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Settling In

3 Nov

I have been back in South Korea for over a week now.  While my sleep, for the most part, is back on Korean time, it seems my mind, body and being are still assimilating to life back in South Korea.  Admittedly, my six-week stay in the States has me remembering now the things that are familiar and good in my home culture.  The ease of movement in a land where, mostly, I know the rules… and the language. Quality built and well insulated homes.  Easy access to healthy food.

That said, I still feel a certain element of independence and spark of excitement at just being in South Korea. Today was my first trip into Seoul since returning.  I appreciated the foreign familiarity of staring into the many Korean faces on the subway, all of us united in the study of our smart phones.  The recognizable but still indiscernible to me sound of the Korean language.  The simple pleasure of walking in Seoul on a perfectly moderate fall day, catching a glimpse of the Seoul Tower in the background.  Despite missing things about home, I can’t deny that I am also grateful to be here.

My first week returning to English Village has been a bit bumpy for me.  Thankfully my week-long sleep adjustment finally resulted in success – sleeping all the way until 5am… Hurray!  While not quite cold yet, there is a new damp bite in the air… a chilly reminder of the winter months that lie ahead.  A daunting prospect for me at best.  And then there is the mold. My newish work assignment at English Village has me working in a building that has some mold problems.  Since returning, one day I turned on the heater to warm up the place and doing so must have launched a variety of unwanted things in to the air.  What resulted for me was a very painful allergic reaction.  This experience has me hesitant in my new work environment.

But bumpy as its been, I can’t help but stop to smell the roses.  I continue with my pre-US departure work assignment now teaching small classes of young children learning to read.  This is quite a change from the busloads of adolescent youth I was teaching in my previous assignment.  Days now include a quieter tone and the innocence and genuine enthusiasm of the children I work with.  Additionally, we get to see the same kids each week, so I have some time to get to know them.

Most of my students are really sweet and enthusiastic.  They range from a very young age of about four years old to 9-year-old.  Their English level spans from still learning their ABCs to quite conversational.  As I get to know them, its fun to consider what they like to do and choose activities and games that best suit them.  At times they are wild with their unbridled childlike energy… which can be fun and contageous… and other times a bit of a challenge in the classroom.

This week’s adventures in the classroom included a bit of a scavenger hunt – roaming the campus looking for words we read in our book “Under the Sky”.  Along the way, we stumbled upon the two resident turtles at English Village.  They were a big hit with my little student who found them while looking for rocks.

Also, while the leaves are changing color here in Paju, some of my students created some colorful trees of their own.  I was impressed with their bold selection of colors!

Today I made my way to Seoul for the chapter meeting of my Buddhist SGI group, known as Morning Sun.  I can always count on this group to provide a friendly face, a good hug, as well as some wisdom and inspiration.  Three years into this practice, I continue to appreciate its consistent message of never give up and of making the impossible possible.  I also am fed by the reminder that part of the happiness of life is the joy and growth in overcoming life’s challenges. It helps me to keep an attitude of never give up when surrounded by the spirit and energy of this Buddhist group.  I particularly appreciate the spark and enthusiasm of this Seoul SGI group that to me feels so vibrant and alive.

After my day in Seoul, I am now settled in a bit for a little relaxation.  On my way home, I stopped at the local Home Plus store and treated myself to a few familiar goodies.  Sometimes the little things make a difference.

And with that I will leave you for now… settling in for the night on a quiet cool evening in Paju City, South Korea.

Top photo is a snapshot of some bright bold Fall leaves on the English Village campus.

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Back to the Future

24 Oct

Well, it happened.  I returned to visit the States, time passed ever so quickly, and before I knew it… it was time to come home… or return to Korea.  It seems the lines of what is home have become blurred a little bit.  But nonetheless, it happened.  At 11am on Tuesday I boarded a United Airline flight and ten short hours later… I was here… in tomorrow… in Korea.

