Funny post office situation:
I was mailing a box Monday and saw a COB faculty I know. He was mailing kimchi to his brother in Seoul. I joked with him about the availability of kimchi in Seoul. But it was his mother's kimchi! And another person in line was also mailing kimchi. When I met with one of the small groups of students for English practice and told them, they said it's not unusual. One of them said her grandmother makes the best kimchi. I told them I like kimchi (though a big incentive to eat it is that it seems like it must be healthy) but that it all tastes the same to me. It is served at every meal... rice too.
It reminds me of Samoans taking an umu (literally oven) box (pre-printed boxes come in 3 different sizes) back to the States or NZ from Samoa... the boxes are checked as a luggage item.
Nice indirect compliment:
One of my students asked me today if I would try to teach Advanced Accounting spring semester. I am scheduled for Intermediate I. It's not just about me, however. He said a lot of the concepts are easier to understand in English, which I thought was interesting.
My mom:
My mom's progress at the care center seems to be quite slow with some additional complications like a bladder infection (and now antibiotics with their own side effects). Food does not stay in her, so gaining strength is very difficult. She is trying her best with 1 hour of PT and 1 hour of OT a day, but it is difficult for her. There is a medicine they might start in the next couple of days that would be aimed at her colon. Also, they are supposed to consult with a surgeon Friday. The end of the week should bring an official progress report too, from what I understand. She is very fortunate to have so many family members to help and look out for her - my dad, both brothers, and sister-in-law. A situation like this one has got to be almost hopeless for someone by himself or herself. Please continue to pray for her and the family in AZ.
Christmas season:
May your season be focused on Jesus Christ. We have almost no holiday events, obligations, etc. here (not even a tree or baking), so it's a different feeling. We are reading an Advent book that is historical fiction with main character about 10 to 12 years old. It's the third book by this author and so now starting to be an Advent tradition. It's neat because the characters overlap between the books. It is set right before the birth of Jesus and leads up to the characters being present at his birth. The story for the day tends to end with intrigue that has made Michael say, PLEASE, can we read tomorrow's?" My reply: "Of course not... we have to wait for tomorrow so we are on the correct day!" And, really, Michael is good at waiting and savoring things. God's perfect timing and his providential care are communicated in a lovely way in the book.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Mom Update
My mom's health was not improving at home. She was getting weaker and became dehydrated. Food goes right through her, and she continues to lose weight. She was hospitalized for a couple of days, and now they are expecting her to be moved to a care facility where she can get full-time, professional help. Please continue to pray for her and for my dad. We are all hoping that in the care facility she will see improvement in many aspects of her well-being.
Michael received many birthday e-mails and was happy to see so much new mail. He has this week and then 4 weeks of school to go. (They go right up to Dec. 23, though he will miss that day as we leave for Samoa). I will finish teaching and giving my final on Dec. 16 ... so the end of the semester is in sight. We will be less busy than usual because there aren't so many Chirstmas-time activities here. We cannot do our usual baking because we have on oven (or mixer or even basics like measuring cups now that I think about it!).
Friday evening this week there is an accounting student (including alums) and faculty gathering. I think it is primarily social. I guess I'll find out! Michael is going to stay at the compound for flashlight tag. Saturday we have a church fellowship-type dinner. The weather has been quite cool this week - high of 50 a couple of days, but the weekend forecast is low to mid 60s, so we will want to get outside. Michael is trying to get me to change to C instead of F, but I am resisting. We both change weather.com back and forth. The Korean style apartment heating is under the floor, which feels great on the feet. But it is not under the tile in the bathroom, so the bathroom is chilly!
I hope your families and friends enjoy a blessed and safe Thanksgiving. It's so different for my family in Arizona this year with my mom being so sick. But in the midst of troubles and suffering, the Lord is a strong tower and refuge. God bless.
Michael received many birthday e-mails and was happy to see so much new mail. He has this week and then 4 weeks of school to go. (They go right up to Dec. 23, though he will miss that day as we leave for Samoa). I will finish teaching and giving my final on Dec. 16 ... so the end of the semester is in sight. We will be less busy than usual because there aren't so many Chirstmas-time activities here. We cannot do our usual baking because we have on oven (or mixer or even basics like measuring cups now that I think about it!).
Friday evening this week there is an accounting student (including alums) and faculty gathering. I think it is primarily social. I guess I'll find out! Michael is going to stay at the compound for flashlight tag. Saturday we have a church fellowship-type dinner. The weather has been quite cool this week - high of 50 a couple of days, but the weekend forecast is low to mid 60s, so we will want to get outside. Michael is trying to get me to change to C instead of F, but I am resisting. We both change weather.com back and forth. The Korean style apartment heating is under the floor, which feels great on the feet. But it is not under the tile in the bathroom, so the bathroom is chilly!
