It was a nice weekend and a good time to travel. So we did. I really just want everyone to see a picture of my first fire in Korea. It works the same here, but we have the added luxury of bamboo. (it burns like paper but for a good 5-7 minutes) Four of us took the bus to a port on the southwest corner of Korea. We caught a ferry to an island the size of Messiah College. Nothing can speak to the joy of a fire in Korea on a near vacant island on a brisk and quiet Saturday night. The weeks continue to give me just enough exhaustion to recover from in two days. So fires are all the more in order, whether in my apartment or out. I find scent to be quite rejuvenating. I hope all is well with everyone. Enjoy the spring.

It is spring. As you can see the cherry blossom trees are in blossom. Its a wonderful thing to have weekends to go outside. Weekdays have been a long and tiresome with classes till 7:20 every day now. I feel much more prone to dancing...to shake off the stress of a day. And thus much of this weekend has been that...a birthday party and soccer dances. For me about 10 kids in every class is about as much as I can take. There's a lot to manage both in and out of class. Other stress relievers have been doing the dishes, folding clothes and watching Jackie Chan in Drunken Master.

It is a difficult time but a worthy challenge at this point in my life...to remain present in each moment and not let my attachment to class efficiency or well behaved classes get the best of me, and create a dependency on the future ie weekends, night. And kids have a great a ability to bring you back to where you are and enjoy the present moment. Even when they're throwing up on the floor or slamming their heads into walls.

I miss my kids from last year. Don't get to see too much of them as they are on the 4th floor and I am up on the 5th. At least Joy is their teacher, so she keeps me up to date on their recent sayings and activities.

The weather has been very nice. And the rain has been coming back slowly. I truly enjoy rainy days in Korea. Ill be traveling more soon hopefully. So hopefully I remember my camera and get some pictures. Ill just say Im sorry for those places I have missed recently by forgetting my camera. But enjoy the views of spring at the resevoir. And I leave you with this reminder of my face for those forgetting.

Seoul Marathon

I ran my half marathon this weekend. Yesterday to be exact. I can give some credit to a magnificent pre-race meal at Ali Baba Restaurant which included falafel, shish tawouk and kosharee, ilhamdullilah. It was a grand event including but not limited to: a wedding ceremony, pre-race dancing/stretching, mass korean style stretching, rain, and hitting a guy in the face. It was a lot of fun. I was placed in the back of the pack after not entering a race time. That got me into the groove of passing. I felt good most of the way excluding some foot pain. I finished in 1:23:06. A surprise, and I am glad it was concluded sooner rather than later, as my legs were surely on the way to legendary pain. I was most proud that I was not passed the whole race, but that might surely have to do with my starting position. I was 23rd overall and 3rd in my age group. The race reminded me of running along the river in Harrisburg. I was surprised to come to a point with no city outstanding on the riverbanks. I think I like that distance, though my legs have little nice to say at the moment. Maybe Ill do it again someday. Hope you like the pictures.

Graduation

I apologize for the long silence. These have been the crazy days of preparing for graduation, helping new teachers, saying goodbye to those leaving, and getting ready for the big switch at the end of the school year. Graduation was yesterday and I was very pleased with our performance. Unfortunately the people who were supposed to video it did not show up. So all I have is pictures. Sorry to disappoint so many, but know that you are the least of those dissappointed. But it was a wonderful graduation, the best the school has had, it was said. I was very proud of my kids. There weren't too many distractions. Ayoung broke the huge button off her costume and it bounced for a while. But it was nothing like Will Teacher's class where one kid fell on his butt after a pronounced trip and scuffle towards the floor. It was great.

My friend Joy, from home, is here now. She got in on monday and has been on the teacher training schedule. So she gets to watch other teachers and learn how to make tests, lesson plans, etc. I'm sure she's tired. I am ready to break the cycle of going out to eat. It has been every meal since lunch on Monday. Which means mostly more expensive and meaty meals. I have never eaten so much meat in a week. It must come to an end.

