Best of Times

I've been thinking a lot about my return to the states lately. It needs to happen because I've already spent money on graduate school and I should just finish, but the idea of living in the states again with the same lifestyle I had before makes me want to cry.

Why, you ask?

Because, I love the adventures I experience here, the people I've befriended, the things I'm learning about myself, the kisses from Kinder kids, and even the challenges. It's just so great. And I honestly believe these last few months have been some of the best ever.

Why, you ask?

Let me show you:

I've laughed my way through Tandem Bike Rides
A group of us went to Yeoudio Park one Sunday afternoon. We started with a picnic lunch from pita time, I talked my way through a Frisbee game, and then we all went on a tandem bike ride. Heidi and I chose each other as partners, perhaps, sure that the other would be capable. Turns out, neither of us were capable. We spent the entire hour laughing hysterically at our ineptitude. We couldn't master the art of steering, it took us ten countdowns to ever start, we couldn't pedal ourselves up the smallest hills, we were wearing skirts not conducive to modesty on a bike ride, we got stuck on a path that ended, rode through a large concert, we're passed by babies using training wheels. An oh yeah, we ran into a woman. But the fact is we laughed. We laughed hard. And perhaps we laughed the hardest or longest I've laughed in Korea yet.



I've been placed on a fat person's boat
Again a group of us ventured to Yeoudio Park but this time for a boat ride in the swan boats. We split into three groups of four people and were eager to begin our journey. The first two groups got in their boats: one a swan, one a duck. And then our time came. My group--Reuben, Heidi, Duncan, and I--got in a swan boat and watched the man grimace the whole time. As soon as we were all settled, the boat must have looked unstable because we were moved to what became affectionately known as "the fat people's boat." It was a grand time after the duck boat became ours to traverse the river in. We beat another boat in a race by a landslide, Duncan ran over a buoy (or in his South African accent, a boy), we threw sticks and made splashes at boat number 2, Reuben and Heidi serenaded us with "I'm on a boat," and the whole time our flag--in the form of a yellow umbrella--was held high.



I've beaten people up at Suwon Folk Village
Days off are limited in Korea, so when you get them you embrace them. And embrace them we did. Reuben, Heidi, and I headed to Suwon Folk Village to look a bit at what old time Korea was like: you know commoners' houses, nobleman's houses, other houses that I didn't really look to closely at. There was also the wishing tree where Reuben and I wished for significant others and Heidi wished for new friends. Oh and one couldn't forget the contraption that was used to stop bed wetting or the manure spreading buckets. We also watched a tight rope show and a death-defying horse show. Oh and of course in the nobleman's house (I believe) there was a court yard filled with torture devices for those that were...well...being tortured. I of course had to take the opportunity to try one and Reuben became the unwilling participant...bliss.



I've joined an impromptu dance party to celebrate Buddha
Well Buddha's birthday is a big deal here. Lanterns line the streets, parades are announced, and a vacation day is given. We journeyed to the final ceremonies in Insadong one Sunday night to watch what was a spectacular parade followed by performances from the parade participants. Some of the things they could do were astounding but after a time it got old. We went to a coffee shop to watch the finale from a window and were impressed by the dance party that began breaking out in the street. Ashley, Ben, and I ran to join in and spent the next twenty minutes sweating in the streets as we were grabbed by Koreans for dance sessions, paraded through countless congo lines, had soju poured on us, were filmed or photographed by an abundance of Koreans, and laughed our heads off! At one point, I even got to be the rope in a tug of war session between two old Korean men..if only the knew how bad my dancing skills really were. At the end of the night, Ashley and I had two new--and drunk--friends (pictured). Sure, it was Buddha's Birthday and you could accuse us of worshiping him as our non-dancing friends did, but nothing about dancing in a street with soju flying makes me think Budhha and furthermore my heart is trained on God's.



I've went white water rafting with awesome friends
A band of four gals travelled down to Youngwol (remember the bus story) to go white water rafting. The rapids were small which bothered me little, but the view was astounding. Heidi pointed out that there were seven different shades of mountains to be seen. The boat guide--we dubbed Pablo--was a riot (and may have lost a shoe). And the Korean boys that joined us were good for some kicks and giggles too. Plus, it was a first day with Anna...and now there will be thousands more.