I hope your families and friends enjoy a blessed and safe Thanksgiving. It's so different for my family in Arizona this year with my mom being so sick. But in the midst of troubles and suffering, the Lord is a strong tower and refuge. God bless.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Nice week
Monday I went on the FLIK ladies' tour of the month. There were only 4 of us, 2 women from France and a friend of mine from Korean language class, Jennie. We all know the FLIK employee, Minnie, who accompanied us. She is very friendly and helpful and also teaches Korean at the school (but not Michael's class). One of the women has a Chinese father who moved to Laos and married. They left everything behind and fled the country when she was 7 years old. Her children spend some time in what is basically a French home school with 4 or 5 children. The daughter also goes to Michael's school, but her son has basically refused to learn English and is only at the French school. (I imagine that's an interesting parenting challenge.) The other woman is Vietnamese and went to France for college when she was 18 and ended up staying.
We went to an artist's home/studio. His main art is "I Paint Me." His earlier work is all realistic and I thought very beautiful. He has since changed to more whimsical (which I thought did show his talent nearly as much). He also had a painting that shows mostly the face of a young woman with cherry blossoms in the background. The lower part of her face is covered by her hands holding a scarf. Tears are in her eyes. He was inspired to paint this picture by seeing a photo of a young Japanese woman who was looking at a list of dead or missing people after the recent tsunami. He said the Japanese culture holds these feelings in, which is captured by the scarf and also the tears in her eyes but not coming out and by covering her mouth. Minnie said it's very different from Koreans in the same sort of situation. The painting was beautiful.
He sat with us and fixed us coffee in part of the house that could be a coffee shop. He has a great view of the sea. After that we walked around an educational farm. School children visit on field trips. The weather was cool and sunny - a great day for strolling around. Then we had lunch at a restaurant that overlooks "Sunrise Beach." It is considered the first place the sunrise hits Korea, and for the new year it is good luck to see the sunrise there. Minnie said there are big traffic jams.
I learned a lesson at lunch. When dining with the French, just order the same thing! I ordered a cajun chicken salad that was ice berg lettuce and some small pieces of something breaded and fried and no sign of cajun. When I told Michael he basically said "You told yourself so," as I have said before "do not order a salad in Korea." Lucky for me, Jennie shared one of her three scoops of kimchi seafood rice. One of the French ladies ordered lobster thermador served in the shell and the other a piece of fish with a sauce - both looked pretty on the plate. I was especially jealous of the vegs. on the side that included pumpkin. They both opted for ice cream for dessert while the rest of us had green tea. At that point I did think they must have be remarkably full.
Thursday we went on the FLIK Hyundai Motor Manufacturing tour. (Michael is enjoying three days off right now.) Michael was glad to run into a classmate, so they sat together on the bus. Mr. Baker (teacher and church friend) sat with me. Mrs. Baker was meeting with the privately-tutored students (she is the ESL teacher). The tour had a movie and then what Michael said was not really enough time to look at the cars displayed and sit in them. We went through an assembly plant basically on a cat walk. Then the bus took us for a quick look at the cars being driven onto a ship. There was a lot of driving involved. I am glad we went, and Michael liked it, but we agreed the Montgomery tour is better.
Then we went to the Bakers and waited for Mrs. Baker to finish. She had made cucumber sandwiches for a snack (and told Michael the queen eats them). The cukes here are very tasty - longer but not as thick as American and also much thinner skin. She also made a very good lemon cake. It was interesting for me to see the housing that's provided on the compound (free to the teachers). The apartment was quite large with Western kitchen features like dishwasher and microwave/convection oven combo - though like even the posh apartments we have seen, the ovens are small and no doubles. HHI has recently remodeled all surrounding apartments, so everything was sort of fresh and clean. We went to one of the neighborhood restaurants they like. Michael ate all his dinner no matter the piece of cake and 3 sandwich triangles. On our way to the bus stop, we came across a street vendor that was selling only cooked, whole crabs. Fresh crabs are available in Korea (but not lobster). If I knew better how to eat one, I might have bought a couple to bring home. Maybe next time!
Friday I taught in the morning and then Prof. Lee picked up Prof. Kim and me and took us to the Ulsan College area - which is near HHI and the foreigner compound. We had lunch at a Japanese restaurant at Hyundai Hotel (guess where HHI visitors stay when they are in Korea?!). We then had a tour of his campus and next went to the fish market. The women working there outside seem so rugged. They squat for so much time, and it seems so cold and wet. Prof. Lee drove us by the local beach. Michael and I never managed to get there in Aug. or Sept. It's a city beach with a row of restaurants and shops across from the sandy area and high rises all visible.
Tonight we used the latest addition to our kitchen - a gas burner over which we put a roasting type flat pan. Buying some salmon at Costco was what made me decide to get one, but it will be handy also to cook some Korean food. The grocery stores all have marinated meat (sometimes with peppers and onions) that we could bring home. The Korean style would be to cook it on this grill and then use chopsticks to eat from the grill. I like it best when using a lettuce leaf as a wrap for the meat and then dipping into a thick soybean-based paste - we have to figure out the name so we can buy some. The salmon was good. I also cooked some shrooms, green onions, and whole garlic.
