School is going well. I'm finished tutoring both of my individual students now, so I'm just teaching kindergarten these days. I miss my individual students. They are great kids and were a lot of fun to work with. The boy is going back to high school this week. I had a two-hour lesson with him every weekday during his entire summer vacation, and I assigned a lot of homework. My other student has a week of vacation before returning to her home in Germany. I wonder where life will take them. I hope I get to find out someday.
My kindergarten students are exceptionally cute. I have one class of 6 girls that I call my "princess class" because they are all just too adorable and frequently come to school wearing pink sundresses and pink bows in their hair. Little girls here really, really, really like pink. I have never seen so much pink in all my life as I have here! My fairy princesses haven't figured out that I don't understand Korean. One fairy princess especially loves to tell me stories. I look at her and ask "Really?"
"Yes!" she answers.
"Are you sure?" I ask.
"Yes!" again. At least she's consistent.
Another kindergarten class has only two students, both boys. One of the boys is very bright and is catching on quickly. The other day, he came to school early and was looking at the globe in the classroom. "Teacher, where Korea?" he asked. I showed him. "Where America?" he asked, followed by "Canada?" "Poland?" "Nigeria?" "Ghana?" "Switzerland?" "Netherlands?" I was floored. This kid is 5 years old and came up with all those countries' names himself. He then went on to name all the continents, minus Antarctica, in English. Unfortunately (for me), his family is moving, so I'll be losing him at the end of the week. The other little boy will move into the princess class. He's a real handful. He tried to use the globe as a soccer ball. Watch out, princesses!
My other two kindergarten classes are just fine. One has three boys and one girl, and the other has three girls and two boys. It's so much fun to have small classes!
The weather has cooled down considerably. When I'm done with school, I go hiking in the mountains, though I haven't done anything as adventurous as my Tuesday trek. On Saturday, a friend and I spent the whole day in Seoul. We went to the fashion and textile district, ate lunch, walked to the top of Namsan mountain, saw a bird's eye view of the city, and then sat in a coffee shop and chatted. It was a great day. On Sunday, I went to church in the afternoon and then went for a walk through a very trendy part of Seoul since it was such a nice evening. Everything is fine at the church. The children's Sunday school class is a lot of fun. The middle/high school class is an icy wall of silence. The Korean pastor told me he has heard that I'm a "dynamic teacher." He apparently didn't hear that from the middle/high school class. The congregation is still impressed that I can read the announcements printed in the bulletin in my native language. That's what I call talent.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
Mmmmm . . . Peaches
Yesterday a student brought a big grocery bag full of peaches to school to share with all the teachers. They came from his grandfather's orchard. They are very sweet a juicy but a little crisper than peaches in the U.S. Today we were eating them in the staff room, and my two Korean friends looked at me aghast when I bit into one.
"Ellen! No! You're supposed to PEEL it!"
"Peel the peach?" I asked. I know that Koreans peel apples and pears because of pesticides, and they peel grapes (concord grapes) because they don't like the peels. They don't peel nectarines or plums, and peaches seems similar to those, so I was confused.
One of the teachers explained to me that people have allergic reactions to the fuzz, and it's not good to eat it. I’ve never heard this before. I've been eating peaches, peel and skin and all, my entire solid-food-eating life, and while my allergies can be a bear, I've never noticed any connection to peach fuzz. I always heard that the peel is the best part of the fruit to eat because that's where most of the vitamins are stored. I can understand peeling it to remove organisms (big problem in tropical countries, not a problem in Korea) or pesticides and chemicals, but because the fuzz isn't good for you . . . what's up with this?
So tonight, when I got home, I ate a Korean peach, peel and fuzz and all, in the privacy of my apartment. I hope I survive the night.
I refuse to peel grapes.
"Ellen! No! You're supposed to PEEL it!"
"Peel the peach?" I asked. I know that Koreans peel apples and pears because of pesticides, and they peel grapes (concord grapes) because they don't like the peels. They don't peel nectarines or plums, and peaches seems similar to those, so I was confused.
One of the teachers explained to me that people have allergic reactions to the fuzz, and it's not good to eat it. I’ve never heard this before. I've been eating peaches, peel and skin and all, my entire solid-food-eating life, and while my allergies can be a bear, I've never noticed any connection to peach fuzz. I always heard that the peel is the best part of the fruit to eat because that's where most of the vitamins are stored. I can understand peeling it to remove organisms (big problem in tropical countries, not a problem in Korea) or pesticides and chemicals, but because the fuzz isn't good for you . . . what's up with this?
So tonight, when I got home, I ate a Korean peach, peel and fuzz and all, in the privacy of my apartment. I hope I survive the night.
I refuse to peel grapes.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Liberation Day
Today is the national holiday Gwangbok-jeol which celebrates the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule in 1945 and the establishment of the Republic of Korea exactly three years later. The Japanese occupation of Korea was quite horrible, and many Koreans still have a strong animosity toward the Japanese.
Since it was a holiday, I decided to follow the mountain trails that Edward (see the post on 8/13) pointed out to me. He said the route should be 4-5 hours. Exactly 8 and a half hours after leaving my apartment this morning, I returned hot and sweaty and dirty and sore but thoroughly satisfied with my day in the mountains.
I left home at 11 AM. According to Edward, the route I was on went along a ridgeline to three separate peaks. Seulgi-bong, which I visit frequently, is the first peak. I made it to the top by 12 PM. The trail is in good shape, and though it's a steep climb, it's really not that difficult. From Seulgi-bong, I found the trail leading in the direction of Suam-bong (the second peak) after a little bit of searching. It wasn't particularly well-marked. This trail was a lot more rugged and very steep with some places that required using a ladder (bolted into the rock) or a rope (also well-maintained by the park system) to make my away along it. I scraped up my knee on a rock and was sweating so much that a bandage wouldn't stick. I rubbed some alcohol-based hand sanitizer on the cut (OUCH!!!!) and kept walking.
At about 1:30 PM, I passed two men and a woman who were having a picnic just off the trail. I nodded to them and said "anyounghasayo" ("hello") and kept walking. They called after me, and one of the men stood up and motioned for me to come over to them.
"Where you from?" he asked.
"America." (No one understands "United States" here.)
"AH! America! I love America!" Then he lifted his paper cup in the air. "Toast to America!"
"Toast to America!" the other man and woman echoed and raised their paper cups in a toast.
"What your name?" he asked.
"Ellen."
