Hello,

  Well, made it back today.  It wasn’t that bad of a flight, though around 9.5 hours long.  We got off to a rough start, about a 30 minute delay.  We left just as the sun was setting, launching into the pitch black night.  They served 2 meals and I watched 3 movies while on board; they have an excellent consol that plays music, videos, movies, tv, etc.  The movie selection was much better than what I had last year on United.  I will definitely fly again on Korean Airlines; the stewardesses are pleasant and the overal experience is great, plus I started up a mileage program w/ them.  I also took a short nap when it got dark.

   When I woke up, we were flying over Canada I think.  I watched another movie and then I got a chance to see the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound, downtown Seattle, and a few other familiar sights.  I can’t say a sight for sore eyes, since it was only 3 weeks.  But I’m glad to be back though.  No more purified/bottled water, we definitely take that luxury for granted.  29+ hours awake and still ticking.  Well, I must sign off, but I promise more debriefing later this week.

Hello,

   Well, yesterday, I spent the afternoon w/ my friend Livi, who lives just outside of Seoul in Anyang; I met Livi last year in Seattle when she was taking part in the ESL program at the UW.  I met w/ her and another friend for a good 3 months in conversation exchange.  We went to Insa-dong which isn’t too far from where I’m staying.  We walked around and looked into several shops.  I finally decided on a few items and then we had lunch in a good restaurant hidden away from the main thorough fair.  Then we decided to take a bus back to Gyeongbokgung Station, but got on the wrong one.  Finally, we made it back to the subway station and had some cold drinks at Dunkin’ Donuts. 

   So a good end to my time in Seoul and in Korea.  I’m headed to the bank soon and then I will take a limousine bus to Incheon Airport later this afternoon.  Then it’s a little waiting around and then about a 10 hour flight home to Seattle.  Thanks for taking time to read this blog and look at my pictures.  Thanks for the comments too!  I’ll see you all in Seattle.

Good Evening,

    Well, today was a busy day.  I started out wanting to go to a church service.  I happened to talk to Jung-Ae, who is the house manager of KoRoot (she runs it w/ her husband), she told me of a service at her church at 11:30 a.m.  I went to Sae Saram Church (Sae Saram means New Person) and enjoyed the service, even though it was all in Korean.  Jung-Ae gave me a English-Korean hymnal, which worked great b/c I was able to sing in both English and Korean.  Afterwards, I went upstairs w/ a fellow to eat more Sompyeon and Pae, which is the Korean pear. 

   Then I went to see the Gyeongbok Palace, which ended up about a 20 minute walk.  The palace is located very close to the Cheong Wa Dae, which means Blue House in Korean; it’s where the president of Korea lives and is heavily guarded.  In fact, I asked someone where the palace was and they wanted to see my passport, which I didn’t have on me.  I discovered it’s best not to ask questions and just walk like you know where you are going.  I followed the outer wall of the palace complex and eventually found one of the entrances.  Since Chuseok is this weekend, the palace was free to see today. 

   I was surprised by how many westerners I saw, but I guess I shouldn’t be, since the Gyeongbok Palace is one of 5 places recommended to see while in Seoul.  I was going to take the tour of the palace, when I realized it was all in Korean.  So, I just found the palace and snapped lots of pictures for your viewing pleasure.  The palace itself was not as big as I thought it was going to be, but still very magnificient and beautiful; the architecture itself reminds me of the many Buddhist temples I visited on my last trip to Korea in spring 2007.   I’m glad to have finally visited the Gyeongbok Palace.

   I walked back about 20 minutes back to KoRoot, my ankle was starting to hurt; I find that I can’t walk around too long or it starts to ache.  I still forget it’s only been 8 days since my mishap and it may take time to heal completely.  At least w/ my wrap, it doesn’t swell up at all.  When I got back to KoRoot, many volunteers were busily preparing for the Chuseok celebration; they were cutting up food and setting up food cookers and tables.  I took it easy and didn’t try to do very much, I was a little tired from my outing to the palace.

