The Adventures of Rebs & Dusty

A Short Story (Part1)

2012-01-29T12:38:00.042+09:00

Once upon a time, there lived a boy and girl in Arkansas. They had a dog and a house on Blueberry Lane. The boy had a job and worked very hard and prospered. The girl was very smart and went to school. They both enjoyed rock climbing.

They loved their life and everyone they shared it with, but something felt missing. So they took a trip around America in search of that missing something.

The trip was really fun, but they didn't find what they were looking for.
Sometimes all you know is that you want life to be different.

Along the way, some bad things happened.

The boy and girl decided to leave their familiar life and comfortable home on Blueberry Lane. They packed up everything they owned, left their dog with family...

and flew far away to a mystical place called South Korea.

Be Present

2011-12-05T09:22:00.006+09:00

As this chapter of our lives begins to close, we have been feeling all sorts of different emotions. Anger, excitement, anxiety, to name a few. I've noticed irregularity in my sleep. This morning, I woke up at 6:15 and was wide awake, long before the sun came up. That's not a normal thing. I chose to take that time to check a few random thoughts online, such as, how far is it to bike from Tulsa to Tahlequah? (about 80 miles) It's thoughts like these that keep me wound up. Somewhat pointless, I know. But the underlying theme is that I'm stressed.

I never thought that the thought of moving back to America would make me to feel this way. It was 5 years ago around this time that I was feeling the same kind of stress about moving to Korea. I had a million questions, not knowing what living on the other side of the world would look like. Fortunately, we had a great recruiter who was able to answer our questions and was continually reassuring us that it would be okay.

Now, we are on the reverse side of it all. Yes, we know what we are returning to, but having lived in another culture for 4 years has truly changed me. One of my fears is that I will return and see old friends who think I am the same person they knew 4 years ago. I think I am to an extent, but have also had many life-changing experiences. My thinking is different, so to assume that I am the same is selling me short. I'm afraid once my friends realize I'm not the same, it may cause distance between us if we can't find a way to bridge that gap. If you're one of my friends back home and are reading this, my best recommendation to you is to do research on Korea in order to understand where I'm coming from (literally and figuratively). Think of good questions to ask, to show that you care more about me than just the fact that I'm in your life.

Coming home has all sorts of different moods. We have experienced the excited, dreaming stage, where I think about living a life of solitude in a cabin in the woods. Sounds dreamy, doesn't it? But those romantic feelings are long past now, replaced by questions like, What am I going to do for work? Will I be able to live without internet for several months? Will my friends from America remember me, or better yet, will we be able to relate to each other? And so it continues...

The one thing I do know and am able to control, is that I am here, now. What I mean is that I have the opportunity/challenge for the next 2 months to be present with the friends we have here in Korea. Daily, I have to remind myself of this. I never want to be waiting or wishing for another time, because God gave me this time to make the most with the people I'm around now.

One great example of this was Thanksgiving. We have become fairly adaptive in our situation here, and are pretty resourceful when it comes to food. So for Thanksgiving, we had several of our closer climbing friends over to share in good company and food. Rebs and I took care of most of the cooking, which turned out to be a hit with our friends. We had chickens instead of turkey, but everything else was pretty much the same, only made from scratch because it's our only option here. Corn casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, and homemade cranberry sauce. It was pretty fantastic (toot! toot!). All to be topped off with Rebs' homemade pumpkin pie! (Sorry, no picture. I think we were too excited to eat it.)

One thing I really appreciate here is that everyone is accepted. At our Thanksgiving, we had a couple military friends, a few English teachers, and a Russian grad-student. But in Korea, everything is "normal", meaning it doesn't matter if you're not from around here... because none of us are. We celebrate each others' differences and are usually open to learn from each other instead of segregate. Thank you to my Korean friends for that.

Hard copy checklist

2011-11-29T19:04:00.013+09:00

As the time for us to move back home draws closer, my thoughts and emotions about our big, upcoming transition continue to grow in intensity. The past few weekends have been spent with many of my favorite people in Korea. I'm feeling fresh and filled up from all the amazing relationships I've gotten to relish in and build upon lately. I'm so fortunate and thankful for the life we've gotten to enjoy in Korea and I'm going to be really sad when I have to say goodbye to all the people and things that I love here. What an amazing 4-year journey it's been.

At the same time, I look forward to the life that awaits us back home and I'm thankful for so many things that will come with that change. As one chapter closes another big adventure is set to begin. Loose ends are being tied and preparations are being made for the future. It's scary and exciting! I am constantly wondering and daydreaming about what God has in store for us next. At the same time, part of me is doubting His ability to top the chapter I'm finishing now. I want to revel in every last word that He's writing now and read it all slowly and carefully, so as to squeeze out and savor every last drop of enjoyment that's here for me. It's a strange place to be, on the brink of transformation. I remember feeling similarly before graduating high school, college, and getting married.

Today, I went to the doctor to get refills on my monthly prescriptions for my thyroid, allergies, and asthma (talk about getting all the negative health genes in the family). I walked in (no appointment necessary), waited 5 minutes, talked to the doctor for 3 minutes (he always greets me warmly), paid the equivalent of $3, then walked across the street to the pharmacy, waited another 5 minutes for my medicine while drinking my complimentary vitamin C juice (by the pharmacist who also greets me warmly), paid another $15 for my 3 medications (that would run me about $200 back home), then was on my way. As I was sitting waiting for my prescriptions I started thinking how much I was going to miss the ease, simplicity, and affordability of the Korean healthcare system. This thought led to more thoughts about many of the things I'm going to miss in Korea. Suddenly I was sitting there all teary-eyed, painfully realizing (again) that leaving Korea is going to be hard. As time continues to tick down, this thought seems to surface often and is usually followed by increasing feelings of sadness. I know it's a perfectly normal emotion to be experiencing right before ending a chapter in life. As I sat there in the pharmacy with my sadness, I came up with a mental checklist of things I will either miss about Korea or be happy to leave behind. Without further adieu, here is a hard copy more for myself than anything else.

Things I'm going to miss:
- my friends who are basically my family now, some of which I might never see again face to face.
- the diversity of friendships I have here. I literally have good friends from all corners of the earth.
- open-minded people. people who don't necessarily think the same way as me or share my spiritual faith but still respect me.
- my korean family at our climbing gym.
- a communal culture that values the common good over narrow self-interest, independence, and self-indulgence.
- living simply and easily within my means and not being too attached to my material possessions.
- my 20 hour/4 day work week (full-time pay).
- 4 months paid vacation a year. the time and means to travel extensively and experience new ways of life.
- having the free time to pursue my passions and discover new ones.
- as previously mentioned, efficient and affordable healthcare.
- the extensive and cheap public transportation system (bus, train, subway).
- the squishy, uber-flat, asphalt river trail just outside my house.
- fresh, local, seasonal, and affordable produce.
- the sweetest strawberries, juciest peaches, most fragrant purple grapes, crunchiest apples, and abundant persimmons.
- a farmers market that is open all day, everyday
- the wrinkled, old, hunched over ladies that sell the produce at said farmers market.
- the amazing vegetable gardens and grape vineyards along the river trail by my house.
- the endless hiking trails outside my front door.
- the dozen or so climbing areas within 1 1/2 hours drive.
- cheap acupuncture and alternative/oriental medicine.
- floor heat.
- $5 jimjilbangs. Sauna/spa like places that are oh, so relaxing yet affordable.
- really delicious, homemade kimchi.
- quick, cheap, healthy food options.
- squatty potties.

Things I'm NOT going to miss:
- crazy, erratic drivers.
- ridiculously slow, incompetent drivers.
- scarcity of toilet paper and/or soap in restrooms (especially in restaurants).
- toilet paper dispensers at the front entrance of the restroom instead of the stall (what to do when one wipe just isn't enough).
- girls smoking in the bathrooms at school.
- boys smoking at the end of the hallways at school.
- the wafting sewage smells.
- old men hocking up loogies and spitting them all over the ground.
- dodging said loogies on the ground.
- old men peeing in public places in plain sight.
- old men getting drunk and obnoxious on soju.
- kimchi/soju breath (especially in the morning).
- people staring at me wherever I go.
- lack of personal space.
- our leaky roof
- the premium price placed on dairy products.
- the lack of cheese selection.
- the humidity in the summer.

I suppose that's a good start. Living in Korea has really changed me. Of course I'm still the same; same inherent personality, temperament, spiritual foundation. But I've learned, grown, and yes, changed. I have new perspectives on nearly everything. I think more outside the box now. My biggest fear in coming home is that I'll fall right back into my old negative patterns of existence that I've worked so hard to extinguish. Patterns that my culture at home will tempt me to embrace. But I have high hopes for myself that what I've learned from this chapter will stick with me and I'll be able to go home and continue living out my life with purpose and intention. I hope to stand firm and not veer from the path I'm on. I've just gone to see the world, now maybe I can live up to my desire and be the change I want to see back home.

Friendship

2011-10-25T12:06:00.003+09:00

Friendships are rather complex, if you ask me. I haven't had too many friends that just "clicked" outright. This probably says more about me than the friends I have. Recently, I've been analyzing what makes a good friend. Here's my list so far. Feel free to contribute your own additions.
1. Have something in common: This could be as simple as a favorite color (if you're 5), movie genre, gas station (Quiktrip), job (if you enjoy it), sports, hobbies. Pretty much anything that you can talk about and share enthusiasm over.
2. Have matching communication: This is a more intricate detail, not easily described in words. Interrupting is a good example. Some people (person A) may interrupt others because they are so excited about the information they want to share. Other people (peron B) choose to wait to speak until there is a pause in the conversation. Neither is necessarily right or wrong, they're just different. But when person A and person B get together to chat, A might think B is uptight or rigid, while B thinks A is rude and doesn't let people think. Other examples: comfort with silence, eye contact, body language.
3. Similar levels of openness: This one is a doozy! Basically, both people need to feel like they can be themselves. It's this unspoken rule that you can only share so much about yourself before another shares the same. If the other person doesn't open up the way you did, then you wonder if you said too much. This is the same with giving advice. Many people have mentor friends without knowing it. That's when A is always going to B when they need advice. But B never goes to A in the same way. It's like a big brother or sister instead of an equal friend. When both people are able to open up, be themselves, ask questions, give and get answers, and receive acceptance in all this, then the friendship is genuine.
4. Shared sense of care: This one is all about not having an agenda. There are many ways to show another person you care about them, but the main point is that your friend knows you care about them. When you contact someone via one of today's various technologies (Facebook, email, phone, text, etc), how often do you contact that person without a reason? I think in today's day and age, it's easy to get so busy that we begin to only think about ourselves. How do I get everything done I need to today? When we are able to slow down and think about people that are important in our lives, our close friends are probably some of the first that come to mind. It's important to care for others, just as it is to feel cared for. This is why a "pointless" phone call or message can go so far. Being married, I know that "just because" gifts go much further than birthday gifts, or any other time gifts are expected. "Just because" means "I thought of you for no other reason than that I care for you." Love is not a fulfillment of an expectation; it is a pouring out of one's heart.
5. Have something to offer: This one sounds pretty simple, but many people go into friendships with the perspective of, "what can I get out of this?" In it's most raw form, this outlook is not a friendship; it's a business endeavor. Having something to offer means, you are willing to give of yourself because you care about the other person, no strings attached. It's very closely related to #4. Friendship goes against the grain of our society because it can't be measured in worth. You can't buy or sell a friendship. So in light of this, you have to be willing to give of yourself without expecting anything in return. Some might say, "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." But this perspective falls short. You will always be looking for ways to make things even. Yes, a friendships works best when it's equally yoked, but if the friendship itself is hinged on this point, it is not made to last. If you can learn to give without expecting in return, you have learned the greatest and toughest point. Unconditional love.

Intrinsic Motivation

2011-09-27T11:31:00.003+09:00

I watched a short webinar recently about finding your passions. It was done by this girl who is sort of a life coach and writes about that exact topic. I won't get into all the details, but one thing that stuck out to me was her definition and explanation of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivations. I think I already knew what they were, but never had them explained so concisely. Intrinsic motivation means you are motivated by the work itself, while extrinsic motivation is motivated by the outcome.

An example: If you love your work as an artist, you may not be so much as interested in the final product of the painting you just made, as much as you are in the process it took to get there. Each brush stroke has meaning. All the thoughts come together to create the mural. Yes, you are satisfied with the piece of art you show to people. But it holds more meaning to you because of the process it took to get there, and you enjoyed every minute of it.

In contrast, extrinsic motivations are incentives used to get to the end. You want to hurry and get it over with so you can move on to something different/better. More money is the obvious one. If you made a higher salary, do you think you will be happier? Extrinsic motivation thinks of the end. You want to sell as many products to make the most profit to make the company thrive to make the boss happy to get you a raise. Do you enjoy selling the product? Or are you trying to make a buck? Obviously, I am one-sided in my perspective, but I still participate in the incentives program.

Today's culture seems to be fueled by extrinsic motivation, except for the occasional guilt trip by a superior that you should enjoy your job, which in turn can cause another extrinsic motivation to act happy to get your boss off your back. Working on commission is supposed to encourage the employee to sell more because the employee should be motivated to make more money.

Sports are another example. Every football team wants to win the Superbowl. But how many athletes love to practice? I believe it is those who embrace every aspect of the game, including the practice, the sweat, the team camaraderie that are intrinsically motivated. When I swam in college, it wasn't until my senior year that I became intrinsically motivated. I actually loved going to practice. I enjoyed the way my body sliced through the water after working my body into shape. The pain was worth it because I felt better, stronger, afterwards. Of course I was motivated to win, but I think it was the intrinsic motivation that drove me to swim my personal best at the end of the season.

I have been able to enjoy intrinsic motivation in my climbing as well. Many people know I climb, but I think few people (other than those who climb) understand why. From an outside perspective, I am not gaining anything. There is no prize at the end. For 95% of the people who climb, it is not an occupation. There's no money or fame involved. Ah, but these are extrinsic. Climbing is largely an intrinsic sport, something foreign to our society. Yes, some people climb to be the best, or at least better than "him" or "her". But I think the large majority does it because it is fun. The feeling of using your body, working through problematic sequences, soaking in the sunshine, being encouraged by your peers, groaning together when you fall. When the competition is removed, intrinsic motivation remains. And I love it. Why? Because of the process. I may climb 5.9 or 5.14d, but the process is the same nonetheless. We are meant to enjoy the process of getting to the top.

From Sweat to Sweatshirts

2011-09-19T18:09:00.003+09:00

Fall is here, or so it seems. Two days ago we had the air conditioning running for most of the day, but today Rebs had had a sweatshirt on for about half the day. Seasons in Korea are like that. And the funny thing to me is that the Koreans know exactly when it is. I remember having a conversation with our climbing gym owner a few years ago. We were making plans to go climbing a week or so later. He checked his calendar and then shook his head, saying, "No. Monsoon season." We asked him when it started and he told us in about a week. Sure enough, a week later it was pouring down buckets. Then we had about 2 weeks of normal conditions, though a bit humid. And then typhoon season came for 2 more weeks. Apparently the weather here is just as predictable as the driving-- meaning that initially it seems like total chaos. But after you've been driving in the country, you know exactly what's going to happen without the warning of a turn signal (an Asian sign of weakness).

Rebs is elated. She was just wishing Fall to be here, and now it is. We have the next month lined up with climbing, camping, seeing old friends who are leaving the country. It is definitely the time to be outside. I was reminded recently that we ought to seek peace and joy in our lives. This weather makes it easy to do just that.

It also happens to be apple and eggplant season right now. We eat our vegetables seasonally over here, picking them up cheap and fresh at the daily farmer's market in downtown Gyeongsan. You can get 3-5 eggplants for about $1, and i got about 15 apples for $3. It's great incentive for creativity and experimentation with new recipes. Rebs recently mastered her first attempt at baba ghanoush (aka eggplant hummus), while I currently have a crock pot of what will hopefully turn out to be some delicious apple butter. i make a point to save many of our glass bottles for this sort of occasion.

A big thing going on back home is that my brother-in-law, Cass Harris, is trying to record and produce his first album via Kickstarter. I love this guy a lot and think he is a very talented musician and has something special to share with the world. His songs are soulful, not your run-of-the-mill anything. I highly recommend going and checking out what he's doing.

News

2011-08-31T13:09:00.002+09:00

Yesterday morning, I made an important phone call. It was important because the results strongly affect what we'll be doing in the next 6 months. If you didn't know this already, Rebs and I are planning to move home to the United States. After 4 years of Korean living, we're ready to move on to the next chapter. Think babies, family, school, careers, none of which have we been pursuing very heavily while over here.

My phone call was to the Cherokee Nation EMS program based out of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. I have been planning to take their EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) course for some time now, and possibly the Paramedic course thereafter. Specifically, I was calling to get dates in mind. Up until now, Rebs and I had been hoping to do some traveling over the winter, then head to the States for a 1-2 month road trip for climbing at a few places we have never been. This phone call changed all that. The EMT course starts early March, will last for 6 months, and then the Paramedic course starts just after the EMT course finishes.

My understanding is that if I want to take the Paramedic course, this is the best time to take it because it is only offered every 18 months, the duration of the course. And since the two are lined up next to each other, I wouldn't have to wait after my EMT course.

There are so many variables in the mix right now that I don't want to talk too much more about them until they are finalized. But I guess this was all to say that we'll be home sooner than you might have thought.

Home Sweet Home?

2011-08-21T09:08:00.002+09:00

As I look through the last of our photos from the trip, sitting here in my living in Korea, I know that our vacation is over. We still have a week, thankfully, to get prepared for the school semester and check things off our list like, "Pick up Epic". While sitting on a bus to transfer terminals in Narita (Tokyo, Japan), I noticed someone was touching my leg. No, not a creepy guy or an accidental bump by someone who says "excuse me", but a 10-year-old Korean boy, still wearing his neck pillow from the plane, oblivious that he is breaking my personal space. Why? Because there is no personal space in Korea, or Asia in general. He continues to bump my leg as we ride the bus. Welcome home.

As we got in our car last night, I sat in the driver seat feeling cramped, thinking how small our car feels after having driven a rental for a month. I feel like I'm sitting on a phone book. I go to start the car. Oh yeah, it's a stick shift. As we drive through the side street of our neighborhood, a car pulls out of an apartment complex and cuts me off, then continues to drive slowly. Your car is small, therefore you never have the right of way.

It is these small idiosyncrasies that remind me that I am home, back in the "land of the morning calm". But I find myself more irked by such things than I used to be. I always used to subscribe to the idea that we choose live and work in a country other than our own, therefore we subscribe to their rules and culture. But after nearly 4 years, I am growing tired of it. Friends we have here have talked about knowing when it's time to leave. You can just sense it in a person, this restlessness that grows in agitation over simple things that make no difference individually in the big picture. But it is the buildup of getting cut off, shouted at, or whatever happenings that leave a person feeling undignified--they become the straw that breaks the camel's back.

And so it is with myself that I can sense my mood is different. My friends here are great, my work load light, the beauty of the mountains all around us. But I know it is time for us to move on. It will be a challenge this semester to stay positive, to focus on the good, and not to itch for the day we head back to the States. If you pray, please do so for me in this.

2011-08-12T13:49:00.002+09:00

Yesterday was an adventure. It was our last climbing day in Skaha before heading back across the border to Oregon. We had gotten up early, hiked up to the Great White wall, and enjoyed a crap shoot of climbing with an early morning start (early at least by our standards). Our first two sport routes had turned out to be duds. Rebs has this tendency to find easier-looking routes that turn out to be extremely difficult, which is exactly what our “warm up” route turned out to be. We definitely got warm, and moved on to find another one that was better. My choice turned out to be a diagonally bolted one that remained awkward most of the way, then finished with some nice, slopey ledges (please read with sarcasm). Not exactly a great route either. I think Rebs actually called it the worst route she’d ever been on.
So since our sport routes were turning out bad, we decided to try our hands at some traditional-style crack climbing. This is a relatively newer style of climbing for me, and especially for Rebs. I thought the route was phenomenal. A perfect seam that you could at least get finger tips into the whole way up with a couple pumpy spots to keep it exciting. But Rebs had a different experience. On any crack climbs I’ve put her on previously (quite a few here at Skaha over the past week or so), she’s managed to avoid using the crack and scramble her way up in some ridiculous fashion. But this time, she had to use it. Not to mention the exposure on the route. (It is at the top of a massive valley.) She worked her way up eventually, refusing to quit like the stubborn girl I love and adore. But the route was so long, she had to rappel twice, the first time to some anchors she couldn’t see from above. She did really well not to hyperventilate or pass out, but the anxiety left her exhausted. Yet, she still managed to have enough energy to belay me on a really cool route called “Test of the Ironman”, a very long and reachy route, hence the name. The sun was starting to hit the rock, so it was about time to move on.
We had some lunch and then hiked down to another area to rest in the shade. After a bit of rest and some bee swatting, we looked at the guidebook and I pointed out two different options that looked good to me. We decided to go up and look at the first and then make a decision.
The first route turned out to be two pitches, a runout, 4 bolt, 30 meter climb to a ledge, then an easy 5.9 trad route. Rebs said it looked good, so we decided to do it. Only when I was racking up did she point out that this was her first (voluntary) multi-pitch trad route.
The top pitch turned out to be the gem of it all, with a little bit of perfect hand jamming that even Rebs enjoyed. She was about halfway up the route when she heard a distant rumbling and turned around to see a massive thunderhead moving in on our cloudless blue sky. She began climbing more quickly while I did my best to stay quiet and let her enjoy the route, although my mind kept flashing back to the WFR couse (Wilderness First Responder) I’d taken in college and all the information and statistics they’d given us, essentially saying that on a rock face, attached to a bolt and a rope is the last place you want to be when a thunderstorm hits. I also thought about how a few days earlier, we had decided to take our rain fly off the tent since we were in such a dry climate and wanted to cool things down faster.
Fortunately, Rebs had no hiccups and made it back to the belay station shortly, from which we rappelled again to the ground. A beautiful route, just a little rushed. We scurried to pack up our gear then, speed hiked/jogged our way back to the parking lot. The huge blue-grey cloud loomed just East of us as we drove the 15 minutes back to our campsite. Like angry bees, we zipped around and got the tarp back on the tent and all our junk off the picnic table in a matter of minutes. The cloud was rising over the rock nearest to us when we decided not to stick around for the showers, but to head into town for a few errands to prep for the long drive to Oregon the next day.
In town, the streets were already wet, as if we had just missed the downpour. We could see the rain and lightning just North of us a few miles. I pumped gas as it sprinkled rain, my first shower of any kind in a few days. Meanwhile, Rebs went next-door and found a restaurant attached to a hotel that has free wifi, so we split a sampler appetizer for dinner and checked email. Upon our return to the campsite, our wonderful host Dale said he’d sat at his picnic table working a crossword while the storm rolled through. He said he counted ten drops. All that work for nothing! But we saw it as a sign that we were meant to be done because we got all our errands done, the camp mostly packed up in 5 minutes, and still had time for a beer and good conversation with Dale and “Gloria”. It was a great end to this part of our journey. We will never forget you Skaha.

Home-Bodied Travelers

2011-08-11T11:37:00.008+09:00

Is there such a thing? That is exactly what we are. We like to travel around and see different places, but we don’t particularly like the constant packing, unpacking, and reorganizing of it all. That’s why we decided to stay in Skaha. Last night we kept debating on whether to go to Squamish in the morning. We even played “Rock, Paper, Scissors” (the way Koreans solve all their problems) and ended up with Squamish as the winner. But after some more discussion later, we decided to stay right where we are until heading down to meet up with Bob and Connie, giving us about 4 more days including today.
Here are a few reasons why:
1) We want more time to climb. Skaha has over 1000 routes, enough to go months without ever getting on the same route twice. We’ve found all different styles from slabby, positive climbs to juggy overhangs, sport, trad, runout, and over-bolted. You definitely can’t say Skaha’s “not my style” of climbing because it’s all-encompassing. And now that we’ve been up there a few days, we’re getting a good feel for the area, which makes it easy to get where we want and not get lost anymore.
2) You can’t beat this campsite. Seriously! I know I’ve already raved about it in previous posts, but it’s perfect. Not crowded, clean toilets, great hosts who are friendly and like to chat, but are great for giving you your privacy too. The view is spectacular. We’re right on the water, which is the perfect temperature for the now hot summer days. And at nights, it cools down to the mid 60s—perfect for snuggling into your sleeping bag.
3) We don’t like being rushed. If there was one statement to summarize our goals and motivations, that would be it. If we were to go to Squamish, we felt like we’d get there, have time to look around, and then have to leave before ever getting a good feel for the place. I hate feeling like a tourist. I know that going on vacation required some degree of tourism, but I feel I can minimize those feelings if I spend enough time somewhere. You get to know some of the locals and the secret hot spots, etc. and it really helps. I feel like there is so much more to gain from such an experience versus driving through, staying for a day, and taking a few photos along the way. Sure, it might make for some nice photography, but it’s just a photo. To me, the photo becomes so much richer when there are memories attached.
4) It saves us money. This trip hasn’t exactly been on a shoestring, so: driving ($1.32/liter) + 2 ferry rides = lots’o’cash. I’m sure we could afford it, but I guess the bottom line is that we’ll get more out of our experience.
There are also plenty of things to do on our rest days here. Today, we shopped and did laundry in the morning, then took the afternoon to find me a new pair of flip flops. We walked downtown some. Rebs got coffee; I got ice cream. The peach festival was going on, so we walked through it. It felt like a fair without the animals or rides. Basically a lot of tasty, very greasy food and a stage. Nothing was going on at that time, so we headed on to the movies, a great way to avoid the afternoon heat. After the movie, we headed back here and opted for a very light dinner of watermelon and veggies with hummus after having gorged ourselves on popcorn and pop only an hour before. Now here we lay in the tent, waiting for the air to cool, watching the moon set low beyond the mountain pass across the lake. In tomorrow lies the hope of some more good climbing or bathing in the lake, soaking up the sun, reading books, or visit one of the many wineries in the area. We have no real plan. But sometimes, the best plan is not having one.

Lost & Found - Part 2

2011-08-05T10:12:00.004+09:00

We're still at the campsite with no electricity and haven't made the time to trek into town until now. I'm writing from the public library here in Penticton. Our original plan to continue on to Squamish got delayed by a day of sickness and the sheer awesomeness of this place. We're heading back to the rock tomorrow for one more day before heading to Squamish.

So... back to the story. We found a campsite and made ourselves at home. Lakeside, in the shade, fire pit, tent spot ON the lake--literally it's about 3 steps from our door. We haven't had rain since we set up the tent, but a few splatters of bird poop. Yeah, so it's pretty much the best campsite you could imagine. And the campground hosts are funny. Dale and Hannah (though Rebs finds 'Gloria' a more suitable name for her) are wonderful, keeping unwanted loiterers out, checking up on you every now and then. They're both semi-retired, I would guess in their early to mid 60s, have a camper and everything imaginable to go with it because they're here for 3 months. They get pretty upset when people try to use our site to get access to the water. We don't really mind that much, but they sure do.

Some fun facts: I've swam across the lake twice now, though the reeds are getting a bit tall now that the water level has gone down a few inches. There is a wonderful ice cream parlor we frequent often named "Tickleberry's". Rebs likes to say the name over and over. Our bodies are very tan. We lay on our spare air mattress in the water, using a piece of rope as a sort of lasso for the mattress and making an anchor to a rock. I successfully finished Born to Run in about a week. Very good book. We got lost... sort of... hiking out of the park one day.

It all started as a regular morning hiking in to climb. Rebs found what appeared to be a good area in the guidebook, but was about as far away as you can get from the parking lot. So we said we'd hike in and then work our way back. But the problem was, we couldn't find the trail that led there, at least not all the way. We'd go one way, then back another, unable to decipher where we were on the map. Eventually, Rebs found the right trail and we made it out there. Had the whole place to ourselves, that's for sure. By the time we got set up for our first climb of the day, it had already been over 2 hours. We got 2 routes in before stopping for lunch. Reassessing the day and our expectations, we decided to follow the trail around (it's a loop) to take a look at some of the areas we hadn't seen already. We made our way around and spent a couple hours hiking and looking at rock and setting up the hammock to rest for a bit.