"AH! Ellen! Toast to Ellen!"
"Toast to Ellen!" the others echoed.
"Ellen, you like kimchi?"
"Yes." Kimchi is Korea's national dish. It's a very spicy pickled vegetable, usually cabbage. I usually like it. Even if you don't like it, though, the answer to "Do you like kimchi?" is always "Yes."
"AH! Kimchi! Toast to kimchi!"
"Toast to kimchi!"
They insisted that I sit down and join them. It had been a steep climb, and I was tired, so I did. They offered me some of their lunch (bulgogi, which is Korean barbeque--really good stuff--kimchi and rice), and I shared my nectarines and apples with them. They laughed at how sweaty I was, since my clothes were completely soaked by this point. I also had dried blood from my knee and dirt all over me, too. I must have been a sight! After about 20 minutes, I explained that I had to be on my way to make it to the top of Suam-bong, and off I went while my three picnicking friends hollered "Toast to Suam-bong!" behind me. Remember these three, "the picnickers." They will make another appearance in this story.
It's about time for a photo. Here's what I saw on my way to Suam-bong:
Above: I felt sorry for the donkey since it was a really hot day, and he didn't have any water. A little farther down the trail were some vendors selling cold drinks, popsicles, and snacks. I'm guessing he was used to haul the stuff up there. I gave him some of my apple.
Below: The ridgeline trail from Seulgi-bong to Suam-bong went along the fence of some kind of military observation post, hence the barbed wire. The peak in the distance is Suam-bong.
Here's Suam-bong from a helicopter pad a little closer:
This is my route as seen from the top of Suam-bong. Note that my apartment is on the other side of Seulgi-bong. You can see the helicopter landing pad from the photo above:
I had to climb all the way down Suam-bong into the valley and then climb back up to the third peak, Taeeul-bong. Here's the route:
By the time I made it down to the valley, the last thing I wanted to do was climb back up a mountain. At this point, it was 4 PM, and I was starting to get sore and ready to go home. However, since "home" is on the other side of those mountains, "up and over" was the only choice, other than a rather expensive cab ride. (Mom, you'll be glad to know that I carried enough cash for a cab "just in case.") There was a nice park in the valley with several restaurants and lots and lots of people. Among those lots and lots of people, guess who I ran into. The picnickers from a whole two hours ago! They must have stayed and picnicked for quite a while, since their route to the valley was much shorter than mine since it bypassed Suam-bong.
"Ellen!" I heard someone shout my name.
"AH! Picnickers! Toast to picnickers!" I shouted in return. They laughed and toasted imaginary paper cups in my direction. We talked for a few minutes. Then they headed down the valley to a different city, and I began my ascent to the ridge that led to Taeeul-bong.
The trail up to the ridge was steep but not too difficult, except for the fact that I was tired and sore. The ridgeline trail was another matter. It was very strenuous and rocky with several places that required climbing ladders (once again, bolted into the rocks) or using ropes. The view, however, was beautiful, and it was starting to cool down.
Time for some more pictures:
Above: I passed several of these pine trees on the ridgeline trail. It's amazing how they grow out of the rocks. Their bark is really smooth from people using them for support while climbing the trail.
Below: A tired, sweaty, sore, but nonetheless happy, hiker.
I made it to the top of Taeeul-bong by 6 PM. Here's the view of my city from the peak. Home is within sight!
I walked through my apartment door at 7:30 PM. I had a great day, but I know I'm going to be hurting tomorrow!
Since it was a holiday, I decided to follow the mountain trails that Edward (see the post on 8/13) pointed out to me. He said the route should be 4-5 hours. Exactly 8 and a half hours after leaving my apartment this morning, I returned hot and sweaty and dirty and sore but thoroughly satisfied with my day in the mountains.
I left home at 11 AM. According to Edward, the route I was on went along a ridgeline to three separate peaks. Seulgi-bong, which I visit frequently, is the first peak. I made it to the top by 12 PM. The trail is in good shape, and though it's a steep climb, it's really not that difficult. From Seulgi-bong, I found the trail leading in the direction of Suam-bong (the second peak) after a little bit of searching. It wasn't particularly well-marked. This trail was a lot more rugged and very steep with some places that required using a ladder (bolted into the rock) or a rope (also well-maintained by the park system) to make my away along it. I scraped up my knee on a rock and was sweating so much that a bandage wouldn't stick. I rubbed some alcohol-based hand sanitizer on the cut (OUCH!!!!) and kept walking.
At about 1:30 PM, I passed two men and a woman who were having a picnic just off the trail. I nodded to them and said "anyounghasayo" ("hello") and kept walking. They called after me, and one of the men stood up and motioned for me to come over to them.
"Where you from?" he asked.
"America." (No one understands "United States" here.)
"AH! America! I love America!" Then he lifted his paper cup in the air. "Toast to America!"
"Toast to America!" the other man and woman echoed and raised their paper cups in a toast.
"What your name?" he asked.
"Ellen."
"AH! Ellen! Toast to Ellen!"
"Toast to Ellen!" the others echoed.
"Ellen, you like kimchi?"
"Yes." Kimchi is Korea's national dish. It's a very spicy pickled vegetable, usually cabbage. I usually like it. Even if you don't like it, though, the answer to "Do you like kimchi?" is always "Yes."
"AH! Kimchi! Toast to kimchi!"
"Toast to kimchi!"
They insisted that I sit down and join them. It had been a steep climb, and I was tired, so I did. They offered me some of their lunch (bulgogi, which is Korean barbeque--really good stuff--kimchi and rice), and I shared my nectarines and apples with them. They laughed at how sweaty I was, since my clothes were completely soaked by this point. I also had dried blood from my knee and dirt all over me, too. I must have been a sight! After about 20 minutes, I explained that I had to be on my way to make it to the top of Suam-bong, and off I went while my three picnicking friends hollered "Toast to Suam-bong!" behind me. Remember these three, "the picnickers." They will make another appearance in this story.
It's about time for a photo. Here's what I saw on my way to Suam-bong:
Above: I felt sorry for the donkey since it was a really hot day, and he didn't have any water. A little farther down the trail were some vendors selling cold drinks, popsicles, and snacks. I'm guessing he was used to haul the stuff up there. I gave him some of my apple.Below: The ridgeline trail from Seulgi-bong to Suam-bong went along the fence of some kind of military observation post, hence the barbed wire. The peak in the distance is Suam-bong.