Next week is my half-marathon in Seoul. Im pretty excited, if my foot would get in line i would feel perfect. I think I strained it on monday from 10 miles and moving teachers to new apartments. I hope to get some good pictures from the race. It's been warmish here so it should be good for a long run.

Im sure theres more to tell, but at this moment Im just trying to get some time to do nothing, so I will finish this and do that. Hopefully more sooner than later.

I meant to get these pictures up a while ago as they were taken only a few days after the last you see below. The one of me is vain attempt to make a cool picture with this picture program I found on my computer.
I think it looks cool anyway. These days have been stepping up in intensity with preparation for our graduation performance. My kids are so easy. They've pretty much learned all their lines in a week and a half. I'm impressed anyway, but it will take more than that I'm afraid. Korea is very much about productions if you remember my talk from this time last year. Yes I have been here for a full year as of earlier this month. Doesn't really feel like it, as I suppose shall be the case for most of the years with my aging bones. Speaking of bones, I'm considering my first marathon, just came up as a thought this week as I saw information on one this April. Well see what happens with that, but as for now its a romantic vision.

Soraksan

The 12 am toll struck in a cab in Seoul with 5 other people and a tolerant cab driver. I had a short stopover there for the New Year and then headed to the northern Sorak mountains. Hopefully the pictures will bring through some of the beauty. It started snowing as I started hiking Tuesday morning. The higher I got, the more thankful I was I had gotten some crampons with a gift certificate from one of the other teachers. I had never hiked with crampons before, but they proved essential. I got to the peak around noon and was able to borrow a gas stove from the shelter and purchase some ramien for nourishment. The way down on the other side was steep and covered in several feet of snow. I wasn't sure where I was going but had an idea I could reach a town on the opposite side of the range. Luckily at the next shelter I met up with a group of Korean's on their way down from a three day hike. They asked me to accompany them and we spent a bit of the descent on plastic bags, carefully sleding down the twisted and rock infested path. I was worried someone would get spiked with the crampons, but there were no incidents. As it was snowing the visibility had been less than showy. But the descent afforded some amazing views of towering peaks and a snow covered river valley. The lower altitude brought on less extreme temperatures but a less pleasing rain and slushy footing. We finished in the dark at about 7. The family of one of the guys (Mr. Lee) in the group lived in the neighboring town. They hooked us up with transportation to a sauna where we were able to warm up. I was taught the method of sauna going. First shower, then hot tub, then cold tub, sauna, and then over again several times. "Good for health." Afterwards we were taken to the family's apartment where an amazing dinner had been prepared. We ate and then I was helped to find a cheap hotel in town. Mr. Lee was an english teacher in Seoul and another guy, Jake, spoke pretty good english so I was able to converse a good bit with the group. It was a lot of fun. They were very hospitable.

The next day I went back up the mountain with fresh batteries so you all could enjoy some pictures that I missed with dead batteries. It was a beautiful day, just phenemonal views. Hiking in the snow is amazing. Quiet, bright, difficult, dangerous at points, but inspiring. So enjoy the pictures. Or maybe I can't fit them, so Ill try a new post.

It snowed today and thus the pictures. It's almost Christmas. Which means this week Ill be dressing up as Santa Claus to deliver some presents to kids from the school. It should be fun. I'm not sure if Ill get pictures of that or not. But it should produce a good story. I just got a chair along with my bookshelve I've told some of you about. I wanted to show a picture here. The ugly picture is my street, but I was impressed by the size of the snowflakes. It will be a different Christmas. One thing I do miss from home are the lights. Theres not much in the way of Christmas lights in the city. So I'm going to a city in the south for Christmas weekend. But Ill be home for Christmas. The teachers will have a dinner together. Ill miss home. Mom's cookies will bring me closer. I hope you all have a good week, Christmas and New Years. I only have Christmas off, but then I have the next week off, so I plan to get up north to the DMZ and some mountains along the border. Enjoy the holidays.