The way here was mostly uneventful, departing from the San Francisco airport.  Boarding the plane, I had some casual conversation with a young man visiting South Korea who, it turns out, knows a teacher where I work!  Once seated in the plane I had a brief conversation with a sweet Korean woman returning from a 30 day visit to the States.  Unfortunately, her trip focused on visiting national parks.  With the government shutdown, for much of her journey this was not an option and her trip was utterly devastated.

Before the flight even took off, I was fortunate enough to move to a near empty row of seats.  I was content to make myself comfortable with two empty seat between me and the next passenger.  What a difference a little room makes on a long flight!  I was also given a tip by a fellow passenger.  She told me about a website called seatguru.com.  This site helps you pick the best seat on the plane.  A good resource indeed!

When I landed in Korea I easily found a bus that took me in the direction of home.  From there I took a taxi to return to Gyeonggi English Village.  When I got in the taxi, I offered where I needed to go using my best Korean (which is not very good).  The poor driver looked at me funny, then made a phone call and handed the phone to me.  It was his daughter… who apparently speaks English.  I told her in English where I wanted to go and returned the phone to her father.  Ah, too bad for me… but at least I made it back!

As I was walking through the English Village entrance way, two suitcases in tow, I saw a cute little face that looked familiar.  I soon recognized that it was a little girl from one of the classes I had taught the last two weeks before I left.  As sweet as can be, she ran up to me and gave me a big hug and wouldn’t let go of holding my hand.  It was the perfect welcome back.

My first night of Korea-time sleeping was…. not the best.  But, alas, all is well.

I spent most of my day today enjoying the amazing fall weather, unpacking and reacclimating myself to English Village.  It was good to see some familiar faces and connect with a few teachers.  I have also learned, typical to English Village, that much has changed since I left. Teachers have left, some unexpectedly, others have been promoted and programs are changing.  But that is the nature of the game here – change.  And for the most part, that is okay with me.

Tomorrow is my first day back at work.  There is an easy step and feel in the air.  In my absence Fall has snuck in and the village is adorned with Halloween lanterns.  I must admit, I already miss my fluffy towels and electric dryer back in the States.  That said, it’s still good to be back… 13 hours ahead of where I came from… in the present… in the future.

Photo of the hills surrounding English Village with hints of Fall color just starting to set in.

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Change of Plans

23 Sep

It’s a Sunday evening….almost midnight.  Typically way past my bedtime.  But I suppose this is not a typical evening for me… as I am not nestled in my bed at English Village seeking respite on my hard Korean mattress.  I am in the United States.

It’s an unexpected turn indeed.  Truthfully I didn’t see it coming.  I recently learned that a family member is facing some health challenges. Since then the idea of vacation time in some foreign or exotic location just seemed dull and lifeless to me.  What did appeal to me, however, was taking my vacation and a little extra time to visit with my family.  Within just a week of that realization, here I am back in the States.

My place of employment in Korea couldn’t have been more supportive.  “Family comes first,” they said when I shared my news and request for some time off.  After that it was just a matter of booking a flight and I was on my way.

I left South Korea on Tuesday September 17 at 5:00 pm… and miraculously arrived in San Francisco on the same day at 11:25 am.  Try doing that trick at home.  I took a few days in San Francisco to rest and meet with an alternative healthcare doctor for some of my own health challenges/concerns and then was on my way to the mid-west where my family lives.

After living in Korea for 9 months, my return to the States has been pretty smooth.  Like fitting back into an old shoe or a well-known and loved pair of jeans.  Comfortable beds and mattresses, clothes dryers, dish washers, and an abundant choice of fresh foods and restaurants. Staying with my parents I am enjoying some relaxing time that is almost decadent in a childlike sort of way.  Morning trips shopping with my mom, afternoons spent watching a movie together, resting in the comfortable chair that is so soft and relaxing that my body is practically in ecstasy.  Did I mention that my parents have a bathtub?  And not just any bathtub, but a great big one… with jets!

Of course while there is some much-needed rest and relaxation on my end, this trip is about more than just me needing a vacation or taking a break.  It’s about being present and being available for a family member’s health challenges and being connected to my family during this time.