Here's Suam-bong from a helicopter pad a little closer:
This is my route as seen from the top of Suam-bong. Note that my apartment is on the other side of Seulgi-bong. You can see the helicopter landing pad from the photo above:I had to climb all the way down Suam-bong into the valley and then climb back up to the third peak, Taeeul-bong. Here's the route:
By the time I made it down to the valley, the last thing I wanted to do was climb back up a mountain. At this point, it was 4 PM, and I was starting to get sore and ready to go home. However, since "home" is on the other side of those mountains, "up and over" was the only choice, other than a rather expensive cab ride. (Mom, you'll be glad to know that I carried enough cash for a cab "just in case.") There was a nice park in the valley with several restaurants and lots and lots of people. Among those lots and lots of people, guess who I ran into. The picnickers from a whole two hours ago! They must have stayed and picnicked for quite a while, since their route to the valley was much shorter than mine since it bypassed Suam-bong.
"Ellen!" I heard someone shout my name.
"AH! Picnickers! Toast to picnickers!" I shouted in return. They laughed and toasted imaginary paper cups in my direction. We talked for a few minutes. Then they headed down the valley to a different city, and I began my ascent to the ridge that led to Taeeul-bong.
The trail up to the ridge was steep but not too difficult, except for the fact that I was tired and sore. The ridgeline trail was another matter. It was very strenuous and rocky with several places that required climbing ladders (once again, bolted into the rocks) or using ropes. The view, however, was beautiful, and it was starting to cool down.
Time for some more pictures:
Above: I passed several of these pine trees on the ridgeline trail. It's amazing how they grow out of the rocks. Their bark is really smooth from people using them for support while climbing the trail.Below: A tired, sweaty, sore, but nonetheless happy, hiker.
I made it to the top of Taeeul-bong by 6 PM. Here's the view of my city from the peak. Home is within sight!
I walked through my apartment door at 7:30 PM. I had a great day, but I know I'm going to be hurting tomorrow!
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Hiking, Bratwurst, and Other Such Delights
This week has been fine. There is really nothing to report. Classes have kept me busy this week. It's very hot and sunny here lately. I try to go walking in the mornings and/or evenings, but it's hard to be motivated when it's this hot. I guess I shouldn't complain. At least it isn't rainy season.
Today was a little cooler, so I picked a new mountain trail to explore. Much to my surprise, I ended up at the same peak I've climbed before. It was a very sunny afternoon, but there was still a haze in the distance. At the peak, I met a British hiker named Edward who is very familiar with the trails around the town I live in. He pointed out some good routes that I didn't even know about, so I was really glad to have met him.
Tuesday is a holiday here (Liberation Day). There is a huge anti-American protest planned in Seoul. They're expecting 6,000-8,000 people at the start of it and as many as 30,000 people at the end of it. The US embassy sent an email out to all Americans who are registered with them, telling us we should avoid that whole downtown area of the city. I guess I'll stay here in the suburbs. No sense inciting people who are already angry! If the weather is bearable, I might try out one of the trails Edwards recommended.
While grocery shopping this week, I found "Wisconsin Bratwurst," so I thought I'd give them a try. Not too bad! They're MUCH better than the Korean sausages I’ve tried. Now I just need to find sauerkraut.
I'm putting the finishing touches on my Sunday school lesson for tomorrow, and then I'm calling it a night. It's so much easier to teach Sunday school when you have a curriculum! I've been writing my own lessons these past few weeks. It's especially challenging since I have a wide range of ages and English proficiency. The kids get a Bible memory verse printed in English and Korean every week, and they try to memorize it by the following week. (That reminds me--I haven't prepared that for tomorrow yet either!) I made a deal with them that if they try to learn it in English, I will try to learn it in Korean. I don't let the kids write the English verse phonetically in Korean, so they don't let me write the Korean verse phonetically in English. They think it's great. I wonder what I was thinking.
믿음은 바라는 것들의 실상이요 보지 못하는 것들의 증거니
In case you're curious, that's Hebrews 11:1.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Typing in Korean is good practice for me, I think.
We also learn a story each week. I draw or print pictures that tell the story and then have the kids narrate what's happening in the pictures. Then I have one of the more fluent kids read the story (or part of it) from the Bible. I try to include an active game or two that relates to the story. And of course, we have songs, lots and lots of songs. Why on earth I always end up leading music with small children is beyond me. Music is NOT one of my gifts. I can't sing, can't read notes, can't play an instrument. I don't even own a radio (CD player, MP3 player, etc.)! So how exactly do I end up leading music?
Today was a little cooler, so I picked a new mountain trail to explore. Much to my surprise, I ended up at the same peak I've climbed before. It was a very sunny afternoon, but there was still a haze in the distance. At the peak, I met a British hiker named Edward who is very familiar with the trails around the town I live in. He pointed out some good routes that I didn't even know about, so I was really glad to have met him.
Tuesday is a holiday here (Liberation Day). There is a huge anti-American protest planned in Seoul. They're expecting 6,000-8,000 people at the start of it and as many as 30,000 people at the end of it. The US embassy sent an email out to all Americans who are registered with them, telling us we should avoid that whole downtown area of the city. I guess I'll stay here in the suburbs. No sense inciting people who are already angry! If the weather is bearable, I might try out one of the trails Edwards recommended.
While grocery shopping this week, I found "Wisconsin Bratwurst," so I thought I'd give them a try. Not too bad! They're MUCH better than the Korean sausages I’ve tried. Now I just need to find sauerkraut.
I'm putting the finishing touches on my Sunday school lesson for tomorrow, and then I'm calling it a night. It's so much easier to teach Sunday school when you have a curriculum! I've been writing my own lessons these past few weeks. It's especially challenging since I have a wide range of ages and English proficiency. The kids get a Bible memory verse printed in English and Korean every week, and they try to memorize it by the following week. (That reminds me--I haven't prepared that for tomorrow yet either!) I made a deal with them that if they try to learn it in English, I will try to learn it in Korean. I don't let the kids write the English verse phonetically in Korean, so they don't let me write the Korean verse phonetically in English. They think it's great. I wonder what I was thinking.
믿음은 바라는 것들의 실상이요 보지 못하는 것들의 증거니
In case you're curious, that's Hebrews 11:1.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Typing in Korean is good practice for me, I think.