Michael didn't tell me, but he was star of the week last week for music. (I read it in the school newsletter.) He cleaned out his backpack and found the certificate. They have several keyboards and apparently have been working on some of their own work and also playing other things. The teacher wrote: I choose you this week. Your friends also think that you deserve star of the week. You are always trying hard and have participated very well. As a result, you showed great ability in playing the song. When I listened, I was impressed and felt so warm. Keep it up, and enjoy using your talents more. Miss Grace (She is Korean; so is the art teacher.) I am glad he hasn't totally put his piano playing skills aside. He said he and a few other boys are planning a band for the Christmas play. I am not sure what will materialize, but I am glad it sounds like he is willing to play in public.
Well, I know this is kind of long, and so if you have read this far it must be because you are my mother. But if you skimmed to the bottom, I would like to give an update on her. She is at home and working on regaining strength. She has made some progress but not as much as she would like. She had an appointment this week with GI specialist and will go in 2 weeks to a GI surgeon. She is investigating her options (e.g., a particular medicine or having her colon removed.) It takes awhile to be able to see specialists, so the next 2 weeks are more time of hoping for good recovery.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! AU and Trinity School are off all next week, so I know it will be a nice time for many friends. Michael's birthday is Monday. Send him an e-mail if you can: mtkey1121@hotmail.com. He got a letter this week from Cam Tallakson and was so pleased that he immediately sat down and wrote one back.
We went to an artist's home/studio. His main art is "I Paint Me." His earlier work is all realistic and I thought very beautiful. He has since changed to more whimsical (which I thought did show his talent nearly as much). He also had a painting that shows mostly the face of a young woman with cherry blossoms in the background. The lower part of her face is covered by her hands holding a scarf. Tears are in her eyes. He was inspired to paint this picture by seeing a photo of a young Japanese woman who was looking at a list of dead or missing people after the recent tsunami. He said the Japanese culture holds these feelings in, which is captured by the scarf and also the tears in her eyes but not coming out and by covering her mouth. Minnie said it's very different from Koreans in the same sort of situation. The painting was beautiful.
He sat with us and fixed us coffee in part of the house that could be a coffee shop. He has a great view of the sea. After that we walked around an educational farm. School children visit on field trips. The weather was cool and sunny - a great day for strolling around. Then we had lunch at a restaurant that overlooks "Sunrise Beach." It is considered the first place the sunrise hits Korea, and for the new year it is good luck to see the sunrise there. Minnie said there are big traffic jams.
I learned a lesson at lunch. When dining with the French, just order the same thing! I ordered a cajun chicken salad that was ice berg lettuce and some small pieces of something breaded and fried and no sign of cajun. When I told Michael he basically said "You told yourself so," as I have said before "do not order a salad in Korea." Lucky for me, Jennie shared one of her three scoops of kimchi seafood rice. One of the French ladies ordered lobster thermador served in the shell and the other a piece of fish with a sauce - both looked pretty on the plate. I was especially jealous of the vegs. on the side that included pumpkin. They both opted for ice cream for dessert while the rest of us had green tea. At that point I did think they must have be remarkably full.
Thursday we went on the FLIK Hyundai Motor Manufacturing tour. (Michael is enjoying three days off right now.) Michael was glad to run into a classmate, so they sat together on the bus. Mr. Baker (teacher and church friend) sat with me. Mrs. Baker was meeting with the privately-tutored students (she is the ESL teacher). The tour had a movie and then what Michael said was not really enough time to look at the cars displayed and sit in them. We went through an assembly plant basically on a cat walk. Then the bus took us for a quick look at the cars being driven onto a ship. There was a lot of driving involved. I am glad we went, and Michael liked it, but we agreed the Montgomery tour is better.
Then we went to the Bakers and waited for Mrs. Baker to finish. She had made cucumber sandwiches for a snack (and told Michael the queen eats them). The cukes here are very tasty - longer but not as thick as American and also much thinner skin. She also made a very good lemon cake. It was interesting for me to see the housing that's provided on the compound (free to the teachers). The apartment was quite large with Western kitchen features like dishwasher and microwave/convection oven combo - though like even the posh apartments we have seen, the ovens are small and no doubles. HHI has recently remodeled all surrounding apartments, so everything was sort of fresh and clean. We went to one of the neighborhood restaurants they like. Michael ate all his dinner no matter the piece of cake and 3 sandwich triangles. On our way to the bus stop, we came across a street vendor that was selling only cooked, whole crabs. Fresh crabs are available in Korea (but not lobster). If I knew better how to eat one, I might have bought a couple to bring home. Maybe next time!