I will leave it at that for now.  It’s time for me to go to bed and act like I am going to sleep… and perhaps sleep indeed for a few hours before lying again restlessly awake as my body protests that it is not night.

Good night (or good morning or whatever time it is…) from the cool earnest land of the Mid-West United States.

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New Beginning

8 Sep

I have been at English Village in Paju South Korea for nearly 9 months now.  This past week with the ushering in of my new job teaching at the English Village Book Club… I feel all the newness, excitement, awkwardness, and anxiety of a beginner. While my months of experience teaching here have indeed prepared me better as a teacher of English for Korean students, I am now in new and somewhat foreign territory.

What is the big change you say?  Yes I am still teaching and working at English Village.  But my new job at the Book Club is a very different creature.  Gone for now are the days of teaching elementary, middle school, and sometimes adult and university students passing through the doors of English Village with lightning speed.  Here today is the new responsibility – teaching very young Korean children how to understand, read and speak English.  Our youngest student presently is 36 months, but on average our students are from around 4 years old to about 7.  Different indeed.

The perks are many.  First they are cute.  Truly adorable and innocent.  Often when I see their little faces I can’t help but light up and smile at their true sweetness.  The challenge for now is the basic adjustment of working with students with little to no understanding of English and teaching in a way that is appropriate and fun for little kids.  In many ways this is good for my spirit as I am in a room filled with English books that inspire me and some childhood (and adult) favorites.  Olivia, books and poems by Shel Silverstein, Harry Potter.  My childlike eyes are lit up by all the images and stories flooding the room.  As I begin my new job I am reminded of one of my “dreams” when I was in college… to work and write for Sesame Street.  Now some twenty years later, with a tendency towards a more serious bend in the wake of life’s challenges, perhaps it is a good refresher and reminder.

This week I have had the joy of coloring and cutting… a simple pleasure that just hasn’t been a part of my “adult” world.  The joy of bright and shiny mostly interested faces.  And the challenges of being faced with a room of four-years-olds who speak hardly a lick of if any English.  Yikes!  I have sung the alphabet song more than once the week… and I predict that there will be much more singing and silliness is in my future.

As a teacher in book club I now have regular students who meet in a scheduled class for a period of at least 3 months.  I also have regular parents… a blessing and possibly a challenge as on more than one occasion I have seen a parent watching me intently while teaching, checking out the “new teacher”.

I have spent my past week working with the teacher who is leaving Book Club and English Village.  I have done my best to glean from her wisdom and experience as I prepare for this coming week when I will create and teach the classes on my own.  I suspect there will be some challenges at first as I get used to teaching kids of a younger age and find my rhythm with them in the classroom.

So for now I am deeply immersed in a truly new experience at English Village.  Teaching where there is time to learn the students names and often know the parents personally.  A new beginning of sorts here at English Village.

As my week has come to an end I don’t feel the same exhaustion after a week in my previous position.  But in truth I am still a bit exhausted nonetheless… from the extra energy it takes for me in a new situation and adapting to changes.

But all is well in English Village.  Fall has fully made its presence known with cool mornings and warm to hottish days.  With my new work schedule I am working on Saturdays with my “weekends” on Sundays and Mondays.  It’s a quiet Sunday for me now… just the beginning of my weekend.  Looking forward to rest and rejuvenation as I prepare myself for my first week of teaching the Book Club students on my own.

Wish me luck!  In the meantime, what is new in your world?  It’s always good to hear from you!

 

Photo above:  Out with the old in with the new!  The last life of flowers gifted to me by a student in my last class of middle school students.  Still beautiful as they fade away.

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Cool Change

2 Sep

It’s a cool Monday morning here at English Village.  A little unexpected, I find myself relaxed and free in the mid-afternoon on a Monday. Why is that you say?  Is English Village closed today?  Have the hundreds of adolescent Korean students lost their way to English Village and we have the day off?  The answer to both of those questions is no.  The reason is quite simple.  Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, I will wear a new “hat” at English Village.  My new responsibilities come with a new schedule.  I will work from Tuesday to Saturday.  So today as I transition to the new schedule I have an extra day of respite.  Hooray!