We also learn a story each week. I draw or print pictures that tell the story and then have the kids narrate what's happening in the pictures. Then I have one of the more fluent kids read the story (or part of it) from the Bible. I try to include an active game or two that relates to the story. And of course, we have songs, lots and lots of songs. Why on earth I always end up leading music with small children is beyond me. Music is NOT one of my gifts. I can't sing, can't read notes, can't play an instrument. I don't even own a radio (CD player, MP3 player, etc.)! So how exactly do I end up leading music?
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
A Care Package!
This morning I glanced at my mailbox on my way out the door, and much to my surprise, since it's ALWAYS empty, there was a package sticking out!
Thank you, Uncle Dick (Gillies)!
He sent Kool-Aid, Jello, LifeSavers, and gummy worms. I took them to school and shared them with my coworkers and a couple of the high school students. The LifeSavers were a huge hit all the way around. Two people tried the gummy worms, but the others were a little grossed out by the idea of eating candy worms. I don't understand that since REAL SILK WORMS are a popular snack food in Korea. (I've eaten two of them and don't ever plan to do it again.) I promised to take Kool-Aid in tomorrow, and I'll fix some of the Jello before too long. It was a lot of fun to share a little bit of home with my friends here.
-----------------------------
Thank you for expressing concern about my Aunt Jane. From what I hear, she's in the hospital in Dubuque now and has a long road ahead of her. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.
Thank you, Uncle Dick (Gillies)!
He sent Kool-Aid, Jello, LifeSavers, and gummy worms. I took them to school and shared them with my coworkers and a couple of the high school students. The LifeSavers were a huge hit all the way around. Two people tried the gummy worms, but the others were a little grossed out by the idea of eating candy worms. I don't understand that since REAL SILK WORMS are a popular snack food in Korea. (I've eaten two of them and don't ever plan to do it again.) I promised to take Kool-Aid in tomorrow, and I'll fix some of the Jello before too long. It was a lot of fun to share a little bit of home with my friends here.
-----------------------------
Thank you for expressing concern about my Aunt Jane. From what I hear, she's in the hospital in Dubuque now and has a long road ahead of her. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Laundry Quandary
Since I don't have a washing machine, and since I really don't want one in my very small bathroom, my directors decided to give me a small stipend each month so I can use the laundry service in my building for one load a week. Last week, I had no problems. I took my laundry downstairs before school and picked it up on my way home. They don’t have dryers, so I had to hang everything up in my apartment to dry, but that wasn't really a problem.
So yesterday I headed back downstairs with this week's load of dirty laundry. The women who helped me last week weren't there, but a man was there, so I figured he could help me. He looked confused, though. I pointed to my bag of dirty laundry and pointed to the washing machine. "Yogiyo," ("here") I said. He nodded and wrote down my apartment number.
When I returned that evening to retrieve my clothing, the man was gone, and the women from the previous week were back. They looked at me in utter confusion when I showed up and started glancing around for some sign of my clothes. None. "Clothes" I said, pinching my shirt to indicate what I was talking about. "Odiyeyo?" ("Where?") The women had no idea what I was talking about. Another customer was attempting to interpret for us, to no avail. Finally, I had the laundry women call my director, and I got the story from her.
It turns out that the man, who was only filling in while the women went to lunch, decided that the foreigner's clothes needed special care, and instead of throwing them in the washing machine, he sent them out to be dry cleaned. That might not have been such a problem if they had been my nice work and church clothes. However, this evening, I picked up the cleanest, most perfectly ironed blue jeans, t-shirts, pajamas, and bedsheets in all the world. I ended up having to pay over $30 to get my clothes back, which is more than my monthly laundry allowance. I was also told that they've recently stopped the wet laundry service and only process dry cleaning and do repairs now. So I guess that brings me back to my laundry quandary. Small things are easy enough to do by hand, but it's awfully inconvenient to wash blue jeans in the kitchen sink. No laundromats in Korea. No laundry service other than dry cleaning in my building. I'm really worried that someone's going to think that putting a washing machine in my bathroom is a good idea again!
So yesterday I headed back downstairs with this week's load of dirty laundry. The women who helped me last week weren't there, but a man was there, so I figured he could help me. He looked confused, though. I pointed to my bag of dirty laundry and pointed to the washing machine. "Yogiyo," ("here") I said. He nodded and wrote down my apartment number.
When I returned that evening to retrieve my clothing, the man was gone, and the women from the previous week were back. They looked at me in utter confusion when I showed up and started glancing around for some sign of my clothes. None. "Clothes" I said, pinching my shirt to indicate what I was talking about. "Odiyeyo?" ("Where?") The women had no idea what I was talking about. Another customer was attempting to interpret for us, to no avail. Finally, I had the laundry women call my director, and I got the story from her.
It turns out that the man, who was only filling in while the women went to lunch, decided that the foreigner's clothes needed special care, and instead of throwing them in the washing machine, he sent them out to be dry cleaned. That might not have been such a problem if they had been my nice work and church clothes. However, this evening, I picked up the cleanest, most perfectly ironed blue jeans, t-shirts, pajamas, and bedsheets in all the world. I ended up having to pay over $30 to get my clothes back, which is more than my monthly laundry allowance. I was also told that they've recently stopped the wet laundry service and only process dry cleaning and do repairs now. So I guess that brings me back to my laundry quandary. Small things are easy enough to do by hand, but it's awfully inconvenient to wash blue jeans in the kitchen sink. No laundromats in Korea. No laundry service other than dry cleaning in my building. I'm really worried that someone's going to think that putting a washing machine in my bathroom is a good idea again!
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Emergency Vehicle Appreciation Day
About 1:00 this afternoon I heard a whole lot of sirens from outside. I looked out my 11th storey window to see smoke rising from the building across the street. On the road below were 8 firetrucks, three police cars, and an ambulance. Unbelievably, the parade of emergency vehicles was stopped by people crossing the street in front of them while smoke continued to rise from the building. I've gotten used to pedestrians not thinking anything of walking in front of moving vehicles, but I'm always amazed by the complete disregard for emergency vehicles. No one yields to them. I've seen ambulances stuck at red lights because the cross traffic doesn't stop. Even this whole convoy of siren-sounding, light-flashing urgency was held at a dead stop by kids, shoppers, mothers, bicyclists, drunk guys, and English teachers crossing right in front of them! I had to leave shortly thereafter for class. The emergency vehicles were gone when I returned home, and the building looks about the same, minus the smoke, with no apparent damage from here. I probably won't ever find out what happened, but the city did put on an impressive display of emergency vehicles, even if they couldn't drive down the street.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
One BIG City
Thanks to my friend Ted Newcomb for fusing these two photos together to make a panoramic view looking north over Seoul from Namsan (meaning "South Mountain"). Click on the photo for a screen-width image.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Vacation Resurrected!
