Friday, July 20, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
...But A Fragment
Long ago, there lived a tiger and a bear who both very much wanted to become human. Everyday they prayed so vigilantly before a sacred sandalwood tree that the Heavenly King decided to give them a chance. They were offered a bundle of mugwort and twenty bulbs of garlic, and were told that if they ate only these for 100 days they would become human. So the tiger and the bear took the garlic and mugwort and went into a cave. Not long after this did the tiger run away because it could not stand the long hours in the cave, nor the torture of eating only what was provided. The bear remained and was transformed into a beautiful woman after only twenty-one days. She then married the Heavenly King, and soon gave birth to a child...who is said to be the first Korean.
Instead of pettily explaining my absence, I offer you a beautiful creation story that one of my Korean friends recently bestowed upon me. We had been mulling over theology in general, and soon arrived at the necessary historical juxtapositions - ancient Egyptian belief systems, multitudinous creation stories, etc. - (I hope I've captured it accurately Jade...eek!)
There is so much to deliver, and I've honestly no idea where to begin. I think it's best to live in the present, so I'll proceed with the now:
My July is booked! Any last minute requests for my time will be mercilessly shot down...respectively. Over the weekend to come we've planned a trip to Daejeon in order to partake in the riotously fun Boryeong Mud Festival, where mud meets madness of 40,000 strong. I'm really looking forward to this one! Weekends to come include a trip to the east coast for a Sullivan staff bonding weekend, and then summer vacation. I am saddened to say that I was fully prepared to travel to Japan for my week off in order to, namely, visit my sister while there...but also to breathe it all in - the culture, people, food, countryside. Jasmine, Morgan, and I had our Japan rail passes (good anywhere within Japan itself) purchased and in hand, but all modes of transportation to and from had been spoken for as of last week Wednesday! You see...the week that I have off is also the week that every other student in Korea has off, therefore families plan their summer vacations around said expanse of time. Damn shame, but we've learned our lesson and will plan early for winter break...like now =)
Ulsan just this last weekend... Jasmine and I joined a friend for a couple of much needed days at the beach. Jinny is a scuba-diving instructor, and offered to certify us, but unfortunately we hadn't the fundage. We opted for the cheaper "package," which included a place to stay, food & drink, boating, jet-skis, banana-boats, and a very paternalistic technical diver (Choi) to continually entertain. For the majority of our time we were the only foreigners around, which Jazz and I decided felt very good. We were able to really get involved with Korean culture in a way that just isn't possible in a city like Seoul...when you've always got another person who speaks English for a lean-to. Best of all, over the past few days when I encounter Korean interaction, I look at it slowly and appraisingly, with a narrow, confident gaze.
My kids are good. Still an intense bunch, but it's really amazing to see them grow. It is "ocean life" week at Sullivan, and next is "camping!" If any of you know me, you can already guess that I'm pumped for the latter, yayaah! We've a pretty fun stretch coming up - a holiday next Tuesday, and water day the following Thursday. We'll be hosting a slew of water games and activities for students and their families. Should be a blast...a water-logged blast!
Retreating to the former: as many of you know, during the duration of my updating negligence, my sister has come and gone. She spent approximately eleven days in Seoul with me, and I couldn't have asked for more. It was exactly what I needed in order to conquer my "subterranean homesick blues" - I was really feeling them at that point. Kate brightens my world, and I've gained an even more profound respect for her. That said, I've decided that instead of attempting to fit highlights of her visit into this update, I shall dedicate the entirety of one blog entry in her name. Now I know what you're all thinking..."ooo, one blog, big deal." But apparently it is a big deal, indicated by the lack thereof =)
Pictures anyone? Right right...
Ulsan was remindful of Lake Superior...
Perfect...if only for the military spotlight atop the cliff - it was interesting watching them span the opposite shoreline three or four miles away at night.
Before assuming our summertime alter-egos: Adam and Jasmine medium-well...ouch!
Mmmm...kelp.
