Reflection over the past 134 Days

Joshua 1-3: I will give you every place where you set our foot, as I promised Moses. 5: No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 9: Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you where ever you go (NIV). 

134 days! Who would have thought! 

Before coming to Korea I had not the slightest idea of what to expect.  All I knew was that I was ecstatic to be able to go to a foreign place to share my gift of teaching with others.  

Arriving however, produced the biggest shock of my life.  Culture shock is REAL!  During orientation I felt invencible and thought I wouldn't be affected by it.  

Orientation was in Seoul....

I live in Hongcheon and teach in the rural countryside.....

I will admit in the beginning I had a negative attitude and was ready to pack my bags and return to what I "knew" in the United States.  While I had this thought, I also thought about how hard I had prayed for this opportunity.  I thought about all of the work I had put in gathering important documents.  I thought about the many times I second guessed myself and thought maybe, just maybe that this wasn't for me after all.  I thought about all of the times I cried to close friends about how things were "panning" out and how I was worrying about things that God already had (long) under control. 

My conclusion was that I couldn't leave, not when God answered every prayer that I had prayed months before I was scheduled to arrive; from my living conditions (of which are very suitable for lil ole me), to the students that I work with, and the people whom have been put into my life here--YES! right now I am where I am supposed to be! Words will never be able to express the amount of gratitude that I wake up with everyday. 

Having been here for 134 days now, I have learned so much.  I have learned about a different group of people, how they live and their culture.  I have learned how to treat others better, and most importantly, I am learning more and more about myself AND how to truly lean, depend, and trust God in and with everything that I have. 

I am thankful that my being here has brought me that much closer to my Father.  I am thankful for the "newness" that I feel; new attitude, positive attitude, even when things aren't looking so hot, a more keen appreciation for life in general.  I'm thankful for patience, adaptability, and flexibility.  

With three weeks off, instead of visiting other foreign places, I have chosen to go home, to America, to visit my own family.  I miss them more than I ever thought I would, especially being able to call and talk to my sister at the drop of a hat about whatever "random" things have happened to one of us throughout the day.  I miss being able to call, text, and talk to friends, or swap "one more of life's events" with my girl Ang.  

Thank you Korea for helping me to continuously become a better person, for allowing me to share my gift with students most teachers would love to fill their classrooms with, for the people who have been put into my life here, new friendships, and most of all for the relationship that has been enhanced and further developed with my Heavenly Father.  

Until 2011....Anyong-hi kyeseyo (Goodbye, stay in peace) 

*** I won't be blogging while I am away; however, upon my return I will pick up where I left off! Thank you for keeping up with me thus far along my adventure and I hope to catch you during the second "leg"! Stay tunned.  

Seoseok, Korea

Photos.....

I had a Christmas decorating contest with my students.......they are very creative......

Christmas Decorations Class 2-2

Class 1-1....

Class 1-2....

English speaking contest....this kid is a character!  

My favorite girls! 

Christmas party at the elementary school...3rd graders....

Winding Down....

The school year is slowly coming to a close.  Students have finished their exams, today is the last day of their English Winter Camp, and they are trying their best to contain their excitement of not having to come to school.  I don't blame them.  These students study as hard as a kid in college; long, long hours.  I discovered yesterday that they will get a "winter break" beginning on Friday, Christmas Eve (yes they still have school this day).  They will come back in February, have their "graduation", and then go on "spring break" for two weeks.  With a puzzled look on my face, I had to ask, "Didn't they just get off of vacation?  And they get another?"  The response I received, "Students study very hard here.  They deserve it."  All I could to was agree, because it is so true. 

My co-teacher stopped me today after observing that I looked "gloomy".  I just kind of smiled and said no, I just have a lot to do and a little time to do it.  She asked me what I was working on and I shared with her that I was applying for a job upon my return to the states, still in education of course.  Then she began to explain how our teaching styles are different.  She told me that she noticed that I stimulate students more and that she has been impacted by the activities that I provide for them.  I thanked her for her kind words.  The last thing that she asked me was if I could look up books for how I teach.  I explained to her that many of the things I use don't come from a book, for me it comes from what I have learned, the little bit of experience that I do have, and a lot of creativity.  She said that she is always so focused on scores and students scoring high on exams and usually nothing else.  My response to her was while we want students to do well and score high, if they are not stimulated by the material it will be difficult to keep and hold their attention.  The things that they learn should have some kind of meaning to and for them.  I told her that when she has time we could sit and discuss whatever she wanted to and that I would be more than willing to help her come up with ideas for her students.