The most amazing thing happened today. First, there was this brilliant light from the sky. Everything suddenly felt warm. Then I looked up and noticed that the sky was starting to turn the most incredible color--BLUE! Can you believe it? It took me almost no time at all to get outside to enjoy my last day of vacation.
I decided to use my little bit of sunshine to go to the top of Namsan Mountain, really more like a big hill, located in the southern part of Seoul. On top of Namsan is the Seoul Tower. I didn't go to the top of the tower because the clouds returned and visibility wasn't very good. When I do go to the top of the tower, I want to be able to see! Here's a view of the tower (foreboding black sky in the background) from close to its base. I'll post photos of Seoul from the top of Namsan when I figure out how to edit them together as a panoramic view.
This is a door to a shrine on the way up the mountain. I thought it was pretty cool!
After walking back down, I went to the Myeong-dong Cathedral for worship. Many Koreans, Catholic and Protestant alike, do not consider Catholics to be "Christian" so it is very uncommon for a Protestant to visit a Catholic church for Mass. I really enjoyed the experience and plan to go back when I can walk around the inside without disturbing worship. Here are a couple photos of the cathedral:
After worship, I walked around Seoul for the evening. Here are a couple photos I took from the middle of intersections. Don't worry, Mom, I had a green light!
Seoul Tower:
Namdaemun Gate:
Finally, one of the things I love about Korea is that they have these terrific fountains in public places, and kids are encouraged to play in them! There is one in the center of my town that is always full of kids. This one is in front of the Seoul City Hall.
I decided to use my little bit of sunshine to go to the top of Namsan Mountain, really more like a big hill, located in the southern part of Seoul. On top of Namsan is the Seoul Tower. I didn't go to the top of the tower because the clouds returned and visibility wasn't very good. When I do go to the top of the tower, I want to be able to see! Here's a view of the tower (foreboding black sky in the background) from close to its base. I'll post photos of Seoul from the top of Namsan when I figure out how to edit them together as a panoramic view.
This is a door to a shrine on the way up the mountain. I thought it was pretty cool!
After walking back down, I went to the Myeong-dong Cathedral for worship. Many Koreans, Catholic and Protestant alike, do not consider Catholics to be "Christian" so it is very uncommon for a Protestant to visit a Catholic church for Mass. I really enjoyed the experience and plan to go back when I can walk around the inside without disturbing worship. Here are a couple photos of the cathedral:
After worship, I walked around Seoul for the evening. Here are a couple photos I took from the middle of intersections. Don't worry, Mom, I had a green light!
Seoul Tower:
Namdaemun Gate:
Finally, one of the things I love about Korea is that they have these terrific fountains in public places, and kids are encouraged to play in them! There is one in the center of my town that is always full of kids. This one is in front of the Seoul City Hall.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Vacation Aborted
After spending today in a torrential downpour, I decided to abort my vacation plans and head home. I spent today walking from a town called Kangchon to the Gugok Falls. The umbrella served nothing more than psychological purpose. By the time I made it to the park entrance after walking about 3 miles, I was completely soaked. The plastic bags I tied around my feet kept as much water in as out. My backpack was soaked clear through. Nothing was dry.Despite being the only visitor at the park this afternoon, I decided to walk up the trail toward the waterfall, only to "chicken out" once I got close to the base of the falls. It was mid-afternoon and had been pouring all day. It's a huge waterfall anyway, and the rainfall fueled it all the more. The stream below it was very close to the trail and exceptionally forceful. Since I was the park's only visitor, I didn't want to risk slipping on the slick walkway. The falls created such a strong wind that it was hard to walk and keep my balance, and I couldn't hold the camera still for the close up photo below. I can only imagine how strong it was closer to the falls. I'm definitely planning a trip back in nice weather.
Click on the photos for a larger image:
Above: The North Han River, looking upstream (east) from Gangchon in the direction of Chuncheon.
Below: Gugok Falls, just southwest of Gangchon. That's as far as I was brave enough to walk. I could hardly hold my camera and umbrella and stay standing to take this photo.
Vacation Update
They've changed the weather forecast from 100% chance of rain to 50% chance of rain for today, and guess what. It's pouring! 50% change of rain my foot!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
On Vacation
I have the rest of this week off, so I've decided to go out of town. I'm in a city called Chuncheon, which is due east of Seoul. It's a nice city in a lovely mountain valley. If the weather cooperates with me, I'm going hiking. There are a couple waterfalls and mountain temples nearby. Unfortunately, the forecast is for rain, rain, and more rain. The trip here this afternoon was beautiful as the train wound up the river valley through the mountains. I'm staying overnight tonight in a "jjimjilbang" or public bathhouse. Where else can you sleep for $6 a night?! I'm about to run out of time here in the computer room, so I'm signing off for now.
Monday, July 24, 2006
"Blessings to Share"
Since I know several people in the Galena/Dubuque area read my blog, I thought I'd put a plug in here for the musical Blessings to Share, presented by the Main Street Players. One third of the box office earnings will go to Riverview Center on opening night, Thursday, July 27th. There is also a benefit dinner at Fried Green Tomatoes that night. Riverview Center provides free and confidential services to sexual assault survivors, a 24-hour hotline, and community education.
Co-writer/director Carole Sullivan offers this description of the show on her website: "Blessings to Share is a moving story of adoption in the 21st century, a story of non-traditional families and vulnerable children. Experience the rollercoaster of emotions as this tender musical unfolds, renewing our faith that when blessings are shared, love can form new bonds."
Ticket information:
Dinner and theater ticket: $35. Dinner is at 5:30 at Fried Green Tomatoes, show is at 8 PM at Turner Hall. Seats are limited. Call Riverview Center, Inc. for a reservation, 815-777-8155.
Theater ticket only: Adults $12, children $5. Show is at 8 PM. Tickets are available at the door and in advance at Dubuque 365 (First and Main, Dubuque), Dick's Supermarket, Elizabeth State Bank, and Galena River Wine and Cheese.
Friday, July 21, 2006
New Students and You Want to Put a Washing Machine WHERE?
I started working with two new students this week. I'm tutoring a high school boy for two hours every weekday for the next month. He's preparing his university entrance exams, which are a huge deal here in Korea. Think SAT/ACT/AP times a zillion. That's the kind of pressure Korean high school students are under to get good test scores. I'm especially helping him prepare for the writing portion of the exams.