Friday I taught in the morning and then Prof. Lee picked up Prof. Kim and me and took us to the Ulsan College area - which is near HHI and the foreigner compound. We had lunch at a Japanese restaurant at Hyundai Hotel (guess where HHI visitors stay when they are in Korea?!). We then had a tour of his campus and next went to the fish market. The women working there outside seem so rugged. They squat for so much time, and it seems so cold and wet. Prof. Lee drove us by the local beach. Michael and I never managed to get there in Aug. or Sept. It's a city beach with a row of restaurants and shops across from the sandy area and high rises all visible.
Tonight we used the latest addition to our kitchen - a gas burner over which we put a roasting type flat pan. Buying some salmon at Costco was what made me decide to get one, but it will be handy also to cook some Korean food. The grocery stores all have marinated meat (sometimes with peppers and onions) that we could bring home. The Korean style would be to cook it on this grill and then use chopsticks to eat from the grill. I like it best when using a lettuce leaf as a wrap for the meat and then dipping into a thick soybean-based paste - we have to figure out the name so we can buy some. The salmon was good. I also cooked some shrooms, green onions, and whole garlic.
Michael didn't tell me, but he was star of the week last week for music. (I read it in the school newsletter.) He cleaned out his backpack and found the certificate. They have several keyboards and apparently have been working on some of their own work and also playing other things. The teacher wrote: I choose you this week. Your friends also think that you deserve star of the week. You are always trying hard and have participated very well. As a result, you showed great ability in playing the song. When I listened, I was impressed and felt so warm. Keep it up, and enjoy using your talents more. Miss Grace (She is Korean; so is the art teacher.) I am glad he hasn't totally put his piano playing skills aside. He said he and a few other boys are planning a band for the Christmas play. I am not sure what will materialize, but I am glad it sounds like he is willing to play in public.
Well, I know this is kind of long, and so if you have read this far it must be because you are my mother. But if you skimmed to the bottom, I would like to give an update on her. She is at home and working on regaining strength. She has made some progress but not as much as she would like. She had an appointment this week with GI specialist and will go in 2 weeks to a GI surgeon. She is investigating her options (e.g., a particular medicine or having her colon removed.) It takes awhile to be able to see specialists, so the next 2 weeks are more time of hoping for good recovery.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! AU and Trinity School are off all next week, so I know it will be a nice time for many friends. Michael's birthday is Monday. Send him an e-mail if you can: mtkey1121@hotmail.com. He got a letter this week from Cam Tallakson and was so pleased that he immediately sat down and wrote one back.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Birthday Dinner
I told Michael yesterday (Sat) that at about 5:00 that we had to go downstairs because one of my friends was bringing some apartment items to us. I told him that she was then going to drop me off at Lotte Mart for shopping and that he could go ahead and fix himself some dinner. (He had been at the park riding his bike for several hours and was home only because I called him.) But: surprise! It's the Jangs, and we are going out for birthday dinner. Michael likes bulgogi so they picked an area of town that has a few restaurants that specialize in it. (I can't figure out how/why an entire area of town has a food speciality.) They brought a cake, so I told them we could come back to the apartment because I had ice cream too. We told them last year I surprised him too with about 25 people at a Mexican restaurant.
I had done a little shopping while he was biking. At the grocery store, I asked for candles (I looked up the word in my dictionary) and also wrote it down. I had to show the writing, and the woman said, "Oh, ____." I thought, "That's what I said!" I had to go the bakery part of the store. They only had little packages with candles that they give with a purchased cake. I had my money out, but he said "no." I experience that sort of kindness regularly.
The interesting thing about the Jangs bringing a cake is that they also had candles. But they knew that in Korea a tall candle represents 10 years and must have requested certain candles when they bought the cake. So Keun Yung had me put the tall one with one short one. They sang Happy Birthday with clapping - first in English and then in Korean. I told them Michael has had the song in Spanish and Samoan too. We took some good pictures. Once when we were with the Jangs, I bought us some oversized eye glasses so we could have a Christmas picture taken with them. Justin said, "Get your glasses out," so we did. (Lots of Korean teenagers and college students where these glasses for fashion.)
They have an apartment reserved at a new building by the river, and Michael is quite interested to see the view from the 27th floor. They would have taken us last night, but I said we could wait until a future date. They told Michael that he could live with them when I have to go back to the States.
And a funny thing is that today at lunch with the Bakers, they told him the same thing!! Hmmm - no one is offering to keep me!! The cake that Prof. Lee brought us was still in the fridge. It had indivually wrapped and decorated pieces, so I had Michael choose one. We took the rest to church, where during fellowship time it was a big hit.
It is a beautiful Sunday here, so Michael has taken off for the park on his bike. He wanted some bike gloves, so I paid for them for his birthday. Yesterday on his own he went to the bike shop and bought them. So now, he said, he has a red bike, blue shoes, and green gloves. He is liking all the color ... sort of Korean style!
Please continue to pray for my parents and my mom's health. I am not getting many details, but her progress doens't seem to moving along. It's hard to be here and not to have visited her since she got sick (like I would have from Alabama). Pray that they will want Jesus Christ to enter their circumstances. Love to all as you start back to work and school this week.
