastor Dutton. They have just retired and moved back to the states, but made the trip over to be here for the event. She gave a very interesting and inspirational talk on women as the backbone of a Christian home. Fellowship was great! The food was great! And the men served our lunch and cleaned up. We got to enjoy the day. I really enjoyed meeting other teachers from KCIS Kunsan as well as the pastor and his wife from the Haven in Kunsan. In fact, I went to church today at the Haven with Jodelle and Eauni. The Haven has been in existance since 1971 in Kunsan and is pastored by Mr Stewart and his wife Linda, missionaries of 28 years. It is located just outside the Kunsan Air Force base so is attended by many service men stationed there as well as teachers from KCIS Kunsan and Koreans. English is used exclusively there.
After the service, Eauni, a new Korean friend, drove Jodelle and I to the nearby beach to take a few pictures. It's still a bit cold to really enjoy the beach, but it was wonderful to walk around and enjoy the scenery and nature. There is a ferry there that will take you out to some islands offshore. Many people were there with tour buses to go over. This is a growing area which will be a popular resort area soon. I really enjoyed it. We stopped at another fabulous restruant on the way home for a Korean meal. Always good and always healthy!

SHOPPING AND PRAYING

Jodele (another teacher at my school) and I went to the open market after church today. It was an interesting experience. So many kinds of fish. Many I've never seen. All kinds of foods, fruits, and vegetables. And mushrooms in all shapes and sizes. It was amazing. I found some great plants at much cheaper prices than you find in the shops. I bought a nice palm type which the vendor put in a nice pot for me. It was so heavy I had to buy a shopping cart to move it around. It did fit in the taxi thank, goodness. I've been plant happy this week. I also bought two citrus trees. The cumquat tree has fruit on it, and the other I'm not sure what fruit it is because it's still in blossoms. I couldn't understand which fruit it was. They look great in my apartment.
This weekend I spent quite a bit of time at church. Saturday volunteers went in for Spring cleanup. I painted almost the entire dining hall. It looked great today. The santuary was also sparkling. I had an interesting talk with the pastor at lunch yesterday. I had questions about a few things from their perspective. Pastor Adam can quote the passages backing up his claims. I'm still having a bit of trouble with some of them. He explained to me how a person will change after finding faith and how you continue to change with reading the Bible and discovering the truth in God's words. The Bible study and sermon today was totally based on our conversation.
It was very inspiring. He assured me that I was being lead by God, and I only needed to continue asking for His guidance. Amen.

MY HEAD BEGINS TO CLEAR

I finally got my computer set up in my own apartment, and I'm loving it! Now, I can download pictures, as well. I've had a bad week as I've been sick from "yellow dust" from China. That's to say, I've got a sinus infection. I finally went to the doctor who prescribed a multitude of pills including antibiotics. I'm feeling much better everyday. As a matter of fact, today was the best day I've had yet. My head seemed clearer, and I was able to concentrate on my teaching. My classes went very well today. Over the last week I've given 7 tests. That means grading and a multitude of other chores. My voice is back so I can even sing the songs I've been teaching the kindergardeners. I lost it for about 4 days last week.

I want to talk a bit about the church I'm attending--Faith Baptist Church. It's a very small Korean/American church. The sermon is spoken in both Korean and English. The pastor is an American who is married to a Korean. I'm feeling very comfortable there. A huge lunch called "pot blessing" is served every Sunday after church. It's been great socializing with everyone. I've met several other American teachers as well. I'm slowly developing a small network of commrades. I've started attending an adult Bible study which meets the hour before the service. It's very interesting. I'm discovering many new truths. I bought a new Bible. It's Korean and English--King James Version. Pastor Adam does a great job of picking apart the details. I'm learning! This Saturday is the annual church cleanup. I'm going in for that. It's an all day affair of cleaning and painting. I'm spending more and more time at church. Next, I guess they will have me out "soul saving" in the park. I do find the family atmoshere very soothing.

I moved into my apartment this Sunday. I really love my little place. I have an extra room with a desk where I'm setting up shop. I'll send pictures after I decorate. Can't help it!

This has been a very busy and tiring week for me, but progress I have made. I went to the Faith Baptist Church last Sunday for my first exposure to a Korean Church. Carrie goes here as well as a couple of other Americans. The pastor is American but has a Korean interpretor. This little church was started several years ago by another English teacher at KCIS. It originally started as a Bible study and just grew. After church, it is the custom here for everyone to eat a meal together at the church. The food was great, and the fellowship was wonderful. The Koreans are always ready to socialize with you. I really enjoyed it.

My teaching week was very hectic and confusing. However, things are looking clearer now. I just finished my lesson plans for next week, and I'm finally making some sense of things. I have 13 classes and no two are at the same place. But my worse problem is the "singing". Not MY Bag! Yet, I have to teach and sing songs with my 4 kindergarden classes. I had no voice at the end of the week. Speaking of the kindergarden, we took them all to the park Friday morning. It was really great fun. They are just too cute-- lines of little China dolls marching in unison.

Mrs Kim took all us teachers to dinner Thursday night to celebrate Jodelle's 40th birthday. It was very nice. Mrs Kim encouaged us American girls to eat the "hamburger steak" as it was made special for the "western taste". (Secretly, we all wanted to order the pork cutlet which is especially good) So out of respect to her we did. It was meatloaf! Not that it was bad, but she ordered the pork cutlet, and it was delicious. Afterwards, we toured her new church which is very modern and very large and always open. We played a few games of ping pong. None of us were any good. It was a nice evening in which the Korean and American teachers were able to bond.

Saturday we all had to go in to the school to meet some of the parents. Mrs. Kim introduced us all, and they talked with us later. Several mothers took us out to lunch afterwards. Koreans are very friendly people. The restruant had low tables, and you sit on the floor. I had a very hard time getting down there (my ankle has been swelling). There was food everywhere--so much food. I couldn't get up when we were finished.

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.