I'm also tutoring an 11-year-old girl for the next three weeks. Her mother is Korean, and her father is German. Although she's only been studying English for 18 months, she's a near-native English speaker. She also speaks German, Korean, and French. The lessons I'm doing with her are essentially what kids her age are doing in American schools. Today we had a geography lesson on Asia, specifically China. The only time she stumbled using English was when she was trying to come up with the word "parade" to describe the Chinese New Year.
So this week I've met two absolutely incredible, intelligent, not to mention polite and personable, kids! I'm hoping their motivation wears off on me enough to get me back to school one of these days! Like the members of the Galena UMC youth group, these kids give me great hope for the world.
----------------------------------------
I don't have a washing machine, and Korea doesn't have laundromats. I've been washing socks, undies, and a few other things by hand, and the directors of my school have been taking my dirty laundry home with them once a week. I think they must be getting tired of it because they've started talking about purchasing a washing machine for me. Great idea! It feels WEIRD giving my dirty laundry to boss, but the question looms:
WHERE DO I PUT IT?!
It turns out that the only place it can go, since it has to have both a water source and a drain, is in the bathroom. And the only place that has enough space in the bathroom is under the showerhead. There is no shower stall, just a small tile bathroom with a showerhead coming out of one wall, which results in the entire bathroom being soaked whenever I take a shower.
The receptionist at my school was telling me this plan, that they were going to purchase a washing machine and put it under the shower in my very small bathroom.
"There isn't room," I argued.
"Yes! I think here is okay!" And she drew a map of my bathroom and pointed to the only empty spot of floor, directly under the shower head.
EMH: "I won't have room to take shower." (Translation: "I don't like this idea.")
RECEPTIONIST: "I think washing machine moving is okay!" (Translation: "You can simply move your washing machine when you take a shower. Just get inside the bathroom, close the door, push the washing machine against it, blocking you inside, so you have 2 square feet to stand in to take a shower. It's all okay!")
E: "It'll get soaked every time I take a shower." (Translation: "I really don't like this idea.")
R: "Washing machine wet is okay!" (Translation: "The washing machine can get wet. It's all okay!")
E: "There's no outlet on that wall. I'll have to run a cord across my bathroom." (Translation: "I don't like this idea, and I'm a little worried about the potential water-electricity hazard and don't really want a cord running from one corner of my bathroom to the other.")
R: "I think you not using unplug is okay!" (Translation: "Unplug it when you're not using it. It's all okay!")
E: "I'll have to climb over it to get to the sink." (Translation: "I really, really don't like this idea.")
R: "I think you and washing machine is HAPPY TOGETHER!" (Translation: "No matter how silly it sounds to you, I really want to put a washing machine in your tiny bathroom so you have to climb over it several times a day. You'll learn to love it. HAPPY TOGETHER!")
E: "IN THE SHOWER?" (Translation: "I can't even begin to explain how much I don't like this idea.")
At this point we both started laughing at the utter absurdity of being happy while sharing a shower with a washing machine.
There’s a dry cleaner/tailor in my building. I think we’re going to work something out to see if they can do a load of wash for me each week.
----------------------------------------
It's still a little drizzly here, but the bad thunderstorms have stopped for now. I heard that in the past week over 50 people were killed or missing in the floods and landslides in South Korea and over 100 in North Korea. Over 1,000 had to be evacuated from their homes in South Korea. Everyday on the news they show people returning to homes and farmland that have been destroyed. Please continue to keep the people affected by the floods and landslides in your prayers.
I'm also tutoring an 11-year-old girl for the next three weeks. Her mother is Korean, and her father is German. Although she's only been studying English for 18 months, she's a near-native English speaker. She also speaks German, Korean, and French. The lessons I'm doing with her are essentially what kids her age are doing in American schools. Today we had a geography lesson on Asia, specifically China. The only time she stumbled using English was when she was trying to come up with the word "parade" to describe the Chinese New Year.
So this week I've met two absolutely incredible, intelligent, not to mention polite and personable, kids! I'm hoping their motivation wears off on me enough to get me back to school one of these days! Like the members of the Galena UMC youth group, these kids give me great hope for the world.
----------------------------------------
I don't have a washing machine, and Korea doesn't have laundromats. I've been washing socks, undies, and a few other things by hand, and the directors of my school have been taking my dirty laundry home with them once a week. I think they must be getting tired of it because they've started talking about purchasing a washing machine for me. Great idea! It feels WEIRD giving my dirty laundry to boss, but the question looms:
WHERE DO I PUT IT?!
It turns out that the only place it can go, since it has to have both a water source and a drain, is in the bathroom. And the only place that has enough space in the bathroom is under the showerhead. There is no shower stall, just a small tile bathroom with a showerhead coming out of one wall, which results in the entire bathroom being soaked whenever I take a shower.
The receptionist at my school was telling me this plan, that they were going to purchase a washing machine and put it under the shower in my very small bathroom.
"There isn't room," I argued.
"Yes! I think here is okay!" And she drew a map of my bathroom and pointed to the only empty spot of floor, directly under the shower head.
EMH: "I won't have room to take shower." (Translation: "I don't like this idea.")
RECEPTIONIST: "I think washing machine moving is okay!" (Translation: "You can simply move your washing machine when you take a shower. Just get inside the bathroom, close the door, push the washing machine against it, blocking you inside, so you have 2 square feet to stand in to take a shower. It's all okay!")
E: "It'll get soaked every time I take a shower." (Translation: "I really don't like this idea.")
R: "Washing machine wet is okay!" (Translation: "The washing machine can get wet. It's all okay!")
E: "There's no outlet on that wall. I'll have to run a cord across my bathroom." (Translation: "I don't like this idea, and I'm a little worried about the potential water-electricity hazard and don't really want a cord running from one corner of my bathroom to the other.")
R: "I think you not using unplug is okay!" (Translation: "Unplug it when you're not using it. It's all okay!")
E: "I'll have to climb over it to get to the sink." (Translation: "I really, really don't like this idea.")
R: "I think you and washing machine is HAPPY TOGETHER!" (Translation: "No matter how silly it sounds to you, I really want to put a washing machine in your tiny bathroom so you have to climb over it several times a day. You'll learn to love it. HAPPY TOGETHER!")
E: "IN THE SHOWER?" (Translation: "I can't even begin to explain how much I don't like this idea.")