When we decided to hike out was when it happened. There happen to be all these meandering side trails that go off in different directions all the time, I'm assuming are shortcuts to different cliffs because there is climbing all over the place. So if you don't know where you're going, it can get a little...interesting? So we took a wrong turn. No big deal. At least we were on a trail... which led to another trail... which led into some bramble bushes. And did I mention that it was getting later now, maybe 6:00. Rebs began to panic because we weren't seeing trail signs. We couldn't figure out where we were on the map, so therefore we must be lost, right? In my opinion, we weren't lost, only misplaced for the moment. (This is what I often tell Rebs when I can't find something) Lost is when something is gone for good. We were definitely not lost.

Soon, we began seeing trail signs, and an outhouse. After another 45 minutes, we were safe and sound at the car. No broken sandals this time, though we were both wearing flip flops, having not expected to hike a total of 5+ miles that day. That's what we estimated once we made it to the parking lot. We slept soundly that night, let me assure you.

Lost & Found

2011-08-01T06:02:00.002+09:00

Good morning from Penticton, British Columbia. The arid climate is wonderful—cool nights and mornings with warm, mostly sunny days. We left Leavenworth last Monday. That morning, we were awakened by thunder in the distance (is it 2 seconds for every mile?), and the rain followed shortly. Our rain fly worked well, so we stayed dry, then skipped breakfast and scrambled to get the tent down without getting too wet. We ended up at a little breakfast café called O’Grady’s where we ate, got lots of coffee refills, chatted with my dad on Skype, and uploaded pictures before I got jittery and was ready to go. The place itself was really beautiful, with a mostly finished wood interior, a gift shop attached through a hallway, and an organic garden out back, where they grow many of their herbs and produce fresh. They do tours on Saturdays at 4pm, if anyone reading ever makes it out this way. Rebs and I have dreamt about opening our own coffee shop someday. We both agreed that O’Grady’s would be a good place to model it after.
So as the rain continued to pour, we headed North toward Canada. After a brief stop to discard some peaches (you can’t bring produce across the border), we made our way into Canada, found a tourist information center and a map, then headed up to Penticton. First on our agenda was to see the climbing area, so we followed the road signs of a rock climber up a newly paved road to a newly paved parking lot. The climbing was a hike in, so we chose not to do it in the rain. Fortunately, there happened to be youth group of some sort just getting out of their vans. Fortuitous. We asked their leader where we might find a climbing shop and he directed us to a running store because he said there wasn’t any climbing shop in Penticton (hard to believe with over 1000 maintained routes in the park). So we headed down into Penticton to find the store, which happened to close around 4:30. We were an hour too late, but there was a bookstore next door, which happens to sell copies of the local guidebook. Yay!
Guidebook? Check! Place to stay? Hmm… It was still lightly raining and the thought of camping in the rain didn’t sound like fun, so we decided to go across the street and use the local coffee shop’s wireless to find a place to stay. Rebs did a bit of research and found a nice B&B that overlooks the city. Barb and Gary are two lovely people, (and quite resourceful too) having switched from the internet server business about 10 years ago and never looked back. We nestled into the Ruby Room for the night with some Domino’s Pizza, and what do you know, Rebs’ favorite show, “The Bachelorette”, happened to be on TV. I actually had to go wash my feet in the tub before dinner because I partially stained the bedspread with my dirty feet.
The next morning, we woke up late to sunshine and a beautiful breakfast on the back patio, refreshed and ready for climbing. Barb suggested we get out early to find a good camp site because the upcoming weekend was a holiday, meaning there’d be lots of people with the same idea as us: camp and enjoy the beautiful weather. So we headed to Okanaga Falls Provincial Campsite, but were about 3 minutes too late, pulling in right behind the car that took the last site. The Parks and Rec lady was kind enough to send us on to another site of similar quality about 10 minutes down the road. When we pulled into Vaseaux Lake, it looked like we might run into the same problem. As we were driving by, I had my window down and heard the lady in charge holler, “You girls might try site #9 at the end there. I think there is a couple just leaving.” (Apparently, I looked too much like a girl with my long hair). That site happened to be the best one of the whole lot, right on the lakeside with a spot for our tent nestled down by the water and away from the highway. Our prayer had been answered!

To be continued…

Written from in front of a campfire

2011-07-26T02:17:00.003+09:00

This has been a long time coming. Rebs and I have been in the U.S. for about a month now and the past two days have been our first alone together. Don’t get me wrong—we love spending time with other people. That’s probably part of the problem. But we also love spending time just the two of us. That is what these three weeks are for us. We’re climbing and camping around Western North America alone… as a family.
I am currently writing this (though it may be posted a few days later) from Site #21 of the 8-Mile Campground in Leavenworth, Washington. I have a citronella candle to my right and a blazing campfire to my left with my hot wife repeating, “You put the lime in the coconut…” as she makes herself a s’more. I sip my Californian “Red Velvet Cupcake” wine from a coffee mug because we have no cups or glasses.
Out here, life is simple. If I listen closely, I can hear the rush of the river in the distance past the other campsites, the pops ofthe fire and sparks. The evergreens surrounding our campsite make it so dark that even with time, your eyes won’t adjust to the dark. Life is beautiful.
Although, it hasn’t been this way entirely. Yesterday seemed to be Rebs’ unlucky day. What happened, you ask? Well, I popped the air mattress with a hot pot while bringing breakfast in bed to Rebs. While I was retrieving duct tape from our neighbors, the screw fell off the lid that Rebs was washing… into the firepit full of ashes (Don’t worry, we found it.). After getting out and hiking up to a climb that seemed good for us to do, I proceeded to climb up, but knocked off a large rock that I didn’t notice. Rebs was kind of on a ledge and couldn’t move. In her words, “I almost died.” She likes to embellish things sometimes. Then, after I finished climbing up, she followed as usual to join me at the top of the pitch. But then she had , let’s say, some URGENT needs to get down, and nearly disposed of them on the rappel down. Later in the day, as we packed up to hike down the mountain from climbing, Rebs set her full pack down briefly on what she thought was stable ground, only to see it roll in slow motion down the mountain. Luckily, after about 10-12 tumbles, it stopped against a rock and we were able to retrieve it. Then on our way down she had forgotten to wear her Chacos and instead was wearing her favorite flip-flops. One of them couldn’t quite hack it and the strap broke, so she hiked a quarter mile downhill in one flip flop.
We got back to camp in one piece and enjoyed a delicious dinner of turkey brats and chili with a beer. This relaxed us so much that we fell asleep in the hammock until I woke up from the cold at 11:00. When we moved to the tent, our dreams of a soft bed and uninterrupted sleep slowly deflated with the air mattress. It turns out that duct tape isn’t completely air proof.

An Adventurous Mindset

2011-07-09T01:06:00.003+09:00

Currently, I am writing this from the basement of a friend's communal house in Ballard, a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. At the moment, we have no phone or computer because 1)our phones only work in Korea, and 2)our computer is being repaired by the Mac Store. That second reason is why I won't be able to post any pictures about our adventures. But I would have you know that we got a new digital camera for this trip and have already tried it out some, so I hope to post some good pictures when we get our computer back after the wedding.

For those of you who don't know, we're on vacation. You can read my previous blog to find out where. I've found a new love for Seattle this time around. The last time I was here was about 5 years ago when Rebs and I came for a visit. This is where she grew up. She had been so excited to show me around her old stomping ground, sharing memories of growing up. But for whatever reason, I was in a funk and didn't really want to be in Seattle, so that put a damper on the whole trip. But this time has been amazing. We have only had two full days in Seattle but it feels like so much longer because we have done so much! I'll have to share more on this once we get out pictures uploaded.

One thing I contribute to this trips awesomeness is the right mindset. I find that lately I have been letting go of expectations. Sure, I have goals. We have a few things we need to get done while we're here, an occasional appointment like the one I had for my computer. But all in all, we're not forcing ourselves into a box. I understand that when you're working on a tight schedule, sometimes you have to be that way. But I feel like vacation is a time when it's best to just let things happen.

How does this work? For me, I have things I know I want to get done during the day, but I don't hold too tightly to any of them. I leave room for opportunity. If someone suggests we go to an art show downtown (such as last night), I just go with it. Being open is the key. Don't let your plans be so rigid that you miss out on some awesome opportunities. I don't know everything that's going to happen in the next month, but that's part of the excitement about it. The adventure of not knowing it all.

Summer Plans

2011-06-09T11:33:00.003+09:00

The school semester is winding down here in the suburbs of Daegu as the temperature rises. We have yet to turn on our air conditioning out of respect for the ghastly electric bill we received last July and August. So far, the evenings and mornings have been cool, which is perfect for sleeping with the windows open. But the time is near, I can sense it.

This summer will be one of many firsts for us. It will be the first time we go back to the United States, but don't visit Arkansas or Oklahoma, the place we will likely call home again in a year. It will be the first time either of us have spent much time in Canada. And it will be my first time to travel 5000 miles for a wedding.
When we found out Josh was getting married, we altered our plans for a European trip (which may have broken the bank) and decided to make the most of a trip to Prince Edward Island, off the Eastern coast of Canada. For all you "Anne of Green Gables" fans, that is where the movie was filmed. It is supposed to be beautiful in the summer and should be a gorgeous wedding.

To get from Korea to PEI, we will travel: from Busan to Tokyo, Tokyo to LA, LA to Seattle, Seattle to Chicago, Chicago to Providence, from which we will drive up the East coast. It will be an immense adventure. Then after the wedding, we'll head back to Seattle for a few errands before embarking on a month-long road trip around Washington, British Columbia, and Oregon. We plan to climb at Vantage, which also happens to be very near the Gorge (outdoor concert venue), so if there are any good shows at that time, we may have to go. Then, on to Skaha in BC. It's supposed to have some of the best sport climbing around. And then on to Squamish. Squamish is a bit mystical in my mind. I have seen several climbing films based in Squamish, but have never been there. I have only been to Canada once for a swim meet, where I got a good view of the Simon Fraser campus and swimming pool, but not much else. So there is newness all around. Also, Squamish is notorious for its trad climbing.

Rebs and I have a love/hate relationship with traditional climbing. I love it and she hates it. Maybe hate is too simple of a word. It scares her. If you're not familiar with "trad", it means placing your own protection (usually into a crack), usually in the form of a cam or nut. If you fall, you hope that the piece of gear you placed catches in the rock. I'm sure my mother will have some "concerns" with this brief description, but there is much more science to it. Yes, there is risk, but it is calculated. And what is life without risk?

After we get the climbing bug out of our system, we will head to the coast in Oregon, where Rebecca grew up taking camping vacations at Manzanita. We'll actually be staying with some extended family at their guest cottage, just to relax and soak up the sun for a bit before getting back into the working life of Korea, and the job of getting rid of 4 years' worth of accumulation.

That's our summer plan and it will be here before we know it. We're really excited, and we might even get a nice camera to document everything along the way. Then hopefully I won't have to type so much because my pictures can do all the talking. ;)

Really!?!?

2011-05-25T18:17:00.004+09:00

One thing I will miss about teaching English in Korea is the funny comments my kids make. By kids I mean college students. Today, I was told by one of my students, who goes by the name 'Hollywood' that I looked like an elf. The conversation went something like this...

Hollywood - Teacher, today you have 'elf style'
Me - What?
Hollywood - Elf. You know? E-L-F! Your hair today is 'elf style'
Me - Hmm... okay.
Hollywood - (Gets up and draws a picture of an elf on the whiteboard) Teacher is 'elf style'.
Me - (Laughing) Yes, I understand. Okay, thank you Hollywood.

I've attached a few photos of my hair-do today. What do you think? Did I invent a new style? Though it wasn't exactly the look I was going for, the true reason I did my hair like this today was because I was too rushed to get a shower in before work and didn't want my hair to look greasy. Next time I am in a rush, I think I'll probably just opt for a simple ponytail.

To Do Nothing

2011-04-13T08:36:00.006+09:00

Have you ever made it a goal to do nothing? It's more challenging for some than others. If you asked me a few years ago how often I tried to do nothing, I don't think I could have said ever. I always wanted to be going and doing stuff. I liked being challenged and experiencing new things, which I still do today, only with more balance. In college one semester, I was taking 18 hours of classes, working 10 hours of work study, swimming for the swim team 2 hours a day, lifting weights every other day, being an R.A., and trying to get a rock climbing wall pushed through the bureaucracy of our school. All this just to see how much I could push myself. One afternoon before swim practice, I was working on a 10-page paper when my computer froze and I lost 2 pages. I didn't have time to rewrite it and I had to go to practice. There was this sinking feeling of despair, like I couldn't keep up. I told my coach (who happened to be my sister) what had happened. She knew me well and saw how distressed I was and told me to take the day off. I sat on the pool deck and cried for about 10 minutes, then fell asleep there on the concrete deck for 45 minutes. I was empty. I had reached the breaking point.

From that experience, I know what it feels like to be too busy. I also think being married has helped me to slow down a bit. Just to enjoy life sometimes. That's sort of where I am in life right now. it's a continual process because this world keeps pushing us to keep up with the latest and greatest, increasing our efficiency and flexibility, seeing how much we can cram into the day.

This year is a year of nothing for me. Recently in one of my classes (I teach ESL at a college for Korean students), we were working on telling the date. One girl said "two thousand ten", and for a split second I had to think about it. No wait, it's 2011. This year is our first year to do the same thing as last year. We're living at the same place, working the same job, doing pretty much the same thing as we did the year before. When I think about it, my old self wants to jump in and tell me I'm not making any progress. But in truth, I'm happy with my life. This will be the first year since we've been married that we didn't have to pack up and move. Moving is great for not being attached to your stuff, but it's not exactly fun.

I still feel like I'm growing and changing. Family has become a much higher priority to me, so sometimes Rebs and I will stay home on a weekend, or skip a workout to just be. Someone once told me that you don't have to always be efficient because God is perfectly efficient on His own. I like that. it takes the pressure off. Go at the pace you feel comfortable with.

Homemade Lowfat Granola Bars

2011-04-05T09:30:00.002+09:00

I've been cooking and baking a lot lately. It's sort of been my creative outlet since we've been back in Korea. I enjoy the challenge of finding the right ingredients in a foreign country, translating Fahrenheit to Celsius, and just making it all work. So far, I've made strawberry jam, applesauce, cranberry applesauce, beans and rice, hummus, and my latest, this granola bar recipe. Rebs and I have been trying to eat really healthy since we've been back. One of the tricks I've found is always having something healthy readily available. So instead of grabbing a bag of chips when you feel like snacking, you can grab something more healthy and more convenient (because we haven't been keeping chips in the house).
Rebs said these granola bars were the best she's ever had!

So the recipe is as follows:
1 cup oatmeal (preferably not instant)
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup finely chopped raw almonds
1/2 cup ground flax seed or wheat germ
1/4 cup dark brown sugar or molasses
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup agave syrup
1/4 cup sunflower or almond oil
1 tbsp butter (optional)
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup dried cranberries

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375*F. Mix dry ingredients (not including fruit or salt) in a large mixing bowl. Pour dry mixture onto the baking pan covered with aluminum foil, spread as thin as possible. Bake for 10-20 minutes, or until slightly browned.
2. While dry mix is baking, combine sugars and fat(s) in a sauce pan on medium heat. Stir constantly until evenly mixed.
3. Combine everything together in the large mixing bowl. Grease aluminum foil in baking pan, Press mixture into baking pan. Pack solid. If you have another pan of the same size, place aluminum foil over top of mixture and use 2nd pan to press firm.
4. Bake for 25-35 minutes. Remove hot granola with aluminum foil onto a cutting board. Use a large knife to cut the granola into preferred sizes. (Remember, this recipe is lowfat, but still high in calories, so smaller is better.) Do not saw. Rather, press down firmly and separate. Let the granola cool, then store in an airtight container for up to one week out of the refrigerator. Or granola can be stored in the fridge for longer, (but is harder to chew when cold).

Beans & Rice

2011-03-25T16:24:00.003+09:00

I couldn't seem to upload this on any of the recipe websites for free, so I thought I'd just put it on here. I made beans and rice for the first time this week and it turned out really well. We've had the leftovers twice and didn't get sick of it. So here is my Healthy Tex-Mex Beans and Rice Tostadas recipe:

(Note: Measurements may vary)
1/4 cup uncooked wild rice
3/4 cup uncooked brown rice
1 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed.
2 cups chicken broth (or 1&1/2 c.b. w/ 1/2 cup water for a less salty taste)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 small/medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 8-12 oz can sweet corn
1 tbsp tomato paste with 1tbsp water (or 2oz skinless, pureed tomatoes with 1 tsp lemon juice)
1 tbsp cumin
1/4 cup dried cilantro (or 1/2 cup fresh)
1 small/medium red bell pepper

Extras:
soft corn tortillas
sour cream or plain yogurt
salsa to taste

1. Prepare the rice. Rinse rice in warm water, Press the grains between your fingers to get out excess starch. Rinse again.
Cook using chicken broth and juice from corn. I used the rice cooker, but you can cook in a pot just as easily in about 25 minutes.
2. While rice is cooking, heat oil and butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Saute onion for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and continue for 1 more minute. Add bell pepper for 1-2 minutes. Add cumin and blend with other ingredients.
3. Reduce heat to low. Add corn, beans, cilantro, and tomato paste. Mix well and cover until rice is finished. Stir occasionally.
4. When rice is finished, add it to skillet and mix with other ingredients.
(optional)
5. Lightly cover tortillas with butter or margerine. Put in oven or toaster oven on broil for 2-3 minutes, until just crispy and slightly brown.
6. Mix yogurt with a dash of cumin and 2-4 tablespoons of salsa.
7. Put skillet mix on crispy tortilla, then cover with sauce and enjoy!

Snowed In... Again

2011-02-05T13:19:00.002+09:00

That's right. It's in the upper teens tonight as I write this, and it has been snowing since about 10am with a forecast of continuing through the night. We're staying at Rebs' mom's house, which happens to be on kind of a hilltop. So we chose not to get out today. This is pretty much a repeat of two and three days ago, except the first time was with an icy intro. Probably the best thing about it so far has been taking our dog Legend for walk in it. She about 12 and a half now, but when she goes outside, she acts like a puppy, bounding in the taller stuff, sometimes dropping her mouth into it as she walks to quench her thirst, occasionally rolling in it, and when we go around the block, she seems to like taunting the other neighborhood dogs that she's on a walk while they're behind the fence.

The good news is that all this cabin fever has forced us to get focused and take care of exciting things like going through junk mail from the past 2 years, torturing myself with climbing videos, or checking up on my 401K plan. Well, maybe it's not that exciting, but at least I have nothing better to do to avoid doing it any more.

Repercussions to a Minimalist Lifestyle

2010-12-28T03:32:00.002+09:00

So if you've been reading, you know that we've been stateside for several days now. You may also know that I've been on somewhat of a minimalist kick, which I think is one of the best times to do it because you're tempted with things you "need" left and right. 'Tis the season to be spending. So far, I'd say I'm doing pretty well. I realize that right now in life, I have everything I need. It helps knowing that we likely have (at most) one more year in Korea, which means that we will be moving and will be vanquishing much of what we own, or shipping it home. I see my minimalism as a way of reducing my stress and work in the long run. Maybe when we move back to the States for good, I will think about things differently. We'll be getting cars, a house, and opening up our long-forgotten storage unit to fill it. But that's not right now. So for now, I will continue to minimize my life.

Rebs doesn't exactly see eye to eye with me on this whole thing. Yesterday, I happened to put on a pair of socks I hadn't worn in a while. I went downstairs and was sitting there when Rebs came by and noticed a big hole on the underside. Her first reaction was to want to buy me some new socks. I think that would be most people's reaction. But I still have plenty of socks, probably more than I can wear in a week. Let's face it, most people do laundry at least once a week. So if you can manage to have clean socks every day of the week, why does it matter if you have 4 pairs or 17? As far as I know, she hasn't bought me any new socks. But I did consent and tell her she can buy me some new boxers. :)

2010-12-23T23:15:00.004+09:00

All is well here in Colorado. We're really enjoying our time with Rebecca's family. Life is so simple without work or a cell phone. And Rebs' dad and stepmom have been so gracious as to let us use their cars during the day by dropping them off at work. Two nights ago, we went to the Bonefish Grill for dinner, had some amazing food, but it was especially special because we were all together: us, Rebs' dad and stepmom, stepbrother Brandon who is in the Marines, his fiancee Kim, and Rebs' brother Josh, who flew to Canada the next day to meet his fiancee. Everyone's schedule (except ours) is somewhat complicated, so the fact that we were all able to be together was nice. Afterwards, we came back and had an early Christmas, opening a couple gifts at first, but Santa's helper (Gail) kept finding new gifts that should be opened at that very moment. So about half the presents got opened. We had some fun with doing one-legged squats (no alcohol necessary), and finished the night with some warm apple pie and ice cream.

Two things I've been enjoying a lot lately: working out and eating! If you know me well, you know that I really like eating. And the one thing for me that makes food even better is having earned it through a good workout. It tastes better and is always guilt free. I also like being in good health, so that doesn't hurt either. So yesterday, Rebs and I went swimming for about an hour. I think it was about my senior year of college that I actually fell in love with the sport. Before that, it had been a means to an end-- a scholarship. But I knew I needed a better attitude about it because of how much time we spent training. So I prayed about it and really set my mind to change. That last season was my best ever. I loved the way I felt gliding through the water with ease due to a finely trained body. I think that feeling has stuck with me. So now, even though I'm not in peak performance shape like in college, I love getting a good workout in every now and then.

I've been having trouble adjusting to the time change from Korea to here. Korea is 16 hours ahead of Denver time, so when I'm going to bed here, it's about when I was getting up a week ago. So I wake up around 3,4, or 5 in the morning and am wide awake. It's happened every day I've been here so far. But Gail usually gets up early to work out and she invited me to come with her. So this morning, when I woke up at 4:30, rather than trying to force myself back to sleep, I was excited to get up and have a workout buddy. We did a CV circuit that Gail's trainer made for us, which is basically a mix of arms, abs, and legs, rotating through each station usually with less than a minute rest. His name is Chris and seems like a nice guy. Very perky for 5 a.m., but I guess that could be good for motivating the unmotivated. After a half hour, he had to go with his next client, but that was fine with me because I was already pretty fatigued. It's amazing the difference you feel at high altitude. I get winded so much easier up here near the mile high city. I believe Westminster is around 7000 feet in altitude. So during my lifting and running, I feel like my heart is burning a bit, hard to get air, but at the same time, fine tuning itself to be stronger. C'mon red blood cells, multiply!

So here I am at 7:30 in the morning, having already had a good workout for the day, a nice Fa La Latte (God bless the eggnog), and written a blog. I kind of like getting up early, but will probably need a nap later.

Arrived

2010-12-21T21:46:00.002+09:00

After a ride from our friend to the airport, a flight from Busan to Tokyo, then Tokyo to LA, and LA to Denver for a total of 28 hours of traveling door to door, we are safe and sound at Rebs' dad's house. But for the 1 hour wait on the tarmac in LA, and then waiting for our luggage to arrive on the flight after us, it was a very smooth trip. It was a great feeling when we came up the escalator to see Brent waiting for us, to see the smile on both his and Rebs' face, the pure joy from a long-awaited embrace. It has been over 2 years since we were last in Colorado. So much has gone on while we were gone, it's hard to catch up sometimes. But the people we love are still here.

I woke up at 5 a.m. this morning, my usual jet lag wake up time. We were slightly delirious upon arriving, having only slept a few hours at different times on different airplanes. But we still managed some good conversation with all of the family. And now that the camera isn't packed anymore, you will hopefully get to see some pictures as we travel.

America

2010-12-19T23:01:00.002+09:00

It's 11:00 at night here in Daegu. Rebs' stuff is sitting in 3 open suitcases as she gets one last good chat with our friend Narina before we head home for two months. My stuff is mostly packed in one bag in the bedroom. I've been slowly adopting the minimalist attitude over the past few months, one of the reasons we've chosen not to carry a cell phone when we're home. Feeling like my world is cluttered, I've been seeking a solution. Now that the school semester is over (if you're unaware, we teach English in Korea), I am really looking forward to the time away, the chance to step out of the picture and look at my life in Korea from a distance.

It feels a little weird going back to the States after being gone for two years, and having not lived there for three. Rebs and I were talking about the reverse culture shock we expect to feel--noticing things we had forgotten about when we first left. In a sense, we've become weird. We now know and (as much as is possible) understand the Korean way, and have somewhat adopted most of those methods for ourselves. But in doing that, have we lost some of our western logic? A more tangible example for people who haven't lived in another country, specifically Korea, is personal space. In Korea, the larger the city, the smaller the proximity of personal space available. This is why it's not uncommon to have your nose in someone's armpit on the subway, or get shoved aside by a halmonee (grandmother) with her purse as a battering ram on the bus. I just imagine myself going home and bumping into someone in a packed store and continuing to walk on without noticing, then having that person turn around and call me names. Rebs also says I need to work on my driving skills. And we're not sure what's going to happen with driving because when we got our Korean driving licenses, we had to turn in our American ones. So we're going to the DMV when we get back and see what they say. I can only imagine the look on the lady's face when she sees my license all in Hangul.

But it's all worth it to get some much needed time with family and friends. If you're in Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, or Kansas, drop us a line because we'll be around!

PS - this is Dusty writing, not Rebs.

Happy Late Thanksgiving

2010-12-02T10:41:00.008+09:00

It's been several months since I last wrote. I believe it was just before my summer camp started. Well, there is good reason for my absence. It somewhat represents my feeling of life for a while. I was the absentminded professor. Basically, I worked 12-13 hour days 6 days a week for 4 weeks, then went straight into school. This semester was extremely busy for me because I was teaching 5 different kinds of classes: Basic English 1, Basic English 1A, Basic English 2, Restaurant English, and Hair Design English. Yes, hair design. Rebs does say that I care too much about my hair, so maybe it fits me. All these classes meant I had much more to prep for. So I've basically just been keeping my head afloat with school for the past 4 months. On the weekends, I abandoned responsibility and headed to one of our many crags. My love for rock climbing made everything else not matter so much. It was the most enjoyment I got out of life, so that's what I did the most.

So there. Now you're caught up on bullet points. Now that school is winding down, I hope to have more time for blogging and keeping up with people better. Last year we didn't celebrate Thanksgiving. So this year, we made up for it with two! Two turkeys, double the casserole, double the belly ache. It was actually lots of fun. There is definitely a different feeling when you do Thanksgiving with friends. But we laughed a lot, and enjoyed our family away from home.

We head to the U.S. in just under 3 weeks! The majority of that time will be spent with family and friends, catching up after not having been in America for 2 years. I imagine that we will have somewhat of a reverse culture shock upon returning. Since we last left, my sister (and about everyone back home we know) had a baby. He is walking and starting to talk and we've never met him. So it will be really exciting to get to know him as well as her other two kids that are growing up fast. Also, my parents bought a piece of land with a cabin on it. They have been renovating it with hopes of having it as a future home someday. Well, that's at least one of the dreams. We are excited to see it and possibly help with some of the renovation.

Epic Weekend

2010-10-12T17:14:00.005+09:00

One to write home about, literally. This past weekend was our bi-annual weekend get-together for our nearest and dearest climbing friends in South Korea. It is one of the few times a year we gather together in the same place at the same time to celebrate our unique family-like friendships and create new memories. True to form, the festivities commenced Friday evening and the next 36 hours or so was full of excited energy and laughter. Sunday afternoon we were exhausted from it all but full of joy and satisfaction. Here is a brief rundown of the weekend shenanigans.

We kicked off the weekend with a delicious barbecue at our place followed by a Saturday morning breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls (thanks Dusty), eggs, fruit, and lots of coffee. It was a slow morning to get around and make decisions due to the drizzle outside but eventually it dried out and we all made our way to Shinban for some yoga and climbing. Shauna led a bunch of us in a super amazing practice which prepared our minds and bodies for some fun and exciting afternoon climbing. The newest addition to our family, Epic, had a ball running around in circles, chasing dragon flies, and chewing on sticks. Saturday evening we all headed to Bryan and Shauna's for some delicious South St philly cheese-steaks. Then Dusty posed the next challenge for us all, a dance competition. We were all divided into teams and had only a few hours to pick a song and choreograph a dance to perform in front of everyone. Let's just say it was a MEMORABLE competition and we got it all on video. Finally, we all headed back to our place so the girls could do some clothing/book exchanges. It's always so much fun sharing and trading with each other. We finally all headed to bed around 3am. Those that slept at our house were lucky enough to sleep in Sunday morning. Shortly after a light breakfast we headed back over to Bryan and Shauna's to celebrate Hana's birthday (she's 3). The party was hopping. We partook in appetizers, games, and cupcakes followed by our own parade outside. Everyone gathered musical instruments and played them in unison as we all walked to the park together to let the kids get their energy out. It was a crazy and chaotic blast of fun. The adults took turns resting and playing with the kids and by the end of it all, we were exhausted! One by one we all said our goodbyes and Dusty and I headed home for some much needed rest.

