My Forever Home

This morning began with a sweet Skype conversation with our dear friends at 519.
I love them.
Not being with them, brings tears to my eyes more than ANY other event or thought.

(I know SaraJane will not love this picture - but, for me, it's a reminder of a beautiful morning spent with friends)

519 is my forever home.
It's where I discovered the beauty of community
of living intentionally
and deeply.

Korea is setting up shop
making a home in my heart
offering me a physical home...
and it's going well
I think Korea knows that my expectations of 'home' are rather high.

(Typed while drinking a cup of Korean Chrysamthemum tea from a precious Yellow Teacup)

Korean Love Affair: Part Two

One week ago today -- I had the best day ever.
Then, two not so good
or encouraging days followed.

However, on that Wednesday I knew:
I should remember this day -
it was perfect as only a day
in Korea can be.

As with any other day
I caught the Sub
went down a few stops
exited and began a 15 minute walk
to work.

I love this walk.

This time of year, the air is cool.

The town is just waking

and, I'm listening to some favorite iPod tunes.

My Wednesday elementary school is my favorite

because it's smaller

feels like family.

Classes went well.

Students were kind, adorable and fun.

Then it was time for lunch -- things got REALLY good at this point.

Chicken curry and dalk galbi

Large apple chunks

After lunch,

I was welcomed back to my room

by a group of girls

drawing renditions of yours truly

on the chalkboard -- they're really talented artists.

Then a teacher came to have 3-in-1 coffee with me

the students stayed and added to the conversation

and entertainment.

Within an hour or two

I made a new friend

a Chinese student and teacher

She'll be there every Wednesday.

I chose to walk home along a different route

And that made all the difference

I was always along the river

then a well manicured and beautiful park.

In the distance I could see

Expo Park and signs of the 2002 World Cup

I could see my neighborhood

the sights that are becoming mine

part of my experience, my life and my home.

The day was kind of perfect

And I need to remember the joy

that was mine because of and in the midst

of these events...

Becasue sometimes,

these exact types of things

are what bring frustration and confusion

to my rollercoaster soul.

(Typed after finishing a cup of Lichee Black Tea from a favorite brown Bone China Mug)

Best and Worst

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. " ~Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Wednesday was the best day ever.
Thursday went downhill...a little.
Friday started wonderful. a little hiccup.
And that's as far as I've come.

I'm not surprised by this rollercoaster
I think life is always a series of ups and downs.
Sometimes, they're more predictable
simple rollercoasters
like at a county-fair carnival

Then, you crave more
an amusement park
World's Largest
World's Fastest
World's Oldest
Whatever the case may be

Since the end of May - I've been exploring a wide variety of amusement parks

it's been fun, exciting, hard, frustrating
fulfilling, joyous, difficult and at times
anxiety enducing.

I don't really like rollercoasters
Not in my 'older' age
But
even when it's the worst of times
I have such strong
peace and reassurance
that
I am Exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Guess I can't leave this amusement park anytime soon.
It's mine.
Some friends come, some build their own rollercoasters.
We're rockin' the amusement park together.

I'll own it
for all it's ups and downs.

(Unfortunately, typed without a mug of tea, but having recently enjoyed a Jeju Tangarine Chocolate)

Korean Love Affair: Part One

A friend of mine whose lived and worked abroad forover 3 years offered this advice prior to our leaving the US: 'Once you arrive, discover what you love. The day(s) will come when you don't want to be there anymore. On those days, seek out what you love, what is specific to Korea.

Only 3 weeks in I've discovered some loves.
I anticipate discovering more.
Hence 'Part One'

Dear Korea,

It is for the following that I'm confident I will be falling in Love with you:

• Your abundant, majestic and heavily forested peaks
• The city parks
• Markets where I can purchase a dozen onions for less than 1US$
• Men who sell peaches from the flatbed of their truck, a baker's dozen for less than 5US$
• The welcoming and hospitaple spirit of your people
• Your love of food
• For lettuce wrapped meat, bimbimbab, for walnut cookies and sweet ginger and cinnamon punch (sujeonggwa)
• For letting us cook our food at the table and communal style eating
• For freshly fried calamari and sweet potatoes across the street
• For making new friends and reuniting with old
• For cheerful Korean faces shouting "Hello!" or "I love you!"
• For pants that fit -- just right. Finally.

Korea, I believe we'll have a good year. I'll be sure to update you as you continue to woo me. Until then keep showing me your greatness.

Yours Truly,

Melissa

(Typed while enjoying a mug of Earl Grey with milk and sugar from a Christmas themed mug -- why not?)

Let the Rains Come

Enjoying the steady
constant
sound of rain

Re-reading the book of Ruth

Drinking
Lichee Black Tea

A peaceful start
to another weekend
in our new home.

Your Will be Done

Enjoyed the book of Ruth
as I was preparing for bed.

I think

it exemplifies

living God's will for our lives

The heart's Desire:

Ruth replied,

"Don't urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."

Confirmation and Peace

She exclaimed,

"Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me--

a foreigner?"

"You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant."

The Will of God

for ALL mankind

the bigger picture Ruth was a part of

"Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap

and cared for him.

The women living there said, "Naiomi has a son"

And they named him Obed.

He was the father of Jesse, the father of David."

The line of Jesus.

I know the desire of my heart the Lord fills:

to live in a foreign land

I feel the confirmation and peace

in my heart of hearts

in words spoken by friends

new and old

I wait in anticipation

to see the bigger picture

Why am I here? For whom?

And what purpose?

Only time will tell

(Typed while enjoying Lichee Black tea from a Brown Bone China mug when I should have been preparing lesson plans and powerpoints...)

It's Beautiful. It's Hard.

Read This Post
From a dear Friend.
You should read it too

Because:

It's True.
And Beautiful.
And Hard.

It brings tears to my eyes.
Tears of missing home.
Tears of finding home.

SaraJane titled the post
Counting the Gains...
That's the attitude I want to have
in these moments.

However
my heart of hearts
is missing
some things
and
some ones

And that is true.
And it's Beautiful.
And it's Hard.

However
my heart of hearts
is gaining
some things
and
some ones.

And that is true.
And it's Beautiful.
And it's Hard.

(Typed while finishing a bottle of Nestea Peach Tea from the GS25 downstairs)