At this point we both started laughing at the utter absurdity of being happy while sharing a shower with a washing machine.
There’s a dry cleaner/tailor in my building. I think we’re going to work something out to see if they can do a load of wash for me each week.
----------------------------------------
It's still a little drizzly here, but the bad thunderstorms have stopped for now. I heard that in the past week over 50 people were killed or missing in the floods and landslides in South Korea and over 100 in North Korea. Over 1,000 had to be evacuated from their homes in South Korea. Everyday on the news they show people returning to homes and farmland that have been destroyed. Please continue to keep the people affected by the floods and landslides in your prayers.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Funny "Konglish" and Too Much Rain
"Konglish" is the made-up term for funny sayings when Korean and English get a little confused. I encounter something in Konglish everyday, but today I heard a particularly funny example.
Today was my second Sunday at the Daerim Methodist Church in Seoul. I taught children's Sunday school and middle/high school Bible study and read the announcements from the bulletin for the English worship service. After the service, a church member told me "Your announcements are very good. You are a refreshment!"
So my question is, "What kind of refreshment am I?"
I don't know if any of this has made the news in other parts of the world, but we're experiencing lots of rain and flooding here in Korea. Tropical Storm/Typhoon Bilis, which caused a lot of destruction in the Philippines and China last week, crossed the Korean peninsula this weekend. My immediate area is not affected, but there have been at least 12 deaths in the country, and 17 people are missing so far. Thousands of people have been evacuated. There have been landslides and broken dams. Houses and farmland have been destroyed. Please keep the people of Korea in your prayers. Thousands of lives have been affected by this already, and the rain is supposed to continue through Thursday of this week. Click on any of the photos below for larger images.
Here are some photos from Yonhap News:
And here's one from the Korea Times
An article from the Korea Times can be found here.
Today was my second Sunday at the Daerim Methodist Church in Seoul. I taught children's Sunday school and middle/high school Bible study and read the announcements from the bulletin for the English worship service. After the service, a church member told me "Your announcements are very good. You are a refreshment!"
So my question is, "What kind of refreshment am I?"
I don't know if any of this has made the news in other parts of the world, but we're experiencing lots of rain and flooding here in Korea. Tropical Storm/Typhoon Bilis, which caused a lot of destruction in the Philippines and China last week, crossed the Korean peninsula this weekend. My immediate area is not affected, but there have been at least 12 deaths in the country, and 17 people are missing so far. Thousands of people have been evacuated. There have been landslides and broken dams. Houses and farmland have been destroyed. Please keep the people of Korea in your prayers. Thousands of lives have been affected by this already, and the rain is supposed to continue through Thursday of this week. Click on any of the photos below for larger images.
Here are some photos from Yonhap News:
And here's one from the Korea Times
An article from the Korea Times can be found here.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Finally Some SNAPSHOTS
Hello everyone! After several days of rain, the sun came out this afternoon, so I decided to head on up the mountain with my camera after school. It was hot and extremely humid, so I was literally dripping with sweat before I made it to the top. This photo is about 2/3 of the way up. (Do you recognize the hat, Aunt Mary Ellen? It has served me well in the U.S., Mexico, the Philippines, and now Korea! I forgot to take it to Germany with me last May and was very disappointed at the oversight.)The view was beautiful. In one direction are green mountains and valleys all the way to the horizon. In the other direction is my city and neighboring suburbs. I could even pick out my apartment building!
Here are a few more shots.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Just a Matter of Black and White?
I haven't written about my classes in some time because nothing particularly noteworthy has happened. I teach four classes of kindergartners: two meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays and two meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Today, one of my very bright little boys announced, "My black hair. Ellen-Teacher white hair." I thought it would be a good opportunity for a new vocabulary word.
"No," I said, "I have blonde hair, not white hair."
He held a black crayon up to his head. "Black hair," he said. Then he pointed a white crayon in the direction of my head, "Ellen-Teacher white hair."
"White? No." I held up a yellow crayon. "Blonde hair."
He shook his head. "Okay," I thought, "my hair isn't yellow. Maybe brown is closer." So I held up a brown crayon.
"You have black hair," I said. "I have blonde hair."
This time I could see the frustration in his face. He thrust the white crayon in the direction of my head. "No!" he shouted at me. "Ellen-Teacher white hair. Ellen-Teacher OLD!"
Thanks, kiddo!
Other than that, there is nothing to report. It's still the rainy season here, which means it rains almost every day. I can usually find some time when it's not raining to get out for a walk, but it has been raining all day today, so I'm feeling a little cooped up. On Monday, Tropical Storm Ewiniar hit the Korean peninsula. For me, it amounted to nothing more than a lot of wind and rain. It had been downgraded just the day before from a Category 2 Typhoon which would have been much worse. Typhoon season continues until September. Gotta love Korean weather: winter, yellow dust, rainy season, typhoon season. I hear fall is nice. Come visit!
"No," I said, "I have blonde hair, not white hair."
He held a black crayon up to his head. "Black hair," he said. Then he pointed a white crayon in the direction of my head, "Ellen-Teacher white hair."
"White? No." I held up a yellow crayon. "Blonde hair."
He shook his head. "Okay," I thought, "my hair isn't yellow. Maybe brown is closer." So I held up a brown crayon.
"You have black hair," I said. "I have blonde hair."
This time I could see the frustration in his face. He thrust the white crayon in the direction of my head. "No!" he shouted at me. "Ellen-Teacher white hair. Ellen-Teacher OLD!"
Thanks, kiddo!
Other than that, there is nothing to report. It's still the rainy season here, which means it rains almost every day. I can usually find some time when it's not raining to get out for a walk, but it has been raining all day today, so I'm feeling a little cooped up. On Monday, Tropical Storm Ewiniar hit the Korean peninsula. For me, it amounted to nothing more than a lot of wind and rain. It had been downgraded just the day before from a Category 2 Typhoon which would have been much worse. Typhoon season continues until September. Gotta love Korean weather: winter, yellow dust, rainy season, typhoon season. I hear fall is nice. Come visit!