   Then a little after 4 o’ clock, everyone slowly meandered their way outside, where the celebration was taking place.  Dae-Won, the head of GOAL (a group that helps Korean adoptees in Korea) opened up the evening w/ a short speech.  Then Pastor Kim (he and his wife run KoRoot) talked about the evening and what was happening.  A Hansori singer and musician had come to perform traditional song and music for us.  They both were amazing and it was my first time to witness Hansori music/singing.  The musical style of Hansori seems to be free-flowing.  Afterwards, we ate quite the assortment of food: kabobs, rice, kimchi, bulgogi, fruit, salad, and a few other items.  I met a few adoptees at my table and heard their stories.  Edward, is from the states and is married to a Korean, has a 2 year-old, and works for SK.  Another fellow I met, works for Samsung and has been here for the last 8 months.  Overally, a very nice night and I was happy to be here for this Chuseok celebration.

Hello,

   I made it to Seoul today, the bus I took was added to the bus schedule b/c so many people were coming up to Seoul for Chuseok; they sold out many early buses on the schedule, so I was fortunate to be able to get an early departure time.  But the trip took 5.5 hours, about 1 hour longer than normal, b/c of all the activity on the expressways from Ulsan to Seoul.  So the trip went w/out incident, which is always good.  I found a taxi and got checked into KoRoot.  I’ll take some pics later of the guest house, so you can see what it looks like here.  Tomorrow, is the Chuseok celebration here at KoRoot from 4-8 pm.  I’m going to find a Korean church and then try to make it to Gyeonbukgung Palace, which is basically across the street.  If I don’t make it tomorrow, then I’ll go on Monday.  Have a nice weekend!

   Well, hello again, hope you are having a swell week.  So today, I didn’t do too much, had a fried sandwich and strawberry juice drink at Isaac’s, really nice.  Then I also had a seaweed rice porridge at another locale.  Now that I finally have my stomach back, I can get back to eating kimchi and other spicy food; that’s the worst feeling, not being able to eat what you want to. 

  Oh yeah, Happy Chuseok!  Well it won’t be until tomorrow, but I’m looking forward to it anyways.  Families will go to their hometowns to celebrate w/ their families.  Large companies seem to take care of their employees too at this time of the year, giving their employees gifts and such.  Hoon got a stainless steel potset and knives from his company; he also got some other nice things.  Family members often exchange gifts for each other.  Hoon got his parents something nice too!  I’m not sure how big Christmas is here, but Chuseok kind of reminds me of that for the Western world, in terms of how big a deal it is. 

   Last night, Hoon and I met up w/ Jae Won, his friend from high-school, at Hyundai department store; Hyundai doesn’t just make cars, but apartments, heavy industry items, and a few other things.  We then went to Mr. Pizza for dinner, Korean style.  Our pizza had shrimp and potatoes, can’t say I’ve ever had that on a pizza, but it was really delicious.  Pizza, like Starbucks coffee, is very expensive here though, at least double of what you would find in terms of prices in the U.S.  I also didn’t see Canadian bacon/pineapple pizza either.  But as you’ve seem from some of my pics, they have Baskin & Robbins, Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Kreme’s, KFC, Dominoes, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Costco in the big cities, and probably something else I’m missing.  I know that Walmart tried making a niche here, but it went bankrupt, funny how those things work out.

  Tonight, I’m going to pack my stuff and get ready to go to Seoul tomorrow morning.  I’ll be staying for 3 nights at KoRoot, a guest house for Korean adoptees; I’ve been there a couple of times all ready, a really nice and quiet place to stay.  I’m hoping to meet up with a few friends too.  My stay at Ulsan was definately different than my last encounter last spring.  I really got a chance to see a Korean family over an extended period of time.

  I also wanted to address the yearly reminder of Sept. 11, a time to pause and remember those who lost their lives 7 years ago.  I remember my mom called me and told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, I thought it was a small, private plane.  But to my horror, it was a jetliner and then I watched a second plane crash into the other trade tower.  Then both came crashing down in a smouldering pile of rock, glass, and broken lives.  It’s too hard to imagine that it happened at that moment or to describe the feeling I felt.  

   I always keep the newspapers from major events, sports, wars, and Sept. 11.  I looked at that paper, right before I left to see a snapshot of what life was like 7 years ago today.  It’s interesting to see where we are today as a result of that tragic day.  I watched on MSNBC.com the 2 presidential candidates put aside politics for one day and to place a rose into the fountain of memory at Ground Zero.  They also met up w/ brave first responders and members of the NYPD/FDNY who were there on Sept. 11.  The newscasters were saying that 9/11 is slowly changing from a day of just tragic loss/memory, to spurring us to unite together towards change. 