A Wedding and A Hike

Yesterday, I went to my first Korean wedding. One of the teachers I used to work with got married to a Korean girl. It was a lot of fun. I was laughing most of the service because of the informal style. There was a sort of MC who always said what was coming next. After a long bit of Korean he would break and say stuff like, "Ok, just say yes." A few of my kids were there running up and down the aisles hitting me. There was a lot of clapping. You could tell there wasn't a rehearsal as we understand it. But it was a lot of fun.

Then today I got inspired and went for a hike. I decided to climb to the top of our local mountain. I got off to a late start, leaving my apartment at 1:30. I got there around 2:15 and marched my way to the top. It's just under 4,000 feet so its a sufficient climb. I got to the top and took the can of tuna I had made it into a sandwich. It was nice and cold and beautiful as the pictures might tell. I'm up in the white that you can see far away in the first picture. Then I marched down at times running, to make sure I caught the bus home before they stopped running. I stopped for a bit to sit in the woods. I had to take the time to hear one of my favorite sounds...nothing. It was good and dark before I reached the bottom. Now I'm tired and will probably be walking like a duck tomorrow, but I like ducks.

I wanted to show some pictures from last weekend's kimchee festival. There was some good kimchee. It was a festive time. Thanksgiving came and went with no turkey. But I have no complaints because I made some delicious rice and kimchee. Some women with the Church of God came over, and I must say I have difficulty turning away anyone who wants to talk. I've learned a bit about the last plagues and how I can escape them. They were nice ladies. And they have put a face to one religious group I can't agree with but now know as individuals. I'm working on my debating nature and trying to listen better to, how shall I say-- "difficult" messages. It has been fruitful for me at least. I can't speak for them, but I know I'm not yet a successful convert. On another topic, I did get to talk with some other teachers about time and space; which some may know I enjoy discussing. So that was a highlight last night.

A weekend in Seoul

I spent last weekend in Seo
ul with some other teachers. It was a good time of walking, eating, smoking, etc. It was nice to travel with some friends again. We met up with a teacher who I used to work with, and he showed a nice used bookstore I will frequent on Seoul trips. We also some found some good stores where we found lentils, spices, and cheese. Thought I would share a few pictures.

I think that you have favorite kids for different parts of yourself. Like there's your cute favorite, your surprising favorite, your laughing favorite, your smiling favorite, your whimpering favorite, etc. John is my bizarre favorite. He doesn't speak as much as he makes sound effects and crazy faces followed by explosions. But John got me again the other day. Every day we have show and tell. It can get quite monotonous from having it every day and objects ranging from stuffed animals to paper clips. We once had two beetles which I allowed the kids to take out and successfully send the girls into panicked squeals (one example of a good monotony breaker)
But this day as questions came to a close I was sure I had no idea what John had brought in. As we counted down for the exposure, John ran to the door. Once again unsure of his ultimate purpose I questioned him to tell me what it was he had brought in. With great pride John opened his bag to reveal two full body dried squids. This is not an uncommon sight in Korea, but I was never anticipating such a gift in my class. Also, as a show and tell item it poses quite a problem for distribution and consumption. Luckily John had solved this trivial issue for me, prearranging plans with a Korean teacher to cut up the jerky and offer it on plates. I obliged and we feasted on quite bland and tough squid jerky. The good kind is prepared differently. These boys were just hung out to dry, no seasoning or cutting. Just thought you might like to meet a story from John.