I had done a little shopping while he was biking. At the grocery store, I asked for candles (I looked up the word in my dictionary) and also wrote it down. I had to show the writing, and the woman said, "Oh, ____." I thought, "That's what I said!" I had to go the bakery part of the store. They only had little packages with candles that they give with a purchased cake. I had my money out, but he said "no." I experience that sort of kindness regularly.
The interesting thing about the Jangs bringing a cake is that they also had candles. But they knew that in Korea a tall candle represents 10 years and must have requested certain candles when they bought the cake. So Keun Yung had me put the tall one with one short one. They sang Happy Birthday with clapping - first in English and then in Korean. I told them Michael has had the song in Spanish and Samoan too. We took some good pictures. Once when we were with the Jangs, I bought us some oversized eye glasses so we could have a Christmas picture taken with them. Justin said, "Get your glasses out," so we did. (Lots of Korean teenagers and college students where these glasses for fashion.)
They have an apartment reserved at a new building by the river, and Michael is quite interested to see the view from the 27th floor. They would have taken us last night, but I said we could wait until a future date. They told Michael that he could live with them when I have to go back to the States.
And a funny thing is that today at lunch with the Bakers, they told him the same thing!! Hmmm - no one is offering to keep me!! The cake that Prof. Lee brought us was still in the fridge. It had indivually wrapped and decorated pieces, so I had Michael choose one. We took the rest to church, where during fellowship time it was a big hit.
It is a beautiful Sunday here, so Michael has taken off for the park on his bike. He wanted some bike gloves, so I paid for them for his birthday. Yesterday on his own he went to the bike shop and bought them. So now, he said, he has a red bike, blue shoes, and green gloves. He is liking all the color ... sort of Korean style!
Please continue to pray for my parents and my mom's health. I am not getting many details, but her progress doens't seem to moving along. It's hard to be here and not to have visited her since she got sick (like I would have from Alabama). Pray that they will want Jesus Christ to enter their circumstances. Love to all as you start back to work and school this week.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Miscellaneous Friday night musings
The Korean college entrance exam is adminstered once a year across the whole country. In Seoul, the stock market opened an hour late today and large employers were encouraged to have their employees stay home until the students could get around town to the testing sites. Many volunteers are ready with directions, etc. At the time of the listening part of the exam, airplanes do not fly, and construction sites are to be silent. It sounds like a lot of pressure. It's the main criteria for college admission. Many people have told me the freshman year in college is the first time the students can let loose a bit compared to the rigors of high school. I am glad I am not teaching freshmen. Most childen here spend a lot of time at school (2 Saturdays a month) and at after-school programs in English, math, and other subjects. The children don't have much unstructured time. So it's not surprising that on average they out perform many other countries in math proficieny and other skills.
Today paperwork came from Auburn on behalf of a Korean professor who will spend his sabbatical year at Auburn. He was one of Professor Kim's master's students and then got a PhD. A nice thing about Korean universities is that a sabbatical year is granted automatically every 7 to 10 years. But the professor does have to find somewhere that will host him or her. Professor Lee was so pleased with the news that he wanted to come over to campus from his location at Ulsan College and take Professor Kim and me out for lunch. He brought us each a beautiful wall calendar and also brought a nice cake that he said is for Michael. Professor Kim must have told him something about us (though not a lot as he was expecting me to be male!). Lunch was at a fish restaurant, and as is often the case at a nice meal, the food kept coming. I have learned that it's not the last of the meal until the rice comes at the end. Today it was served with soup and some fresh side dishes (after several we already enjoyed). The two guys shared beer, and I had a Sprite. Prof. Lee pours for Prof. Kim and vice versa, but Prof. Kim holds the glass with one hand but Prof. Lee with two. Prof. Lee also sort of sat up to serve Prof. Kim. The respect shown to one's professor continues after school is finished. We will get together again so I can answer questions Prof. Lee has. He wants us to go out to Ulsan College in the next couple of weeks so he can show us around their campus. Prof. Lee does not speak much English, so the Korean community in Auburn will probably be very helpful to him. His wife and middle school age son will accompany him. He has two daughters who are in college who will stay here.
I am home alone on Friday night again ... but Michael is due home this evening. A bonfire last week was rescheduled due to rain, so he called and asked if he could stay later at the compound. Test your worldl history: Who is Guy Fawkes? The British fellow associated with the (thwarted) 1605 Gun Powder Plot in Britian (some information from Spurgeon's devotional). Apparently it's a custom now to burn him in effigy. Michael was mostly enjoying the food and friends. Michael's birthday is coming up Nov. 21. He wanted to take the Jangs out for dinner, and our schedule conflicts have us going tomorrow night. We will eat Michael's request: dak galbi - sort of like ground beef in a good sauce. I was going to buy a cake, but now we can enjoy the one from Prof. Lee. Justin starts his military duty Nov. 29. We will be very sad not to have him here in Ulsan.