   Many people lost family members that day, including my aunt, who is from New York.  She lost her brother that day in one of the World Trade Center buildings.  My heart goes out to her and hopes and prays that one day, she’ll be able to find the healing of scars that never seem to go away in her heart and memories.  That she will be able to turn a day of tragic loss into that which will bring her inner peace and healing.  Many families lost family that day, I can’t imagine what they felt like 7 years ago and feel now.  But in a sense, we all lost that day, if we truly are a united country, a united people, as our country name suggests. 

  It will be interesting to see how Sept. 11 remembrances evolves over the next 10 years, to see what it will become, to see if it is the same as what we saw today on the news.  I’ll always remember Flight 93, as a couple of years ago, I read “Let’s Roll”, a biography about Todd Beamer written by his wife.  He and several other heroes on that flight overwhelmed the terrorists in the cockpit and made sure Flight 93 never hit its intended target.  True heroes in every sense of the word; heroism in a day full of strife, destruction, death, and ashes.  I can’t help but remember that day.

Hello again,

    Well, I’ve been getting impatient and frustrated w/ my bum ankle; actually the ankle is getting better, I’m not very patient patient.  I was going to go on a 6.5 hour tour of the historical areas of Ulsan, but that all went out the window the moment I jammed my foot at Taejongdae.  So, while I’ve been recuperating, I thought about what one place I could at least take a taxi to; this morning I decided to go to Ulgi Park, which has a great lighthouse and some panoramic views of the ocean.  I wasn’t so sure how my ankle would do though.  I at first walked w/ a limp, b/c that’s what I’ve been doing this week.  But I then realized I could just try to walk normal, which worked a lot better.

    The taxi ride was about 20 minutes and I was able to see some of the industrial/ship-building areas of Ulsan.  It was a half-mile walk out to the lighthouse from the parking lot.  Wow, they had a skinny lighthouse and a fat one.  I wanted to go inside, but I could tell from the Korean that I wasn’t supposed to.  I went inside where the auditorium was and walked up the flight up stairs all the way to the top, where I had a fantastic view of the outlying area.  I went up those stairs very carefully.  Then I headed out to the rock formations, which looked like they were direct from a Star Trek episode.  Red rock everywhere, bathing in glistening blue-green sea water. 

   It was a truly winding path to get to the very end of the pathway, which gave me the best vista of the day; I was nervous though, making sure to not twist my ankle again.  When I got to the top, I could see the lighthouse and the blue-yellow bridge I crossed over.  I turned around and panned over the ocean, until all I saw was the edge of the horizon.  A really pretty area, w/ great views of the rock formations and the ocean.  Oh yeah, I also saw some huge whale jawbones!  I also saw a few people fishing for something, I wasn’t sure what.  I’m glad I came out today to Ulgi Park and was able to see at least one scenic area of Ulsan.  Hope you enjoy the pics!

Hello,

   Well, hope you are all doing well.  By my count, I have less than a week here in sunny and warm Korea; hard to believe it’s been 2 weeks already.  It takes about 1.5 weeks to get used to everything and then by then, 3 weeks goes by pretty fast.  I have to say that it’s been quite an eventful time so far: a rental handaphone that has a lousy battery shuts off on me during calls, getting sick to my stomach, turning certain laundry items pink, and having a nasty spill at Taejongdae.  Yet, throughout it all, I’ve actually had a great time just being here and not feeling like I need to do anything in particular. 

   I’ve also been able to learn a little more about Hoon’s family.  Hoon works for a company that specializes in phlanges and automotive parts.  He also does many extracirricular activities through his job, like going out to drink w/ colleagues and sports.  Hoon’s sister Soo-Yeon, did 2 years at a university nearby.  Now she is studying in a 1 year licensing program to work w/ children; if all goes well, in 1 year, she can work at her mom’s daycare center.  Hoon’s mom has worked at a daycare center for awhile.  Hoon’s dad helps her too, though I’m not sure how.  He worked for Hyundai for awhile too.  He told me Monday night that he’s knows a little Japanese, b/c he would travel there for business.  He’s also an aspiring chef: Korean, Chinese, and Western (Yangshik) food.  He’s taking a class where he’s the only man in it.  After that, he wants to learn about baking break.