And today was a good day. I decided to go downtown for some morning coffee as I started a new book. I couldn't have found a nicer chair to read in. Perhaps coffee will be a more common Saturday excursion. After a quick lunch I hung around the downtown area reading out on a wonderfully cool and breezy fall day.
Earlier, on my way to the subway I bumped into an older Korean man (Edward) I had met at the doctors this week. We talked for a bit before his stop. Then later I met another older man who started talking with me and invited me to the International meeting that is held once a week at the International Center. I was planning on stumbling in sometime this month, but needed the extra luxury of knowing the time and having someone to join. It was nice to connect with some new people, and hear a talk on Migrant Workers in Korea. Edward was there and he invited me to ride the subway back with him afterwards. We talked a bit and he invited me to his home. There he showed me his stamp and coin collection. They were quite impressive. Funny that I saw my first silver dollar today, and in Korea! But we had a good time just sitting on the floor. He talked about his passion for languages, coins, stamps and all his travels. It's good to have an elder contact in Korea. I was amazed to learn he is 69, when by appearance, as I suppose with all Koreans, he looks years younger. It must be the hiking and kimchee. So I promised to add some Egyptian coins to his collection, and we will meet again at the International Center on another Saturday.
Tomorrow I will go to Maisan, a nice looking place. Hopefully I can produce some pictures with that. But it will be a more eventful weekend than previous weekends of perpetual sickness. Hope you are all well.

So many of you should know that I have decided to stay another year in Korea. It was a difficult decision to make, but I have decided that it is what I would like to do. A big part of reasoning is no doubt to continue to pay down my college debt. I have also enjoyed the past year, and can't think of too many reasons to look for a new workplace while I enjoy what I'm doing. Another year should help me improve a lot as a teacher. And I am looking forward to the experience of working with some different ages and levels. I wasn't planning on having to make a decision this early, but I suppose its easier now to have it made.

I have been sick the past week. I think it is a lack of comfortable chairs. Not the immediate cause, but I can't rest and recover comfortably without being in bed, which who wants to do when you just feel half-sick. Maybe one of the biggest frusterations with Korea is the lack of good chairs. I think if it weren't for sitting on the floor in class, my back would be in a twisted knot. It does hurt a bit.

Novels have returned to my primary reading. I have gotten into some good books by VS Naipaul and Chaim Potok. It's reason for celebration. A renewal in reading vigor. I also believe I am getting more into studying Korean now that I will be here a bit longer. Did some studying today, I remember a good bit of what I studied before, I just never use it. So I need to get into situations where my language is useful...usually not the case, the books I study are a bit impractical. So I'm sick, I need to get to bed, but I guess it's good to put up some words after a month or so. Ill try to be more frequent. Sorry.

Good day. Im still in a daze. I've spent most of the last two days sleeping, trying to recover from jet lag and a busy week. It was a good week at home. It was a good wedding.

Good to see many of you. I thought I would just throw up some pictures from the wedding while I'm still awake. So here they are. It was a wonderful time, my sister and good friend are now married. Talk again later when my rest is satisfied.

September...and it seems the weather patterns are already changing. We went from high humidity in relatively hot weather about two weeks ago to what feels like 50 degree nights. Today was the most beautiful day I've seen in a while. It's not so much the tempature drink, its the drop in humidity that you notice. I can now walk down the street without breaking out in a sweat. I don't even need my fan anymore. I don't mean to brag, if you happen to be stuck in the heat, wherever you are. I'm just loving the day.

I did some cleaning last night and am now feeling better about my apartment than ever. I got a new clean pillow too, so that's nice. This weekend I went back to the temple I did the retreat at. It was nice to be back among the mindful in a season of looser practice. Meaning I was able to talk more freely with those I had only known in silence the week of the retreat. The landscape and deep hum of cicadas and locusts was enough to bring me back for some solitude. But the conversations were inspiring as well. At the top are some pictures for those who want to put three views of this place in their mind. I find it to be helping me place my focus on the present moment and live each moment as it is...all there is. Or so I try to let it.

There hasn't been too much documentable action the past month or so. Life is becoming more stable, routine, balanced. I go for walks at night at the park. On the weekends I've been going hiking at the local mountains. I watched a sweet documentary on lions this past sunday. So you might get the idea. Nothing outrageous, but I'm continuing to enjoy each day. I teach kids every day, so if you know that you might be able to understand my state. I love it, but it's a daily challenge.