...and that's exactly what we are, posers.
Ooo, that's gotta hurt the burn!
Ha ha, your eyes immediately went for the phallic looking tubes, didn't they...didn't they!
Jinny, Sao Young, and Jo
The morning Kate left for Japan - I'll use my sister's logistic immensity (that's a funny picture right there) as a send off and prelude...
Instead of pettily explaining my absence, I offer you a beautiful creation story that one of my Korean friends recently bestowed upon me. We had been mulling over theology in general, and soon arrived at the necessary historical juxtapositions - ancient Egyptian belief systems, multitudinous creation stories, etc. - (I hope I've captured it accurately Jade...eek!)
There is so much to deliver, and I've honestly no idea where to begin. I think it's best to live in the present, so I'll proceed with the now:
My July is booked! Any last minute requests for my time will be mercilessly shot down...respectively. Over the weekend to come we've planned a trip to Daejeon in order to partake in the riotously fun Boryeong Mud Festival, where mud meets madness of 40,000 strong. I'm really looking forward to this one! Weekends to come include a trip to the east coast for a Sullivan staff bonding weekend, and then summer vacation. I am saddened to say that I was fully prepared to travel to Japan for my week off in order to, namely, visit my sister while there...but also to breathe it all in - the culture, people, food, countryside. Jasmine, Morgan, and I had our Japan rail passes (good anywhere within Japan itself) purchased and in hand, but all modes of transportation to and from had been spoken for as of last week Wednesday! You see...the week that I have off is also the week that every other student in Korea has off, therefore families plan their summer vacations around said expanse of time. Damn shame, but we've learned our lesson and will plan early for winter break...like now =)
Ulsan just this last weekend... Jasmine and I joined a friend for a couple of much needed days at the beach. Jinny is a scuba-diving instructor, and offered to certify us, but unfortunately we hadn't the fundage. We opted for the cheaper "package," which included a place to stay, food & drink, boating, jet-skis, banana-boats, and a very paternalistic technical diver (Choi) to continually entertain. For the majority of our time we were the only foreigners around, which Jazz and I decided felt very good. We were able to really get involved with Korean culture in a way that just isn't possible in a city like Seoul...when you've always got another person who speaks English for a lean-to. Best of all, over the past few days when I encounter Korean interaction, I look at it slowly and appraisingly, with a narrow, confident gaze.
My kids are good. Still an intense bunch, but it's really amazing to see them grow. It is "ocean life" week at Sullivan, and next is "camping!" If any of you know me, you can already guess that I'm pumped for the latter, yayaah! We've a pretty fun stretch coming up - a holiday next Tuesday, and water day the following Thursday. We'll be hosting a slew of water games and activities for students and their families. Should be a blast...a water-logged blast!
Retreating to the former: as many of you know, during the duration of my updating negligence, my sister has come and gone. She spent approximately eleven days in Seoul with me, and I couldn't have asked for more. It was exactly what I needed in order to conquer my "subterranean homesick blues" - I was really feeling them at that point. Kate brightens my world, and I've gained an even more profound respect for her. That said, I've decided that instead of attempting to fit highlights of her visit into this update, I shall dedicate the entirety of one blog entry in her name. Now I know what you're all thinking..."ooo, one blog, big deal." But apparently it is a big deal, indicated by the lack thereof =)
Pictures anyone? Right right...
Ulsan was remindful of Lake Superior...
Perfect...if only for the military spotlight atop the cliff - it was interesting watching them span the opposite shoreline three or four miles away at night.
Before assuming our summertime alter-egos: Adam and Jasmine medium-well...ouch!
Mmmm...kelp.
...and that's exactly what we are, posers.
Ooo, that's gotta hurt the burn!
Ha ha, your eyes immediately went for the phallic looking tubes, didn't they...didn't they!
Jinny, Sao Young, and Jo
The morning Kate left for Japan - I'll use my sister's logistic immensity (that's a funny picture right there) as a send off and prelude...
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