Thanksgiving

On Sunday, we joined together celebrating a traditional North American Thanksgiving (a month early for me, but a week late for our Canadian teachers!). Here are a few snapshots from our amazing evening:

The beautiful sunset I had a chance to see on the way to dinner. (I love having these mountains right out my front door!)

The lovely new apartments where our community will soon unite.

Gathering with 40 people from all over the world - new friends and old - sharing what we are thankful for.

The many hands who prepared all the incredible food!

Watching generations of those committed to serving the Lord.

Thankful that I did not get sick downing this whole plate of food.

Sharing stories and laughter...

...and great pie.

With friends who welcome you in like family.

So much to be thankful for ~

Fall At Last

While I love the summer sunshine, there is just something so incredibly delightful about crisp, overcast fall days. As I walked to work this morning and ran errands this afternoon, I could not wipe the smile off my face as I drank in the autumn. This sweater-wearing, hue-changing, tea-drinking season never ceases to warm my heart. There's something inside of me that longs for a "bouquet of newly sharpened pencils." (You've Got Mail - a fall must-see everyone!)

Some days I feel so distracted. In the writing of this post, I also wrote a lesson plan, graded a pile of homework, sent a few emails, bought a cake (no, I did not eat it, too ;), and mailed a postcard. Oh my. On days like this when I find it difficult to just sit down and type, I revert to pictures. So here are just a few happy things from this last week:

I got to see this artist perfecting the finishing touches on his murals at Dosim Station. He even painted in the rain. So talented!

Friday after work, Anna and I went to the night market with my students and their families. We ate amazing food, played carnival games, and laughed a lot. They are some of the most generous people I have ever met! 

Thoroughly enjoyed an abundance of persimmons in our house!

Abby and I discovered a new restaurant and coffee shop near home. Will definitely be going to both again soon!! 

 Went to the Zandari music festival with a group of friends. It was so much fun!! I love that good music can always be enjoyed, regardless of language.

Take time today to enjoy the small things!

~Kate

A Bubble Tea Breakdown

What a full week it was! Outside of teaching, we had an incredible staff retreat in Puncheon with time together, soaking in the beautiful country quietness and learning more about Restorative Justice. On the weekend some friends and I partnered with Justice for North Korea in a 5k run to raise awareness for refugees who are journeying to Seoul.

Friday morning, I asked God to show me new ways to love people.  Had I known His response prior to my request, perhaps I would have prayed a slightly different prayer. But I didn't. And I am glad of that, now. He has been on this kick of stripping me clean of my pride, so this is how He answered:

Abby's computer broke last week, which is a super bummer. I wanted to buy her something to get through the day so off I went up and down our street until I found a place that seemed to have good bubble tea. But, when I tried to order it, the woman couldn't understand me - I tried English and Korean, and then both again. Nothing but a blank stare. I felt humiliated and just completely dumb. I told her I was sorry (in Korean) and walked out of the cafe holding back the floodgates. I went for the elevator in my school's building, planning to escape to the bathroom to cool down as soon as I reached our floor, then someone tapped me on the shoulder: Sarah was just heading up too. I tried keeping the tears back so she wouldn't notice. Then the elevator opened and Abby and Heather emerged. Whew, they didn't notice. The two of them went on their way but when the elevator shut containing me, Sarah and a random Korean woman, I lost it. Then I cried and laughed simultaneously. After telling her about my excursion, Sarah determined to go back and order the tea, which we did. What a gem, that woman..

Here is what I am learning...

1. Loving is not about what I can or cannot do, but all about Him and His work in my heart.
2. I need to approach love with the sole purpose of letting go of myself and allowing Him to take over.

What a journey.

I Am Not My Hair

I have felt the need for change for a while now - for something totally new that I'd never imagined. I wasn't necessarily thinking of a change of appearance, but this is what I came up with:

1. I wanted to do something that totally scared me. I've had long hair for majority of my life, why in the world would I chop it all off?? That question was the affirmation that I just needed to do it.

2. I'm in Korea for a year, what better time to branch out and do something drastic? I definitely had a lot of encouragement flowing from my community here - which got me going with this idea in the first place.

I remember meeting a girl my freshman year of university who had the most beautiful hair - color, texture, style - I have ever seen. She didn't have to do anything with it. No products. No maintenance. One day our group of friends met and her hair was gone. She said she felt she depended too much on her hair for confidence and security.  She was always so inspiring to me. No, I don't think every girl should chop off her locks just to build a firm foundation of confidence. But I do think it is good to have time away from those things that are precious to us. Maybe too precious at times. In college, my bestie and I would sing this song by India Arie, somewhat as a joke, on bad hair days. It was in my head a lot over the last few weeks of considering the change:

After some quick research, I found an amazing salon, Hair & Joy, in Hongdae - the same area as the church I've been attending. The stylists there are incredibly qualified AND speak English fairly well - a huge comfort. After church Sunday, Abby and I ventured out.  Abby was awesome - she photo-documented the whole thing and cheered me on constantly. As for the result - I love everything about it. It is low-maintenance, saving me both time and money. I no longer have to think about what to do with my hair - it now has a mind of it's own. And I am just going to embrace it for what it is!

My student's reactions today were so precious! (I had let them know last week, so it wouldn't be a total shock - their last teacher did the same thing. Must be an epidemic..)

Triston: "Fantastic!"

MinSeo: "So beautiful!"