Most of the male students in my class have done their military duty. They tend to start college (so as not to deal with testing and admissions process after the duty) and take a break after the first or second year. One of my students had to report this week for a day of skill maintenance.
I received two treats today from students. One guy said he made it - it's like a long crispy wafer dipped in chocolate and then rolled in nuts (we would do it with a pretzel). I had taken him and another student out for lunch on Wednesday. He didn't speak as much English as the other one. The other student was translating. Prof. Kim said the students taking my section tend to be smarter than average and also courageous. But he said it is a very good way for them to work on English listening. They read and write very well, and even the guy who didn't talk much at lunch answers questions in class. But I know there must be times they are missing things (of course, that's true of my students in the States too). In both places, more than once in a class I ask if there are any questions. My students are now answering numbers in Korean because they know I am supposed to know the numbers. It's pretty funny. One even answered me in Korean today when he arrived and I asked how he was (jo-ah-yo - very common phrase meaning good... but it's not bad grammar like in the States :)).
Michael called and said he is heading home. I told him to feel free to take a taxi if the bus is crowded. There seem to be a lot of HHI employees on the buses in the evenings. I am not sure if I have mentioned how many scooters you see in that part of town. At a shift end there can be hundreds coming out of the work areas at one time.
Spurgeon's devotional is excellent - highly recommended. His writing earlier this week on a verse "as you have received him" and said in the life of faith Jesus becomes real to us. Before that he is a name and a historical figure from a long time ago. And today it was about "underneath are the everlasting arms" - strength for each day; grace for each need. I pray my parents are knowing these arms as my mom slowly recovers. Love to all.
Today paperwork came from Auburn on behalf of a Korean professor who will spend his sabbatical year at Auburn. He was one of Professor Kim's master's students and then got a PhD. A nice thing about Korean universities is that a sabbatical year is granted automatically every 7 to 10 years. But the professor does have to find somewhere that will host him or her. Professor Lee was so pleased with the news that he wanted to come over to campus from his location at Ulsan College and take Professor Kim and me out for lunch. He brought us each a beautiful wall calendar and also brought a nice cake that he said is for Michael. Professor Kim must have told him something about us (though not a lot as he was expecting me to be male!). Lunch was at a fish restaurant, and as is often the case at a nice meal, the food kept coming. I have learned that it's not the last of the meal until the rice comes at the end. Today it was served with soup and some fresh side dishes (after several we already enjoyed). The two guys shared beer, and I had a Sprite. Prof. Lee pours for Prof. Kim and vice versa, but Prof. Kim holds the glass with one hand but Prof. Lee with two. Prof. Lee also sort of sat up to serve Prof. Kim. The respect shown to one's professor continues after school is finished. We will get together again so I can answer questions Prof. Lee has. He wants us to go out to Ulsan College in the next couple of weeks so he can show us around their campus. Prof. Lee does not speak much English, so the Korean community in Auburn will probably be very helpful to him. His wife and middle school age son will accompany him. He has two daughters who are in college who will stay here.
I am home alone on Friday night again ... but Michael is due home this evening. A bonfire last week was rescheduled due to rain, so he called and asked if he could stay later at the compound. Test your worldl history: Who is Guy Fawkes? The British fellow associated with the (thwarted) 1605 Gun Powder Plot in Britian (some information from Spurgeon's devotional). Apparently it's a custom now to burn him in effigy. Michael was mostly enjoying the food and friends. Michael's birthday is coming up Nov. 21. He wanted to take the Jangs out for dinner, and our schedule conflicts have us going tomorrow night. We will eat Michael's request: dak galbi - sort of like ground beef in a good sauce. I was going to buy a cake, but now we can enjoy the one from Prof. Lee. Justin starts his military duty Nov. 29. We will be very sad not to have him here in Ulsan.
Most of the male students in my class have done their military duty. They tend to start college (so as not to deal with testing and admissions process after the duty) and take a break after the first or second year. One of my students had to report this week for a day of skill maintenance.
I received two treats today from students. One guy said he made it - it's like a long crispy wafer dipped in chocolate and then rolled in nuts (we would do it with a pretzel). I had taken him and another student out for lunch on Wednesday. He didn't speak as much English as the other one. The other student was translating. Prof. Kim said the students taking my section tend to be smarter than average and also courageous. But he said it is a very good way for them to work on English listening. They read and write very well, and even the guy who didn't talk much at lunch answers questions in class. But I know there must be times they are missing things (of course, that's true of my students in the States too). In both places, more than once in a class I ask if there are any questions. My students are now answering numbers in Korean because they know I am supposed to know the numbers. It's pretty funny. One even answered me in Korean today when he arrived and I asked how he was (jo-ah-yo - very common phrase meaning good... but it's not bad grammar like in the States :)).