We're always so humbled and amazed at how God has blessed us with such amazing friendships. We are so thankful to have such wonderful people in our lives. Thanks to everyone who made it. To Bryan, we will never look at you the same after seeing you dressed in Shauna's bikini-top and tube dress (falling off) and dancing like a girl (followed by the security guard knocking on the door). Shauna, for the amazing yoga session and the delicious elmo cupcakes. Hana for your sweetness and love of dogs. Jess and Charlie, cuz you guys are just such a fun couple to be around. Terra (Harriet) for listening, for being my trusty belayer and inspiring me to climb hard. I love climbing with you, girl. Zen, for your joy, zest, and butter. Heidi, for your laughter and sharing your new experiences. Hanna, for your hilarious dance moves. Louise, for your gentle sweetness. Josh, for your genuine personality. Tom and Kate, for all the tasty pastries. Madeleine, for crawling around on the floor and making us all laugh. And Will, for your hilarious rap poem about poo. Indeed, it was a weekend to remember.

Fellowship - The Underlying Theme to My Summer Vacation

2010-07-22T22:24:00.002+09:00

Seeing that my summer vacation will stop abruptly Saturday morning, I thought I'd reflect a bit about the summer. I leave for camp tomorrow, taking an hour and a half train ride south to the town of Jinju. I've never been there, so I have no idea what to expect. I also, in classic Korean style, have received very little information about the 4 week camp I am scheduled to work Starting Sunday/Monday. I think the kids are upper elementary and will be the same kids the whole time. But other than that, I know little. I guess I can write more about this when I know more.

So over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed the re-occurring theme of relationships/fellowship, or any other word you'd like to insert there. To me, it means connecting with other people in a way that goes beyond the surface. I believe we were made to be in relationships with each other. And I have found that there is little that can compare to the joy found in close people.

Last weekend, I got to go climbing with the owner of my climbing gym and some of the members. It had been a really long time since I was the sole foreigner in the group, and I kind of enjoyed it. There was a loneliness at times when I wasn't able to speak, but I also noticed how much my Korean has improved from 2 years ago. The weather pretty much rained us out, but our spirits were kept high. Maybe it was the lack of people around this summer that made me thirst for fellowship, but it was exactly what I needed. We ended up hiking to the top of the mountain, only to climb one route in the wind and rain, and then hike 30 minutes down to the shelter we'd camped at, make some ramen noodles, then hike another 30 minutes down to the artificial wall at the base, where it was partly sunny. In the evening, I got to meet the gym owner's family over dinner. His older sister actually owns the restaurant and had it open just to us, with a delicious dinner of pulled chicken, water kimche, and chicken soup. There is a word in Korean that means "refreshing" but I don't remember what it is right now. But they taught it to me that night.

I've had a double dose of fellowship, I guess, because our Tuesday night Bible Study has been really awesome. There are 7 of us who have been coming regularly, and that really is a magic number. Over the course of several months, we've come to know and understand each other on levels that good friendships are based on. If you know me well, you know that when I get comfortable, I'm not ashamed to ask tough or touchy questions, because I feel comfortable only when I think my company is too. So it's been really nice to open up with a group that I know and trust, sharing our faith with each other, something that is so dear to us. it's awesome.

Family Fun

2010-07-03T17:27:00.006+09:00

It's been about a week since Mom and Dad came to visit. It was short and sweet, packed full of wonderful experiences with two people we love dearly. It had been over a year since we had last seen each other. Rebs went via KTX train and Seoul subway to eventually pick them up at the Incheon Airport. They bussed back and then taxi'd here. Their arrival date was June 18th, my mom's birthday. So while Rebs was in transit picking them up, I was home getting good food from Costco and making the ugliest, but most delicious carrot cake known to man, finishing just in time for their arrival.

Over the following week, we did all sorts of fun and active things to give them a glimpse into our lifestyles across the sea, as well as experience a country and culture that was equally foreign. It was fun to watch them shed their timidity slowly, but surely. My dad and I took a bike ride on the riverside path near our house. We took them to the local farmer's market and tried some new foods (no silk worm larvae though). We went swimming together at a local indoor pool that I frequent. We took them to the climbing gym to meet our local climbing community. We also went to Gyeongju (경주), Korea's old capital, to meet our friend Chris who acted as our tour guide as we biked around the city. They got to see some Buddhist temples and old carvings in the granite rocks around the mountainside. And they also got their first experience of Korean food, bibimbab (mixed veggies, rice, and an egg in a hot bowl).

While we were around the apartment, Rebs and Mom bought some pots and dirt to plant the seeds Mom brought over to help Rebs start her herb garden up on the rooftop. (We already have basil, oregano, and cilantro already sprouting after just a week!) We went together as a family to get acupuncture. And we had our friends over for a barbeque on the rooftop, so they could all meet Mom and Dad. We played a Korean version of "Catch Phrase" that I made up using different words and phrases you use and hear as a foreigner in Korea. The girls won (of course), and their prize was hugs from Mom and Dad.

The most important thing about my parents' trip, in my eyes, was that we just got to spend some quality time with them. Living over here, we only see our families on Skype every so often. You don't realize how much a hug is worth until you have to go without. We got to catch up with them. And even though we went all over the place and showed them many things, we made sure to savor our time in relaxing in each other's company, reveling in the depth of conversation. There is sometimes this imaginary barrier to a Skype call that keeps you from getting beyond the surface. So getting to spend so much time with Mom and Dad helped us to break past that barrier. It meant a lot for my parents to spend the time and money to come to the other side of the world just to see us. Now I feel like they know us better, and how to relate to us more. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Summertime

2010-06-12T18:06:00.004+09:00

It's almost here. I thought this would be a good time to give everyone an update. Next week is finals week so Dusty and I will be busy grading and getting everything finished up for the semester. Sometimes it feels like it's flown by, other times it seems like it's dragged on for a long time. Either way, Dusty and I are both really looking forward to the summer. We have decided to stay close to try and save money and take advantage of our free time to work on other things besides teaching.

What we've been doing this semester:
- we moved
- we made our apartment into a home
- we adjusted and adapted to life in Daegu
- we learned a new job (again)
- we taught new curriculum and made new lesson plans
- we made new friends
- we talked a lot about our future plans, goals, and dreams
- we started a sort of Bible study with friends
- and of course... we traveled Korea and climbed like crazy

Currently Reading - The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi
Currently Listening To - The God Journey Podcasts
In the Kitchen - Made Butter Chicken and Naan a few times recently
Currently Watching - Videos on Gymnastike.com

We've been busy these past several months. Basically it's been another semester of transition for us. We are so happy where we are. We love our surroundings, our jobs, our friends, and our lifestyle. It was a difficult move for us but we couldn't have asked for a better set-up. We are definitely thankful that the transition stage is behind us now and at this point are hoping for another year and a half here. We both know we are nearing the next 'life stage' but neither of us feels quite ready to move on from where we are now. I realized this semester that I have moved 8 times since I graduated college in 2003. Yes, that's right folks. 8 TIMES!!! Needless to say, I'm looking forward to staying put here for a little while longer. I think it will give us the time and freedom we need to decide what direction we want to go next.

Upcoming summer plans:
- Dusty's parents are coming to visit for a week. We are so excited to see them! They'll be here this Friday. We have been trying to get all the finishing touches done on the apartment so they'll be comfortable during their stay.
- After that I'll be studying my booty off for the the national counseling licensure exams which I hope to take this winter.
- I also hope to study Korean. My goal is to finish the Rosetta Stone program by the end of summer.
- I want to learn some songs on my ukulele.
- I plan to organize all our photos, get albums made, and delete whatever is leftover.
- I have a blanket that I've been working on crocheting for over 2 years now. Maybe I'll work on it some.
- I hope to find some great summer reads.
- I'm also hoping to get lasik eye surgery.
- Dusty will work a camp throughout August to make some extra money.
- He's also planning to do a language exchange.
- And of course, we will stay active climbing, running, doing yoga, etc.

Future plans:
- We plan to come home over winter vacation to visit our families and for me to try and get my counseling license.
- That's as far as we've gotten. We have ideas and dreams but no set plans past winter. We'll keep you posted.

Oh yeah, I wrote this a few weeks ago but I forgot to post it

2010-06-12T17:59:00.002+09:00

It is a balmy Wednesday evening. We (Dusty and I) are so fortunate to have the majority of this week off of work. We taught regular classed Monday but our school is having their annual sports festival Tuesday through Thursday. Friday is Buddha’s birthday, which is a national holiday here. Our school graciously gave us these days off so we decided to take a little getaway, just the two of us. We don’t seem to get time to ourselves very often. I’m not complaining because I love our lifestyle here and the fact that we have many friends who we love to spend time with. But, it’s so nice to have Dusty all to myself for three whole days. No distractions, no phone calls, no schedule, and no letting the time determine what we should be doing. We decided to come to our favorite climbing place in Korea, Seonunsan. We will be here until Friday evening at which time we’ll head over to another crag (closer to home) and spend the weekend (you guessed it) climbing with friends.

We were meant to leave yesterday afternoon but we woke up in the morning to heavy rain. Dusty decided to head off to work (on his day off) to check out the festivities. I opted to stay warm and dry in our cozy apartment and slept in until 9:00. I told him I’d work on packing while he was gone. However, once he left I found myself lacking motivation seeing as how it was pouring outside. Instead I watched some gymnastics videos online, took a shower, and caught up with Brandi on skype. It’s not often I get her all to myself without interruption. It was great talking to her. I recently decided I’m going to work toward getting my counseling license this winter, which is a big decision for me. It gets the ball rolling in a direction and means I have lots of work to do. I’ve been done with graduate school for nearly three years but for whatever reason, haven’t felt like I wanted to pursue licensure until now. For whatever reason, I feel ready. But, I’m scared. I’m scared of failing. I’m scared I won’t be good at it. I’m scared I won’t be able to remember how to do it. There is a lot of fear that I’m going to have to face with it and I can’t think of any other person who could understand it all better than Brandi. She’s been through the whole process and is an awesome counselor, friend, and sister. I hope to write more on this decision in my next blog.

Dusty was a bit disappointed when he returned to find everything still needing to be packed. Ugh! Such a chore it is. I explained my severe lack of drive to do anything that day. I asked if we could just spend the day at home relaxing and packing up and head out early the next morning. To my surprise, he thought it was a great idea. So yesterday we spent a peaceful, relaxing day at home, just the two of us. We didn’t do much. We packed. We took lots of breaks. We ran a few errands. We watched an episode of the Cosby Show. I love that show. We ordered fried chicken for dinner and snuggled up to watch a movie. We were in bed by 10:00. It continued to pour throughout the night and we both woke up around 3:30 to some loud thunder before falling right back to sleep.

This morning we were both up by 5:30 and were out the door by 6:15. The drive was lovely. I slept for the first half but by the time I woke up the rain had mostly stopped leaving behind a heavy, misty fog for the sun to battle for most of the day. We arrived here around 9:45 and quickly set up camp. We’ve done it so many times by now that we barely need to speak. We set the tent up together, then I get inside while Dusty hands me our pads, sleeping bags, and pillows. Then we unload the clothes out of our packs and set them at our feet. Then we unload the food. When we finished, we ate a bit of tuna salad, crackers, and dried seaweed. Then I had a bowl of cereal (I didn’t get breakfast). Before I was finished Dusty had set up the hammock and was ready for a late morning nap. I joined him and we slept soundly for about an hour. When we woke up we ate a little more and then packed up for our hike to the rock climbing area. It’s about 3 miles up to the crag. It’s a bit long but beautiful all the way and I enjoy the exercise and feeling warmed up before I even get on the rock. We arrived up at the crag around 2:30 to find it wet, very wet. So wet in fact that we only did one easy climb. We decided it would be better to just take it easy today and let things dry out a bit. So instead, we sat on top of a rock and talked while enjoying an amazing view. Then we hiked around looking at some climbs we might like to try tomorrow and ate a bit more before hiking back down to the campsite. I did a little bit of yoga while Dusty fetched some wood for the fire. And that brings us to now. Right now I’m laying in the hammock while Dusty gets a little catnap in before dinner. I think we’ll have sweet potato chili tonight. Mmm! Speaking of which, I’m going to go get that started. I’m hungry!

Another Update

2010-05-31T16:18:00.002+09:00

I can't believe it's been over a month since we last wrote on here. I'm sure Rebs has a blog she's written somewhere; she just hasn't posted it yet. This semester has been filled to the brim with organizing and preparations for school and climbing trips. Just about every weekend we have gone away to different climbing crags around the beautiful Korean countryside. Two weekends ago, the weather was a bit wet. That weather turned out to be perfect for the project that some we and some friends decided to do. We built some steps up a steep, eroding trail at Yongseo Pokpo 영서폭포 (Yong-saw waterfalls). It was really fun working together in the rain and having the joy of seeing our finished product at the end of the day. I look forward to going back and seeing how our work stands against the test of time.
I've been doing a bit of reading lately. I'd call myself a sporadic reader, but when I get a book that I like, it's more fascinating than any TV show or movie. I love movies, but a good book has so many more details. Such is the case with The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas. I know the book is centuries old, but to me that is part of its appeal. It shows a glimpse into history while telling the story. And if you have a good imagination, it's better than any screenplay.

Learning, Changing, Growing

2010-04-21T22:38:00.005+09:00

It's been a wild month since I last wrote on here. We feel much more settled into our city and have been enjoying some great weekends climbing all over this beautiful, mountainous country. When the weather turned warmer, we started going out on the weekends to climb, and now here I am, a month and a half later, having not written. I think someone in our family has said before that, "no news is good news". Well that's true for us in this case. I have to remind myself to slow down sometimes to reflect and share these experiences with others.
I've really been growing in my climbing lately, but not in the conventional sense of power and strength as much as I have mentally. I don't know where I got it from, possibly from my fellow climbers (amazing people), but I've been using a few sayings lately. When something has happened that I would have liked to be different, I simply say, "it is what it is," meaning that you can't change the past so why dwell on it.
The other thing I've really been focusing on is the pure enjoyment aspect of the sport, as well as life in general. There are so many things we do on a daily or routine basis that we don't ever stop to ask ourselves why we do them. Why do I put so much into my daily life that I feel rushed all day long. Am I enjoying this life? And back to the original topic, am I enjoying climbing? Rebs and I climb for no other reason except that we enjoy it. There is no person or thing that forces us to do it. And most importantly, I don't find my self worth in how well I climb. At least that's the goal. I've recently found that when I take the pressure off myself to be perfect in my climbing, and to just enjoy it- every moment with friends, being outdoors, each movement on the rock- I climb better and am much happier for it. I am living in the moment.
We aren't promised tomorrow. So why not live right now, making the most of every opportunity. There's some company that has a great slogan that says, "be present". That's where I am right now and it's a good place to be. Not too focused on the past or the future. I enjoy being in the present!

Week of Tenacity

2010-03-04T23:52:00.003+09:00

I was a swimmer in college and every year we would have our first week of training after a summer off. In normal schools, this was called "hell week" but since I went to a Christian university, we called it the "week of tenacity", much more appealing to the ear, but none less grueling. We would have two-a-days swimming with weights every other day. The idea was to whip your body into shape that first week so that the following weeks wouldn't seem so hard (or at least that's how I thought of it).

Well, this week has definitely been our week of tenacity. Rebs and I have both had times where we either cried or wanted to cry or punch something/someone. We've been transitioning into a new city and a new job in a country where English is definitely not the first language. On top of it, this isn't something we chose for ourselves, both of us being planner's by nature. We were released from our previous jobs unexpectedly, without explanation, at the end of our contracts.

Classes started this week and we have both felt overwhelmed by it. It isn't that our jobs are difficult, but more that they are unfamiliar. In fact, there isn't much in our lives that is. Our apartment, our friends, our offices, our city, are all less than 2 weeks old. I hate that feeling of not being in control. I want to buy a TV cable. I want to go to the downtown produce market. I want to buy a sofa for my living room. But I don't know how to do any of it. The delivery guy calls me on the phone, but we can't communicate with each other. It's these things that I'm dealing with on a daily basis.

I have to keep reminding myself that everything I do is a step in the right direction. I've felt like God is teaching us to let go of our control. Every time I drive down the wrong road, I have become more familiar with my surroundings. I know that that's not the right way, narrowing my choices. Eventually, maybe I will have gone down all the wrong roads and then I'll know which ones are shortcuts. It's just a matter of time. Every time something doesn't work, I re-think things and try something else.

One good thing that happened tonight was that we went climbing with our friend Bryan at the climbing gym near our house. We are all out of shape, having not been able to climb for the past few weeks due to the transition. But there is something purifying about working hard that I enjoy. Rebs says I'm weird for enjoying pain, but I hardly see it as pain anymore. Just progress. We climbed hard for 2 hours, finishing with pull-ups and abs, the same as was our routine 2 years ago when we trained regularly in a gym in Seoul. I enjoyed every bit of sweat and pain because it cleanses me. I left refreshed, feeling that familiar feeling, no more in control than I ever am, but satisfied.

Transition

2010-02-20T08:22:00.005+09:00

I know it's been a long time since we've written anything, but believe me, we have a lot to tell and catch you up on. Right now, I'm sitting on the couch in a friend's apartment in Daegu, about 4 hours south of where we lived and worked last year. This is because we are moving to Daegu to work. We came down here to take care of details like renewing visas and signing contracts. We finally found and leased an apartment yesterday too. But we don't move in until February 24th, so we'll take some pics once we do.
We might be doing a bit of backtracking to catch you up on all our adventures, because from about December 16th to February 11th, we were on holiday. The last place we vacationed was on Railay beach in Thailand. It was hot, sunny, beautiful, and had very aesthetic climbing. I loved the fact that I forgot what day of the week it was and that it didn't matter. I often didn't know the date or time. We climbed on our on days, and swam, read books, and tanned on rest days, along with getting fitted for tailor made suits, the first shopping trip that I thoroughly enjoyed. We ate $3 meals on a regular basis, and if you have never had "mango sticky rice" before, you should look it up and make it. That's what Rebs had for breakfast just about every day.

One cool thing about that place is that many people stay for a month or longer, and return often. So the result is that everyone kind of knows each other. In stead of it being a vacation where you just hang out with whoever you came with, you end up meeting people and climbing with them, and then meeting their friends. So by the time we left, we had met quite a few people who also live and teach English in Korea. Alas, it came to an end too soon. It was a lifestyle we could have lived forever.

What we came back to was a stark contrast. As our plane landed in Seoul in the early morning, there were snow flurries welcoming us back to reality. We proceeded to put on half the clothes in our bags that we'd brought and headed home. At home in Gangneung, we made a list of everything we needed to do before moving to Daegu. The only problem was it wouldn't stop snowing! It snowed through the night and most of the next day. When we went out for a walk, we measured it to be about 45cm (sorry, no inches on our ruler). So we did some packing in the house and watched a movie. But it was amazing to think that I had been shirtless on the beach 48 hours before.

Why I Climb

2010-01-03T20:26:00.002+09:00

Climbing is the most helpful thing in my life in terms of relieving my anxiety and worries about the future. It feels so parallel to my life right now. It's hard, scary, and fun all at the same time. There is a lot of mystery, challenge, and uncertainty involved. Sometimes I feel really vulnerable and insecure. Other times I feel confident and strong. But what I like most about it is that no matter what the circumstances are, no matter where I am on the rock, I always feel alive and fully present. My focus is on whatever is presented in front of me in the moment. Everything else melts away and it's just me up there alone with my Maker and together we dance up the rock. It's so wonderful to be able to focus on climbing for an extended amount of time. It's relaxing, therapeutic, and my main creative outlet. My hope is that I will be able to take all of this and apply it to the rest of my life.

A Relaxing Day

2010-01-03T20:25:00.000+09:00

Just to warn you, this might be a looong post. It's a shame that we've been here in Thailand for 17 days now and this is my first post. I wrote a lot in my journal while we were volunteering at the Bamboo School but didn't have access to internet to share my thoughts so that will have to come later (maybe on our cruise). We arrived in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand the morning of the 29th and have been loving our time here. We've just been so busy having fun and today is the first day I've actually slowed down enough to blog. Honestly, it's been really nice not having the internet be as accessible. I haven't missed it at all and have enjoyed having an excuse not to communicate so much through a computer screen. I think I'd much prefer pen and paper but the rest of the world just can't seem to be patient enough for that. I think that's rather sad. So, I spent the afternoon writing postcards and quite enjoyed the time and thought process that went into it. It was simple and easy and gave me time to think for a bit about each person I wrote.

Today we got to enjoy a wonderful rest day in the sun. We've just been laying out by the pool reading, writing, and relaxing. It's the first day since we've been on vacation that's felt 'restful'. We've been busy! Let me catch you up on our days in Chiang Mai.

Tues 29th
We left the Bamboo School around midnight of the 29th and arrived here around 8am. We were TIRED. We quickly found a place to stay, however for the first night we took a room with 2 twin beds because it's what was available and we didn't want to drive around in a taxi looking for a place all day. We just wanted to SLEEP! Any accomodations were a huge step up from the orphanage so we were happy with our little room and were promised a room with a king sized bed the next day. Hooray! So, the first thing we did was take a long nap. Boring. Then we got up, walked around and explored the town. It's beautiful here. Very dry heat and then it cools down at night you can be comfortable with a light sweater or scarf. We shared a pizza for lunch. Let me just say that this place has cheap and delicious food options galore and after eating rice and veggies 3x a day for 11 days, good food tastes amazing! We then went and found the climbing school, signed up to get a ride out with them the next day, browsed in some shops, checked our e-mail and facebook, dropped off our laundry, got Thai massages, ate delicious Thai food for dinner, checked out the night bazaar, and crashed.

Wed 30th
Woke up early. Showered (how wonderful a long hot shower felt after 12 or so days without one), dressed, and packed our bags to be moved to a room with a big bed. (On a random side note, the power just went off and so computer quit on me. Thank goodness for auto save but still argue for the pen and paper method.) Had breakfast at our hotel followed by a brisk walk to catch a ride out to Crazy Horse (the climbing area). It was a slow, relaxed day of climbing as I was pretty tired still from our travels. Upon our return home we found a stand with fruit shakes for 15 baht which is about 50 cents. I got a watermelon shake because they are my favorite. You should know I get at least one fruit shake (usually more) everyday. They are cheap and delicious and made with fresh fruit. We then dined on some organic masuman curry for dinner, booked a different guest house in a location closer to the climbing school (with a pool) for the 2nd through the 8th and crashed headed for bed.

Thur 31st
The day started off great. It was our first official rest day since being on vacation. We slept in. Dusty got up and went for a run while I sawed logs all morning and let him bring back some breakfast. Then we got up and headed to the market for some fruit and snacks. Then of course, had to get a fruit shake on the way back. We got some Mexican food for lunch. Yum! Then I went for a pedicure and massage while Dusty spent some time on the internet. The day went down from there. This was the last day of the grading period at our school. Up until now students can check their grades, e-mail their professors, and request a grade change. I checked my e-mail and found I had several last minute e-mails from students (especially my dreaded medical students who were awarded with several F's). So, I spent the next several hours adjusting a select few grades and responding with explanations to students who complained or 'couldn't believe' their grade. Blech! Glad that's over with and we don't have to do anymore work for Kwandong University. We're definitely leaving there feeling a little mistreated and with a bitter taste in our mouths. Still no explanation as to why we weren't resigned but my Canadian coordinator said the Korean administration (aka people in charge) were very secretive about letting us go and kept even her out of the loop. She also said 'people' tried very hard to get them to keep us on but they are stubborn and don't like to listen to reason. So... we're forced to move forward in our lives and accept the fact that they don't have the human decency or ethical integrity to speak with us face to face or offer us any form of explanation. It just makes it hard to know what we did wrong, if anything.

In addition, the school we interviewed with last minute before we left Korea had told us they'd have a decision made by the 31st of Dec. We were anxiously awaiting to hear something, anything but still haven't gotten a response and today is the 3rd so I think it's safe to say we didn't get the job. I think more than anything, I'm just frustrated with the lack of communication we've had lately with Korean institutions. It makes me angry and frustrated. I'm left feeling a little vulnerable and disappointed. I want so much to feel like I can trust people to treat me fairly and respectfully but I guess things don't always work that way. Needless to say, I closed out the new year feeling a little sad and anxious about our future. I think Dusty and I are both happy to have the end of 2009 behind us and are opening 2010 with a new beginning. We're just not sure exactly which direction we're headed, but we will figure that out soon enough. I'm trying to approach it more as an adventure and opportunity to choose another direction rather than freak out and act out of fear and anxiety. And I get to do it all with my sweetheart by my side. As Dusty already wrote, we closed out 2009 in downtown Chiang Mai. We were both pretty tired and came home early. But we were woken up at midnight to an awesome fireworks display right out our window.

Fri 1st
Happy New Year. The climbing school here told us they'd be closed the 1st through the 3rd so we were on our own if we wanted to get out to climb. Crazy Horse, is about 60km away. Dusty had been wishing, hoping, dreaming, and talking for a long time about his desire to rent a motorbike. Any my response had always been, “No way! That's crazy!” I don't know how he talked me into it. I guess he enticed me with back to back days of climbing. He does know me well. So I hesitantly agreed to his little plan and my heart rate and anxiety instantly went through the roof. Somehow he managed to get me on the thing. Although I almost cried I was so scared. But we made it all the way out there without incident and I was proud of Dusty for driving so cautiously. We spent Friday afternoon climbing a wall that was completely in the shade and we had it all to ourselves the entire time. We were picked up Friday evening and taken to a homestay near Crazy Horse, something Dusty planned the day before with the climbing school. We stayed the night in a rustic bungalow and enjoyed a delicious Northern Thai dinner cooked by the homestay family in celebration of the new year.

Sat 2nd
After breakfast in the morning, we trekked about 2 miles back up to Crazy Horse for a bit more climbing. We hiked all the way up to The Rooftop which is the highest wall there and is completely in the sun. Again we had the wall to ourselves and we did three wonderful climbs overlooking the valley below before hiking back down and doing a few more climbs on another wall in the shade. The climbing here is very dimensional with limestone tufas and stalagtites full of pockets and cool looking arches. It's really fun to climb and very different from climbing a one-wall face like we're used to. We decided to call it a day early. My muscles were tired from back to back days of climbing in the sun and heat. So we slowly made our way back home on the motorbike again without incident. I was SO relieved and deeply relaxed after a few hard days out there. We turned in our bike and moved all our packs to the Smile Guesthouse which is where we are now. They sold me with their pool and sun deck. Then we got showers and headed for dinner. We enjoyed some more delicious Mexican food (my favorite) followed by some more shopping at the night bazaar. This time we actually bought some stuff. Then we headed home.

Sun 3rd.
What an awesome, relaxing day. We slept in until 8:30 and then went for a brisk walk around the square. Downtown Chiang Mai is surrounded by a brick wall and moat in the shape of a square. I think maybe it's an ancient palace? Not sure. Anyhow, it's about 4km around. Then we headed for some brunch, after our morning shakes of course. We spent the rest of the morning and afternoon laying out by the pool working on our tans. It's been a blissful day in which I've enjoyed every moment. We'll head back out for another day of climbing tomorrow. There. Now you're caught up. Whew!