So Ill be coming home in about three weeks for a wedding. That is my sisters wedding. I'm pretty excited about that. I have my ticket and flight information. It will be a long trip but Ill have about a week to visit with many of you. Hopefully Ill see many of you at the wedding. I would love to visit with everyone that I have been out of contact with for so long. But I realize a week is a long and short time. So I look forward to seeing some of you, but others forgive me as Im sure you understand many things will be on the table. That said I hope to be seeing many of you soon.

Tap

One of the things I loved about the temple was the food and method of eating very mindfully. It made it even more simple and enjoyable to eat food. So the past week I have been cooking a lot trying to incorperate some of the methods of cooking they used at the temple. But my ventures culminated in an effort friday night that you can see above. Inside is brown rice, onions, tomatoes, red yellow and orange pepers, leaf lettuce, and cheese. Perhaps not the culinary masterpiece of a revered chef, but I was very happy with the flavors in my mouth. Cheese is something so rare in Gwangju. My friends went on a two hour train ride to track down some good colby jack for me, for which I am eternally grateful.

The Buddhist practice is to eat in silence. I've found it to be a very insightful practice. When you eat only eat. When you finish you wash your dishes, and then only wash your dishes. So my eating habits have been changing and my kitchen has maintained a cleanliness it rarely saw before. I wish to share this joy with you all, thus the picture below. With this practice I not only maintain cleanliness, but also find myself eating breakfast again, after about a three year period of abstention. And with a more regularly spanned eating schedule, along with full delicious meals, I find myself eating slim to none between meals. Needless to say I'm a fan. Im keeping a more regular schedule and finding it much easier to be when I need to.

Kyol Che

For those unaware I just had a week vacation, which I chose to spend in the mountains at a Buddhist temple. I arrived last Saturday and caught a train back to Gwangju yesterday afternoon. The temple was at the end of a seasonal retreat called Kyol Che. The community was English speaking with two American Zen Masters. The monks and nuns were also a mix of nationalities from Malaysia, Russia, Israel, Czech Republic, Korea... Along with this set community were lay people who were spending three months/one month/ a week, like myself, in the temple.

It was a week. It wasn't good, wasn't bad...it just was. I wasn't so concerned with the vow of silence...that I could do. But eight hours sitting in meditation seemed like a daunting task after only the first day. Waking up at three in the morning sounded even less appealing. However, over the course of the week I began to focus my energies on the ever elusive everday mind. (That is to live moment to moment, entertaining no thoughts of what you have to do later or what mistakes/glorious actions you have made in the past./ The lack of thought...only being.) With this mind or search of it, time did not exist...eight hours became not too short, not too long. The beauty of the week was essential being. When I was hungry I ate...thirsty, I drank...when it was time to sit I only sat. When it was time to weed or pick corn, only that. I have always been attracted to the philosophy of Buddhist/Eastern traditions. The practice was only more to put my mind at ease and bring me back to this moment.

I could tell you many things that I learned but I'm sure it wouldn't translate. Some of you may have already left me at the word "Buddhist". No worries. I will try to live this moment and only that.

Ulleungdo

Just a few sights from this weekend. I went with two other teachers to an island of the east coast called Ulleungdo. It was a long trip. Along the way we took a bus, a train, and a high speed ferry. Upon arrival we were met with heavy rain, that has continued through today. If you've seen the news maybe they've shown the flooding in Seoul? The island had a constant flow of water running down to the sea. It wasn't enough to keep us from getting out, but it did make it pretty cold along the way. We had a nice hike that wound its way up and around the cliffs on the coast. It was very nice. We took a small ferry around the island after we settled into a small minba- homestay/motel. So with that the hike and a long bus ride we got around the island twice in about a day and a half. We warmed up both days in a sauna after our long outings. A beautiful thing even if your clothes are wet for when you come out. I was a little upset that I couldn't be there this wednesday for the annual squid festival. I had to get a picture of this squid statue. And indeed there was a lot of squid. So it was a good weekend. We even hooked up with teachers from another city. And I got some practice with my Korean amongst some older Islanders who invited us to join them for lunch after our long hike. Peace.