Kipper: "More prettier than other days!"
Veronica: (journal today) "I like her hair very much and she is more prettier then long hair.  And teacher was very pretty in long hair but when she cut it is as pretty as HollyHood girl." 

And, perhaps my favorite: my blue level communicated by pointing to the calendar (September, then October, November, etc.) then ran to our weather poster and pointed to the "snow". They thought it was hilarious that I had long hair in the hot summer and now will have short hair in the cold winter. I've thought it rather ironic myself...hehe

Feeling accomplished.

Feeling lighter (quite literally).

Feeling less dependent upon things that don't truly matter.

Grace & Peace Church Retreat

 A beautiful location...

With some wonderful people...

 Eating amazing food...

Playing the most group games I've played since summer camp...hehe

 Soaking in the intriguing traditional Sunday service... 

August Snapshots

August brought so many changes to Connexus and our community!

Annie and Anna both finished their years teaching and returned home to the U.S.  We also welcomed three new teachers - Anna, Heather and Michael! Now we are the complete second generation (so no more goodbyes for a long time, thank goodness). I could not ask for better people to work, live, and experience Korea with!

For the first couple weeks of the month, a few of my students took off from Connexus as it was their school vacation. Now all have returned, with the addition of twin girls in my highest class - Monica and Michelle. Directly after their first class, the girls' parents wanted to have a meeting about their (very high) academic expectations of their daughters, Connexus and me. Our hagwon, or academy, has characteristics very different from the others here. Our main emphasis being conversational English, we focus on developing grammar knowledge, expanding vocabulary, growing comprehension skills and building healthy, peace-filled relationships. I was really pleased with how our conversation went, and left feeling confident of what our academy stands for (whether they will allow their daughters to remain with us or not). But this class holds a special place in my heart - four girls ages 11-13...now is such an important time in their lives and I am looking forward to how I might be used in it!

For monitoring classroom behavior, we use a basic three-stamp system.  Each student begins class with three stamps and will end class with those stamps if they fulfill their expected responsibilities of turning in homework on time, speaking English only (especially for higher level students) and maintaining good behavior. Well, this week I was talking to my students in class, and lo and behold - a Korean word slipped out. Then they irrupted: "KATE TEACHER!!!!" Laughing almost hysterically, they ran to the white board, added my name under their names, gave me three stamps with the marker, then dramatically wiped one stamp away saying "Teacher spoke Korean!!!"  It was kind of embarrassing, but the best bonding moment yet had with that particular class.  (Should I mention the next day, it happened AGAIN?  Now, they write my name and give me stamps everyday, eagerly awaiting another slip of the tongue.) hahaha

For weeks I have delayed blogging as more and more stories and experiences were piling up. Even now it is so hard to post this knowing I've left out so many important things. haha  But, at least this is a step in the right direction of being a more faithful blogger...


Shalom, ~Kate

Yongmunsan Hike

Saturday brought an amazing break from long hours at school.  All the teachers went hiking at Yongmunsan mountain - the most challenging hike I had ever trekked. After hours of rocky incline, we reached the top in time for the clouds to part revealing this view. Goodness, it was worth it!

Nature has a way of nurturing the deepest of thoughts inside of me, and the on-top-of-the-world feeling I felt on that peak cultured those thoughts even more. I felt as if I were seeing my life from a bird's-eye view. 

Often in the recent weeks I imagine I could have written the words to Joel Ansett's song [Known and Loved]. It has been playing on repeat in my heart...  

* * * 

You’re in a place you think you know / surrounded but you feel alone
You have a place to rest your head / but not a home

Feels like you lost yourself again / sit in the silence of a friend
When you are fully known and loved / you have a home

The burden you choose to bare / keeping yourself from those who care
Problems and pride play hide and seek / you’re unaware

All of the things you keep concealed / one day are bound to be revealed
We paint a picture of ourselves that isn’t real

Feels like you lost yourself again/ sit in the silence of a friend
When you are fully known and loved / you have a home

In time / may you find / peace of mind / with me my friend

* * * 

Yes, I am in a new part of the world seeing new things, eating new food, growing into a new job, and while I miss home, technology has made communication so accessible. At any given point of the day or night, I can skype, email, facebook or text and be guaranteed to reach someone from where I call home. But what do I miss the most? 

Being known.

To know a person's name, where they are from, what they do - those things are only a shallow beginning.  I miss my heart being known, instead of feeling the need to constantly explain it. As an introvert, moving alone to a foreign country was absolutely terrifying. Not because of the new sights, tastes, smells, or language - all of that excited me, and still does! But it was the daunting task of building relationships and connections from the ground up.

The Lord has reminded me that though some of the most important things to me remain in the U.S., right now my life is here. I cannot give Korea, my students, my community of roommates and fellow teachers only a piece of my heart. I need to give it all.  I have long unpacked my luggage, filling my shelves and dresser drawers.  It is time I unpack my heart and allow its roots to grow.

I do not share any of this in hopes of receiving sympathy, I came to Korea knowing this would be my biggest challenge, but I want to honestly display all of my experiences in this current chapter of my life. God has planted me in an amazing place and surrounded me with some the most incredible people I have ever met. I am not by any means giving up Skype, email, Facebook or texting, but rather I am deciding to not be so dependent upon communication with home to be my comfort and security. I am not uprooting my heart from where it is already known; I am extending it's roots to sink deeply into this new soil.

Thank you all, near and far, for faithfully encouraging me and lifting me up in prayer. God is on the move.

Shalom, ~Kate