In Chiang Mai

2009-12-31T17:28:00.006+09:00

December 31
So-wa-dee-kap (means hello) from Chiang Mai! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Because of where we are, it's sometimes easy to forget what time of year it is. A few reminders in store windows and on restaurant boards tell me it's New Year's Eve, but if it weren't for that, and the date on my watch, I could have no idea what day or month it is. It's a semi-blissful feeling. The only thing that's missing right now is having a job to go back to after vacation. That feeling of not having a plan or a next step in life is very awkward for me because I tend to be a planner and when I don't have something figured out, I feel a bit lost. So for the time being, we don't know what we're doing after February 11th, 2010. We just arrived to Chiang Mai on Tuesday and it is really nice. We've explored about a third of the city, but there is just so much. When you're living in a foreign country, you learn to savor any food that is clean and familiar. So my highlight for the day so far has been eating an egg, bacon, and ham crossants.
January 1, 2010
Happy New Year! Yesterday, I intended to post the above blog, but Rebs needed to do some work and I had already been on the one computer in our lodge for a while. Last night was a very fun experience for us. We went out around 7pm to find that parts of the city had been shut down so people could walk on the streets without traffic. Also, there were plenty of street vendors selling everything from bamboo hats, to clothing to traditional northern Thai food. Rebs bought a very lovely dress that she bargained for. You never buy anything at the given price, especially clothes. As we moved through the crowd, we saw lots of lights up in the sky, and eventually came to where the vendors were selling them. They were paper lanterns, some big enough to fit a standing adult inside. There was a flammable ring in the middle on the bottom, so when you lit it, the bag/lantern would fill with hot air and eventually take off into the sky until the flame burned out. Rebs and I bought one and enjoyed taking a video, which I will post soon. Rebs' aim wasn't so good and we almost got a flaming tree instead. After that, we just wandered around the main area of the new year's party. There was a stage and dancing and singing, but it was all in Thai and wasn't that exciting. What excited me was all the new and different food being sold by street vendors. We had intended to eat out at a restaurant that night, but ended up just walking from stand to stand, picking out what looked good. Sushi, spring rolls, fruit shake, a kebab, and pad thai all made up our dinner. Very filling. For a while, we just sat and people watched. We stood near where they were selling the lanterns, which was really funny for a while. People would try to send their lanterns into the air too early and they would sort of drift sideways and down into a crowd of people. It gave Rebs some anxiety. Some bags also caught on fire. And if a flaming paper bag wasn't enough, some people attached sparklers to theirs so they could see it better in the sky. Several bags got temporarily caught on telephone wires, and at one point Rebs went running away yelling, "Move! Watch out!" She told me later she thought the lantern would catch the power lines on fire, they would snap and fall on us. I just thought it was funny watching her because there was this sea of people ignorant to the fact, and then one crazy lady running around yelling things. I love my wife. Today, we are headed back out to the Crazy Horse Butress, about 45 minutes outside of Chiang Mai. It's a beautiful area with around 100 bolted sport routes. The last time we were there, we got to climb in a cave, which was a new experience for both of us. The photo here was taken on the walk in. If you look close, you'll see Rebs at the bottom next to the light that's coming through the entrance. That'll give you a perspective at how big this cave is. We plan to climb for two days, staying at a homestay in a traditional home near the crag. There are a couple of waterfalls and hot springs nearby also, so we may do a bit of sight seeing. I'm mostly excited because we are renting a scooter to go out there on. If you're a mother, pray for us. We'll be as safe as possible, and you can hope to see more photos in the future.

At The Bamboo School

2009-12-21T11:05:00.004+09:00

Where to begin? This is what happens when too much is happening at the same time and you don't have time write about it. So here is the abbreviated version. Up until last Monday, Rebs and I were finishing grades and planning our trip to Thailand. Though we had not received new contracts for work, we had assumed that we were going to get them fairly soon. We had done our jobs well, had been professional, and couldn't think of any good reason to not receive the new contract. So we made plans.
On Monday night, Rebs and I each received separate emails, very formally stating that Kwandong University was choosing not to re-sign our contracts. There was no explanation as to why. My jaw dropped as I read it. It was like a hard punch to the stomach, a feeling that would have difficulty subsiding over the next several days.

This put us in an awkward situation because our plans for a vacation to Thailand started on Thursday, giving us 3 days before we went to Seoul to leave the next morning. That's not much time to do any sort of job searching and try to get hired. Let's just say that our anxiety levels went through the roof, at the same time battling the feelings of guilt, shame, confusion and anger. So over the next few days, we managed to get one strong lead on a job prospect and went for an interview in Daegu on Wednesday night. The interview was Thursday morning so we stayed with friends of friends down there.
Anyway, all this goes to say that from Monday night forward to arriving at the Bamboo School on Friday night, we hardly had a chance to speak to each other because we were so focused on finding jobs and making Thailand arrangements. Needless to say, my stress level was high and my brain was on overload.

In the words of Bill Cosby, "I had to tell you that story to tell you this one." So now you know our mental status upon arriving in Thailand. Stressed, overloaded, and in desperate need of a vacation. Right now, I"m really glad we booked this trip so far in advance because it may not have happened otherwise.
The Bamboo School is an incredible place for so many reasons. If you don't know already from the attached blog on the left, the Bamboo School exists as a refugee/orphanage/school for children of the Karen tribe surviving on the border of northern Thailand and Myanmar. At least that is where the persecution is happening now. Currently, there are about 55 that live there as permanent residents. The school has existed for about 10 years, so there are some students that have gone to college and occasionally return to visit their family. I use family in the sense that this is the most dynamic family that I have ever encountered. They are a church, a school, an orphanage, a work crew. They have chores, responsibilities, but they also have fun too. I think many people think of an orphanage as a bad place, a place as a shelter from something. But this place doesn't feel anything like that. There is calm at times, there is chaos at times. But they exist as a family. Their knowledge of their situation is strong, but it does not paralyze them from living normal lives. In fact, I am learning that many of these kids, should their abilities and talents be listed next to 9 other random people in the world, theirs would probably be twice as long. Most of the kids speak 3 languages: Thai, Karen, and English. Depending on when they come in, their English may be fluent. I have had regular, opinion-based conversations with some of the high school boys. And the very little ones are developing their English skills at the same rate as their native languages.

The kids work for each other. The older kids take monthly turns working in the kitchen, preparing the meals. One child is blind and deaf, so he has an 11-year-old to look after him during the day. All the kids have morning chores, including carrying 40 gallon trash bins full of water from the nearby river an eighth mile up for washing. It's amazing how little these kids need me in their daily tasks. But what the do still need is love.
Anyway, I came into all this Friday night, late and quiet. Saturday is their sabbath, meaning that they don't work at all. And with 35 kids (some have gone to an English conference), it is inevitable that we should play. That was a great first day for us because it allowed us to ease into the life at the Bamboo school. We got to take a nap in the afternoon. There are hammocks under bamboo canopies. At times, it feels more like a retreat than an orphanage. I love it here and wish we were staying longer. Maybe we will get to come back for longer next time. It would be great to be a consistent presence in their lives.
Some things we have done so far:
- eat all vegetarian meals until this morning when I got some barbeque chicken.
- keep a 3-month-old baby overnight.
- sleep on a bamboo bed, in a bamboo hut, under a mosquito net.
- chop down bamboo poles with a machette to use as stilts for a hut.
- set up a slackline for the kids to play on.
- burn brush to clear land that will be used for farming.
- bathe in the river.
- play soccer in the yard in front of the main house/hospital.
- go to the market for buying fresh food for daily meals.

My anxiety has melted away. I do not miss Korea at the moment. We are rich in fellowship.

Can't Sleep

2009-12-09T00:41:00.002+09:00

It's 12:41am and I'm wide awake. It probably has something to do with the late afternoon nap I desperately needed and took when I got home from work today. I thought this week was going to be easy because we have fewer classes, but it's not. This week, all the foreign professors are giving final exams to their Junior classes. And while I have enjoyed teaching mostly Juniors all semester, I end up with a lot of extra work this week because of it. Lots of grading seems to wear me out!
On a side, but partially related note, I've caught the climbing bug again. We have been going climbing at the gym at school, once during the week, and one day on the weekend for about a month now. I'm loving it, but I'm finding that the cold might have part in my being so tired at work sometimes. On Sunday, a few friends and I went to a climbing crag about 2 hours from where we live. The temperature for the majority of the day was below freezing, but because the rock was in the sun and there was little wind, we were still able to enjoy climbing. Occasionally, there would be a rush of a cold breeze that reminded you winter was around the corner, but otherwise it was great. At the same time, though, I can sense when I am out there that my body is a little tense. Like when you shiver. Shivering for hours can exhaust a person. But lucky for me, I got a nice balaclava in the mail (robber's mask with eye slit) and had several layers on all over, so I stayed as warm as could be.
We have exactly 9 days until we fly to Thailand. It feels like it's just in the nick of time too. Next week is supposed to dip down to just above freezing for the highs most days. Brrr! But by Friday, we will be saying goodbye to Korea for almost 2 months in shorts and t-shirt weather. Our first stop will likely be a very eye-opening experience for us, in which we will be volunteering for about 10 days at the Bamboo School. (Click the link at the top left for more info.) Rebs nor I have ever worked with an impoverished people for much time at all. I'm really looking forward to this time for a large part because we will be there during Christmas time. I feel like it gives us a chance to be reminded of God's gift of Christ to us at Christmas time. He came setting an example, showing us how to love and to serve, ultimately to be a sacrifice for us that we can live in communion with God today and right now. I imagine this place to be a place of community, where the people work together and serve each other. I may be teaching and serving while I'm there, but I also expect to learn a lot along the way. It could possibly be a hands-on experience that would change my perspective on life. Only He knows really.
But I'm just glad to be in an environment that is focused on Christ. I see and hear about the holiday buzz from friends and family back home and it doesn't make me miss the consumerism that seems to take precedence over morality and civility. I'm happy to be thousands of miles away from it all. But I can't help but miss my family at this time too. Christmas has always been my family's biggest holiday together. So when I am away, I know that I'm missing a party and a family reunion mixed into one.

A Short Update

2009-11-10T14:02:00.003+09:00

There isn't too much exciting going on around here these days, but we're still trucking along. It's been raining fairly heavily for two days straight and if it weren't for the indoor wall at the school here, I think I might be somewhat depressed. There's something about incessant rain that just gets you down.

On a different note, this month is "Movember", something that started several years ago between a group of guys in Australia. The basis is that you grow a moustache to bring awareness to men's health issues. So when someone asks you why you have a moustache, it provides the opportunity to talk about such things. The irony is that I don't know much about men's health issues because (at least I think) I don't have any. But most of the guys in our department are growing them. It's fun and a little embarrassing (for Rebs especially), although my 'stache is a little thicker than it was when I stopped shaving for a couple months several years ago. Back then, I looked like a Mexican convict. For now, you'll have to judge for yourself. I've gotten from one co-worker that I look like Jesus. I'll take it as a complement.

Running Reparation

2009-10-27T19:40:00.006+09:00

Ahhhh... That's the sigh of relief after being finished with my marathon. I'd forgotten what it felt like to have something that you train for over the course of several months and then the satisfaction that comes with its completion. What a beautiful, humbling, and painful thing. So many times during my race did the question float forward in my mind and ask, "What was your point in doing this? How is this fun," and many other similar questions, all between the 20K and 40K markers.
Some interesting things to note along the way:
- There were about 20,000 people in this race, so I was never alone.
- As you'll see in the video, there was much nervous excitement, accompanied by cheerleaders leading exercises.
- I started in the "M Group", which started 50 minutes after the "A Group" since I didn't have a registered time from another race. - This meant I had a lot of passing to do to catch up to people who were more my pace. Sometimes I ran in rain ditches to get around clusters of people.
- Whenever I took out my earphones to my Ipod, all I usually heard was the treading of feet on pavement. Nobody was talking...
- ... except when we ran through the tunnels. Then, the Koreans screamed and shouted like grade school children.
- I started the race a little hungry because I had to wait around for so long. I also peed 3 times before my group went.
- At 20K, they gave us "Choco Pie" the Korean equivalent to moon pies. I grabbed 2, one for then, and one for later. But since I had no pouch for it, I tried tucking it into the back of my shorts, only to have it shuffle down and out the bottom, so it looked like I was pooping moon pies.
- I couldn't get enough liquids in me. At 27.5KM, I started drinking the water from the sponges they were giving out.
- I got a brief hamstring cramp around 30K.
- The distance between the markers seemed to get further and further apart, like some kind of sick joke. I think I was just getting slower.
- I saw around 20 foreigners in the entire race. I thought there would have been more.
- At 30K was when my time stopped mattering in my mind. My goal became to not walk.
- I cramped up solid around 35K and had to stretch and walk until the cramp went away.
- My goal became to just get this stupid race over as soon as possible.
- Somewhere along the way, the music that had been pumping me up seemed to fade into background elevator music.
- Around 37K, my friend Zac met me to run the rest of the way. I never knew it could be so uplifting to see a familiar face.
- It was a discomforting feeling to chug about a liter of liquids at the last drink station and not feel at all like my thirst was quenched.
- I cramped up twice more before the finish, just walked until they subsided, and then continued on.
- Crossed the finish line with an official split of 3:49.43.
- As I slowed to walk after the finish, about half of the muscles in my lower legs seized up.
- The next hour or so of pain may have been some of the most discomfort I have ever experienced. Nothing would loosen with time. I downed about 2 liters of Gatorade and water, but didn't pee until several hours later. My hips were so tight, I felt like I'd just finished riding a huge horse.
- My emotions were at the end of my sleeves afterwards. Joy and pain came so quickly, so when Rebs ran towards me, I couldn't help but to well up with emotion. It was so good to hold her again. (You can't call me sappy unless you've done a marathon yourself.)

That's pretty much it for details. My aches and pains have subsided, though my back seemed to tighten up yesterday and my left ankle feels a little tweaked. But I'm just happy to say that I got out of it alive, given that quite a few people have died while running marathons. I feel that God has blessed me to be able to experience such an event. I don't know yet if I'll ever do another one. I would have to have a really good reason. Although, the half-marathon seems much more appealing to me. Maybe next year. For now, I have the itch to climb.

Marathon Jitters

2009-10-23T17:47:00.003+09:00

As you may know, I have been training for a marathon, which will be my first. It is happening on Sunday and I can't wait for it to be over. I don't know why I'm so nervous, but I catch myself thinking about it throughout the day and my heart starts beating faster. I have anxiety over racing, which is ridiculous because I really shouldn't have expectations. It's my first one ever. I should just be happy finishing, but I think it must be my competitive nature that compels me to think I should go a certain time. And it doesn't help knowing what the Boston qualifying time is either.
I have to keep telling myself that I really don't care that much about running. It was just a fun thing to do to take a break from rock climbing. But somehow I find myself over-analyzing my race, worrying about getting enough food/water during the race. I've already made a playlist for my I-pod with some good beats, and hopefully the 19,999 other people out there will be an encouragement. A funny thing that may turn out to be a blessing in disguise is that I am in the last group to cross the starting line. Since there are so many people in the race, they have organized participants into blocks; group A, B, C, etc to group N. I'm in group N because I didn't make up an entry time. So if I do end up going my goal time (under 4 hours) then I will be passing quite a few people. (The people in group M are entered around 5-5:30)
We head up tomorrow sometime, planning to meet up with friends and either camp or chance our luck on a hotel with all the other people. I'm trying to let go a little of my preparedness and be more spontaneous, just to see what God has in store for us. For those of you thinking and praying for me, thank you. I need it.

Salmon Festival

2009-10-23T12:42:00.004+09:00

Well, I have about 10 minutes before I must leave for class. So this blog may be a bit sporatic, but I wanted to update everyone on what has been going on. In short, last weekend was an amazing weekend. The weather has been a bit chilly and gusty, but overall very nice due to the fluorescent changing of the leaves in Mt. Seorak. We went to Yang-yang(양양), a town smaller than Gangneung (겅릉), last weekend for the Salmon Festival. It consisted of a handful of tents set up near the river, all related to the catching and eating of salmon. Imagine the state fair on a much smaller scale, Korean style. There was a pole set up with cut-outs of fish on the top for people to throw bean bags through. But the main attraction was the catching of the salmon.

Catching salmon included putting on some garden gloves, rolling up your pant legs and going shin deep into some icy river water to try to catch two-foot-long-swimming-beasts/fish (depending on who you talk to). It was one of the most fun times I've had in Korea. Cheap thrills, I know. But the best part for me was watching my wife squirm just as much as the fish I had caught for her. I had caught two by the tail just above the back fin, and was trying to hand off to Rebs, but every time she would reach for it, it would shake its body and she would shriek like a little girl. The fish must have sensed her nervousness because it would then proceed to squirm more. (I almost lost it a couple of times.) Eventually, I got it passed off to her and we got them both out of the water safely, inked, diced, and iced before taking it with us. I'll be sure to put pictures up next time I write.

Happy Chuseok

2009-10-02T10:37:00.005+09:00

Good Morning Everyone,

Not much new is going on with us. Just another week down. The weather continues to be amazing. I love Fall. It's Chuseok holiday here which is the equivalent of Thanksgiving in the States which means that we have a 4-day weekend. Hooray! We've decided to spend most of it here at home since traffic everywhere will be terrible and we've been so busy between work and weekend excursions. It's nice to just be at home sometimes. It feels kind of like a Saturday morning even though it's only Friday. We slept in this morning and now Dusty is currently making an attempt at homemade biscuits and gravy. It smells delicious. I'm listening to Colbie Caillat's new album "Breakthrough". It's awesome, mellow, happy music. We have nothing planned for the day. It's beautiful outside. Perhaps we'll head to the beach for a few hours.

My birthday week was wonderful. I spent it doing what I love with the people I love most in Korea. We headed up to the mountains for what else? camping and climbing of course. It was a blast. I can't believe I'm 30 but I've decided I'm ready to embrace this next decade and look forward to all it has to offer. I'm happy to say goodbye to my 20's. They were good but somewhat of a tumultuous time for me. I think it might be that way for most of us. For a large part of them I felt kind of lost and without a purpose. As much as I enjoyed them, I'm ready to say goodbye to all the changes and utter confusion. I spent about 10 years figuring out my purpose and direction. I've been really intentional about deciding who I want to be which apparently takes awhile. I think I've got myself mostly straightened out now and am totally content where I'm at in my life. I love waking up each morning ready to find out what the day has to offer. I can feel something changing within me slowly. I feel like I'm on the verge of the next stage of life and God is preparing my heart for what's still to come. I'm growing up, becoming more grounded, and am starting to think more outside of myself. I'm hoping the next stage is becoming a mother in a few years. I'm sure that's what I want now and I'm not as scared of that as I used to be. I actually get excited at the thought of raising a few little ones.

Happy Chuseok

No Time!

2009-09-23T20:21:00.002+09:00

What up peeps? The last month or so has been a whirlwind to put it mildly. Since fall semester started, we've been busy adjusting to new textbooks, students, classes, and teaching galore. Once Monday rolls around our days pretty much go like this... prep, teach, grade, repeat. Oh and Dusty's training for a marathon and I've got a 10K coming up in two weeks. And of course, we still make time for climbing sometimes. Life is good but busy, hence the lack of posts the past several weeks. Swine flu has started to spread around campus. I've already had one class cancelled because of it. The school is checking student's temperatures at the front gate. However, professors like us are just waved on through. I guess we aren't subject to this precaution even though we have contact with hundreds of students everyday. Makes a lot of sense huh? That's Korean logic for you. I'm washing my hands a ton, drinking lots of water, and taking my vitamins. That's about all I can do. The weather has been amazing. Fall here is just as beautiful as anywhere else I could possibly imagine.

Just thought I'd share the best part of my day today (other than a fabulous and much-needed nap on the couch in my office). Driving on the way home from work, we were stopped at a light at a busy intersection. There was blaring Korean techno music in the air which according to Dusty sounds like techno on crack and I agree. So we look across the street only to see a bunch of old ladies in the park partaking in some hip-hop aerobics complete with some powerful pelvic thrusts and wicked gyrating hip rolls. Yes, I did say old ladies. Like grandmas. Like old grandmas. In public. Let me tell you, it was extremely entertaining to watch while we waited for the light to turn. We both got a good laugh. Gotta love Korea.

Hey Cow!

2009-09-23T11:01:00.002+09:00

If you've ever lived in the US mid-west, or anywhere that has cows grazing near the road you're driving on, you have probably played or heard of the game called "Hey Cow!" It's very simple. As you're driving by, you roll down the window and yell, "hey cow!" Then, by the number of cows that look at you, you get that many points, and if you cause a stampede, it's worth even more. You get the picture. If you don't, you can look it up on youtube.

Just yesterday, I realized that Koreans have a very similar version, whether they recognize it or not. As some of you know, I've been running a lot lately trying to get in good shape for a marathon I plan to run in about a month from now. I've noticed how the Koreans, once they recognize they are in the presence of a foreigner, have the opportunity to impress their friends by speaking English. So as I run by, one will likely yell something like, "Hello," or "nice to meet you", "how are you", "fine thank you, and you," all in hopes of eliciting a response from me. If I turn and respond, they tend to giggle and speak excitedly to their company, saying what I can imagine to be something like, "I got him to look!" I never thought I would be comparing myself to a cow. Moo!

Concord Grapes

2009-09-21T23:14:00.004+09:00

Not much in particular is going on lately. I just wanted to write. Sometimes I feel like I should always have something special to say. But sometimes it's the little things that add up to the ultimate experience. It's 11:15 at night and I should be sleeping. These are the thoughts that run through my mind: my snoozing wife next to me, my friend biking across the country (probably as I write this), my brother-in-law learning trad climbing in Colorado, aching legs, my belly button in the light of the computer, fried chicken from the window, my parents' new adventure with their property, my sister and her family.

I decided that eating concord grapes was the highlight of my day today. I have an hour break in the afternoon between classes and I usually spend it in the main office of my department at school. When I came in today, someone had brought in a big bunch of concord grapes, the ones I'm pretty sure most grape juice is made of. I don't know if I've ever had concord grapes plain. I also don't know if I've ever enjoyed grapes so much. All I'd had for lunch was a leftover salad from the night before, so I was still a little hungry. I ended up eating most of the bunch while I sat and read a Time magazine that someone had left in there.

Life is simple here, but somehow we find ways to make it complex. Only when I slow down enough to hear the gentle chirp of the crickets outside my window does the world return to its natural state. And I am at peace again.
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I am Thankful

2009-08-30T14:58:00.004+09:00

Well, I never thought I'd say this, but I have learned to truly appreciate being restful. I hope that doesn't come off sounding too lazy because I am definitely still busy. It's just a different kind of busy. A restful busyness, if that's possible. Over the past few weeks, I have hardly climbed at all... and I have loved every minute of it. I don't think that I'll never want to climb again, but I think I had partly forgotten what else there was to do in life that was satisfying. And my lack of aptitude or creativity made the art of climbing much less satisfying for me also.

I was lying in bed last night, just realizing all the blessings I have to be thankful for. I feel like God has blessed me so much lately. I don't think that He blessed me any less 3 weeks ago, but I've just been noticing those blessings more lately. Sort of a stop-and-smell-the-roses kind of attitude.

I have an apartment set up in a way that is easily livable and comfortable. Rebs and I each have our chores that we claim to make living for ourselves and the other person easier. We each have our own flaws and strengths. But in it all, we strive for an unconditional love, one that is unchanging even if we're angry. We have a little basil plant that brings us joy to see how much it grows towards the light on a sunny day. We feel blessed by our Creator when we get to be in the Creation, like when we soak the sun into our skin on the beach under a cloudless sky. I feel blessed in the fact that I can talk to my close friends and family on Skype at the push of a button, even though I'm (literally) on the other side of the world. I feel blessed to have a body that can carry me 10+ miles of running in that Creation that I mentioned earlier. And I feel blessed to experience the warmth and the gentle beat of my wife's heart against my chest as she sleeps.
Thank You.

Gonna Miss These Faces

2009-08-27T23:19:00.006+09:00

For the past six months since we've been in Korea, Dusty and I have been working in the children's program at our university as part of our teaching responsibilities. Today was our last day with them. Next week marks the first of the fall semester which means we switch over to a new schedule with different assigned responsibilities and will no longer be teaching them. Other professors will be taking over our classes. I have to say, I'm really going to miss them. I have spent so many hours teaching these kids and have really gotten attached to them. Each class has become like a little family in which I've gotten to be Momma Bear. I've really grown to love this role. It's been amazing getting to love and care for them for a few hours each week. It's like magic watching them learn and grow. It happens so fast! They are so adorable and really funny. Kids are kids no matter what language they speak or culture they grow up in. My youngest and favorite class started with me in level one phonics. I taught them the English alphabet and now they are reading full sentences. It's been so rewarding to see their progress and watch them slowly become more comfortable with me. My time with them has been precious. I'm so blessed to have had the opportunity to be their teacher.

Doing What's Natural

2009-08-21T19:38:00.003+09:00

I've realized a few weeks ago that something needed to change. I've been pursuing rock climbing (with a fervent passion at times) over the past 7 years. Ever since I finished the swim season of my senior year of college, I've done rock climbing pretty full on. It's an interesting sport if you think about it. There's no field of competition. You go to a place and climb up the wall. Some walls are short, some are big. The goal is generally to get to the top. So what's the point, right? I think it's only something that can be understood once you've tried rock climbing. A few points to think about though: conquering fears, artistic feeling, good for the body, can't do it alone.

So back to my point. I've rock climbed off and on for about 7 years, mostly "on" for the last 3. My mentality has always been about training for climbing, trying to get stronger, better. I find that I have more fun if I am. It gives me purpose when my life's purpose is lacking a bit. But living here in Gangneung has provided a bit of a challenge for me. Since we moved here last February, I've had difficulty training on a regular basis. There is an artificial wall in the city that we have been going to (in the prime of our focus) twice a week, and then climbing on the weekends. But time has shown that I'm not getting any better. There are lots of reasons, but the main one is that I lack the motivation. And in a sport where there is no competitive edge, the motivation must come from internally.

I'm switching gears for the next couple of months. As of 2 weeks ago, I have been training for the Chuncheon Marathon. This will be my first ever full marathon. I had a near encounter back in college when i whimsically decided to join my girlfriend, sister, and friend on their half marathon race, only to be coerced while running by the friend who was running the full 26.2 miles to join her. I made it about 19 miles before my body locked up into the tightest cramping I have ever experienced. And believe me, it was a full-body-cramp! I stretched and walked for the next mile, but as soon as I started to run, my body would lock up again. So when I saw my brother-in-law's Bronco parked at the roadside, I was elated and ready to quit. After all, I was surprised I had even made it that far. And I wasn't allowed to cross the finish line anyway since I wasn't registered. All of this was good quitting motivation at the time, so I did.

Well, that's the last memory I have of any marathon or training for a marathon. It wasn't pretty, and I really don't want to have to experience the full body cramp again. So this will be my first time to actually train on a regular basis. I can't say that I've ever done that before, and so far, I'm really enjoying most of it. It's refreshing to get up early and be on the road by 7:30am like I did this morning. There's a peace and a freshness about the air. And the rest of the day, you can say, "At least I accomplished that run this morning." It just makes you feel good.

This week's long run was 8 miles. I did it pretty slow, not knowing what to expect from my body after mile 6. It tightened up a little, but overall, I was in good shape. My goal is to increase my mileage by 2-3 miles per week in my long runs, while trying to maintain a certain number of total miles for the week. I've researched the Runner's World web page for helpful running, cross training, and injury prevention tips. I can't say it's motivation is much different. I'm not really doing this for anyone but myself. I don't expect to get a medal (though my prideful side would love to). It could be because I've always been involved in some kind of sport for as long as I can remember. I like setting goals, putting in the work, and seeing achievement on the other side. There is a rewarding feeling that comes with the accomplishment.

If any of you reading this have run your own marathon and would like to give helpful tips, feel free to comment. I appreciate any support and you can look for pictures after October 25th.

Oh, back to school!

2009-08-20T00:37:00.010+09:00

I've got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight. It's hard to believe summer is already winding down. University classes start a week from Monday. We've taken a little blogging hiatus over the summer so I'll do my best to briefly update you.

With the exception of the last week in July and first week in August, we've spent this summer teaching the children's program which means we've gotten to love on and have our patience tested by little cutie-patootie Korean kids M-TH from 4-6pm for the past 8 weeks. We've both mostly enjoyed them. The last week in July we were assigned to teach a week of summer camp for elementary students. It meant 12+ hours a day of non-stop, high energy teaching and playing with kids. It was a blast but super exhausting. However, this camp paid us quite a bit extra on top of our salary so we were happy to do it. I had the best group of kids I could've asked for. Besides those minimal work responsibilities, we've had the rest of the summer off. The week following summer camp my mom came to visit. We had a great time with her as well and did our best to make her feel comfortable and show her as much as possible. Seeing her experience everything here for the first time really made me realize how far we've come in adjusting to the culture and learning the language.