   I’ve been laying low the last 3 days, in order for my ankle to heal a little more.  I got a bandage wrap, more ibuprofen for the inflammation, and I’m daily icing it.  It does feel  better, so the goal in the next couple of days is to start to move about on it, to see how my ankle feels.  Then it’ll be time to begin to go back to Seoul on Saturday.  I’m keeping busy though, applying for positions at different schools back home.  So, that’s about all the news here.  I’ll keep you posted.

Hello,

   Well, yesterday I went to Taejongdae.  It was great overall, but I got a few mosquito bites.  To add insult to injury, I slipped on wet, sloping blacktop and twisted my ankle good.  But actually the ankle feels better today.  A shout out to all those who prayed for it.  There wasn’t any swelling or discoloration today.  I think when I fell, my right foot came into my calf, kind of like getting a jammed finger.  So, it’s very sore today, but I seem to be able to walk on it gingerly.  Hoon and his mom thought the same that it isn’t serious enough for an X-Ray, but it will take some time to heal.  It’s interesting, in Korea, they practice acupuncture very much; Hoon said thta if my ankle had swelled up, I could have had someone put needles into it and it would have reduced the swelling.  I’ve never been one to subscribe to Asian therapy/medicine, but I think that it does work.  It works differently than Western medicine, but sometimes we perhaps take too many pills to fix things we don’t need to?  Hoon’s father suggested a cold-water massage.  So, for now, I’ll pop ibuprofen every 4-6 hours and take it one day at a time.  Keep praying for my ankle and continued safety though.  On to the post. 

    Yesterday, Hoon, Jae Won, and I left to meet Nam-Hee (Hoon’s significant other) in Gupo, which is in Busan; Nam Hee was studying at the library there and we gave her a ride back to her home.  I was so thirsty, so the 3 guys stopped off at Lotte Mart to buy water and look around.  Then Nam-Hee met us there and we proceeded to a Korean restaurant, where we had deep, flavor-full pork.  It was so good!  Oh yeah, it also rained the whole time yesterday; Korea is so funny, b/c when it rains, everyone breaks out umbrellas.  I’ve never seen so many and when we got to the restaurant, you place your umbrella in a plastic bag dispenser that is long enough and thin enough to coat it.  Then when you leave, you simply rip it off and away you go.  Everyday brings a new thing for me to see or something I would have never seen living in the U.S. 

  Then we drove off in Jae Won’s car to Taejongdae, which was about an hour away from Lotte Mart.  Wow, there’s a lot of traffic down in Busan!  On the way to our destination, we passed the Korean Marine University, which is the Korean version of the Navy I think.  They were wearing uniforms that resembled those of the U.S. Navy.  We also saw a really cool rainbow hovering over the port of Busan.  Nam-Hee, Hoon, and Jae Won said they hardly ever see rainbows, since it doesn’t rain for most of the year, just during the summer really.  I told them that living in Seattle, rainbows are the end result of schizophrenic weather.  We also passed the international passenger ferry, which takes people to Jedudo Island and Japan.  There were also lots of big ships, cranes, and other things you’d expect to see near sea ports. 

   Finally, we arrived at Taejongdae, just in time for the glorious sunset.  It’s quite a stark contrast to the apartments, stores, and restaurants that litter Busan.  Too bad we couldn’t have gotten there earlier, then we would have really been able to see the views and get great pictures.  But we did ride a trolley-like system, pulled by a bus, up to the first stop.  We looked around, but it was pretty much pitch black by now.  So, we walked around and then came my fateful, painful moment.  It’s funny, in those moments, you always expect the worse and hope for the best; either way, it’s going to hurt a lot.  We then waited for the bus trolley to come and take us back to the lower parking lot. 

   My injury seemed to cast a somber mood over everyone.  I think we were going to get some drinks in Busan, but all of the sudden, everyone was pretty tired.  We dropped off Nam-Hee and finally got back to Ulsan around 10:00 p.m.  Overall, a fun day and I was glad to make it back to Busan, but too bad the night ended as it did.  Today, I’m just resting up and seeing how my ankle feels.  Hope you have a nice weekend.

Hello,

   So, I was out at Taejongdae area of Busan w/ Hoon and some of his friends today.  I slipped on some wet area sloping down.  If you could please pray for my ankle, I twisted it pretty good.  I’ll see how it feels tomorrow and whether I should get an X-Ray or not.  We’ll see, only God knows.  Thanks!

