inSeoul: 2009

It’s already May. I’ve survived the winter, spring is quickly heading towards becoming the dreaded and unbearably humid summer. I’ve had to take up going to the gym since my memories, let alone the my muscle memory of surfing is dwindling away into the distance. It’s already been ten months since I last paddled out, and the closest thing I’ve been to a swimming pool has been treading through the puddles left by the pouring rainstorms.

I’ve been working since January at a hakwon or academy, teaching English to Korean students aged six to ten. My official working hours are from 9am to 7:30pm, but more realistically, I am working 9:30am to 8-8:30pm at times at the office, and an additional thirty minutes to two hours each night at home. My official title is Academic Coordinator, or kyosoo boojangneem, but more realistically, you can call me the go to for everything person. I’m slowly trying to change this, but after four months of trying, I’m quickly running out of steam.

I love the kids, and I love my coworkers and have found friends among them, but needless to say, I’ve had little time to blog, dance, photograph, read, love, laugh, cry, explore, or have time with family. Yet, I always try to find time for my cup of coffee. I’ve found tasty coffee-houses all over Seoul, but I’m especially lucky to have one of the friendliest, coziest, and tastiest coffee houses two minutes away from my apartment and on my way to my office—thank God. I’ve also made a lot of coffee at home. Lugging my espresso machine, burr grinder, and French press in my suitcase was not done in vain!

I’ve also just concluded a thirteen week volunteer position at my dad’s church, teaching Art in English to students, aged seven to thirteen. I love teaching in general, but it’s so much more rewarding and fulfilling to teach your passion. With the ending of my volunteer program at church, my weekends have become a little freer, but I may be embarking on a new assignment at church as the new Sunday school teacher.

My dad’s church is really in need of one, and last Sunday while listening to my dad’s sermon, I felt an urging that this was something my dad needed, and something I am capable of. So as precious as time feels to me, I know my reason for coming to Korea was to help my dad in his life here, and this is definitely a way for me to help him. I have also been feeling guilty for not being able to spend more time with him on the weekdays, and I know the guilt is only going to grow with my brother arriving in Korea at the end of this month.

My dad and I have found time to spend together. We occasionally see each other for brunch on Saturdays, sometimes meet for dinner on the weekdays or on Sundays, and I see him each Friday night for Bible study. I feel a great honor and privilege being able to learn my father’s passion and calling from him. I find each Friday night to be very precious. It also connects me to my family in San Francisco, since I know my mother and sister both sat and heard the same lesson from my dad. Even if it was years ago, it feels as though we are on the same plane in parallel universes.

I’ve missed my family tremendously, and my friends as well. I feel extremely guilty for not keeping in contact more often, and when I do, I feel I’m not nearly as available as I’d like to be with my time. I’m only around for a quick hello here or there, but know, you are all on my mind. I am really excited to see my brother. In my sister’s facebook pictures, he has grown into a pre-teen. Any trace of his baby face has completely disappeared, and I can see his adolescence emerging. I can’t believe he’s turning ten in just a few short months. Holy crap, I can’t believe a decade has gone by since I graduated high school…life just keeps going without waiting for you to be ready for it…

I do have to let you know, I have met some strange people, some hopeless people, some beautiful people, and some people who I already know remain lifelong friends. Hope unnie from my dad’s church made me feel incredibly welcome from day one when I first moved to Korea.

Sharon made my days at Poly not only bearable, but I looked forward to seeing her in the office each day. Although she has moved on to bigger and better things, we’re still keeping in touch and being supportive of each other in our daily lives in Korea. She is my sister’s age, and shares my sister’s name, and has been like a sister to me here.

I’ve also been blessed catching up to, and seeing many of my relatives who I’ve not seen in as much as fifteen to twenty-three years. I visited my grandmother, sitting face-to-face with her for the first time since Alzheimer’s took a hold of her mind. She seemed to recognize me, calling me “someone I truly know”, but could not remember my name, and at the second visit, lost recollection of me altogether. Seeing her made floods of childhood memories flood back. She taught me how to play janggi, or Chinese Chess when I was in high school, and would accuse me of cheating whenever I took one of her key players, but would always give me a second chance before she took one of my best pieces. She doesn’t remember her children or the names of those she loves, but she remembers every Bible verse and hymn she’s ever learned. We sang with her for a while during our last visit together. Some relatives, I have yet to visit, especially on my mom’s side of the family. Again, with my job, time is so constrained. I hope to amend this problem soon.

Already in Korea, I’ve attended a wedding, a baptismal, and a funeral, laughter and tears. As I mentioned earlier, life keeps going--I’m missing babies being born, weddings, silly moments with my mom, even more ridiculous moments with my siblings, ladies nights, dawn patrols, shopping. dating, chats over coffee, cheap Mexican food, cheap Thai food, and missing you—but I’m still living, as are you.