It's been a fairly quiet summer for us which I've been very thankful for. After a super busy spring semester of moving back to Korea, starting a new job as a first-time professor, being assigned to a heavy load of teaching hours, and enduring another nasty flu/cold that seemed to linger for a good 6 weeks, I was ready for a breather. Since it rains here oh, 78 days out of 90 in the summer (slight exaggeration), Dusty and I have mostly taken a break from rock climbing and have focused our time on other interests. We've caught up on any sleep deficits and are now in sleep surplus. We're recharged and ready for another full semester of teaching.

We've both done lots of reading this summer. We do lots of exchanging and borrowing with friends here. I've recently read The Good Earth and The Shack. They are both great reads (thanks Jenna and Natalie). Dusty is currently into about 5 books and magazines. He's also notorious for stealing whatever I happen to be reading. We've watched lots of movies and TV shows. So far we've covered 3 seasons of the Cosby Show and are now starting the Wonder Years. Good shows. We've gotten really creative in the kitchen. Tonight I made some tikka masala for the first time (an indian dish). Thanks mom for the spices and recipe. Dusty's learned to make some killer banana bread and blueberry muffins and he downed my peach crisp like there was no tomorrow. Dusty has started running in preparation for a marathon in October. He still hasn't registered and is waiting to get a few more weeks of training under his belt to see how his legs are holding up. We are both starting to run a lot more. We've also been riding our bikes a lot this summer. It's a great way to get around town. The beach is always a popular destination for us when the sun is shining. However, I'm not super fond of tourist season here. The beaches are crowded and the lifeguards won't let you swim out very far. I got spoiled this spring and early summer and have become a little possessive of 'my' beaches. Other than that we've really enjoyed the time we've spent together just talking, planning, dreaming, and being goofy.

In store for us fall semester:
- Hopefully a little bit lighter class load
- Hopefully we'll be auditing a Korean class
- Hopefully I'll be volunteering some time at an orphanage
It's all in still in the works.

In store for us this winter:
- we plan to spend about 2 months of our winter vacation traveling through Southeast Asia.
- first stop: volunteering at the Bamboo School; a refugee camp, orphanage, and school for Burmese refugees of the Karen tribe. Located in Thailand just east of the border with Burma (Myanmar). We'll be there for Christmas.
- second stop: a 2 week cruise. starts in Singapore and will make stops at various locations in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
- third stop: Railay and Tonsai for some climbing and beach time.
- fourth stop: Chiang Mai for some climbing and sight seeing.

Summer Fun

2009-07-19T13:27:00.002+09:00

Last weekend was a lot of fun. We went out climbing with friends on Friday and Saturday for two very different styles of climbing. On Friday, we went bouldering. Actually it was more boulder hunting than anything because the area hasn't been developed for boulders. For those of you unfamiliar, bouldering is a short, stout version of rock climbing. Instead of using a harness and rope to climb up a 15+ meter wall, we use "crash pads" and climb smaller rocks. The style of bouldering is typically more powerful than regular climbing. And what you get tends to be a 5-10 move problem that is just barely possible. You start at the bottom and you have success by getting on top of the boulder.

So Friday, we went to Seoraksan and hunted the riverbed for boulders that weren't being scoured by water. It had rained the day before, so the water was higher than normal. But nevertheless, by the end of the day, we had found a few really good lines, gone swimming, and were exhausted. Rebs even got the first (and only) ascent on a line that we found and developed. Really tiny, fingertip ridges (see above picture). We finished the day with a delectable dinner at a restaurant near Sokcho, and then headed back to Gangneung with two of our friends.

The next morning, we got up fairly early and headed South to Mureung Valley in Donghae. Mureung isn't as famous or vast as Seoraksan, but there is still some really good climbing, especially for people who are just getting into the tradional style (hence the name "trad"). I have some experience in it, but have yet to take a serious fall on gear. I should probably explain further. Trad climbing is, in it's basic form, using pieces of metal to wedge in the cracks of rock as your protection as you climb upwards. It is much more scary than sport climbing (where there are pre-drilled bolts secured in the rock to clip as you climb) because if you don't place a piece correctly it can pop out when you fall, which means you would fall FAR!

Now that I've got your blood running (or at least my parents), I can tell you about our day. We hiked in and arrived at the rock around lunch time. So we ditched our packs and gear and went down to a nice view of a big waterfall and ate our lunch on a large rock with old inscriptions in it. The whole time we ate, we were surrounded by Koreans taking pictures, eating, drinking soju, and avoiding the sun with their black polyester and sun hats. Our largest source of entertainment was when a Korean man, probably a little off balanced from a few shots of soju, leapt from the bank to a small rock in the water. He teetered there for a moment, but was losing his balance. So he jumped to another, slightly smaller rock, off balance as before, then to another, and another, until finally, SPLASH he went shin deep into the water. I realized I had been holding my breath, hoping he might catch his balance, but secretly waiting for the inevitable.

After lunch we went back up to climb. The rock is a fairly sharp granite with few obvious cracks and small sparse features elsewhere. We ended up only doing 2 routes in all, but that seemed to be plenty because we were all so new to it. I compare it with running. If you go out and run after a year of sedation, you're likely not going to get very far before needing to walk. It was the same for us. Even though we all have a lot of climbing experience (predominantly sport climbing), trad climbing is a different feel altogether. You are using different muscles, and also have to develop a new technique. So the first time you try it, you tend to use more energy than normal. This was the case for all of us. By the end of two climbs, we were all pretty exhausted. And we were probably tired from the 40 minute hike up, and all the hiking and bouldering from the day before, and from lack of sleep. As a climber, one tends to develop a full slew of excuses ;)

So for those of you who climb, sorry for the lack of details. And for those who don't climb, I hope it wasn't all too overwhelming. But hopefully everyone can enjoy the pictures. The enclosed link is one of the lines we found the first day, but the video is of one of our friends climbing it the next day. Some of them went back to the same spot on Saturday while the rest of us were at Mureung Valley.

Mass Media

2009-06-25T10:37:00.002+09:00

I've developed a bad habit. I'm finding that Facebook has slowly overtaken the other forms of communication that I once used. For example: In 2005, a year after I had graduated from college, I had a friend send me an email suggesting I join Facebook. I had always been reluctant to join any chat site or anything because I remembered spending hours chatting with friends on Instant Messanger. The conversations had been somewhat meaningless and eventually I got fed up with it and quit using it when I went to college. I felt like I was wasting away my time. So when I got this email, even though I had known about MySpace before, I was intrigued because my friend said it was more filtered than MySpace and was just a way to see what friends were up to. So I joined.

Initially, it was really fun to see who was on Facebook. I would search people all the time and add them as friends. Rebs and I started comparing how many friends each other had, kind of a competition to see who had the most. It was fun to catch up with old friends that I hadn't talked to in a while. And then there were these fun applications you could dowload and make a cartoon family, giving names of your real family members that you didn't like to the dog and cat. Or you could see how "likable" you were by taking a quiz. And there were groups you could join or become a fan of a band or a person. Eventually, somewhere between updating my status and finding out which "80's heartthrob you are", I realized how ridiculous it was all becoming.

Since then, I've also noticed that my friends, though I have many, don't really write on my wall much to say hi. Instead, they just update their status to let everyone else know what they're doing. On top of this, twitter was created, so now you can update your status and see other people's statuses (statii?) every minute of the day. It's all too much for me. I miss calling people up to chat with them about life. If I have something important to say that is immediate, then I can email. And yes, it's fun to see my friends' picture albums, but I remember as a kid, looking through real life photo albums together, laughing at the memory of a good time.

I know some of this is my fault because we do have the option still to send emails and print photos and call friends on the phone. But this technology, that which is supposed to make life more fruitful and prosperous and easier, is encouraging me to exchange depth for quantity. It pushes me in the direction of getting on Facebook 5 times a day just to check and see what other people are saying about their lives, but never interacting with them myself. Basically to become a voyeur. Our culture or society, or whatever you want to call it, encourages this. Even this blog is for the world to see but to say nothing. (Yes, I know there's a spot for people to comment, but how many people actually do that?) It's just so easy to hide behind the computer. To feel like you have so many friends when you actually know none of them.

I've actually deleted a few friends from Facebook. I did it one day when I was passing through my friends list and was having trouble remembering how I knew this and that person. I looked at a couple of their pictures to make sure I could remember, and then after some thought, I deleted them. It's not that I don't want to be friends with those people, it's just that they are so far removed from my life that it would take twice the effort to include them. i've decided that a hand-full good friends is worth more than two hundred acquaintances. That doesn't mean that I'm going to delete everyone from my Facebook (I'd be more tempted to just shut my page down). But there is a lot to be said for the effort it takes for a person to handwrite and mail a letter. It shows that the author cares enough to take the time to do it, rather than it just being a convenience.

A Moment in Passing

2009-06-22T15:21:00.002+09:00

We got up to see the sunrise for the first time on Sunday morning. It had rained fairly hard all day Saturday, which was actually a blessing in disguise because it helped to clear the air somewhat. We had a couple friends in town, which was the perfect excuse for it. I don't know if I could have convinced Rebs to get up otherwise. So we dragged our bodies from their slumber at 4:30am with just enough time to throw on clothes and drive over to the beach. We were a little surprised at how many people were there at the time, but none-the-less, it felt serene.
There is something about sunrises that is inspiring to me. Maybe because I've only seen a few in my lifetime that I remember and enjoyed. Personally, I like being one of the only people to do something. It could be the elitist in me, but knowing that not everyone is experiencing what I am, that I am different in some way, makes me feel good. And so it is with sunrises. Even though there were students still drunk from a night out laughing and throwing each other into the water next to us. And even though we went home and fell asleep for another 4 hours, it just made my day to reflect back at moments and relive the peace that comes with a new dawn.

Where Have We Been?

2009-06-10T13:38:00.005+09:00

It's been a little over a month since either of us wrote because we have been really stinkin' busy. The past 3 weeks or so have been consumed with preparing for our final exams and finishing up grading and other obscure administrative tasks that come with the job. Everything kind of hits all at the end, and the Korean way is to throw something at you with a short deadline and see how badly you squirm. It's similar to putting salt on a slug, except you don't die. :)

But today--this morning actually--I gave me last final exam. So after I submit my grades in the next week or so, I'll be work-responsibility-free except from 4:20-6;10pm, Monday through Thursday, for the next 2 months or so. And considering those hours are overtime pay beyond our base salary, it's a very lucrative deal.

So after my final this morning, Rebs and I came home and I have been piddling around the house for the past couple of hours. I finished reading a children's book on Barak Obama that a student gave me as a gift for Teacher's Day. I cleaned our newly purchased toaster oven from head to toe with Windex, and washed its innards. Then I decided to test out the skewer that came with it and had a cheddar brat (from Costco) with fixings and some leftover homemade coleslaw and watermelon. And I watched Monday and Tuesday's world news on ABC. Sad to hear about the two American girls being convicted to 12 years in labor camps in North Korea.

And I start to wonder if this is what summer is going to be like for me. Piddling... I don't think I do so well without purpose. I don't entertain myself well unless I have a goal in mind, even if it's just a simple one. I don't rest well. Maybe it's my upbringing, maybe it's my nature, but I think I'm going to have lots of practice this summer. This isn't to say that I won't have anything to do. I actually have already made a list of things I'd like to do/accomplish. I heard once that if you write down something you want to do, you're 60% more likely to go through with it. I don't know if it's true or not.

Though we have been busy with work, we've also been busy seeing new things. Over the past two weeks, we got to experience the Dano Festival, climb at Seoraksan with friends, and go to a get-together at one of our colleagues' pension (a Korean bed-and-breakfast) in the country. I ate authentic Indian curry and Nan (oven baked flat bread) at the festival, got to climb a multi-pitch route with my friend Greg (with bolts so run out that you dare not contemplate the idea of falling), and ate fresh cherries off a cherry tree. All in all, every moment was unique, enjoyable, and memorable. Here are a few pictures to enjoy.

Baby Steps

2009-04-15T21:53:00.002+09:00

There's always something to be done. Whether it's dishes, cleaning, something once a year, or something once a day, it's always something. When can you think when there was a time that you had nothing to do? Okay, maybe when you're driving in a car or on an airplane. But that's only temporary. You probably start thinking about the things you need to do whenever you get to wherever it is you're going. I know whenever I sit down to read a book, my mind starts to wander. I know my busyness level by how many times I have to re-read a paragraph because I've been sidetracked by my own thoughts. Sometimes I even take a notepad or my planner with me to read so I can jot down all the random thoughts that come up. It's my way of channeling my ADD.

So I'm breaking it down to the ol' "Baby Steps" plan. If you're not sure what I'm talking about or are a fan of Bill Murray, click on the title of this post. I'm taking one day at a time and trying to knock off one or two of the important things that will jump from today's "To Do" list to tomorrow's and then the next day's until it gets done. Today, we got a copy of the car key made for Rebs. It's leopard spotted--yeow! And I (hopefully, if all goes well) ordered a couch online. Check, and check.

Just two things to tick off the list. Why do I do this? Because it allows me to ease up on myself and live more in the moment. That's the pitfall, really. If I get too focused on the lists then I forget about right now. I forget to live and enjoy right now. So, a little work can equal a little play. Gotta keep things balanced. And... I got a load of trad climbing gear in the mail so now we can go climbing wherever, without limitations! Ah, the job of doing something I can fully focus on and be wrapped up in and not consider it work in the least. The End.

New Car! Meet Powder.

2009-04-09T12:21:00.004+09:00

We bought a new car last Friday afternoon. Then took it climbing that evening. It goes about 130... kilometers per hour on a good downhill on the highway. No, not miles. That would be a little crazy. 130km is about 80 miles per hour. That's pretty good for a car whose tires are all the same size as a donut spare. They're no more than 2 feet in diameter. On the uphills, we would start to lose a little momentum, but that's okay considering it was Rebs, myself, Jen, and Jenna, and all our climbing gear. And we get half-priced tolls, which is great because most highways in Korea are toll roads.

It's been 2 and a half years since we had a car and it feels really good. It's very freeing at the moment. We don't have to worry about a taxi driver taking us the long way to work and almost getting in a wreck along the way. Words can't describe how much more convenient it makes our lives.

This week has been a little hectic because Rebs got sick Saturday night and still hasn't fully recovered. It started as the flu and developed into tonsillitis by the time she got to the doctor on Tuesday. One thing about Korea is they typically don't take sick days. You apparently have to be "having diarrhea, vomiting, fainting, or hospitalized" to get out of work. A fever and lack of voice just don't cut it. But by showing her face at work, they realized how sick she was even though she didn't meet the "sick" criteria. so they collaborated and sent her home.

She's been on antibiotics the past couple of days and even though she sounds like she's been a chain smoker for 20 years, she says she's feeling better. On top of it all, mid-terms are coming up for our university students, so we have to turn them in by friday to have copies made and such. Yeah, so this week's been busy... again. But tomorrow starts another 3-day weekend and the weather has been AMAZING!!! 60+ degree days with minimal wind. There are cherry blossom trees throughout the city and they all bloom with tiny pink/white flowers at the same time. So it's really beautiful.

Okay, that's a good note. Now I can be finished.

Sharmania!

2009-04-01T21:25:00.011+09:00

This week has been really crazy for us, otherwise I would have posted it sooner. We went to Seonunsan last weekend. It's probably the best place to do hard sport climbing in Korea and climbing legend Chris Sharma was there. I shook his hand and talked about climbing shoes for a bit. I have to say, I was a little intimidated which doesn't happen very easily. I like to think that everyone's equal on this planet. But one can't help feeling like certain people are larger than life and this man fit into that category for me.

He showed up under the radar and I didn't even know he was there until I looked over behind me on the opposite wall of where Rebs was climbing and saw a man climbing something that I would likely climb as a project, but he was doing it as a warmup. I noticed his hair was a medium brown instead of thick and black like a Korean's. Then I noticed the crowd of about 20-30 people standing around watching and video taping with professional cameras. I put the pieces together to realize that this WAS Chris. Wow, I thought. He's about 30 feet from me. "Hey Rebs, look behind you," I said. She turned from the warm-up climb she'd been focusing on to see him and then looked gleefully down at me and whispered, "Is that HIM?!?" She hurried and finished her climb and then we went over to sneak a peek, feeling very voyeurish. His climbing was very fluid and relaxed on what looked like really small holds and moderately overhung.

When he finished, people clapped even though it wasn't that difficult of a climb. Then his girlfriend/fellow sponsored climber Deila did it, also with ease. They clapped for her too, but not as many people watched. Then, for the next 15 minutes, people talked with them and took pictures. Koreans are very big on picture taking. After a bit, Chris went off to rest a bit. His girlfriend was sitting by herself, so I figured this was the opportunity to go introduce ourselves to Deila. I wanted to actually talk to them without feeling just like a fan getting an autograph. If any, this was the time.

So while I introduced myself and got the story of their tour of Asia, Rebs stood about 15 feet away behind a tree, straining to hear our conversation. Deila kind of had her back turned so she couldn't see Rebs, but she was in full view of me. So finally, I said loudly, "That's my wife over there, Rebs. Rebs come meet Deila." She sheepishly obeyed and we had a good conversation, but I still laugh about how giddy she was around this girl we'd never even seen before.

Later in the day, I tried to joke with Chris to tell him he was next as we watched a really strong 14-year-old attempt this 5.13+ (read: really hard and completely beyond my ability). He was like, "Uh, that's okay." I couldn't tell if he didn't get that I was joking, or if he was like who is this weird guy that's trying to be my buddy, or like I've never heard that one before. So I slowly backed away, caught speechless by his response.
But eventually, another guy I'd been talking to started a conversation with him again and I was able to join in. Deila, whom we'd given an apple for her upset stomach (all the new food), motioned toward me and said something in Spanish. So Chris struck up a conversation with me, which I thought was really cool. Okay, enough rambling about a conversation that doesn't really have a point.

The point I think I want to make is that I don't really look up to Chris Sharma because of his ability or what he's accomplished, though he has done some amazing stuff that no one has repeated in the sport of climbing. I look up to him because of his attitude amidst all the fame and strength. I see those things as traps almost. The more powerful you are or the more influence you have, the more susceptible you are to the pride that goes with it. To me, Chris seemed more the opposite--humble. That, and the fact that he does what he loves in life as a profession. There are few people in this world who are able to do that.

Hit By the Full Swing of Things Like a 2x4 to the Head!

2009-03-26T13:30:00.002+09:00

So it's been a bit since we wrote last and there is good reason for it. School is in full session now, and we found the climbing wall that's 10 minutes from our house...and Rebs is sick. In fact, we've been passing it back and forth for about a week and a half now. No fun, except to see who can make the biggest, most colorful loogie.

Yes, teaching is kicking our butts right now. it's not so much the teaching as it is the planning and prepping and re-adjusting to lower functioning classes. i find myself scratching my head a few times a week trying to figure out how to relay my English message about English to a Korean student that isn't understanding. Sometimes I draw stick people. The creative part of my brain is working doubletime.

In the midst of all this was my birthday yesterday. I thought about de-friending some people on facebook because of so many messages (not really). It was a blessing to be reminded of how many people were thinking about me, even if just for a moment. To celebrate, we went downtown to a nicer restaurant/coffee shop for some italian food. I got the spaghetti with mozzerella and it came in two square chunks next to the pasta and sauce. Made me laugh, but that's just Korea for you.

I'm finding 3-day weekends can be both a blessing and a curse. The blessings I think are obvious, but the curse comes when you realize that you've played all weekend and have to jump back into the same busy routine that you did last week, cramming 5 days of work into 4. Eventually we're going to have to slow down and probably take (at least part of) a weekend off. But not this weekend because Chris Sharma, one of the great names in rock climbing, is going to be climbing here in Korea. I've never met the man, but I expect to feel something like a 6-year-old does on Christmas morning. I'm very excited and may lose sleep. I can't help it, it's just how I feel.

So this will have to be it for now. I have a class in about 10 minutes. And if anyone reading this is wondering why I have time to write a blog but Rebs hasn't written you back, don't take it personally. She has 2 more teaching hours than me, and her schedule is set up in a way that she doesn't really get much of a break.
-----dusty--<><--

Do What You Love - Love What You Do

2009-03-15T00:47:00.001+09:00

I feel like we’re slowly settling into our life here in Gangneung. The last few weeks have been wonderful. We have now met all of our students for the semester. They are your typical youthful, energetic college kids. Campus is buzzing with vitality. Clubs are beginning and new relationships are forming everywhere. Often when walking across campus between classes, my thoughts are interrupted as I hear a student shout my name (Professor Rebecca). When I turn and look, they wave at me with abundant excitement. It makes me smile and sometimes laugh. Sometimes, they run up to me with some food or just to say hello. Usually, they bow. It’s weird. What a vibrant and refreshing place to spend my time.

Next week will be our first full week teaching all of our classes. I’m looking forward to getting into a groove with my schedule. So far, I love my job. I love my students, I love my co-workers, and I love my work environment. I can’t believe I’m getting paid to do this. It just doesn’t feel like work to me. I wake up each day excited to go to school. Just when I start to feel tired and worn out, I’ve got a three-day weekend to rest and play.

My superiors treat me with respect and credibility and I am given a lot of responsibility. Distinguished Korean professors treat me as a peer. I’m incredibly honored to be associated with these individuals. Don’t they know I’m just a silly girl inside merely playing the role of professor? What do I know? I guess part of me feels as though I’m not a real professor. But I am. I just haven’t had to work so hard to get to this level. I am an expert at speaking English and I grew up in America. I have the ‘right’ accent and come from the ‘right’ place. It’s an attribute that so happens to be in high demand here and is given extreme admiration. I’m unworthy.

At the start of the semester we are given textbooks for our classes but are allowed to determine for ourselves how to utilize them. We can work at whatever pace we want as long as our students feel like they’re learning English. Virtually, I have unlimited freedom to be creative. Courses with foreign English professors are very focused on conversation and speaking skills so classes tend to be very social and interactive. This allows me to have a lot of fun with my students. At the end of the day I come home tired, but with a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that my work matters. I’m so fortunate to have been blessed with this opportunity and responsibility.

My co-workers are all awesome. I love the kinds of people that academia attracts. There is such diversity among us yet we are all like-minded in many ways. There are 18 or so foreign English professors. They all seem intellectual in some form or another. Some are clever and witty, some are highly intelligent, all are educated, and I would say most are scholarly. All of them seem to enjoy life in Korea. Living here isn’t so much about the money or the time off. It’s ironic: we make more money and receive more time off than most foreigners who are in Korea specifically for those reasons. Regardless, I feel like I am in good company. My co-workers seem quite satisfied and at peace with their lives’ here. Many of them have been here for years. Many of them are married to a Korean and plan to stay here permanently. All of them seem to have good things to say about working for Kwandong University.

There is so much more I could write about but this seems to be a good stopping point for tonight. It’s late. Dusty is snoring next to me and I’m really sleepy. I suppose this will have to be enough for one night.

Peopling

2009-03-14T22:19:00.002+09:00

We finally got to do some socializing this weekend and it's been really good and fun to get to know people better. The pace of Gangneung is so much more laid back and thus far, the people seem to follow suit. Every other professor we've met seems to be pretty relaxed about life. Even in a large group, we don't have to have a plan or know where we're going next or when. At times in my past, this would have bothered me. But at the moment, I'm really enjoying it. It allows me to relax and be myself. I think I get anxiety over wanting to please others sometimes, so seeing everyone mesh so well together was awesome for me.

All we really did was eat dinner at a Shabu-shabu restaurant (thin sliced beef that you dip into a boiling pot of vegetables) and then go for a drink afterwards. So simple, but yet so fun. I think I've been nearly desperate for interaction with other people, that last night was a breath of fresh air for me. Everyone seems really alive and thoughtful (in the sense that they think before they speak and what they say tends to show signs of intelligence and depth). I really think we're going to get along well with the people we work with.

Tomorrow, we're meeting up with another professor who goes with his (Korean) wife to a Korean church. They have people in the service who do English interpretation. So since we don't stand out in a crowd here enough as it is, we'll be the ones with the big head sets on while the pastor is speaking. I really am grateful, though, to have to opportunity to worship God with other people who are doing the same, regardless of what language it is or what country we're in.

A Moment of History

2009-03-07T00:38:00.004+09:00

There's something about history that fascinates me. If you've known me for very long, you know that I'm somewhat partial to the 1960's movement and the hippie scene. I just watched a movie called "Gonzo" about the life and work of Hunter S. Thompson. Have you ever just read or watched something and it just hits you, like the way it is explained represents you in some way, but much better than you could ever explain it yourself. That kind of how I feel about this movie, except that I'm more of an admirer than an mimicker or doer.He was in the time and place in this world that fascinates me the most, living a life that in another life I could have lived and enjoyed--that of a writer and/or a star. He was in every way fascinating. So if you get the time, you might enjoy it too (It is rated R though, so not for the faint at heart).

Back To School

2009-03-02T21:32:00.008+09:00

We started class today. That was actually one of the smallest parts of the day. I spent about an hour and a half between 3 classes (two university and one children's), and the rest of the time getting organized. It was fun to be back working again after 4 months of not. It was fun meeting all the other professors. Many of them seem really interesting. Off the top of my head, a couple of them seem to be into educational theories and the stories behind them, a couple of the girls are really nice and are into outdoorsy stuff like us. One of them is even a climber. One guys is from Australia. I haven't met anyone from Australia that I didn't like; they just have this laid back, fun-loving vibe to them. Another guy seems like a big kid, though much smarter. He just is a little goofy and likes to have fun with himself (not in any perverted way). It was good for me just to talk with other people who I know I'll be spending a decent amount of time around. There is another guy who seems pretty active whom I could picture playing tennis or squash with in a break between classes.

After 2 weeks of hardly any contact with other foreigners, it was a breath of fresh air to shoot the breeze for a bit. It's also been nice to sort of ease into our classes this week, with no freshman classes due to level tests and only talking through the syllabus with the others. So all it left for me today was a 50 minute class with intermediate level 5th graders for the Kid's English program. Also, we get free dinner for teaching the kid's program. Just another way to save a little while we're here.

We still haven't got a couch yet, but have a bed that suits us nicely, and twinkle lights around the ceiling to make it cozy. Rebs is in the bedroom reading while I type. Even though it's pretty easy and straightforward, the first day on the job usually tires anybody out. I'm sure in a couple weeks, we'll have a routine down that works well for us and we won't be getting home pooped. Our first three day weekend starts this Friday and I don't think I'm going to know what to do with myself. It'll be here before I know it.

I've included a few pics of our apartment and this one of us on the beach that Rebs described in the last post for you all to see. It's alot easier to show you than try to describe every detail. Hope you like them.

Return To Korea - Part 1

2009-02-28T14:53:00.001+09:00

I’m home. It’s so nice to have a place to call home, and so nice to know that we’re finally done traveling for a while. We’ve been homeless vagabonds for about a third of a year now. I’m so glad to be unpacking my suitcases knowing that I won’t have to pack them again for a long time.

Right now, I’m curled up on my yoga mat in my sleeping bag on our bedroom floor. I rest my head on some nice new fluffy pillows however they do not yet have pillowcases on them. Our belongings are in piles all around me. Our place is smaller than I was hoping for. But I am home.

Our heat comes up through the wood floors so it is quite warm and cozy even without a bed. Our apartment is small (about the same size as last year) but clean and new. We were extremely lucky to find a place that was partially furnished. The furniture is very functional. The apartment consists of one decent sized open room. It is meant to be a kitchen and living area. I really like how open it is. We have large windows in both our bedroom and living area, which lets a lot of light in. Our furnishings consist of a shoe shelf, desk, chair, bookshelf, TV and stand. The kitchen is small, smaller than last year if that’s even possible but it came with a gas range and refrigerator. I’d say the kitchen is the one down side to this place. However, since we have a big, open room to work with, we plan to buy some furnishings specifically to give us more food storage and counter space. I know how Dusty loves to cook and make big messes in the kitchen.

Our bathroom is larger than last year. The bedroom is smaller than last year. However, the landlady agreed to provide us with our own separate storage room at the end of the hall. It includes a washing machine. It is a fairly spacious room but very long and narrow, probably 4 feet wide and 15 feet long. Perfect for storage. It’s big enough to hang our clothes on laundry drying racks, store climbing and camping gear, suitcases, bikes, extra food, linens, and whatever else we don’t want to clutter up the living space in our apartment. We are so thankful for this space, as it will make our actual apartment feel cleaner and more open compared to last year. We still need to purchase a bed, couch, and organizing solutions. A few more finishing touches after that and this place will be cozy as can be.