What sort of hat will I be wearing you ask?  Well, beginning tomorrow I will be one of two teachers at English Village who will teach a regular afternoon book club/ school for young Korean students.  The teacher who had taught the program for the past year is moving on and as she prepares to leave I am stepping into her spot.  The job it seems is pretty simple and autonomous.  I will have mornings to prepare and afternoons of five 50 minutes classes with small collections of students mostly age 5 and 6.  We will read books, practice basic English and what else I suppose… remains to be seen.

I was asked just a few days ago if I would like to take the position.  In truth the offer came at a pretty good time.  Although there are many things that I like about the teaching I was doing – my co-teachers, some of the lessons, the joy of a good class, and the variety of students taught – in truth my mind, body and being were needing a break of some sort.  It was stressful for me and sometimes felt like a crazy ride that just wasn’t that fun anymore.  And so, while in truth there are things I was hesitant to leave… I am grateful for the opportunity for a change.

And so is my body.  By the end of last week my back and my neck… just didn’t work so well anymore.  When I went to my regular chiropractor appointment on Saturday, where he regularly works on my injured ankle, I sheepishly admitted that I could barely move my back and my neck.  As I laid there, I felt like a wounded soldier.  He flipped me over, took a look at my back and said in true form to his joking demeanor, “You need to find a rich husband.”  Translation, my back had been over stressed and I really needed to take it easy.  His suggestion for the week, wear a back support brace.  The rest, we will revisit on the next appointment.

Since then I have been doing plenty of yoga, Reiki and swimming and my back and neck are softening up a bit.  But still ultimately, my body is in need of some continued tender-loving-care.

I had a great time this weekend with a relaxing day in Seoul on Saturday.  I spent the night in Seoul at the home of friends from my Buddhist group.  Then Sunday morning we went together to our monthly world peace meeting.  This meeting is a gathering of members throughout our English-speaking chapter in Korea.  It was great to see some familiar faces that I haven’t seen in a while.  Afterwards a small group of us went to grab some wonderful tacos at my favorite local taco joint.  Yes I know when you think Seoul – you don’t think tacos… but there are some great tacos to be found. We went to Gusto Taco‘s newly opened second restaurant.  Great homemade tacos and burritos made with fresh ingredients and personal service.  We all ate to our hearts content and then continued on with our Sunday.

The weather in Korea it seems has made the tilt away from Summer and is now heading towards Fall.  It is unmistakable in the air and we are all enjoying the freshness of the changing of seasons.

Today I made a quick, okay not so quick, sojourn to the local Pharmacy to buy a back support for my poor aching back.  This was my first time going to the pharmacy and finding it wasn’t quite as direct as it looked on the map.  The journey there required a lot of asking directions on my part and the humbling experience of trying to express my needs when I cannot speak the local language.  With some good fortune and basic hand pointing I was successful on my journey.  On my way home I passed these lovely gardens.  Here are a few photos to share.

A glimpse of color in the gardens of Les Battees, France.

So for now I will continue my bonus Monday as I indulge in the cool change in the weather and the gentle shift in my work responsibilities. Ah, a good day to relax my body and mind and prepare for my first day of new work tomorrow.

How are things in your world?  It’s always good to hear from you!

Photo on top, a quick snapshot of pretty little flowers in a garden I discovered just around the corner from English Village in Paju South Korea.

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Joyous

25 Aug

It’s a Sunday morning here at English Village.  I am listening to Krishna Das on Pandora.com trying my best to sooth my soul.  The sun is shining outside and it is a warm summer day.

This Friday was a benchmark of sorts at English Village.  It was the end of our month of special programming.  The end of the month-long program for middle school students, the end of the visiting programs from Japan and Russia, and the end of the two-week program I was teaching, the Global Leadership Program.

While it was the end of some things, for now there is no break for weary English Village teachers.  In past years we are told there has been a break or slow week following this busy month of special programming.  But not this year.  We return to work on Monday,  the wheels of English Village returning to full spin as we usher in a total of about 500 new students in a handful of different programs.  Recently, we have had a hearty handful of teachers leaving English Village for new opportunities or to return home.  As our staff is depleting, so far our workload is not.