I've had lunch with an ambassador
Okay so maybe I didn't even talk to him at this lunch but that doesn't stop the fact that the ambassador for Papua New Guinea took a photo with our group and treated us to food galore. He and another friend--Holly--were leaving Korea for new adventures and our church celebrated with a group lunch. While I'm sure many are sad to see the ambassador leave, I'm much sadder to know that Holly and her ceramic cat Judy have had to leave our midst. Goodbyes are hard but the moments before are more than worth it.



I've been embarrassed at 고래벙
Noreabang seems to be the thing to do when people leave, or there is a night without plans, or a group gets together, or really anytime at all. However, my musical abilities are sadly lacking and my bravado fails in these private rooms with giant TVs telling us the words to songs. My goal in life is to completely rock out at one of these sessions before I leave, but for now I turn red when I'm forced into singing some song and others point out that I'm doing it. Maybe I'd be so much better if I could rock out to High School Musical...but alas they're not available. Despite my embarrassment, I still enjoy seeing the other rock out: Reuben and his air guitar, Holly and her hair whips, Anna and her rapping skills, and Heidi's raspy voice crooning. Oh and who could forget Dawna and her bellowing of all songs, rocking dance moves, encouragement to sing, Korean song choices, and a thousand other things that just remembering make me miss her more.

Seriously after seeing these photos and hearing small bits of the story, how could you doubt that Korea is filled with epic adventures and great friends to share them with?

Thankfully, I've got some time left and there aren't any goodbyes for another 20 days, meaning there's plenty of memories to make.

Moments.

The following is a collection of things that have happened recently. All worthy of being retold and hopefully some of you were living them with me.

ONE

Heidi, Holly, Anna, and I took a journey to Yeoungwol to go white water rafting. The trip started at 8am with us riding in the row of four elevated seats at the very back of the bus. We were excited, sharing life, and laughing with joy. At one point the bus pulls over to which Anna says, "Oh wait, why's the bus pulling over?" All of our attention seemed to shift to the shoulder we were pulling onto and then we watched as the bus driver got out of his seat, walked halfway back, pointed at us, through hand gestures told us to be quiet, got back in his seat, and re-began the journey. In the words of Heidi Stromberg, "It's been 15 years since a vehicles been pulled over for my behavior."


TWO
At a crowded museum with the kinder kids and all of Haba in one room, Minseo walked over to me and started saying, "Kara, shit bad. Shit bad. Shit bad." My reaction was to look at the teacher Grace and say, "I promise I didn't teach her that." Unfortunately, my plan to constantly annoy Minseo backfired on me because normally when I don't respond to her it's on purpose so she gets louder and louder. Because I was looking at Grace instead of doing whatever she wanted she started screaming, "KARA, SHIT BAD, SHIT BAD!" I hurriedly tried to hush her and figure out what in the world her problem was. Grace through some Korean conversation with Minseo found out that she was attempting to say, "my shirt won't button will you help me." Unfortunately, for me she knows little English and can't pronounce her 'r's.


THREE
It was Grace's birthday and the kinder kids and I were treating her to the delux party. For her birthday, I had to carry on the subway that morning a cake, four balloons, and a bouquet of flowers. For the school day plans and my after school coffee shop plans I was also carrying my computer, tennis shoes, and an enormously packed purse. At Yaksu station, I know the prime car to ride on to put me right by the only exit escalators. I got off this car and walked to the escalators and had to take up both sides with all my stuff but in my mind I was walking and one of the first on so it shouldn't have been a problem. However, a young Korean guy had other ideas as he ran past and while doing so my long dangling purse strap caught on something of his and I was pulled into an ungraceful fall. Unfortunately, I had the cake box tugged on to my wrist and therefore my hand smashed the cake in the fall and I got to have some Oreo cheesecake covering my hand. One of the four balloons also met an untimely death when in my surprised I opened my hand a bit. I could hear a Korean screaming at the runner--who did not stop--and I felt an ajuma (old Korean) wearing hiking gear help me get up and then she--along with nine others--walked me to a bench. Once I was seated three of the ladies pulled out first aid kids and bandaged up my knees. While the first aid was occurring, one woman was cleaning my cake hand with a wipe. Perhaps, the best lady was wiping my brow in a caressing move in an attempt to comfort me I assume. After all was finished, this lady then escorted me to my subway train (which she did not get on).