It’s definitely not easy moving into a place on the other side of the world. Moving is stressful enough by itself. But imagine being in a foreign land, adjusting to a time change, apartment shopping the day after arriving before familiarizing yourself with the area, feeling pressured to find a place quick because you’re paying a Korean real estate guy who continues to speak to you in a language you don’t understand, and your co-worker has been gracious enough to set it all up and spend the entire day helping you look. It’s been a little bit overwhelming. There is always a sense of urgency with Korean people. It gives me anxiety and makes me feel a little on edge but it’s just a part of their culture. They must always be making progress. I have felt way out of control and totally out of my comfort zone for the majority of the past week since we’ve been here. But I know it’s good for me. I’m having to trust God to take care of us and once again, I’m completely amazed at how smoothly everything has worked out.

The rent is much lower than we were anticipating. We couldn’t have picked a better location. We are smack dab between work, downtown, and the beach. We are in a newer, more modern neighborhood that feels like a little city within the city. It is probably a 7x7 block radius or so. It is composed of mostly 2-4 story buildings. Most of the buildings have restaurants or small businesses on the street level. Typically, a family owns the building and resides on the top story while renting the apartments and commercial space on the lower levels. We live in a 3-story building with our apartment being on the second floor just above a Korean restaurant. I’m eager to test out the food. It smells delicious and they have a few western meal options on the menu as well.

We are about a mile from a small lake that has a lovely 4k running trail and bike path going around it. The closest beach is literally across the street from the opposite end of the lake. I would say the beach is at most, 4 miles from our front door. There is a nice long boardwalk along the beach. The water is a beautiful greenish-blue. I’m told it turns even more turquoise in the summer and the temperature like bath water. Sounds heavenly to me. The waves are good right now. The other morning we woke up early and decided to go the beach. We had it mostly to ourselves. We got some coffee, sat in a swing, and watched a lone surfer out braving the waves. Brrr!!! Dusty is so excited about the opportunity to surf. I plan to spend many of my days this spring and summer relaxing on the beach reading a good book and watching my husband play in the water. The air quality seems good. No pollution like in the big city last year. I love the ocean breeze. I think we are going to love living here.

There are fresh sushi restaurants everywhere. Our neighborhood is somewhat trendy compared to the rest of the town and supposedly has some amazing restaurants. I can’t wait to start trying them. I’m told there are many well-known Buddhist temples near us along with dozens of hiking trails to choose from. The mountains lie just west of us. There are ski areas very close to here and surely some great climbing. We just have to go exploring and find it. The city is large enough to have everything one needs but not so large to be overwhelming. The downtown area is very urban, much like Seoul. There is an outdoor market with as much fresh seafood, fruit, and veggies than one could ever imagine. It is also a great place for finding pretty much everything.

Okay, I’m done for now. I’m outta time and this thing has turned into a novel so I must go and finish this later.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

2009-02-14T06:28:00.000+09:00

Don’t know when we’ll be back again. 2 days and counting! I can’t believe that we will be on a plane headed for Korea in T-30 hours.

For a long time, I felt like our time at home was inching by ever so slowly. That is until this week, which has flown by so quickly. Today, it finally hit me. Our time is almost up. We said goodbye to my mom last night and this morning I woke up a little sad knowing that I won’t be able to hug her again for a long time. It made me realize that no matter how long we stay here and visit, it never becomes any easier to say goodbye. It’s a bittersweet time.

I’ve been spending as much time as possible with my dog, Legend. She is my girl and I love her to pieces. Thinking about having to live without her again makes me cry. I know it sounds funny, but I almost miss her more than anybody else when I’m away. I can’t talk to her on skype like I can with people. I can’t rub her belly, throw her tennis ball, play tug-o-war, take her on walks, give her kisses, and roll around in the grass with her. That is how she knows I love her. It breaks my heart to have to say goodbye to her. How I wish she could come with us.

I live with a bit of guilt knowing that I’ll soon be leaving my faithful companion behind again. The only thing that makes it bearable is to know that she is in good hands. She stays with Dusty’s parents while we’re away. They love on her. They let her come inside and hide in the bathroom when it’s stormy outside and she’s afraid. She has a big backyard to run and play in. She has two 4-legged friends named Toby and Sadie to keep her company. She has what she thinks is her very own swimming pool during the summer to keep her cool. I know she will be happy and taken care of.

Being home for so long has been great. We’ve spent virtually 3½ months on vacation. It’s been a once in a lifetime opportunity. We’ve visited just about all of our friends and family. We’ve gotten to climb and ski. We’ve had time to relax, watch TV, and go see movies. We’ve managed to do a year’s worth of shopping in just a few short months. We’ve slept in and laid in bed reading until late in the afternoon. We’ve taken lots of walks, gone on several runs, and a few bike rides. We’ve eaten lots of good food (more than we should have). And now it is time to go. We are rested, rejuvenated, energized, and ready to start our next big adventure together, just the two of us, with the world as our playground.

We’re ready for new experiences and challenges. We’re ready to meet more amazing people. We’re ready to have our own little apartment near the beach. We’re ready to invest in the lives of college students. We’re ready to start teaching and using our creativity. We’re ready to study Korean. We’re ready to climb more rocks and travel to foreign lands. We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get down to work.

Being home has possessed it’s own challenges. I think we both feel like our lives have been somewhat stagnant lately. I have felt like an observer, a fly on the wall. Everyone else around us has a life. People are busy getting on with daily routines and tasks, going to work, taking care of children, cleaning and organizing, upholding commitments, attending to responsibilities, planning, living. We’ve been on the sidelines cheering everyone on but we haven’t felt the freedom to jump in the race because we’ve known our stay is just temporary. We’ve been the onlookers just trying to find ways to help. In a strange way I have felt lonely and left out. We haven’t had many opportunities to focus on our own lives. Instead we’ve felt as though our lives have been on hold. Our goals and interests, the things we typically pursue, the ways we usually spend our time, have all been on the backburner. We haven’t been able to control our time, structure our days, or plan independent of others for quite some time now. Focusing on others has been humbling and rewarding. I’m reminded that the world doesn’t revolve around me, and my life. I’ve been forced to let go of my own agenda and see beyond myself. I’ve learned to be more patient, adaptable, and flexible. I’ve done a lot of listening and not so much talking. It’s been a season of stillness and rest.

And now, the seasons are once again changing and it’s time to go. Though America is our home, our lives and hearts are still in Korea. It’s time to wake up from our hibernation (and burn off that spare tire around my belly), time to set things in motion, time to become active participants in the world. I’m excited! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in this next season of life!

Back To Korea - Three Days & Counting

2009-02-12T22:40:00.009+09:00

First off, I'm sorry to those of you who check our blog on a regular basis. The last time I wrote, we were in Tulsa, which was over a month ago now. I started to feel bad when I'd come to this site to check others' blog and I'd see our counter in the top left corner continue to rise. I imagined people coming to the site hoping to see something new and being disappointed instead. I'm sorry to our dedicated viewers for not writing sooner. But honestly, our lives haven't been very exciting lately. Well... maybe that's just an excuse.

Shortly after our last entry, we went to Colorado to see Rebs' dad and step-mom. We hadn't seen them in about a year and a half. We got to run on some open space trails. Rebs fell off her bike when we went riding one day because anything that doesn't get sunlight in the Winter doesn't seem to melt. We had a couple upper 50 degree days and there was still ice on the ground. She walked away with a bruise by her hip, but was okay otherwise. She vowed not to follow me onto ice anymore.

I got my injury when we went skiing a couple weeks into our trip. Rebs' dad knows a lot of people and was able to get a nice condo for us up in Frisco that we stayed at for 5 nights. The skiing was amazing. I love snowboarding, though my body is becoming more fragile than it used to be in high school and college. We got to ski at Keystone, Vail, and Beaver Creek, the latter two I had never been to before. I think I liked Beaver Creek the best. At the base in the morning, they would send out cooks from the kitchen with a silver platter loaded with hot, steaming chocolate chip cookies. I guess it's a good way to make people appreciate paying an arm and a leg to ski there.

The lowlight was probably the fact that I got a concussion on our last day of skiing. It's funny because I had been in the terrain park sliding on rails and going of jumps, riding switch a little bit. I'd even been on the Men's Downhill slope, part of which was a sheet of ice. But when I injured myself, I was actually just cruising down a blue with my brother-in-law Brandon. I must've hit a small patch of snow that had been piled up over the day, and before I knew it, I was on my stomach looking uphill. A lady came by to give me my had and goggles, which had fallen off when I hit my head. I said thanks and reassured her that I was okay, and I honestly felt normal at that moment.

So Brandon and I rode a little slower down to the bottom of the mountain. We decided it was a good time to be finished, even though it was only about 3:15, On the shuttle on the way home my mind started feeling a little foggy. I couldn't remember what day of the week it was (not that I would have known without a concussion). When we got our stuff loaded in the car and were on our way, I remember feeling more and more light headed. I would be sitting, looking out the window and everything would start to white out. So when I knew something wasn't right, I told Brandon that if I passed our he should take me to the hospital. I blacked out about 5 minutes later, and then woke up and proceeded to projectile vomit all over the car the Butterfinger Brandon had given me earlier.

We got to the hospital and I was still pretty out of it, but decided to walk with Brandon into the E.R. anyway. As we walked in, the lady graciously asked which one of us was here for the concussion. I guess she didn't see the vomit on my shirt. They put me in a wheelchair and wheeled me back to a room, where I sat for a while. Then Rebs came in. This is the second time Rebs has had to come visit me in the E.R. It's not the greatest, but is an incredible relief to hold the one you love in your arms and know they're still alive. I got a CAT-scan and they said I had no internal bleeding and could go, but just to monitor my recovery. Everything turned out okay. Next time, I think I'll wear a helmet.

I forgot to mention earlier that we had our first Greyhound experience on the way to and from Denver. It was humbling, embarrassing, and testing of our patience. If you've never ridden Greyhound, I recommend it, but only once. When we first got on in Tulsa, we didn't know what we'd gotten ourselves into. Rebs quietly started crying in the seat next to me. She felt scared. There were some pretty scary people around us. One guy at a stop in Oklahoma City had a t-shirt on it that said "INMATE''. I didn't see it, but why would anyone joke about that? Why would someone wear a shirt like that if they hadn't been one.

Part of me really liked the experience because after talking to some of the people around us, I realized that they were very much like me. People seem a lot scarier if you don't talk to them. I said I was embarrassed earlier. That was because I was on the bus with a nice, warm coat, a laptop computer, a digital camera, and an ipod. And sitting across the aisle was a lady wearing thrift store clothes and all the clothes to her name in a backpack on the floor by her feet. Walking among the impoverished is much different than caring for them from behind a barrier. It's much more real. So in that sense, I don't regret it. For Rebecca's sake, I regret putting her in a situation that she felt unsafe in.

If you've been able to make it this far with us, you're pretty much caught up. We spent a little time in Altus, OK with Rebs's best friend Gabby, and a couple days with Brandi and Cass (my sis and bro-in-law) in their new house. Their kids are so fun. We've been in Fayetteville with her mom now for a few days. But the biggest thing is that we're officially flying out of the country in 3 days.

It's possible that the next time you hear from us that we'll be on the other side of the world. We got to see many of you while we were here and we feel so blessed to have gotten to do that. How many people get to spend 3 and a half months traveling and catching up with friends and family in person. We definitely have a lot to be thankful for. And it's because of you all that we will always call America our home. I don't think I could live overseas for the rest of my life. So until we see you again, find us on Skype or Facebook or just send us an email. In that sense, we're really not that far away.

AHHHHH!!!

2009-01-07T03:51:00.002+09:00

I'm still in bed, in my sweatpants as I write this. I have begun to fester in this lifestyle we're living. If you're just tuning in, Rebs and I are living the semi-nomadic lifestyle of living with family and friends for three and a half months until we return to Korea. So far, we have stayed in Tulsa, OK, at my parents, Colcord, OK, with my sis and brother-in-law, Fayetteville, AR with Preston & Leslie, and with Rebs' mom, Rogers, AR with Rebs' grandparents, Kansas City, KS with Rebs' cousins, Lawrence, KS with Rebs' Uncle Brian, Ft. Scott, KS with Rebs' grandpa, and now we're back in Tulsa with my parents again. Some of these places we've stayed more than once.

There have been so many blessings in this life. We've been able to spend time with people whom we love that we would not have been able to if we were working a normal job. God has provided us a unique opportunity, living the way we are. But on the other hand, this lifestyle is not all glamorous. I can't think of how many times we've re-packed our suitcases, all along the way collecting more stuff and wondering in the back of our minds how we're going to get it back to Korea. I've personally gotten an almost entirely new wardrobe since we're going to be "professors" (believe me when I say that I use that term loosely). What is "business casual" anyway. Up to this point in my life, I've been able to get by wearing only jeans and t-shirts most of the time with an occasional dress up to spice things up.

But yes, packing and re-packing is getting old. I've come to recognize that I am a type-A personality in a type-B situation. There is nothing going on right now that I have to do. Nothing calling my attention. When I was a kid, my parents gave me this card that did some sort of definition of what my name meant, which supposedly Dustin means "valiant fighter". I know, a little cheesy, but in many ways it fits me. I have this drive inside of me that just needs to come out-- sometimes in the form of anger, sometimes competitiveness, sometimes general exercise. But it's definitely there. I feel this need to do something worth doing. Do you ever feel this? I don't want to just check stuff off my list of stuff to do. I want to feel like what I'm doing matters.

Normally, my life is reflective of this drivenness, and the drive within me expels itself naturally. But in this rare situation, I have become irritable and restless. I do not get high off shopping like my wife does. She dances around the room in her new shoes that she's so proud of, especially since they only cost her $7.50, which she continues to remind me of with a big smile, like a child to her father, wanting him to be proud of her. I love my wife.

I'm thinking about the people who might be reading this and the jealousy that it might ensue. That's not my purpose. My writing feels more like a description of who I am right now. A little sporadic, a little unfocused, a bit pent up. So for those of you at work, keep it up. I'm slightly jealous of you, especially if you love what you're doing. I want to work hard for some projected goal, whatever it is. But I know that this is where I'm supposed to be right now. Maybe not in bed at 1:20 in the afternoon, but here, resting, storing up energy for our next big adventure that should start just over a month from now.

May God show you his work that you may be a part of it and find joy in doing so.
-----dusty--<><--

Reflections of a year, dreams for the next

2009-01-01T05:45:00.004+09:00

What a glorious year I've had! It's been packed full of joy, love, fellowship, and growth. I have shared more love with my husband than I ever knew possible. The most amazing people have come into my life and loved me just as I am. Life in the last year has become for me, all about relationships. It's the people in my life who teach me about myself, my relationship with God, and how to live on this earth as a follower of Christ. Thank you to ALL those who've been a part of my life in the last year. Every one of you have blessed me in my life in one way or another. Thank you for loving me, supporting me, encouraging me, teaching me, challenging me, imparting your wisdom and discernment, listening to me, confronting me, and being patient with me. Words can't describe how appreciative and honored I am to have such amazing people in my life.

The last year has also brought many new experiences, challenges, adventures, and travels. I'd like to share a few. I have seen more of the world than I ever thought I would. I've lived in and explored Korea and vacationed in Thailand. I have climbed LOTS of rocks. I've climbed big rock, steep rock, overhung rock, slick rock, grippy rock, sport, crack, slab, multi-pitch, rocks in Thailand, rocks in Korea, and rocks in America. I have fallen more in love with rock climbing! I've spent many nights sleeping under the stars in a tent. I've challenged myself both physically and mentally and grown stronger. I mountain-biked 113 miles around an island south of Korea. My butt and legs were more tired than they've ever been. I learned to read and speak enough Korean to get around the country. I ate a lot of weird food. I learned to like kimchi and rice. I drank soju. I relaxed at the jimjilbang (bath house). I sang at the noraebong (karaoke). I let little fish eat dead skin off my feet. I watched KU win the national basketball championship. I sang the rock chalk chant all by myself. I survived a year without a car, stove, and microwave. I had one English television channel. I rode on lots of subways and trains and in countless taxis. I wore out one pair of running shoes, one pair of chacos, and lost 2 pairs of climbing shoes. Along with Dusty I started a young-adults ministry at our church. And, I loved on the thousands of Korean children who I had the pleasure of teaching English to.

It was a great year indeed.

I have lots of hopes and dreams for my life in 2009. I hope for good health for my family, friends, and myself. I hope to share another year of love and adventure with Dusty. I hope to continue growing in love with my family and friends. I hope to touch the lives of those who come into my life. I hope to show others the love that Christ has shown me. I hope to love people the way that my God and my dog love me. I hope to become a more faithful, graceful, joyful, peaceful, gentle, supportive, encouraging, wise, discerning, patient, and kind, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, neice, cousin, friend, professor/teacher, co-worker, counselor, acquaintance and servant of God. I hope to learn more about being a mother without actually becoming one yet. I hope to see more of the world. I hope to climb lots of rocks. I hope to grown stronger and climb bigger and harder rocks than ever before. I hope to remain active in my life (in every sense of the word). I hope to learn more Korean. I hope to serve North Korean refugees. I hope to find fellowship with other Believers in a healthy church. I hope to find a place to practice yoga. I hope to see many beautiful sunrises off the beach and sunsets over the mountains. But more than all of these things, I want God's will for my life.

No one can ever know what the next year will hold. Each day is a gift and an opportunity. Just like the subtitle of our blog reads, I aspire to live my life in color. I pray for the courage to be bold and intentional with my life. I know there will be challenges and disappointments. I know people will hurt me and I will be hurt by others. I know I will have some successes and some failures. But more than anything else, I know that through Jesus, there is a merciful God who will always love me. It is with Him, I leave my hopes and dreams for the future.

Love Peace Joy,
Rebs

We Have a New Job!!!

2008-12-29T11:46:00.006+09:00

It's been too long since I've written. We've been on the go and focusing on family mostly the past few weeks and I hadn't put much stock into writing. I hope those of you who check this regularly aren't too disappointed. We uploaded a counter to show how many people have been checking. I'm pretty amazed at how high it is already. I didn't think we were that interesting.

So the big news is that we have a job now! We had been applying to all sorts of jobs that were listed on Dave's ESL cafe, getting a few responses here and there. We almost got a job at a university near the place we climbed mostly last year. We had an interview that went well and anticipated an acceptance email, but after a couple days of no word, we followed up only to find out that one of the positions we were to be filling had been retracted. One of the people leaving decided to stay longer, so the university only had one job open until two.

We had gotten our hopes up and then were let down unexpectedly. So we were more reserved about getting our hopes up after that. All the other jobs we applied for seemed to pale compared to that first one. But I knew we needed to continue searching regardless. We started getting a few responses here and there, and we even got desperate and sent our information to a recruiter. One of our responses was at a university called Kwandong. They arranged an interview with us, which lasted over two hours and now I think Rebs is best friends with the recruiter. But it paid off and they offered us a job.

Details: Kwandong University is located on the east coast of South Korea in a city of about 400,000, called Gangneung. The train runs to and from Seoul, taking about 3 and a half hours. You can see the tracks in the picture above. There are 2 beaches within the city limits, as well as one that has bouldering in the next town south of us, about 20 minutes away. There is also rock climbing 30 minutes to the south and 45 minutes to the north in Seoraksan, which you may have seen pictures of in our earlier posts. It's the most beautiful national park in Korea. We're told there are running trails as well as mountains for hiking in and nearby the city.

As for work, we are contracted to teach 16 hours a week over 4 days. Anything beyond 16 hours counts as overtime pay. We're not sure if that extra day off will fall on a Friday or Monday, but if it did, that would mean 3 day weekends! We each get a housing allowance that should more than cover our costs for rent and utilities each month. We really feel amazed and blessed to have such an incredible job in such an incredible location.

So right now, we still have to get criminal record checks and then on to the visa process. As long as it all goes smoothly, this will be where we are and what we're doing for the next year. If you'll keep us in your prayers that everything works out, we'd appreciate it.
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Resting

2008-12-12T06:03:00.007+09:00

What a beautiful, restful day. Dusty and I are staying in Tulsa at his parents' house. Everyone is at work except us. We have the house all to ourselves. It is cozy and quiet. Our time at home is finally starting to feel like a relaxing vacation. I've accomplished next to nothing today. I'm practicing being still. It's a hard thing for me since I'm so used to being busy. I get restless when I don't have an immediate purpose or goal to work towards. I'm so used to the busyness of life with noise and distractions all around me. But I think it's healthy to slow down, listen, and reflect on my life sometimes. Dusty is outside doing yard work and I'm getting ready to go for a run with Legend. Tonight Dusty is taking me out on a date but is surprising me with the details.

Despite the crappy exchange rate, we still plan to return to Korea. The Korean won is predicted to strengthen again against the American dollar by this spring. We continue to look for teaching jobs. In Korea, the beginning of the school year starts mid February/early March after the Chinese Lunar New Year. We're hoping to have jobs lined up in time to secure our work visas and return to start work around that time. We have turned in several applications. So far, we have one interview lined up for this Sunday evening. The University interviewing us said they usually don't consider foreigners living outside of Korea however, they wanted to make an exception for us due to our "exceptional resumes and references". It would be an amazing job opportunity and is one of our top picks of where we'd like to work. But we're trying not to get too excited yet. There is still a long way to go in this process. We'll keep you updated.

(Posted by Rebs)

Since We've Been Home

2008-11-30T12:37:00.004+09:00

Journal entry written on Monday, November 17, 2008 while we were on vacation at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch.

Man, what a perfect, amazing, beautiful day. A “rest” day for us. This morning we drove into the small mountain town of Jasper to eat at the delicious and quaint Ozark Café. It seems to be the town hub where everyone comes to visit and eat. Dusty and I both had the morning special: sausage, an egg, hash browns, and a biscuit and gravy. We shared some fresh squeezed orange juice and vanilla cappuccino. Then we drove up here to spend the day at Sam’s Throne. I’ve never been here before but have always wanted to come. It is glorious!

I’m sitting on top of a huge bluff overlooking a valley full of trees and pastures. The sun is shining and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. All I hear are trees blowing in the wind and bellowing cows down in the valley. It’s maybe 55 or 60 degrees with a slight breeze. As I write this I’m sitting on a flat rock near the edge of a cliff. I’m wearing warm hiking socks, a pair of old, worn blue pants, a red, long-sleeve wicking shirt, and my new puff jacket. It’s the exact same thing I wore yesterday down to my underwear. I’ve taken two showers in the last six days. My muscles and body are tired and relaxed but not sore. My husband is laying about ten feet behind me in the hammock and my dog is curled up, sleeping underneath him in the shade. This moment is flawless. It’s a moment I’ve longed for. It’s a moment I’m committing to my memory so that I can carry it around with me like a priceless treasure. Thank you, Jesus.

We’ve been home two and a half weeks now. We’ve been going at a frantic pace. The time has been spent traveling from place to place like nomads. Home is wherever we happen to be at any give time. We’ve seen most of our friends and family, have eaten numerous good meals, and spent a good share of time in the outdoors climbing, hiking, and camping. The past week has been spent here in the Buffalo River / Blue Mountain Region. It’s the first opportunity we’ve had to be alone with each other for an extended period. I’m starting to slow down and reflect on the last year of my life.

My grandma says I need to write a blog to wrap up our past year in Korea. Well, she’s right. But it’s a daunting task. I’m not sure where to begin and I know it’s not something to which I can give a succinct summary in a single blog. No, I’m afraid this will take some time. I hope to reflect on what I’ve learned as it comes to me. It’s slowly being revealed. For now, I find it easier to start from the present and work my way backwards.

The following is a brief summary of my life since I’ve been back in America:

Thursday October 30th - Come home from Korea. Eat a delicious dinner at Dusty’s parents. Crash.

Friday, October 31st – Biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Mmm! Go visit Dusty’s grandparents. Take two naps. We were exhausted from jet lag and a 15hr. time difference. Delicious fish tacos for dinner.

Saturday, November 1st - Hand out Christmas light fliers around Dusty’s parent’s neighborhood. It’s a side business that we’ve been doing for the past several years to make some extra cash for the holidays.

Sunday, November 2nd – Delicious waffle breakfast. Boulder at Chandler Park in Tulsa. I beat Dusty for the first time on a boulder problem! Spend evening catching up with Nate and Val.

Monday, November 3rd - Drive to Siloam Springs, AR. Buy short-term, catastrophic health insurance over the phone on the way over. Hang out with Cass, Brandi and the kids at New Life Ranch.

Tuesday, November 4th - Drive to Fayetteville, AR, renew driver’s license. Vote for Obama. Visit my mom at work. Stay the night with Preston and Leslie.

Wednesday, November 5th - Meet with church elders and plan a time to speak in church. Meet with our lawyer regarding Dusty’s car accident from a way, long time ago. Rummage through storage unit looking for stuff. Spend afternoon climbing at Shepherd Springs. Community group at Preston and Leslie’s.

Thursday, November 6th – Climb at Lincoln Lake with Leslie. Community group at Cass and Brandi’s. Catch up with friends.

Friday, November 7th - Babysit India and Jude. Drive to Fayetteville, AR. Have dinner at Marketplace. Stay the night at Mom’s with Nate and Val.

Saturday, November 8th - Early oatmeal breakfast. Morning drive out to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch. Climb all day with Nate and Val. Hopped on my first 5.12 (Lavendar Eye). Didn’t finish.

Sunday, November 9th – Church. See… everyone. Spend afternoon at Mom’s with Grandma and Grandpa. Rake Mom’s yard.

Monday, November 10th - Rain… all day. Get ready for trip. Catch up on e-mails and correspondence. Do a little shopping.

Tuesday, November 11th - Pack up and drive out to HCR. Set up camp. Get in a late afternoon bouldering session.

Wednesday, November 12th - Climb all day at the North Forty in the corridor. Feel like crap. Hop on Horny Goatweed (5.11a) for like, an hour. Couldn’t get the start. Argh!

Thursday, November 13th - Beautiful day. Dusty feels like crap. Ended up being a rest day. Take a short hike to a secluded area with some picnic tables. Start the Walking with God workbook. Hang out in the tent, reading and napping.

Friday, November 14th - Hop on some climbs up at the North Forty. Starts to rain just as Dusty gets on Crimp Scampy (5.10+), one of my goal climbs for this trip. He leaves some draws for me. We sit together on a ledge waiting for the rain to stop. It doesn’t. Darn! Hike down to our campsite in the rain. Put on our rain jackets. Hike down to the Outpost and return some phone calls. It’s freezing. Drive down to the Buffalo Outdoor Center cabin and shower. Have dinner with Dusty’s parents at the cabin. Cass, Brandi, and kids come out. Sit by the fire and talk.

Saturday, November 15th – Freezing cold morning. Sleeting. Yes, sleeting… and windy. Drive down to the cabin. My mom comes out to the cabin. Have breakfast. Everyone bundles up. We drive up to HCR, hike up to the North Forty and climb. It’s freezing and still sleeting. NO FUN!!! We hike back down to our campsite. Spend the afternoon sitting around a big bonfire. Drive down to the cabin. Big spaghetti dinner. Yum! Then met Clay and Preston up at our campsite.

Sunday, November 16th - Short hike with the Woodson’s and Harris clan. Then back up to HCR. Climbed the North Forty all afternoon with Clay and Preston. Led and finished Crimp Scampy. Yay! Two sits. Hopped on a 5.12 and then 5.11. My arms felt like they were going to fall off. Good, hard afternoon of climbing.

Monday, November 17th - This brings us to today at Sam’s Throne. Relaxing, resting, spending time in God’s creation.

You could say we’ve been a little busy.

Little Heartbreakers

2008-11-02T22:32:00.002+09:00

Monday I was taking roll in one of my classes, knowing that this would be my last class with these particular students. Everyday at the beginning of each class I'd always ask each student how they were feeling. The typical answers were, "I'm fine, I'm happy, I'm tired, I'm hungry". But Monday the third student I asked said, "I'm sad." Now whenever my kids say they are sad, bad, or angry I always ask why. So I asked why she was sad and she said, "Because Rebecca teacher go to America on Wednesday." And my heart melted and broke at the same time. My eyes welled up with tears. The remaining 9 kids in the class all proceeded to tell me they were sad when asked how they were feeling that day. It was all I could do to hold back my tears.