So mostly what it seems I can do for now do is ride this crazy English Village ride and try my best not to lose my balance in the process. Even better, perhaps there is a place to be joyous.  There was a quote I liked on the Art of Living facebook page today.  It said, “Just wake up and see that you are beautiful. The innocence in you is so beautiful.”  What a good reminder! This isn’t a fake pretend to be happy when you’re really upset with the world kind of beauty and joy, but a truth that radiates from within.  I know that place.   It is something that is never lost, but sometimes just needs some extra attention.

The truth is there are many things about English Village that are really great and make it a good place to work.  We teach non-traditional subjects (cooking, media and entertainment, arts and culture) and often create our own content that we teach.  We see a variety of students which keeps things interesting – students from Russia, Japan, Thailand, and all over Korea.  Mostly we teach middle school students, but sometimes we teach elementary students, high school students, university students and even adults.  The variety is appealing to me as I see benefits to teaching all of these age groups.  We have a lot of flexibility and autonomy in the classroom. We don’t have papers to grade.  We don’t have daily lesson plans to create. But sometimes, after a week upon week of riding the English Village wave…truthfully I feel dizzy and I just want to get off.  As said by one of the more senior and respected members of our staff, “You just need a break from those crazy kids.”

The Global Leadership Program that I just completed had its highlights and challenges.  Overall a good group of kids.  They ranged from about age 9 to age 13 with English-speaking skills spanning from virtually no English to good basic English communication.  I worked with three other teachers and we taught curriculum that we outlined and created ourselves. With my interest and experience, I was teaching lessons like leadership, yoga and meditation.  But after last weeks yoga class (see last weeks blog for more about this!), I decided meditation may not be the right thing for this group at the end of a long busy day.  We opted for frisbee instead.  A good choice.

I did teach them a relaxation breathing technique in homeroom class the other day.  Its called alternate nostril breathing.  And that is essentially what it is… using your fingers to cover up alternate nostrils to breath and relax the body and mind.  It’s a great technique and works well.  I am still growing in my confidence in teaching these types of things to moderately interested children and adolescents.  Many of these techniques look a bit strange and I am sure they think I am at least a little weird for teaching them.  I told them this was good to use when you were nervous as they were all going to give a presentation on stage for their parents later that day.  That afternoon when they were standing in line a few of them tried out the breathing technique which makes me think perhaps the lesson wasn’t totally lost. In the end of GLP, one of the students looked up at me wide-eyed and said “Oh, teacher I am sad.  It is the end.  I am sad to leave.  I will come back again next year.”  Little jewels like this help to balance things out.

And for now my Sunday continues.  My plan for the day is to do my best to rest on my own and recharge my batteries before we start rolling for a new week.  And tune into and explore within me that which is joyous.

It seems that summer may be winding down as the day is more often greeted with a cool breeze in the air.  While it is still a bit hot, I am grateful for the heat of the sun penetrating through my body.  Perhaps it comes from all those years spent in the balmy lands of New Orleans.  I am not ready for summer to slip away too soon.

And so with that I will say good-bye for now.  If you like, please share how the final weeks of your summer are rolling.  It’s always good to hear from you!

Image at top, a beautiful bouquet of flowers gifted to me by one of the students (courtesy of their parents) from the Global Leadership Program this week.

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Trust in the Flame

18 Aug

It’s a sleepy Sunday morning.  I already went to the pool, conveniently located on the English Village campus, to get a little exercise.  As I jumped into the refreshing water, I was greeted by the cutest little Korean girls eager to test their English skills.  They looked at me with their full attention like I was a combination between a diamond and a creature from another planet.  “Hello” they exploded exuberantly while they kicked and splashed in the water.  Within seconds they offered me their names — their English names that is.  It is not that unusual in Korea to have a traditional Korean name and an English name like Mike or Sarah.  We happily conversed for a few minutes until, alas, it was time for me to begin my morning swim.