During one of my classes yesterday I witness two boys being punished for not working and playing around.  No, it was not I who issued the punishment!  My co-teacher made the two boys stand with their hands behind their backs, and put a pencil in their mouth.  I think they were standing for a good 30 minutes if not longer.  When they still proceeded to act up, she grabbed them by their hair and thumped their foreheads.  Anything goes here!

With Christmas days away, I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas, being mindful that it doesn't matter if you don't get a gift from a loved one because we have all been given the most precious gifts of all, and that is what matters most. 

T - 13.....and Counting....and other Randoms of Today

Slowly, but surely I am getting closer to my much needed vacation.  Thankfully, I will have the chance to see and spend time with my family, eat  food that I know and recognize (I have tried to eat Korean food.....just can't do it....), and get in some really good workouts!!!  I still have to work on Christmas Eve, which is the last day for students, so I will miss another major holiday with my family :(. Though I miss them dearly, I know that I will be okay....T minus 13...and counting.......

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It's snowing here today and has been going since I woke up this morning!  Before I came here, I HATED the snow and the cold (hence one of the reasons I moved to Texas), but ironically, I am actually starting to like it.  It's a challenge to get dressed with the right amount of clothes on in an effort to keep from freezing!  I do feel sorry for my students though....how are they expected to learn with no heat?  Most of them sit in class with their blankets and coats bundled up. 

Along with teaching my regular 3rd grade class today, I also had to teach 1st and 2nd graders because the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders went on a ski field trip.  Although the 1st and 2nd graders understood nothing that I said (the English language isn't really enforced until 3rd grade), we were able to practice a little bit of english using the alphabet, Christmas songs, and coloring pictures. They had as much fun as I did!  I even sang "Jingle Bell Rock" for my 3rd graders!  Good times definitely!

One thing that has really caught my attention is the fact that if Korean students don't know anything else, they definitely know the real reason for Christmas (as well as Easter).  I have noticed that although they know about Santa Clause, he's not the first thing that comes out of their mouths......the REAL reason is.....the birth of Jesus Christ.  Mentioning Jesus Christ in the classroom is not looked down upon as it is in the states, and students are quick to ask, "Sarah teacha, are you a Christian?"  or "Sarah teacha do you go to church?"

Something to think about.......How much could our American children learn from Korean children?  And in the same breath, how much could Korean children learn from our American children? 

Service to ALL Mankind.....even in Korea.....SKEE-WEE!

My SORORS who are so PRETTY in pink and GORGEOUS in green held their annual scholarship Step Show, "So You Think You Can Step" this past weekend in Seoul.  At the end of the night, the scholarship goal was met and exceeded.  All nine Greek organizations were in attendance of which 3 Sororities (AKAs, Deltas and SGRhos) and 3 Fraternities (Kappas, Alphas, and of course...the Ques) stepped.  There were two non-greek groups who also stepped and showed out!  

Sorors doing their thang.....their theme was Flinstones....

For the most part it was a really good show for an even better cause.  There was a lot of Greek love, which I can always appreciate and I met a few Sorors who also live here.  I was quite surprised to see as many Greeks as I did!  I had no idea that there were so many here, not to mention the Greek "gear" that they were sporting! Ooh wee!  One of a kind is all I can say!  I was on a mission (most of the night) to find out where they got their stuff made.  Thanks to two of my Sorors I found out!  I guess you know where I will be this weekend!  Enjoy the pictures from the show!  

Oh yes!  Who won?!  The group that I wanted to win for the non-greeks didn't.  I wasn't too happy about that and I saw one little girl crying her eyes out in the bathroom.  The Deltas won for the sororities and I can't say which fraternity won because we left before they announced the winner.  I felt sorry for the judges on that decision because the Alphas did a fantastic job with their tribute to Ray Charles and the Ques.....well, what else is there to say........  

Non-greek group...

Deltas....theme was Charlie's Angels...

Kappas....

Alphas....tribute to Ray Charles....

Ques.....

Korean Drill Team...opened the show....