It was bittersweet saying goodbye. My students each let me know in their own special way that I matter to them. To know that I've made a difference in their lives is a satisfying feeling. To know that they care enough about me to tell me they'll miss me makes me feel special and honored. It means I've done my job. I've tried so hard to listen, to love, to care, to teach, to empower, to encourage, and to praise. So many times I've wondered if I was doing a good job. It hasn't always been easy but in those last few days with my kids, I was reminded that the struggle and effort was well worth it. Such precious children, they are. They made my heart grow bigger. What a gift. I already miss them so much. I'll probably never see them again but they will always be in my memory and my heart will soften each time I think of them. If only they knew how much I love them.

This Should Be Interesting

2008-10-28T23:02:00.002+09:00

So the Korean Economy is really bad right now, which is really bad for us because we get a large sum of money at the end of our contract, which is directly transferred to our accounts in the U.S. If it stays this bad... well, we don't know what we'll be doing in 4 months.

So I thought we could do a little survey. But first you must read the warning:
WARNING - SUBMISSION OF REQUESTS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE WILL DO THEM! In fact, we may do the opposite. It's just a survey, more out of curiosity to see who's really even reading this thing anymore.

So we want to get your opinion. What would you have us do in 3-4 months? Our current plan is to return to Korea after time at home at least through the end of January. We've applied for several university positions here in Korea, but the process to teach at them takes a while. The jobs don't officially start until March 1st. And I really don't mind because I want to see how the economy pans out. Today, the exchange rate was 1,478KRW = $1US. That means that if I wanted to send home 100 dollars then I would have to have 148,000 Korean won. So we're basically paying $1.50 in exchange for a dollar. So... what would you do if you were in our situation? Your thoughts?

Learning How To Love The "Unlovable"

2008-10-23T23:12:00.004+09:00

So Rebs and I were talking tonight about our days and reflecting on the past few weeks here in Korea. My week, personally, has been a little bit hectic, specifically regarding work. This week has been my toughest week working with kids. Many of our students are from orphanages around Seoul, and their behavior reflects it. They get into fights with the drop of a hat. I had two boys go to blows over a game of Jenga in my class this morning. There are also students who like to push the teacher's limits just to see what they can get away with. Then, when we're trying to discipline them, they start laughing because they think it's funny that someone is yelling at them in another language and they don't understand any of it.

Initially, I was really frustrated with this week. I would finish my day and feel completely drained, more emotionally than anything, but also tired from chasing kids around classrooms, and my voice hoarse from shouting over the dull roar of echoing classrooms. But I started praying about the situation this morning. I had a few extra minutes before I had to go to work and I grabbed my Bible and looked up the work child. Jesus says in Matthew that we have to be humbled, and child-like. Well, I definitely feel like I have been humbled this week. It's funny that God would wait until my last week to do this. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, that I was the master of the system for which I work, He threw me for a loop. So, on the one hand, I've been owned by some 9-year-olds.

But back to the prayer thing. So after I read that passage, I decided to pray over the situation. This is something I often idealize about but negligently do. I prayed for the kids. I prayed for God to show me how to love them and how to discipline them. This was something that I had been wanting to do all week, especially with knowing that they were orphans. (There are special ways to recognize orphans, like the way they cling to you almost immediately without even knowing you; they are desperate for love.) But every time I tried, I felt like I was getting walked on or so caught up in preventing fights that it seemed impossible.

But finally today, after checking the master schedule to find out which team numbers I was going to have after lunch, I realized I would be teaching the Bank class to the most rowdy 9-year-olds I've ever had. I had already had them twice so I knew what to expect. So anyway, I went upstairs and spoke to some other teachers and got some ideas. I got some materials from our Animation class and made an example of a Mickey Mouse dollar bill. I prayed this would work.

So the kids came to class and were rowdy as usual. I taught them a little about currency and the different sizes of American money. After that, I had lost more than half of the class. Several of them were more interested in rolling their chairs around the class or playing bumper chairs. But then I got out the project and it worked like a charm. I showed them the Mickey bill and then started handing out paper and markers. After about 5 minutes, they had all mostly calmed down and were diligently drawing. Soon, I also brought out the animation notebook that showed them how to draw cartoon characters. They loved this even more. They would show me their work and I would praise them for it. It felt so good not to have to discipline them negatively, but rather with positive reinforcement. I could sense their joy when they saw how proud I was of them. They didn't necessarily become angels, but God finally allowed them to receive the love they have been needing.

Also, on a further note, there is a little girl named Lucy with whom I have fallen in love with. She is about 3 feet tall and her hair is strung everywhere. Whenever she sees me, she comes and grabs my hand and never wants to let go. I'll try to take a picture with her tomorrow to post for you.

Good Snuggle Weather

2008-10-23T20:03:00.004+09:00

It's a rainy day. Cool and breezy. The leaves are falling. I just got home from work a little bit ago. I'm pooped. It's a perfect evening for eating in bed, snuggling under the covers, curling up to watch a movie, and falling asleep in my husband's arms. I love Fall.

Catching You Up

2008-10-16T14:59:00.004+09:00

- Last Tuesday, I got food poisoning and spent the day alternating between puking, having diarrhea, and laying in bed. No fun.
- Then, I spent the rest of the week feeling weak and tired.
- Last weekend I went to the World Passion Conference and saw Chris Tomlin and David Crowder. It was great to hear some amazing worship music after a year of struggling through not so amazing worship music.
- I can't wait to come home and worship at The Grove. I think it will make me so joyful that I'll have to sing at the top of my lungs and dance like a crazy woman. Sorry for those of you who might have to witness this.
- I got to hang out with my friend Natalie all weekend. She is awesome and has been such a blessing in my life in the past few months. Then, I had to say goodbye. Who knows when I'll see her again.
- The goodbyes have begun. I'm sad to say goodbye but so excited to come home.
- This week of work has been the busiest week thus far. I'm so ready to be finished with the long work days and time spent away from Dusty.
- Today, I had 3 BOYS in one of my classes with the English names, Sally, Holly, Kate and Amy!?!? Poor things.
- One time earlier this year, I had a boy with the English name, Gondom!?!?
- Last night, I spent three hours at the climbing gym. At the end of my workout, I did 27 pull-ups (with assistance). I'm gonna have Popeye arms!
- I'm finally feeling like I've figured out balance in my life again. I've met the coolest people in the past few months. Just in time to come home and readjust.
- I have so much to do in the next two weeks to prepare to come home. Better go.

One Life

2008-10-12T18:39:00.006+09:00

This past month has been a whirlwind! This is the first full day I have spent at home in quite a long time. Actually, the plan was to go climbing today... but I just needed a day of rest at home more than anything else. I just looked back at my planner and realized that the last 5 weekends have been spent away from home. I've been to both ends of this country, hung out with some really awesome people, and climbed some really big rocks. And I've managed to somehow keep my day job. Sheesh! No wonder I'm tired and the house is a wreck. And suddenly, we only have two more weeks until our first year in Korea is finished and it's time to go back to America. How time flies when you're busy having fun, living life to its fullest.

It's finally starting to sink in that my life is about to completely change again. I'm going to have to say goodbye to all the amazing friends that I've made here. The predictability of my daily life that I've grown so accustomed to in the last year will come to an abrupt end as I hop on a plane to come home. I will once again be homeless and in transition. This seems to be a recurring trend in my life. But this time, I welcome the change. I'm no longer as afraid of not knowing what the future holds. I've learned to be okay with feeling a little insecure, a little uncomfortable. I've done it so many times before. Only this time, I get to return to something familiar. I get to see friends and family. I get to love on my precious dog, Legend. I get to take an extended 4ish month vacation with no set plans. I get to serve the people in my life who love me most and show them how much I love and appreciate them. I have the opportunity to be fully present with them, without competing distractions. What an amazing opportunity of a lifetime! I can hardly wait!

These times of transition seem to be when I learn the most about myself. It's when I feel most alive in my life. I can't just rely on my own plans. I can't be organized, efficient, and practical. I can't depend on my methodical routine to get me through the day. Instead, I'm faced with a lot of unknowns. I get to rely on God and watch in amazement as he lays down a path before me. This is when my faith and trust in God are most strengthened and refined. I develop patience, flexibility, and adaptability.

I'm especially looking forward to seeing how my experiences here have changed my perspective on things at home. I know I've grown. I know I've changed. I know I'll see things with new eyes. I wonder what it will feel like, look like. There will be one major decision to make when we're home... whether or not to return for another year in South Korea or stay in America and start putting down some roots. It's a BIG decision. One I know I won't be able to make until I'm home. Right now I'm leaning towards returning for one more year. I can't imagine not coming back here. I already know I will miss it here when I'm home. I will miss my dear friends, the simple lifestyle, the idiosyncrasy of Korea. I will miss the kids that I teach. Oh, how I have come to adore them. They have managed to sneak their way into a soft spot in my heart. But my reason for wanting to come back to Korea stretches beyond that. It's fairly simple and straightforward. I don't feel ready to live in America.

I know it probably sounds strange to most people who already live there. Living in America is relatively easy. Good. Comfortable. Why would you want to live anywhere else? Well, precisely for those same reasons. I'm not sure I want that life, though it's incredibly tempting. But it's because it's tempting that I don't feel quite ready to come home yet. I know that America offers more than a good, easy, comfortable life. I'm blessed with the freedom to choose whatever lifestyle I want. But there are cultural norms and expectations. Being a married woman at the age of 29 in America, the supposed next step for me would be to buy a house with my husband, fill it with some stuff, have some kids and a dog, and work at a career to help maintain that lifestyle. Now, I'm not opposed to any of these things. In fact, the more time that goes on, the more I think I will want some of these things for myself. Just not yet. I want to make these decisions intentionally and deliberately, not simply because it's what everyone else does and expects me to conform to. After all, you only get one life. I want to use mine wisely. I don't feel ready for those things yet. It may be more appealing to me in the future but right now the thought of it feels stifling and mundane. I think I'd rather continue on my tradition of following the road less traveled. I want to live without those things now so that I can focus my time and energy elsewhere. Right now, my heart's desire is to see more of the world, meet more people, hear more stories, climb more rocks, continue living simply, and try to remain unattached to material wealth, all the while growing closer to God and growing more into the woman He created me to be. Now, ask me in four months and everything could be completely different. All that is certain is that I will be walking with God. Ah, the beauty and mystery that come with surrendering your life to Christ.

Fun at Seoraksan

2008-10-09T15:07:00.003+09:00

So we went to Seoraksan national park last weekend and it was a blast. We got to climb 2 and a quarter days in a row. The quarter counts because I did one climb on Sunday morning. It was a really fun climb so I count it. The first day was by far the best though. We did a multi-pitch route that I don't know the name of. It was very fun, a little bit scary, and a little bit hairy sometimes too (read: potential for long falls, climbing through trees, etc.). Here are some pictures to help describe our experience.
We got to the park on Friday morning, nervous that we wouldn't be able to camp, but still with enough hope that we carried a large styrofoam cooler up the 1 mile hike with us on the trail. We didn't really have a choice because it had all our dinner in it for the second night. Our friends Mark and Jenny had been there once before so we had no trouble finding the good camp site. And let me emphasize good because this ended up being the first time we have gone camping in Korea and not either been woken up by a late night train coming through at 5am or some shouting Koreans drunk on Soju nearby. This place was perfect. It was so dark at night that my eyes never adjusted to it. There was a stream of cold water running near that we used to keep things cool and to drink from (eventually when we ran out of water).
So once we unpacked on Friday and got setup to climb, we hiked up a hundred meters and were there. The weather was a crisp 75 degrees in the sun with a breeze. Perfect climbing weather. We got started late in the morning, going up 4 pitches to about 300+ feet/100 meters, topping out a few minutes behind our friends who had been on the climb next to us. The climbing itself had been amazing, all different styles, a mix of traditional style and sport bolts. This was fun because I don't usually climb much where I have to place gear. But there were 20-30 foot run outs between bolts, so it was necessary.
Rebs struggled a little bit with the height of it all, feeling very elevated and exposed while belaying on the rock. Before this time, we had only done up to 3 pitches of multi-pitch climbing, so this was a big step for her. But she managed to keep breathing and we made it to the top together. It was such an accomplishing feeling to have done it with her. It made me really proud of her. I told her that her "hot factor" went up that day because she became a serious multi-pitch climber.
We finished late in the afternoon, around 5pm, and headed down to our campsite. We were starving and dehydrated because we hadn't brought any water or food with us on the climb. So we snacked, then made a campfire (also our first in Korea) and had dinner. We had some great, sincere conversations around the fire for a couple hours, killing time until we decided it was late enough to go to bed. We were exhausted and I slept like a baby.
There's more, but that's enough of a story for now. So if you rock climb, and you ever make it to Korea, you should definitely consider climbing in Seoraksan.

2008-09-25T22:26:00.005+09:00

Why I Need Climbing Right Now

2008-09-16T23:13:00.005+09:00

The sport of rock climbing has been an integral part of my life since my Freshman year of college in 2001. I loved it from the beginning and became obsessed with it for some time, probably to the point of being annoying sometimes. I would talk about it passionately to strangers to try to get them into it as well. Climbing was also a pre-requisite for any potential future spouse while I was in college. I knew that if my wife didn't have the same passion for the thing I spent as much time as possible doing, there would be trouble. Rebs happens to love rock climbing.

But this entry isn't about my history of rock climbing. It's about how climbing has come back around in my life to provide a new sense of purpose for me. Being in Korea has become difficult at times in many ways. Being in a big, loud clty of 12 million, with no right of personal space can really start to bug anyone who wasn't raised in a big city. And the one thing in particular that has been getting to me is homesickness. I have found myself thinking about and spending excessive time planning what Rebs and I will be doing when we go home. For a while, I was daydreaming alot about what it would be like, who we'd talk to and what we'd talk about, what we'd eat -- basically all the things I have been missing. That only made me miss home even more and not really want to be in the situation I am in. In short, wishing for home was only making my present life suck.

This is where climbing comes in. Rebs and I have been privileged to find a climbing gym that is within a 15 minute walk from where we live. We usually train there twice a week, and then go out on real rock for the weekend. It has generally been our routine, but a few months ago, we started getting off track. Rebs started working ridiculous hours for summer camp, and I hurt my finger by jamming it into a kid in the dark in a haunted house. The owner of the gym, Mr. Cheung, who is a great motivator when I'm training in the gym, was also in Pakistan on an expedition during this time. So we started to slack off bit by bit. Then, about 2 weeks ago, I realized much of what I had gained over the winter and spring had gone away.

Two weeks ago, with the combination of homesickness and the realization of how unsatisfied I was with my climbing skills, I decided I needed to get back on track with climbing. I needed climbing to help take my mind off the things back home I've been missing. I need climbing to help lift my spirits, give me something to work towards, something that is pure and clean and good for me. I feel like climbing, in the right context, can be just that.

Last week, we went to Ganhyeon, the sport climbing crag of our choice thus far in Korea. It's relatively close and the climbing is all sport, from easy up to moderately difficult. I climbed poorly, which pushed me over the edge of mediocrity. I decided to go on a caffeine fast to help me in my training. If you didn't know, caffeine is toxic. If you had too much of it at once, it could kill you (though it would have to be alot). I didn't realize how many of my snacky foods had chocolate in them. So all last week, my diet changed drastically. And every time I craved coffee or chocolate or something similar, it reminded me why I was doing it, spurring me on to train hard. It kept me focused on my goal, which was to climb this 5.11d called "Honeymoon". I told myself that I wouldn't have any caffeine until I successfully redpointed (lead the climb without sitting or falling on the rope).

Well this weekend, Rebs and I went again to Ganhyeon. Today was our second day of climbing and I was determined to give "Honeymoon" my best. We warmed up early, before the sun hit the rock so it would still be cool. Rebs tried her problem first, but had to take a sit, so I took a turn on Honeymoon and I got it. It was a really ugly climb. Much of the way through, I was surprised that I was still holding on to the rock because my arms were so tired. I was constantly showing my "Elvis leg" as the Koreans call it, which is where your legs shake uncontrollably. But somehow I managed to get to the top. This is the hardest grade I have ever climbed. It's just so rewarding of a feeling when you accomplish a goal. And it's great at taking my mind off the difficult things in life. Here's a picture of me working on Honeymoon a few months ago.

Now... what are you working towards? What's your goal?

a random list of things

2008-09-07T20:44:00.003+09:00

1. I haven't posted a blog in a really long time.
2. Dusty and I just watched the movie "Once". It was really good. We just downloaded the soundtrack too.
3. I'm starting to feel like myself again after several months of feeling like I was about to go crazy at any moment.
4. Work has slowed down a lot. Finally.
5. I'm getting lots of time to catch up on my sleep.
6. I'm currently reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It's pretty good.
7. I've decided to wait to get my counselor's license until we come home permanently. I feel at peace with this decision.
8. We camped Friday night and climbed all day Saturday. It was fun.
9. I woke up with sore arms this morning.
10. I slept in while Dusty made eggs, blueberry waffles, and bacon. Then he woke me up and we ate together in bed. Yum!
11. Nowadays, I spend lots of my time reading, climbing, running, and hanging out with my favorite person (Dusty).
12. Yesterday, I was gently reminded that technically, we live in a war zone.
13. We saw about 10 military helicopters fly overhead, twice. Weird. You never know when the North will decide to attack. Kind of keeps me on my guard more than when I'm in the States.
14. I will be home the evening of October 30th. I can't wait!

That is all. Bye.

Happy Anniversary

2008-08-12T12:28:00.005+09:00

Well, today is Rebs' and my 2nd year Anniversary. Happy Day! Last year we went climbing and camping at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch for 2 days and a night, then had a really nice stay in a hotel in Eureka Springs that's well over 100 years old, a view overlooking the city, and a jacuuzi to sit in while we watch.
This year, we'll be having a Korean Anniversary. I don't really know what that means, but it doesn't matter. We're still a team, no matter where we are. I think we'll be going to eat in Itaewon to whatever our appetites desire. I feel like getting some uninterrupted time alone is more precious here than anything else right now. It's pretty amazing how hard that can be to get sometimes.
I thought you all might enjoy celebrating a little bit with us. So here are a few pictures of us in our favorite moments since being married. Enjoy:

Boreong Mud Festival

2008-07-24T20:52:00.005+09:00

Every year, there is a mud festival in southern South Korea. People come for all different reasons. There is the cultural experience, the nice beach, the party scene. But what seems to make the difference is the mud. It's just fun. People cover themselves in it, sling, paint with it, throw it, crawl through it, and wrestle in it. But at the end of the day, one way or another, you find it on yourself everywhere (even in your ears). Here are some pictures to show you what I'm talking about.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to go down there with a couple of friends and hopeful expectations. There was supposed to be a typhoon coming in later in the day with wind and lots of rain, but we opted to take our chances. It turned out to be very memorable experience. And even though my pictures ended up being few, that was just because I feared for the safety of the camera. We did mud wrestling, Sumo style, where you try to get the other person out of the ring. We got hooked up to harnesses that were bungeed to each other, then tried to run in opposite directions to get to a target. We went swimming to wash off the mud. We did front flips and swan dives off of this giant, blow-up mud slide. We painted our bodies with colored mud. And when we got tired of it, we went into the Yellow Sea to wash off. It only rained hard on us for about 10 minutes, then passed over.

It was kinda funny to watch the news and see something on "World News Tonight" (with Charles Gibson) that I had been to. I think it was Monday night's program that ran a story on International vacations, and the mud festival was one of them. I looked for my friends and I, but didn't see anybody I recognized. Maybe you'll eventually see Rebs and I at some exotic location on the TV. Just keep watching.

Rebs decided to stay home and get some good studying in. I missed her a lot, and I know she was sad that she didn't get to go, but she's been putting studying off for the past several months, and intends to take the National Counselor's Exam when we get back to the states in November. So she trying to kick it into gear until then. And I'm proud of her for it.

Did you know that we are celebrities?

2008-07-18T13:59:00.002+09:00

At least that's how I feel living here. I have gotten quite used to people starting at us everywhere we go, especially staring at me. Many Koreans are mesmerized by light hair and blue eyes. A few weeks ago, a bunch of my foreign co-workers and I were walking through a department store with a couple of our Korean co-workers. Jane, one of my Korean co-workers said to me, "Rebecca, what is going on? Why is everybody staring at us?" I thought it was funny because none of us foreigners even noticed anybody was staring. We're just so used to it by now. I told her, "This is what it's always like for us everywhere we go." She said, "Really. I can't believe it. It's so rude." I know it's rude to stare but people just can't help it. They try to be discreet but it's hard when you're so curious about someone. I know I stare at people sometimes too. Then when they catch me staring, I always look away. Koreans are the same way. As soon as I make eye contact with them, they look away. But as soon as I turn my head, I can feel their eyes on me again. Maybe some people enjoy this kind of attention, but I am not one of those people. I like to remain anonymous and blend in with the crowd.

Well last Sunday afternoon, Dusty and I were just wanting to get away for a few hours and spend some time alone with each other without having to be around a bunch of other people. Since we basically live in a commune and our living environment isn't conducive to peace and quiet, we decided to take a hike and try to find some good bouldering. We took the crash pad with us. For those of you who don't know, a crash pad is like a big mat that you lay at the bottom of the rock so that when you fall, you don't get hurt. They make them so that they fold up and can be worn like a backpack. This makes it fairly easy to hike with a crash pad.

Boy, did we draw attention to ourselves! First of all, we're weagooks (foreigners). Second of all, Dusty is carrying this huge square Sponge-Bob-ish crash pad on his back. Third of all, we went on a Sunday afternoon which is the busiest time of the week for Korean hikers. The crowds were horrible! I felt more like I was at Disneyland than hiking up the side of a mountain. I swear, every Korean who passed us on their way down the trail stopped and turned and pointed at us. Several of them spoke in Korean to their friends trying to figure out what the heck we were doing. A few of them even tried asking us what the crash pad was for. NOBODY walked past us without staring.

Well, then we found our boulder. A great big one with several problems on it to try. The only problem was that this boulder was right next to the trail and was part of a large gathering area where people could stop and rest. So, we had an audience. Probably anywhere from 10-30 Koreans at a time would stop to watch and cheer for us. Some of them would come try the problems. Some wanted to tell us how to do it, even though they had never bouldered before. One guy even came up to feel Dusty's muscles as he was getting ready to climb. What the heck! Mind your own business, people! Go away! I just want to climb in solitude and be left alone. Instead, I felt pressure to perform and make it to the top of the problems we were trying. And they were really hard problems. I could feel all the eyes staring at me. I just couldn't enjoy the bouldering experience knowing that everyone was watching. It was frustrating.

Sometimes, I feel like I'm suffocating in this place. There is literally, nowhere I can go in this city to be alone. There is no silence, ever. The city never sleeps. Even the mountains are crowded. I realize I'm being somewhat insensitive of the Koean people. I don't mean them any disrespect. They mean well and are very polite and hospitable. But with so many people crowded into such a small amount of square miles, there is no respect for personal space. Personal space just doesn't exist. I feel like I live in an animal exhibit at the zoo. I'm an animal trapped in this small cage and everyone comes to see me. And I just want to break free.

Three more months and we'll be home for awhile. I can't wait to be out of this environment. It's been a huge challenge for me this year. Living in a huge city, in communal-style living with other foreigners, in a tiny apartment with my husband, it's taken a toll on me, an introvert who likes her own time and space. I look forward to the day when we leave. Until then, I've just got to keep fighting for survival one day at a time.

New Camera!

2008-07-17T16:56:00.004+09:00

Hey everyone, we finally got our camera. I know these pictures aren't too exciting. But truthfully, sometimes life isn't so exciting either. The above are of our apartment from sitting on the couch and Rebs doing what she does best. If only sleeping were considered an occupation.

Well life is very contrasting right now for Rebs and me. Or at least through this week it has been. Both SEV (where I work) and NEV are gearing up for summer camp, which officially starts this coming Monday. From what Rebs tells me, everyone who works in the offices at Nowon is dreading and not enjoying life for the next 2 weeks. They've already been working extra to prepare for the camp sessions, sometimes pulling 10 hour work days. All the grading for current classes continues, while they pile on extra work and preparations for next week. Sometimes it's just too overwhelming. Sitting at a desk grading homework becomes very monotonous very quickly. Then one feels lethargic and sleepy. Blah.

SEV's summer camp is very similar to Nowon, but for one detail. We have programmers who help to prepare for the summer camp. That means all the work that Rebs does, preparing for extra classes I am exempt from because there are other people whose jobs are just that. They've been having pre-summer camp for the past 2 weeks, which includes swimming in a very large swimming pool with about 75 kids at a time. There's no slide, and definitely no diving board because the water at it's deepest point goes up to my hips. Many kids in Korea cannot swim. There are plenty of large rubber ball good for volleyball, floating on, and pegging kids in the head when they annoy you. Hence, our form of entertainment. It's also very fun to throw the kids, especially the little ones. The fly quite well.

So yes, two very different worlds. While Rebs gets hand cramps in an office space from grading, I get to play at the swimming pool and get a tan. Something doesn't seem right. Do I feel guilty? Yes. But there's not a lot I can do to help Rebs' situation but pray for her and help out around the house more, which I've been doing. Hopefully, things won't be as bad for them as they're expecting.

Hot & Sticky

2008-07-07T23:05:00.002+09:00

Soo... we went climbing tonight like we usually do, only when we got there, we found our basement climbing gym had been turned into a sauna. Okay, not really, but it was so stinkin' hot and humid down there that the floor and walls (where there wasn't plywood) were wet. Over the past week, South Korea has turned into a humidor for stinky, fishy things. When the new batch of kids came into the auditorium this morning, I noticed that many of the boys already smelled and there hair was slightly matted from sweat. They were unusually smelly for a Monday. Stench that doesn't normally waft until about Thursday after no showering most of the week. And anyone who tells you that Koreans don't sweat is a liar. In this hot, humid weather, it seems impossible to walk out your front door without feeling the perspiration. And in Korea, they don't seem to believe in or understand the necessity of deodorant. But lucky for us, our parents have stocked us up for the next 2-5 years with a shipment of deodorant and toothpaste (their toothpaste doesn't have fluoride in it). So this means that as teachers, we'll be the sweet smelling roses in the midst of the swamp pits--that is, swampy children's arm pits.

But, alas, the good news is that there is a local shop that sells ice cream at 50% off throughout the summer, which just so happens to be on the walk on our way home from the climbing gym. So after our swampy climbing experience, we cooled off our innards with some delectable sweetness.

Oh yeah, 4th of July

2008-07-05T16:37:00.005+09:00

I almost forgot. It's hard to keep track of holidays and birthdays over here in Korea. There's not much here to remind us, so those days often seem to roll by without us really remembering. It's still raining. It stopped long enough last night for us and a few of our friends to have an evening pow-wow up on the soccer field here at SEV. A few even went for a dip in the pool, some with swimsuits, some in their birthday suits (this is completely normal behavior for some). Dusty and I opted to stay dry and keep our clothes on. Dusty played soccer and I enjoyed twirling around, dancing and doing some gymnastics on the field with my friend Kat from Australia. She went to a special college focused around circus performance and majored in contortionism and tissue. Thus, she is extremely flexible and can compete with me when it comes to tricks we have up our sleeve. Our friends watched, stunned and in awe, completely unaware of our talents. Then we watched as they tried to copy us. It's refreshing sometimes to feel the freedom to be child-like.

This morning we did a run to Costco and spent way too much money. But it's nice to have some Western comfort food in the house again. We were down to scraps. We took a new couple with us. They just arrived here last night from Portland, OR. They seem really nice and we've already found some things we have in common. Then we came home and Dusty and I took a nap. I'm really hoping that it doesn't rain tomorrow. We're hoping to go climbing outside. My finger tips are dying for some real rock.

BOO HISSY!!!!

2008-07-03T22:19:00.003+09:00

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring.
Wait! Rather, the 28 year old woman named Rebs is snoring!
Yes, that's right people. It's monsoon season here which means, it is often pouring down rain outside. This is bad for the following reasons:

a. All I want to do is eat, sleep, read, and watch movies. This doesn't bode well for the diet and exercise plan I'm trying to stick to.
b. I can't lay in my beloved hammock unless I want to simultaneously bathe in acid rain.
c. My hair is a big ball of messy, frizzy curls. Oddly enough, Dusty seems to find this attractive. I tend to think I look like I stuck my finger in an electrical outlet.
d. I can't climb outside on real rock. This one almost brings me to tears.