While last week was a traditional summer break for much of South Korea, English Village was in full swing with a multitude of English programs for students.  Yes in South Korea, even during the summer holiday, it is a time for learning and a time to study English.

Two weeks ago I finished up my final week of teaching a special program for elementary and middle school Korean, Japanese and Russian students.  Teaching at English Village is not a typical classroom experience.  As we have many students at one time here for the short-term, we lead a variety of classes comprised of many new faces.  In these circumstances,  I have tried to dance the dance of creating some discipline while still having fun and learning, all within a very limited time frame.  Sometimes, admittedly, the strategy is “let’s get through this class” as the room is filled with boisterous yet tired, hungry, homesick young students who have been in classes all day in a language mostly foreign to them.  Not always easy – for the teacher or the students!

I had to laugh last week when I was in the final class of a week-long program with a group of elementary aged students literally bursting with energy.  We were completing one final activity before the class and the week-long program was complete – filling out a simple survey.  As the students often don’t have their own pencils, we do our best to keep a healthy supply in the classrooms to hand out when needed.  When the students realized they needed a pencil for this last activity, they started calling out desperately to me for pencils like animals in the wild, like starved souls in the desert reaching for salvation.  “Pencil teacher, pencil!”  they cried with urgency on their faces and in their eyes.  With my modest supply of pencils, I did my best to ease the masses and hand out pencils as they swarmed around me like locusts, hands reaching in the air.

Shortly after that, while I was answering a question for one student, I felt another young student tug on my arm.  I couldn’t tend to her just yet, but put my hand on her arm to acknowledge her and let her know she had my attention.  While I was still talking with the first student, the other student went behind me, reached her arms way up high (as she was quite little compared to me) and gave me a gentle massage precisely on the spot on my shoulders where I had locked in my stress like a stone.  She did it for just a minute and after that I heaved a big sigh of relief and for that afternoon I felt… better.

Admittedly, I am feeling stressed lately. I am doing my best to relax and take it easy when I can.  But the truth is,  I need a vacation. Yesterday at my chiropractor appointment when he finally got to my neck he made his typical comments of “oh my God.  So tight.” I felt the urgency in his words mirror my experience.  “Help!” I said, “I need your help” as I feel myself holding on tightly and can’t always find a way to let go and relax. He did his best to work a few kinks out in the last few minutes of my appointment and then I was off.

While this work and the recent persistent schedule has been challenging for me, there are benefits in the challenges as well.  Working with kids challenges me to be the best person I can be.  Sometimes the kids I work with bring out the good in me.  And sometimes they push me to my limits – forcing me to practice negotiating that space with loving kindness, not always easy for me.  This past Thursday I made my first attempt to teach a yoga class to kids.  It was the 28 kids in our Global Leadership Program, the current two-week program that I am now teaching. While perhaps a more mature topic, the participants are certainly all kid with ages ranging from about 9 years old to perhaps 13. Attempting to teach them yoga was no easy feat for me.  We did our best, me and my co-teacher for the hour, to transform the classroom into a yoga studio while the kids ran around feverishly on their break, then introduce them to some yoga postures, only to return the classroom to its original states, all within a 50 minute time frame.  This was their last hour of a long day and their spirits were perhaps ready to go wild.  I did my best to rope in their wild energy, played some soothing yoga music overhead, relied on the poses that had appealing “kid friendly” names such as cat stretch, cobra, downward facing dog.  In the end, some played along.  But some continued in the spirit of their wild nature.  They are not to be blamed for their child-like exuberance, but it was challenging for me.  And while some students earnestly attempted the poses I led, it was a far cry from the beautiful, peaceful gift of yoga I know and depend on.  Perhaps I need to see a new face of yoga when teaching kids.