Monday, July 10, 2006
Mission Update
The bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference put me in touch with a pastor at a large (1,500 member) Methodist church in Seoul. I will begin working with them next week. They have an English-speaking congregation of about 30 members, most of whom I met today. I will help lead worship, preach on occasion, and lead a weekly middle/high school Bible study, along with some other responsibilities. They've decided to call me "Missionary Herbert," despite my insistence that "Ellen" is just fine. It makes me laugh. Titles are really important here, so I can understand the formality, even if it feels a little unusual to me. I'm really excited to be in mission and ministry again; I've felt a little lost the past several weeks without that church connection. Thank you all for your prayers during this transition time. I feel them carry me through each day.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
National Declaration to Address Violence Against Women
I'm just bumping a previous post back up to the top. The FaithTrust Institute has recently written a "National Declaration by Religious and Spiritual Leaders to Address Violence Against Women."
I'm drawing your attention to it again because I noticed that some signatures were lost from it, including a couple from Galena. I encourage you to take a look at it and sign it again if your name disappeared.
Among other things, this declaration is a chance for faith communities and their leaders to support victims of violence and lend faith as a tool for safety and healing. Click here to read my post from June 12, 2006 and why I think this is so important.
Please take a moment to read over and sign the declaration by clicking here, and pass it on to other religious leaders.
EMH (now signer 1099 from 1104 due to lost signatures)
I'm drawing your attention to it again because I noticed that some signatures were lost from it, including a couple from Galena. I encourage you to take a look at it and sign it again if your name disappeared.
Among other things, this declaration is a chance for faith communities and their leaders to support victims of violence and lend faith as a tool for safety and healing. Click here to read my post from June 12, 2006 and why I think this is so important.
Please take a moment to read over and sign the declaration by clicking here, and pass it on to other religious leaders.
EMH (now signer 1099 from 1104 due to lost signatures)
Monday, July 03, 2006
"You're Very Dirty and Smelly"
I started teaching two new kindergarten classes today. One class has three boys and the other has four girls. The kids were good for the most part, though the boys got a little out of hand toward the end. I interpreted it as a signal to wrap things up and return them to their mothers. I'm really glad to be teaching 5 days a week now.
This past weekend I went to church with my coworker Katherine and her boyfriend Mark. Their church started an English language service about 6 months ago. It's a small congregation, all of whom speak English as a second language or grew up in bilingual (Korean-Canadian, Korean-American) homes. Mark and I were the only two solely English speakers. It was a nice service, and the people were friendly and welcoming. I'll probably visit there again, though I'm hesitant to make a commitment at this point since I'm still arranging my new mission work, which might involve church responsibilities on Sundays.
So now for the dirty and smelly part . . . there is a lovely park with a mountain and trails near my apartment. Today was a beautiful day, though a bit warm and humid, so after my classes, I headed to the park to hit the trails. The map at the park entrance indicated that the trail I had chosen was about 3 kilometers long and ended near the top of the mountain. I set off up the trail. It was steep, and I'm out of shape, so it was quite a workout. The view from the top was superb. Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera with me, but I'll take it with me next time. In one direction, I could see my entire city and then some. In the other direction, there was nothing but mountains for as far as I could see. It was getting to be evening, and I didn't want to get stuck up there in the dark, so I headed back down.
It was a hard climb up but an easy run down, so when the trail was safe enough (i.e., not too steep, no rocks or roots or mud to avoid, no cliffs on either side), I ran. I slipped a little on one part of the trail and ended up with mud on my legs, and I was sweating considerably. By the time I made it back to my apartment building, I was a certifiable mess. I got on the elevator with two clean, nicely dressed women. One looked me over and said, "Hello, I'm Carmen. Are you new here?"
"Yes," I answered. "I've been here about two weeks."
"You're very dirty and smelly," she said.
What could I say but "Yes, I just climbed the mountain."
"I'm clean and smell nice," she answered.
Just then the elevator stopped and the eleventh floor, so I had to excuse myself from that exciting conversation. I was kind of curious about what else she might point out: that I'm dripping with sweat, that my hair is a mess, that I have a zit on my chin, that I have a big nose? Thanks, clean, nice-smelling Carmen!
I find conversations like this pretty funny. The comments complete strangers will make never cease to astound me. It seems that Koreans are not as reserved as Westerners are when it comes to commenting on a person's appearance. I've never heard anything said maliciously, just matter-of-factly. "You're very dirty and smelly." Well, yes, I was. I can't deny it or hide it, not on an elevator at least.
This past weekend I went to church with my coworker Katherine and her boyfriend Mark. Their church started an English language service about 6 months ago. It's a small congregation, all of whom speak English as a second language or grew up in bilingual (Korean-Canadian, Korean-American) homes. Mark and I were the only two solely English speakers. It was a nice service, and the people were friendly and welcoming. I'll probably visit there again, though I'm hesitant to make a commitment at this point since I'm still arranging my new mission work, which might involve church responsibilities on Sundays.
So now for the dirty and smelly part . . . there is a lovely park with a mountain and trails near my apartment. Today was a beautiful day, though a bit warm and humid, so after my classes, I headed to the park to hit the trails. The map at the park entrance indicated that the trail I had chosen was about 3 kilometers long and ended near the top of the mountain. I set off up the trail. It was steep, and I'm out of shape, so it was quite a workout. The view from the top was superb. Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera with me, but I'll take it with me next time. In one direction, I could see my entire city and then some. In the other direction, there was nothing but mountains for as far as I could see. It was getting to be evening, and I didn't want to get stuck up there in the dark, so I headed back down.
It was a hard climb up but an easy run down, so when the trail was safe enough (i.e., not too steep, no rocks or roots or mud to avoid, no cliffs on either side), I ran. I slipped a little on one part of the trail and ended up with mud on my legs, and I was sweating considerably. By the time I made it back to my apartment building, I was a certifiable mess. I got on the elevator with two clean, nicely dressed women. One looked me over and said, "Hello, I'm Carmen. Are you new here?"
"Yes," I answered. "I've been here about two weeks."
"You're very dirty and smelly," she said.
What could I say but "Yes, I just climbed the mountain."
"I'm clean and smell nice," she answered.
Just then the elevator stopped and the eleventh floor, so I had to excuse myself from that exciting conversation. I was kind of curious about what else she might point out: that I'm dripping with sweat, that my hair is a mess, that I have a zit on my chin, that I have a big nose? Thanks, clean, nice-smelling Carmen!
I find conversations like this pretty funny. The comments complete strangers will make never cease to astound me. It seems that Koreans are not as reserved as Westerners are when it comes to commenting on a person's appearance. I've never heard anything said maliciously, just matter-of-factly. "You're very dirty and smelly." Well, yes, I was. I can't deny it or hide it, not on an elevator at least.
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