Apparently, monsoon season can last several months. This is then followed by typhoon season which means we will continue to have frequent downpours for several more months. As my friend Rochelle would stay, "STINK!!!"

A peek into our everyday life

2008-07-01T10:21:00.005+09:00

Well, I'm just sittin' here at work. The office is so quiet. I just said goodbye to three friends whose contracts just finished yesterday. One will go back to New Zealand, one to the States, and the third, a Korean, will start a new teaching job somewhere else in Seoul. Even though we have two new teachers, the office feels so empty. Last night, on their final night, a big group of us went and got fruit soju at a little place near our house. It was delicious.

Sunday was such a great day. I was just thinking about how awesome it was. It was long and full, but so much fun. In case any of you are interested in what our life is like in Seoul on a Sunday, here's a recap:
7:15: Wake up
7:15-8:00: Get ready
8:00-9:30: Travel to church. Yeah, it's kinda far away.
9:30-12:30: Church followed by fellowship and small prayer group gatherings with our Ooweh ministry. Borrow a couple spiritual reads from my new friend, Natalie.
12:30-1:00: My first motercycle ride in Seoul. And... I didn't die! Better yet, all limbs are still intact!
1:00-2:00: Korean style lunch with a bunch of friends. (spicy chicken, rice, and vegetables)
2:00-3:00: Shop around Ewha, buy some new earrings, spend waaay too much money on a caramel frappacino at Starbucks.
3:00-5:00: Meet up with my friends and Dusty at the soccer field at Ewha Women's University. Fight to keep Dusty from stealing my delicious drink. Sit on the sidelines and watch them play soccer while I read and talk with a couple friends.
5:00-6:00: Travel to Coex mall at Samseong. Become completely overwhelmed and overstimulated as we walk through to the movie theater. Coex is a HUGE underground shopping mall with everything you could possibly imagine.
6:00-7:00: Eat an awesome, AWESOME burger and fries. My first real burger in 8 months.
7:00-9:00: See the Korean film, "The Crossing" with English subtitles. It's the story of North Koreans leaving their families and risking their lives to cross the border into China. It's their only chance of hope for a future. I am deeply disturbed once again and I cry.
9:00-10:30: Get some drinks and talk with some new friends we've just met. They've worked with the North Korean refugees here in Seoul. This is a population we plan to start building relationships with soon. One of the guys we meet is Fijian, meaning he is from the islands of Fiji. He speaks five languages and has lived in lots of places. A real genuine person with an interesting life story. I'm fascinated by his life.
10:30-12:00: Trek home. Two subway lines, one bus, and a short 1/4 mile walk.
12:00: Collapse in our bed, exhausted. But a good exhausted. My heart is full again.

Messy Rebs

2008-06-28T14:52:00.003+09:00

Usually, when I blog, my thoughts are somewhat happy and chipper. Lately, I haven't written anything at all. There are a few reasons for this. I've been extremely busy and haven't had much time to process my thoughts. Also, I've been struggling with my spirituality and relationship with God and haven't known how to articulate it. But, after several months, the writing bug is back. I'm compelled to write, even if the content is solemn and incoherent. So here it is, the ugly, messy, honest side of Rebs.

Right now in my life, I feel like I have a lot of unanswered questions about my personal faith. I guess you could say I'm going through my "second conversion" and it's really not so much fun. Until this point, my life as a Believer in Christ had been relatively safe and comfortable. My faith hadn't been truly challenged or tested until coming here to Korea. Now that I'm here, now that I'm away from the confines of my comfortable little life in middle America, now that I'm living in community with all sorts of people with all sorts of beliefs, now that I'm challenged by others who don't think like me or believe the same things as me, now that I'm away from a healthy body of Believers who love and support me on a consistent basis, well... it's getting much more difficult to hold firm to my beliefs.

For the past several months, God has seemed like this distant figure. It's like God lives back in America with the rest of my family and friends. This is not cool, because NOW is the time when I need God in my life the most. NOW is when I need to be getting filled up on a regular basis. NOW is when I need wisdom, discernment, and answers to my questions. There are so many people here with questions. So many people are searching for answers. So many people are looking to me for guidance and mentorship. And I am empty. Argh! Where is MY guide? Where is God?

If Jesus were standing before me now I would ask Him the following, “How the crap am I supposed to be in the world but not of the world?” And yes, I would ask him just like that, with attitude and exasperation because, I would want Him to know how frustrated I am with things. I am definitely feeling like I'm in the world now. And I don't feel that I'm of this world or living for the pleasures of this world. No, instead I feel like a stranger in a foreign land and it's tough. I don't feel prepared. I don't know how to do it.

I was so sure when I left my life in America that this is where God wanted me. I was willing and able to come here to Korea because God gave me the courage and inner peace. I felt so grounded in who I was in God. I felt like I had a good foundation of what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. And I so wanted to come here so that God could use me to spread his love to people living without answers, without hope, without peace in their lives. My purpose in life made sense. I felt ready.

The world has really shaken me up lately. Looking back, I'm starting to realize how sheltered I've been since becoming a Believer. For four years, I was surrounded by people who loved me, supported me, encouraged me, nurtured me in my faith. I was part of a healthy church, had healthy friends, with healthy marriages, and was surrounded by people with mature faith who were full of wisdom, advice, and guidance. I wish I could've written it all down because I'm starting to feel like all that I've learned is slowly slipping away. I'm starting to fall apart. Things don't make as much sense as they once did and life is becoming more complicated. For eight months I've been testing my wings of faith. At first they worked great but I'm quickly growing tired. I'm running out of fuel and I don't know how to fill myself back up. I feel like my time is being wasted. I'm losing sight of my purpose. I don't feel like I'm accomplishing my job. I feel useless, powerless, and out of control. I feel lost, alone, confused, broken, and I'm struggling. I don't feel like the person I was eight months ago who was so eager to love. Somehow I've slowly become filled with a whole range of negative emotions which impede my ability to love others. Some of these include irritability, anger, frustration, fear, judgmentalism, confusion, loneliness, and bitterness. None of which I feel able to control and none of which I know how to get rid of. I don't want to feel like this. I'd so much rather feel happy, loving, joyful, carefree, optimistic, freespirited, and lighthearted.

But, I'm not giving up. I can't. Because that would mean that my entire life would cease to make sense. No, I'm a fighter and I will persevere and wade through this time of darkness. And this I know, there is a light at the end of this tunnel. I can't see it yet, but I know that it's there. How do I know? Because I have faith and I have committed my life to God. I Believe in Him even when he feels far away. And I know that someday I will look back on this time in my life and thank Him for all He's taught me.

Watch out for Monsoon Season

2008-06-19T09:15:00.004+09:00

So monsoon season started two days ago and it's been raining ever since. Okay, not really all the time, but it has rained every day for the majority of the day since it started. But Friday is supposed to be mostly clear. The good news is that we live up near the mountain, so the air is about 5 degrees cooler on average than in the city. It's kind of cool (literally and metaphorically) because when you start walking up the street toward our village, you can feel the change. It's refreshing now that the weather is warmer. And there's a lot of vegetation as well, especially for Seoul, which is mostly 3 or more story buildings, sidewalks, concrete, pavement, and dirt playgrounds. Yes, I said dirt. There is no "free" grass to sit on or play in for the most part. There are just too many people, so whenever it's planted, it usually wears away because too many people trample it out. So when you walk by a playground, you can always expect to see a light brown dirt covering mixed with some sand. It's a little saddening.
I guess this is it for now. I just had a few minutes to kill before going into work. oh, and here's my attempt at linking a video to the title of this message. Our friend Jeremy took a sequence of pictures starting at his apartment door and making the trip to "On the Border" in Sinchon, about an hour away. This is just about the same commute we take to go to church every week. It's really creative photography, and if you watch closely, you might see some people you know. ;) Just go up to the top and click on the title "Watch out for Monsoon Season"

Good Weather Means No Blogging

2008-05-31T19:40:00.004+09:00

so most of you know that rebs and i like to do things in the outdoors. and just like in the states, korea's springtime weather is excellent for just about any outdoor activity. so for the past month and then some, we've been going climbing almost every weekend. here are some pics and updates.

the top picture is us standing in front of our favorite crag so far, called ganhyun (like canyon with a g). next is a photo of rebs climbing her first ever finished multi-pitch route. i was really proud of her and i'm sure she's glad to be finished with it because i know it was a bit scary for her... and she knew that i really wanted for her to be able to do it. but i have bad news. these will be some of the last pictures you will see of us in korea for a while because i mindlessly left our digital camera on the train on our way back. i've been kicking myself many times since then.

i've been reading the paper a lot since we stopped getting the bbc world chanel on our tv. i've been amazed at all the stories i'm reading about the u.s. economy. gas at $4 a gallon seems very unfathomable, but is become very much a reality. the way my mind works usually is i see a problem and try to fix. so even though rising gas prices doesn't affect us while we're here because we always take the public transportation, it will when we come home. and then what? i know fayetteville is building a paved pathway for runners and bikers throughout the city. so maybe i'll just be riding my bike everywhere. i also looked up running your car on water, basically using a converter to extract the hydrogen from water. according to internet sources, this is one form of a hybrid these days. and there's also talk of a guy who can run his car entirely on water, and he's supposedly in communication with a major american car company. http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rb_rDkwGnU check it out for yourself. but it is fox news, so i'm not so sure. :) hopefully by the time we come back there will be something figured out. i'm curious to hear your stories about how oil prices are affecting you.

i'mgoing to have to be done for now because rebs is starting to study for her n.c.e. exam to become a counselor when we return to the states, and she needs the computer for that. so i'll say goodbye, though i have much more to talk about.

Basking

2008-05-01T15:27:00.005+09:00

So, what is a girl to do on a random day off when her husband has to work? Well, today I'm getting caught up on some rest as my body continues to adjust to the time change. I woke up at 6am again this morning and can't bring myself to take a nap. It's way too nice of a day to be indoors. So... here I am back in the woods, laying on our hammock, enjoying the warm spring breeze with sounds of birds chirping and flies buzzing, while writing my thoughts on our laptop. I can hear the voices of Korean kids in the distance as they play ultimate frisbee just up the hill. It's a good day. In fact, it's a good week.

I was so excited to come home from the States. Doesn't that sound weird? Come home from the States? But yes, I'm afraid Korea has become my home. At least for the time being. My heart is at rest, my soul finds joy, and I feel alive. It was great to be in America and be reminded of how amazing my friends and family are there. I am blessed to have so many people who love and support me. Though as much as I loved being home, visiting with my family, eating familiar food, sleeping in a soft bed, enjoying the comforts I haven't had for the past six months, I felt this longing to return to my “home”. Oh, how I missed my husband and couldn't wait to jump into his arms and snuggle up to him at night. How I missed the dear friends that I've made and the adorable kids that I teach each day. How I missed my daily life: the morning runs through the woods, hearing the Buddhist monks chant in the distance, laughing with my Korean friends at the climbing gym, climbing, sharing meals with my friends, telling of our diverse lives and experiences, eating sushi, and teaching my students how to speak English and loving on them each day.

Getting away from my daily routine always helps give me more perspective on my life. After returning home to Korea I think I'm realizing, perhaps this is the happiest and most content I've been in my life. I feel, in this far eastern land, I have finally found balance. It's an art I have never been able to master. And I know that as my life ebbs and flows, that balance will come and go. But it's nice to enjoy it while it lasts and bask in God's creation on my day off. The end.

Update

2008-04-25T10:59:00.003+09:00

Rebecca is back in the states right now. When she comes back on Monday, she will have been gone for 10 days, the most we've been apart since my road trip 3 years ago, and definitely the most since we've been married. The purpose of her trip was to be able to spend time with her grandpa. He's 84 and is well along in years. His mind is sharp, but his body is failing. So rather than go home for a funeral, she chose to go spend time with him and the rest of our family for a bit. When i talked to her a couple days ago (God bless you, skype!), she was doing well. She said it had been really hard to leave. She had stayed the longest of anyone else, and it was almost as if his energy fluctuated in accordance with how many people were there. Imagine saying goodbye to someone you won't see on this earth again. That's possibly what she was doing. Please pray for Blackie McFall, that his quality of life will be good until its end.

It's hard to follow such a somber subject. I'm missing Rebs a lot right now. I have a small amount of anxiety that keeps me from always being able to read my body. For example, I didn't feel tired last night while I stayed up packing for climbing this weekend and watching a movie. When I finished packing, I sat down to watch the movie a bit longer. I felt tired, but not sleepy. Then I looked at the clock and realized it was after 1 a.m. But I didn't feel tired yet, so I decided to stay up and watch the rest of it. I didn't go to bed until 2, but by then my heart rate had risen and I was a little bit shaky. Even when I laid down, I didn't feel sleepy, but I knew my body needed rest. It's as if my mind is battling my body. The effects of separating the one body of marriage.

I went to feed the homeless on Wednesday night. It was a new experience. I remember going with my family and church friends downtown to feed the homeless when I was little and it was always a little scary because of the environment. But I didn't feel scared this time. I feel like God has shown me His heart through this. Rather than seeing the dirty, smelly, aged-beyond-their-years people that they are, I saw a society in need. They were people no different than anyone else. Our jobs were relatively simple. We helped carry hot water and tables and things downstairs to a small, circular pavilion-like area in the subway station. Then we put aprons on showing we were workers, bowed to each other and to the crowd (the leaders of this thing are Buddhist), and then got to work filling paper cups with instant coffee and hot water. They also handed out triangular rice cake things that could easily sit in one hand. This was their dinner. Everything was passed out on trays rather than going through a line, which was to keep the people from feeling like they were lower.
Pride is a big thing in Korea. One of my friends told me that they were once trying to donate money to the head guy before they left and mistook one of the homeless men for the worker and tried to give him their money. The guy wouldn't take it. He instead pointed them in the right direction. In America, people seem more willing to take handouts. And if they get them often enough, they begin to expect them.
Something about the way the Korean government works. If you don't have family in Korea, you can expect for your life to be very difficult. Many Korean people live with their parents until they get married. The average age to get married for men is in their early 30s, and women in their late 20s. One of the reasons for this is because housing costs are outrageous. So if you don't get along with your family or you lose your family, your life is expected to be difficult. The second part of all this is that the government does very little to help people who are homeless. There are orphanage-like places where parents take their kids if they can't afford to give them proper care. But as far as adult programs, my understanding is that the government's welfare program consists of giving a homeless person the equivalent of $30 a month to live off of. There are no programs to get people back on their feet, get them educated, even get them a shower. And if a dirty, smelly, Korean came into a gym wanting to pay money to take a shower, I wouldn't be surprised if they were turned away for the sake of "saving face" and not scaring off the other customers. It's a really sad thing. So as I poor coffee, I can't help but wonder, isn't there more that can be done?
In the past, I think I knew that there was a lot not being done. So my way of dealing with it was ignorance. If I didn't involve myself, then I wouldn't know. And not knowing sometimes seems better than realizing an ugly truth. Because when we see an ugly truth, we feel an urge to do something. And that means that we have to give up some of our precious time or money. And ignorance is often-times pretty comfortable.
My challenge to anyone reading this is to open your eyes to those around you who are the lowest of the low. How do you treat them? How does your culture treat them? What changes need to be made, and what are you willing and able to do to make those changes happen?

2008-04-03T17:09:00.002+09:00

My birthday was last week, and it turned out to be a really good week. On my birthday, Rebs and I went out to eat at a cool little place in Itaewon, called Sid & Mel's. That's Austrailan short for Sydney and Melbourne. Rebs got the fish and chips and I got a tasty burger. Then, after eating half our meals, I remembered that I had seen a Cold Stone across the street when we came out of the subway. So we bagged the rest of our dinner and enjoyed some nice dessert. It was a simple birthday for simply turning 26.

Then on Friday, we had sent out an email earlier that week to meet up with people that night. So around 8pm, we went to a cool little Italian place called Di Matteo's. The prices were fair, but when we got our food, wow! There was so much cheese! I ordered lasagna and had trouble finding where the noodles were because there had to have been a pound of cheese melted on top of it.

It's hard to write about the experience in a way that can accentuate the goodness of it. It wasn't the food, or necessarily just the atmosphere, but just a really dynamic group of people. We ended up staying until the waitress came over and told us that they were closing. Our conversations were just fun and funny and interesting. It was a Brit, a few Americans, and a few Kiwi's (New Zealanders).
On our way out, we were talking about where to go next because we wanted to find a good jazz bar to hang out at, and one person suggested Jazz Story, which happened to be a place that our friend Luke had been looking for online for some time. So the rest of us gladly obliged. Jazz story turned out to be this awesome atmosphere, though there was a cover charge and slightly pricey drinks. The owner had renovated the building to look sort of rustic/woodsy. The windows were made with rebarb and glass in the shape of an eye. Our table was a 4 inch solid wood lathe table with the lathe still attached at the end. But again, our company couldn't have been better. We stayed until close to 2 in the morning, talking, hanging out, and one of our friends who is a musician went to talk with the owner about playing sometime and the owner suggested that he play then. So he jammed for about 20 minutes before we left. It was just a really good night.

Next time, I'll have to bring the camera and get pictures.

2008-04-03T16:58:00.001+09:00

For those of you who haven't seen Rebs' facebook albums, here's a picture of our elephant ride in Thailand.

A bidet, compliments, and indecent exposure

2008-03-20T14:20:00.003+09:00

Musings about some of my experiences in Korea:

- A few months ago I had my first encounter with a bidet. You know, the toilet thing that squirts water to clean your bootie. Well, Dusty and I were at this restaurant enjoying drinks on a date. I had to use the bathroom. Ahem, I had to go number two. I put on the special bathroom slippers (weird) and went ahead and did my thing. Then I went to flush. Hmmm! There were several buttons with pictures (no words) and no obvious flusher. So I took a guess. As I pressed the button, I leaned over the toilet to make sure it was would flush. But instead, I heard a bell-like noise and water started to squirt up at me. It hit me right in the face. "OH, NO!" I thought to myself. Frantically, I started pushing buttons until the water stopped. Then, I tried another button thinking maybe it would be the magic flusher button. Just in case, I leaned up against the side wall of the stall so any water would miss me. Wrong again. This time, the water squirted out in all directions drenching me even more. Aah! Why would it ever be necessary to have water douse your entire bootie after using the toilet? Finally I managed to hit the stop button again. I looked in the mirror (that was in the stall) and realized that I was pretty drenched (in toilet water). Gross! I took one more look at those buttons. "CRAP!" No pun intended. I couldn't bring myself to push another button so with wet floors and walls, I quickly left the bathroom, found Dusty, discretely told him what happened, and we left that place. Now whenever I see another one of those toilets, I always think twice before going. I still don't know which button to push to flush but so far, I've been able to avoid another shower.

- Earlier this week I wore a long peasant skirt, a short sleeved shirt, and chacos to work. It's the first day I've worn sandals since we've been here and my feet were so excited to finally get to breathe again. When I walked in to teach my English Land 5 class, one of my students exclaimed with great excitement, "Teacher, your outfit is fantastic! You look beautiful." Well, it's not often you get a compliment like that let alone from a 10 year-old.

- Then I went to my English Land 2 class. When I walked in the room two or three of the kids squealed and laughed. They said, "Teacher, your arm muscles are very big." Now, I'm not sure if this was a compliment or not but they made the motion with their hands like I had two big humps on each arm. I took it as a compliment since they just as easily could've told me I was fat. Then I tried to explain that I rock climb but I'm not sure they got it. Side note: People here have no problem telling you you're fat. Luckily, nobody has said such a thing to me since we've been here.

- I went for a walk a few days ago down by the river near my work. It wasn't as nice as I had hoped. The water was nasty and smelly and... I saw two men pee in public in broad daylight. Yes, that's right. TWO! Can't you get arrested for that in America? I almost couldn't believe it when I saw the first guy. I looked around to see if anyone else noticed. Everyone seemed oblivious. Then, on my way back I saw another guy peeing in the exact same place. What the heck?

Long overdue update

2008-03-13T17:17:00.004+09:00

Hello. Well, life has been really enjoyable for us lately. I started a new job a few weeks ago. I now work at Nowon English Village which is approximately 5 miles away from Suyu English Village where I live and Dusty still works. It's been such a great change for me. This job suits my strengths and personality much better plus, I've got tons more free time. Yay! Nowon is a much smaller school and is run more like a hagwon than a camp. A hagwon is just a term used for a specialty school. I generally have three, forty minute classes a day. Though I have to go in to work around 2pm, I typically teach from 4:30 or 5:00 to 7:25pm everyday. I'm back home by 8pm every night. Some days I have to go in earlier and teach situational classes but even then I'm only teaching another one or two, thirty minute classes which is a sinch. So, I've got a lot of time now to do other things. I've started studying Korean and I can already read and write. It's the speaking and understanding that's going to really be a challenge. Also, I'm FINALLY starting to study for my National Counselor's Exam that I'm going to have to take when I get home in order to get a job as a counselor. There are lots of other great things about my job that I love. I have the same classes every week with the same kids. This means I get to develop relationships with them even if they are 'little turds' sometimes. I know how to lay the smack down by now. I also work with far fewer people. There are four of us foreign teachers and four Korean teachers here. That's it. So I get to know the people I work with much better. And, having my work be away from my home is much better for me psychologically. I can come home and relax and know that I'm away from work. I also love having more freedom, independence, and time away. I get home and realize how much I've missed my husband and friends. I appreciate them all so much more and actually want to spend time with them versus always wanting to get away like before.

Also, the weather is warming up. I can't express how much better I feel in every way. I feel mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally healthy. FINALLY! The winter was rough on me. It was so dark and cold everyday and I was sick the majority of the time. Plus, being away from family and friends over the holidays and working my bootie off was no fun. I'm so glad that time is over. The longer I stay, the more I feel adjusted to life here... not home, but at peace and relaxed. I know how to get around, I'm used to the food, I'm learning the language, I'm educated about the culture (though I still don't always understand it or think it makes sense), and I get to spend time with my husband and good friends everyday.

With the weather warming up, I get outside to play and exercise as much as possible. We went climbing outside last Saturday which was my first time to touch the rock here. I had such a great time. We took a train down south to a place called Ganhyeon. We met our climbing friends from Arkansas who live about 20 minutes away from there. We all climbed together and had a blast. It was warm and sunny and the air was so fresh and clean compared to that of Seoul. It was the first train ride I've ever been on and my first time seeing Korea's rurual country which actually reminds me a lot of Northwest Arkansas. I feel like myself again. I'm realizing that I really struggle with mild depression in the winters. Looking back, I can see a similar pattern that keeps repeating itself each year. As Dr. Lampton (my psychopathology professor) would say, "It's kind of a low-level yuck". So yeah, I experienced that from about November to February this year. Four months of yuck and now I'm ready for some yipee-eye-aye. My energy level and mood seems to go up with each passing day.

So... Dusty and I have talked a lot lately about future plans. We've been bouncing around ideas for awhile but the latest one has me the most excited. Keep in mind this is only an idea, not a definite by any means. We've been thinking of spending the winter this next year at home in the states. Our contracts finish out at the end of October. Perhaps we'll stop in Greece for a couple weeks on our way home and visit our friend Erin Rowe. Then spend the holidays at home with all our friends and family. Then come January, we would probably take off traveling for a month or so to somewhere cheap and warm. Then return to Korea in the spring for another year of work. Our financial goals keep us comitted to working here two full years. The money is just so easy. I mean seriously, I work like 2-3 hours a day and get paid pretty dang good. And then we have next to no expenses. I'm often astonished that this is legal. There's no way we could achieve the same thing in the same amount of time anywhere else.

Anyhoo, the possiblity of coming home for awhile gets me really excited. I'd love to be able to skip the winter here. It's so cold every day. For someone who loves the outdoors, it can feel like a prison sometimes. The weather in Arkansas is much more mild plus, even if it gets cold, we'll be spending time with those we love most. And, perhaps I can bypass getting sick so much. I've learned not to cling to things too tightly so we'll just have to see what God has in store for us.

Hello Again

2008-02-26T16:48:00.002+09:00

It's been a few weeks since we've written and I'm wondering if people are starting to lose interest. I hope not. When you go on vacation, you remember how to relax, but you also forget your normal routine of life you were living before you went on vacation. That's where I'm at right now. I'm back from vacation (have been for a week and a half), but it's taking me some time to remember how I got everything done in the time I am given. So it's been pretty hard to do it all and the blogging ball got dropped. Sorry about that, my faithful ones who check this regularly.

Right now I'm at Nowon English Village, a different branch from the Suyu one that we normally work and live at. Rebs is in class, "training". The teacher she's with said she was tired and was just going to have the kids play games. She's tired because she's filling in for someone. But this is just an example of how laid back Nowon is compared to Suyu. For those of you who don't know, Rebs is going to be transferring to Nowon starting next week. The job came open a couple months ago and she wasn't doing so well with the type of environment that Suyu is--spontaneous and chaotic mostly. I've been managing okay. I think I just learned when to check out and mind my own business. But it's hard sometimes because you have to not care too much about anything you're doing. That type of environment encourages complacency. So I walk the fine line of non-caring complacency and intentional laid back teaching.

How did I start talking about Rebs and end up on myself? Anyway, Rebs is transferring. She's looking forward to it, where you sometimes work full days, and sometimes you don't come in until 2pm. You have a break in the middle of the day from noon until 4pm always. The classes are smaller and the administration is supposed to be reasonable. It's a small enough environment that it's easy to build relationships and when something's wrong, it can actually be fixed. There is a very small chain of command so things are less likely to get lost in translation.

Why am I here, you ask? Well, all this week, Rebs and I are working at a restaurant. Yes, I know we came to Korea to be English teachers, but leave it to Korea to decide we're going to be restaurant employees for a week and it to make total sense in their heads. We did it last night, but had no idea what was expected of us until the moment we started. We had been told to wear a white shirt and black pants because it was a nice restaurant, and that we would be working from 6-9pm. Other than that we knew nothing but to come to Nowon. So we showed up here and looked around a bit. Rebs observed a class while I read a book. Then at 5:15 a girl rushed in who we'd been told would take us there. She acted in a hurry and said, "okay, I'm ready to go." She said it as if we should have been expecting her at any moment. So, being the smart people we are, we followed her. When we got to the restaurant, they had us change clothes and sit down. We met the owner who spoke broken English and then ate dinner. Then the people from Gangbuk district office, the people who had arranged the event, showed up. All the people acted scared because these people were of much importance. I think if you don't stand up and give certain people the most respect, you can get in alot of trouble and lose your job. So we met them and shook hands. They decided to sit down and practice on us, even though we didn't know what was going on still. They practically picked Rebs up out of her chair and handed her a menu. I guess it was time to start. She took their order and talked with them. They had her sit down. She talked with them for several minutes. Then some other customers showed up and it was my turn. This ended up being what we did all night. Take orders and sit and talk with people. I guess you can consider that work.

Anyway, I have to go now and do it all again.

Pohm/Dee-chan by bing khao (Thai for we're going climbing)

2008-02-03T16:01:00.000+09:00

Sawadee kop,

Dusty and I will be in the glorious kingdom of Thailand Feb 4th - Feb 16th and are not planning to see or touch a computer until we return to Korea. Therefore, you probably won't be hearing from us unless something crazy happens such as we contact a serious infectious disease; get bit by a poisonous snake, scorpion, or centipede; taken away in a tsunami; or robbed by a crab-eating macaque (monkey). Leave it to me to be dramatic and cause everyone to worry. Just so you all know, the likelihood of any of these things happening is very slim but we did purchase travelers insurance so we've taken necessary precautions.

We got our vacation extended four more days by taking a few days of unpaid vacation. We are both extremely excited! As of now, all we have is our plane tickets and the name of the place we're planning to stay the first night (we arrive at 1:00am in Phuket). So, the rest of our vacation is totally unplanned. We've packed a climbing/travel guidebook, gear, and a few clothes and who knows where the wind will take us. This is the most alive, free, and unburdened I've ever felt in my adult life.

As you can see, I've added a slideshow to our blog and many of you have asked if we can upload more pics. I'll try to do that soon after we get back. I just added several albums to my facebook so if you are my friend you can just check them out there. If you're not my friend, well then you're just going to have to wait. We'll be sure to take plenty of pictures while we're in Thailand and will be sure to post a blog when we return so you all know we made it back safe. We love you all.

Sawedee kaa,
Rebs