Michael called and said he is heading home. I told him to feel free to take a taxi if the bus is crowded. There seem to be a lot of HHI employees on the buses in the evenings. I am not sure if I have mentioned how many scooters you see in that part of town. At a shift end there can be hundreds coming out of the work areas at one time.
Spurgeon's devotional is excellent - highly recommended. His writing earlier this week on a verse "as you have received him" and said in the life of faith Jesus becomes real to us. Before that he is a name and a historical figure from a long time ago. And today it was about "underneath are the everlasting arms" - strength for each day; grace for each need. I pray my parents are knowing these arms as my mom slowly recovers. Love to all.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
2 pics
I added two pictures - one is me with the two Deans. I think it's funny I am taller... and you can see the Korean traditional house design in the restaurant building. The second is shoes Michael picked out - bright for him, I thought. There are quite an array of bring colors from which to choose - sometimes all on the same shoe.
I am not laughing at his big feet anymore because I am having trouble with my big feet. I want some warm boots, but so far I have only found selections that go up to size 250 (8 US). I wear size 9!!
I am not laughing at his big feet anymore because I am having trouble with my big feet. I want some warm boots, but so far I have only found selections that go up to size 250 (8 US). I wear size 9!!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
"AFTER my test"
Michael and I talked to my parents yesterday. We could call in the morning Sunday and catch them early evening Saturday. My mom sounded good, but she is needing a lot of assistance. Home-health people come for giving bath, for example. She is also receiving some physical therapy-type help. Her appetite is not consistent, but overall my dad said she is eating pretty well. She called my dad a saint. Now there's a blessing - to greatly appreciate your spouse!! Please continue to pray for her. Nothing will be decided on the underlying colon problem until she is stronger.
Several times last week I told Michael I would do something "AFTER my test." It got to be a joke between us. My Korean language test was this morning. There was a written part (which went fine but really could hardly do justice to the amount of material), oral (I was middle of the pack - we did it with the teacher in front of each other!), and listening (the hardest part). I enjoyed learning, but it was very time consuming. I am trying to arrange a couple of people to meet with me for conversation. Practice is the only way I am going to make any real progress. I had a few experiences last week with money/prices that were satisfying. For example, I had 5 10,000 won bills at the grocery store and could ask for a 50,000 bill. I also understood prices a few times - Michael's haircut; seamstress, lunch on campus.
I will celebrate my new-found freedom with a couple of day trips. Thursday 3 of us from class will go to Busan to an art exhibit and then to Costco. Next Monday FLIK (foreign life in Korea office at HHI) has a trip to an artist's studio followed by lunch of spicy duck bulgogi at a farm. Michael has a couple of days off next week, and we will probably do the Hyundai motor manufacturing tour. I will be catching up on accounting class preparation also.
I had two lovely lunches last week. The dean of international education and the person in charge of exchange programs took me out along with the college of business dean. All three have last name Kim!! We went to a place out in the country with a beautiful setting of Hanok style building and mountains with trees changing colors. The lunch was really good - lots of variety, as usual, with traditional side dishes. I think the individual rooms can be set up with low or high table. I suspect they booked a room with high table and chairs because of me. I need to post a picture - I will be the tall one in the middle!! Then Friday Professor Kim took me and Professor Jang and also a new business professor out for lunch to a place out in the country... another lovely setting (with all low tables and floor seating). The new business professor is the only tenure-track female in the COB. Her PhD is from Arizona State, and she spent 3 or 4 years at Bowling Green State before coming here. We had a nice time and some good laughs about marrying farmers or marrying to improve language skills.
Some good foods lately have been chestnuts and persimmons. Keun Yung (Professor Jang's wife) often brings me something like that when we get together during the week. She has practiced Korean with me before going to her exercise class on campus. I also have eaten a lot of sweet potatoes - much smaller than in the States and not orange ... more of a brownish-yellow. I boil them and leave the skins on. Two or so make a good snack, and they are firm enough to carry in my bag. At the grocery store I also buy a few kinds of mushrooms regularly and usually cook them and put them on my frequenty dinner salads. Great for cooking and adding to soup (made with soyvbean paste soup stock - a bit spicy and red in color)) is whole, peeled garlic. I can get a small bag (20 or so) for 1,500 won ($1.50 US). What a deal.
On a more interesting note, Professor Kim took me to a place a week or two ago that is soup with pig back bones in it - about 3 or so vertebrae connected. He thought I might find the soup too spicy, but it was very flavorful. He had to help me with the chopsticks to remove the bones - it was kind of awkward and heavy. Then I could use my chopsticks to pick at the meat. More than once I have recalled my vegetarian years and been glad they are behind me. Michael and I had shabu shabu over the weekend. That meal suits him very well, and we can walk to a place in our neighborhood to have it.