Hello,

   Well, it’s finally the weekend again.  I think today is the middle of my time in Korea.  Getting more and more used to the humidity and everything else.  Everyone is out of the apartment today, except Hoon’s dad, who is sleeping.  I think Hoon and his mother are out at work and his sister is studying.  It’s interesting when you live w/ a Korean family for more than a couple of days; you begin to see the rhythm of the family and both the rhyme and reason for everything.  It turns out, they are just like any other family in the world, it’s just that I sometimes can’t understand everything they are saying; perhaps that’s a blessing in disguise too. 

    Yesterday, I went to Kimhae via the express bus from Ulsan.  it takes about 1.5 hours to get there.  I met up w/ my friend Sam-Gone and had kimbap, which was really delicious.  I also saw an old friend Kyu, who had been studying in China for 10 months; Kyu was Hoon’s roommate at English Town (ET) when I was in Korea last year.  It was a total surprise and I was glad to see him.  But I only had 1 hour w/ Gone, as he had classes from 8-5 pm straight.  I will go back to Inje next week and spend more time w/ him.  I also saw Hee-Jung, who is the office manager of the IIIHR adoptee program I did.  I also met a couple of adoptees from the US, Denmark, and Australia. 

   I really missed seeing Gone over the last year and he told me how much we were great friends.  It made me think about how important friends are in our lives.  So far, some that I thought I would see in Korea, I haven’t and others I have.  For me, I need to better take care of my friendships and to spend time w/ them.  Even though I hadn’t seen Gone in over a year, we were able to pick up our friendship.  Those kind of friendships are not very common I think and take time and care.  Time and distance are both things that reveal the true nature of of such friendships.  I often take them for granted, thinking I can always call Gone or visit Korea anytime; however, you never know where life will take you.  

    The last couple of days, I’ve been able to wander around the downtown area near Hoon’s apartment.  It’s very nice, but very busy.  Last night, Hoon and I were at McDonald’s and everyone was out in full force.  The thing is, it’s pretty much like that every night of the week.  There’s even kids out walking and playing the streets at 11:00 pm; much different than in the US, where we are frightened to even let our kids out of our sight.  Korea is a very safe place and it’s okay to walk to streets late at night by yourself. 

   I was talking w/ Hoon last night about his company.  I think I told you that he works typically 8-8, 5 days a week.  There’s another thing too; Hoon has seniors at his company who have been there far longer than he has.  He has to work until his team leader is done w/ his work, even if he’s done first.  For example, last night, Hoon told me he was done by 6 pm, but he had to wait until 9 pm to leave, b/c that’s when the team leader finished.  It’s all about saving face and not showing up your seniors or superiors.  Respect plays a big part in doing work/business in Korea.  It’s all about the group mentality, not looking out for #1.  For Hoon to leave first, that would show up his boss and bring great dishonor/shame to all.  Entrepeneurship would never fly in Korea, b/c it’s never just 1 person working alone, but the collective group.

   I asked Hoon when he will become a senior at the company, he told me when he has worked at least 20 years at the company.  Wow!  But then he told me that he plans on hopefully quitting long before that, that he hopes to be rich by then and won’t need to be at the company.  I had to wonder, actual reality or just a pipe dream.  I think that living in Korea has it’s own pressures, I can’t imagine working here too.  Talk about stress.  But the Korean dream is really not that different from the American dream, of making it big someday and then living on “easy street.”  That’s all fine and dandy, but I wonder if it’s even possible.  For some yes, but for most of us, it’s like endlessly buying mega millions or Lotto in hopes of hitting it big.  So, we put our hopes in one basket and just say, if this happens, then I’ll do this other thing, or that I’ll be happy and fulfilled. 

    I hope that Hoon is able to live out his dream of where he wants to be in 20 years, but based on what I’ve seen, it’s a 50/50 proposition.  It reminds me that I also do the same thing in my own life; I put off doing things in hopes that things will turnaround.  For example, I could have said, if I can only save so much money, then I’ll go to Korea and explore my roots.  But this was important to me, so I decided to not wait for tomorrow.  Sometimes, we ought to live out our moment in life right now, not bank it on a job happening or something falling out of the sky.  That’s kind of an extreme, but I think you know what I mean. 

   Until next time.