FOUR
While at a Korean folk museum in Lotte World, our school hired a tour director to explain to us the museum. I found the whole situation boring as I could understand nothing and had just gone to Suwon folk village which is the same thing but life-size instead of replicas. Minseo and a 3-year-old boy also found the time boring and so they became my responsibility. I was holding the 3-year-old as he refused to walk and I don't speak enough Korean to force him to do so and Minseo was holding my hand (completely by choice which is more surprising than anything else in this story). The 3-year-old was teary-eyed and saying something in Korean to me and since I wasn't understanding Minseo was trying to help by also speaking Korean to me. I was getting frustrated (already in this day the "shit bad" and escalator spill had happened) so I began to smart off in English to both the children as I knew they'd never understand. I believe my responses were to the tune of, "I don't have a clue what's going on this is utterly stupid. Yes, there were naked men with penis' and that was the best part. Shut it children, I'm not understanding you." After my tirade (which I must say I said all with a nice voice so the kiddos wouldn't think I was being mean), I heard a voice from behind: "I know just how you feel." Turns out there was a foreigner behind me the whole time.

Sometimes I wonder....

For the past several years, this idea of the "will of God" has been thrust upon my life. In fact, some of my friends have shared with me stories about hearing God's voice on the metro train, or having a dream/vision, or praying and knowing without a doubt the answer. Some of these friends had exactly what they said happen, others have been waiting for months, and others still had the opposite happen. Yet, no matter the outcome they all at one point said those things revealed the will of God on their lives.

Now, I've never heard God's voice, or had a dream/vision, and maybe once or twice I've prayed and known without a doubt what the answer was...but it's not common. Yet, I feel like these people I'm discussing have it happen to them daily. It's like one morning they wake up, God says audibly, "you should be a doctor," and two hours later they're enrolled in med school. Am I being factitious (man if you knew how long the spelling of this word took, you'd mock)? Yes. But sometimes that's what I envision it being like for them and I am so dang jealous.

Do I think God could do all of these things and more? Oh, heck yes. But do I think it's common? Oh, heck no. Now I'm sure I'll have people debate me on this but a huge part of me just can't understand why God would regularly chose to speak to Joe, Bill, and Ted but leave little 'ol me out of the conversation. I don't believe God's like that...in fact, I'm pretty sure 1 Peter talks about God not having favourites. And yet, that is the stories I'm hearing. And really who am I to doubt that God told you through a cheese sandwich that looked like him--maybe named Cheesus--that you were going to get married in the next year? Because honestly if those things happen to you...could you give God my number next time?

My point? To be honest, I'm not sure. Maybe to tell you that I don't understand this whole concept. Maybe to ask your opinion. Maybe to hear your stories. Maybe to have you tell me I'm completely wrong and that God gave you a vision about me and I'm supposed to be the next Rhianna (to which I would probably laugh and ask if you got your channels crossed with satan).

Maybe I'm wondering what to do with all this "will of God stuff." I've been praying and praying about my next steps and yet I'm not getting any postcards in the mail signed the Holy Spirit. I feel like if I wait much longer there won't be options left. In fact, I had to make a decision about contract renewal and I prayed and prayed and prayed and I definitely didn't hear anything from God on the topic. Yes, you could debate that I wasn't listening but I think that God would just get louder...or maybe I really was listening. The deadline for my decision came and I made one. Do I think my decision isn't in God's plan? No. Actually, I'm pretty sure whichever way I went God would have been satisfied.

I mean if God had decided every step I should take...would I have free will?

And more importantly is it really being in God's will to be sitting and doing nothing while I wait for him to tell me?

It's a touchy subject, isn't it?

A confusing one too.

I say all of this to say, I'm not sure where God has me going next. Perhaps, it's my free will choice and God's satisfied with wherever I go as long as it's to glorify Him. Or perhaps, God wants me to be the next Rhianna in which case God may not be glorified because my singing is atrocious!

All I know is this: I love my job. I love my kids. I love my friends. I love Survivor. I love strawberries. I love laser hair removal. I love headbands. I love Jesus.

And all of that's in Korea...so I'm staying an extra few months at least (March 2012, baby!)

And after that, I think I'll probably move on UNLESS God sends me a postcard saying something different because as much as I love everything I said above, this isn't my heart/my passion/my dream. And one of these days you'll be reading a blog post about a missionary's journey...because that's where I want to be...and I think it's where God wants me to be too.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Concerns? It's okay if you do...it's okay if you don't.