We are enjoying church. I think Michael especially likes the laid back style and modern music. The weekend before one of the leaders asked if I would say the prayer the next week ... I said sure. (I did write it out). The fellowship afterwards is good with such a small core group (and Michael likes to eat the gimbap if we are not going to the Indian restaurant with the Bakers). People are very welcoming of newcomers, which is probably no surprise, because there are many people here for short periods of time. We are also attending a Bible study the hour before the service and finding that to keep us thinking during the week.
We have heard about a couple of Thanksgiving gatherings and will see how that develops. My first thought was "what can I make with my limited kitchen set up, lack of ingredients at store, and catching a taxi with whatever I make?!" We usually spend Thanksgiving (and Michael's birthday) in Arizona with my family and the extended Mexican side of the family, so we will be thinking of them this year.
We pray that the Lord will make us thankful as his word says "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in all circumstances, give thanks." It's very easy when things are going well, but it is something to keep in mind in difficult circumstances .... which can come upon people so quickly. The Lord bless and keep you and your families and loved ones.
Several times last week I told Michael I would do something "AFTER my test." It got to be a joke between us. My Korean language test was this morning. There was a written part (which went fine but really could hardly do justice to the amount of material), oral (I was middle of the pack - we did it with the teacher in front of each other!), and listening (the hardest part). I enjoyed learning, but it was very time consuming. I am trying to arrange a couple of people to meet with me for conversation. Practice is the only way I am going to make any real progress. I had a few experiences last week with money/prices that were satisfying. For example, I had 5 10,000 won bills at the grocery store and could ask for a 50,000 bill. I also understood prices a few times - Michael's haircut; seamstress, lunch on campus.
I will celebrate my new-found freedom with a couple of day trips. Thursday 3 of us from class will go to Busan to an art exhibit and then to Costco. Next Monday FLIK (foreign life in Korea office at HHI) has a trip to an artist's studio followed by lunch of spicy duck bulgogi at a farm. Michael has a couple of days off next week, and we will probably do the Hyundai motor manufacturing tour. I will be catching up on accounting class preparation also.
I had two lovely lunches last week. The dean of international education and the person in charge of exchange programs took me out along with the college of business dean. All three have last name Kim!! We went to a place out in the country with a beautiful setting of Hanok style building and mountains with trees changing colors. The lunch was really good - lots of variety, as usual, with traditional side dishes. I think the individual rooms can be set up with low or high table. I suspect they booked a room with high table and chairs because of me. I need to post a picture - I will be the tall one in the middle!! Then Friday Professor Kim took me and Professor Jang and also a new business professor out for lunch to a place out in the country... another lovely setting (with all low tables and floor seating). The new business professor is the only tenure-track female in the COB. Her PhD is from Arizona State, and she spent 3 or 4 years at Bowling Green State before coming here. We had a nice time and some good laughs about marrying farmers or marrying to improve language skills.
Some good foods lately have been chestnuts and persimmons. Keun Yung (Professor Jang's wife) often brings me something like that when we get together during the week. She has practiced Korean with me before going to her exercise class on campus. I also have eaten a lot of sweet potatoes - much smaller than in the States and not orange ... more of a brownish-yellow. I boil them and leave the skins on. Two or so make a good snack, and they are firm enough to carry in my bag. At the grocery store I also buy a few kinds of mushrooms regularly and usually cook them and put them on my frequenty dinner salads. Great for cooking and adding to soup (made with soyvbean paste soup stock - a bit spicy and red in color)) is whole, peeled garlic. I can get a small bag (20 or so) for 1,500 won ($1.50 US). What a deal.
On a more interesting note, Professor Kim took me to a place a week or two ago that is soup with pig back bones in it - about 3 or so vertebrae connected. He thought I might find the soup too spicy, but it was very flavorful. He had to help me with the chopsticks to remove the bones - it was kind of awkward and heavy. Then I could use my chopsticks to pick at the meat. More than once I have recalled my vegetarian years and been glad they are behind me. Michael and I had shabu shabu over the weekend. That meal suits him very well, and we can walk to a place in our neighborhood to have it.
We are enjoying church. I think Michael especially likes the laid back style and modern music. The weekend before one of the leaders asked if I would say the prayer the next week ... I said sure. (I did write it out). The fellowship afterwards is good with such a small core group (and Michael likes to eat the gimbap if we are not going to the Indian restaurant with the Bakers). People are very welcoming of newcomers, which is probably no surprise, because there are many people here for short periods of time. We are also attending a Bible study the hour before the service and finding that to keep us thinking during the week.
We have heard about a couple of Thanksgiving gatherings and will see how that develops. My first thought was "what can I make with my limited kitchen set up, lack of ingredients at store, and catching a taxi with whatever I make?!" We usually spend Thanksgiving (and Michael's birthday) in Arizona with my family and the extended Mexican side of the family, so we will be thinking of them this year.
We pray that the Lord will make us thankful as his word says "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in all circumstances, give thanks." It's very easy when things are going well, but it is something to keep in mind in difficult circumstances .... which can come upon people so quickly. The Lord bless and keep you and your families and loved ones.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)