Yesterday at my SGI Buddhist meeting in Seoul I read the introduction to the meeting.  As I started to read the words I had to fight back tears as I was reading.  It began ” ‘The flame in a child will be like a great sun in the future’ so declared the great French writer Victor Hugo. Our responsibility is to trust in the flame of home that burns in the hearts of the young, to foster it and enable it to shine its brightest.” And continued later “A child who is giving you problems now is helping you become a Buddha.”  Another member in the meeting, also an ESL teacher in Korea, called out for me to repeat the last sentence… a big lesson indeed.

Our SGI meeting this week, our district typically comprised of English-speaking foreigners from the US, Canada, Japan, and Korean-Americans, welcomed a few new guests this week – three members from the young men’s division of Korea’s SGI Group.  It was really a treat to have them there.  Their spirits were so earnestly participating in the English discussion and their enthusiasm for connecting with us in English was touching.  The foreign/English-speaking chapter of SGI in Korea is currently making an effort to more seamlessly connect with the Korean members of SGI (KSGI)… despite the sometimes challenges of a language barrier.

Earlier this week I attended my first KSGI meeting in the Paju area where I live.  There is a hearty and healthy Korean SGI chapter right in my town with a substantial community center and regular meetings.  The local members were so lovely to me and assisted me in attending my first meeting.  They came to pick me up at English Village and invited a local member who spoke excellent English to assist me in understanding the meeting.  They asked me questions at the meeting through the aid of translation and also had me read a small segment of the weeks lesson in English for the group.

SGI Center near my home in Paju, South Korea.

SGI Center near my home in Paju, South Korea.

As SGI District meetings are traditionally held in members homes, it was a great experience to be in a Korean home and feel a part of their more intimate space.  Additionally, at the SGI meeting in Seoul on Saturday, I felt really satisfied to be connected to and be a part of the world.

And then, when it was all done, I was also grateful to depart on my own and return to a little peace and tranquility in my little home in Paju. Grateful to have some time connecting with others – but also needing time on my own… to just tend to the little things in my life.  Visiting Seoul helps me appreciate the gift of Paju with its wide open spaces, fresh air, rolling hills and green trees and land.

As I prepare for a new work week, I will be keeping in mind what my intuition whispered to me a few days ago in the midst of my own overwhelm and fatigue. “Persevere,” it declared.  Indeed.  I will also keep in my heart the message from the meeting this week of trusting the flame in the children. And so I prepare for another week at English Village, myself and other teachers tired and worn out from the work and the heat of the sun.   But ultimately, a loving time of transformation.

Image at top, a sunflower beaten by the heat and the sun with shadows of English Village Students playing in the background.

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Here Comes the Sun

4 Aug

It’s a steamy Sunday afternoon at English Village in Paju, South Korea.  I am doing my best to soak up the last day of the weekend before it disappears and “poof” once again it’s Monday and we are back in full swing.

Last week was week one of our month-long special programming at English Village.  Overall I would say it went well.  We had elementary and middle-school students from Japan, Thailand, Russia, and South Korea.  The students seemed to meld well together and some seemed to easily make friends cross-culturally.  It was a hectic week filled with the typical array of unexpected challenges and “snaffoos”.  But all in all, I would call it a success!  And this week we do it again!  We have new students from the same regions  except for the Russian students who continue from last week for a two-week stay.  English Village will be busting at the seams this week and teachers, well, we will be teaching more than usual and likely a little… tired.

I think rainy season may have come to an end as the endless days of rain appear to have diminished.  While we are still getting rain we are also sometimes seeing… the sun. What a relief.  Of course, as forewarned, on the other side of the rainy season is the heat and humidity.  After 13 years living in the sweltering heat and humidity of New Orleans, I feel I can say with some authority that this past week a few days in Paju have been officially hot.  Even on hot days, thankfully, there is often the benefit of a restoring cool wind.

It’s been a typical weekend for me with my continued effort to take it slow and restore myself while preparing for the week to come.   On Saturday I made my regular trip into Seoul.  I went by Hongdae, an area of Seoul, and grabbed some tacos at my favorite taco stand, Gusto Taco.  As usual they were hopping.  Their Hongdae location is intimate and frienlys, but with just enough room for a few folks  to grab a seat.  On my visit yesterday, as there was “no room at the inn” to sit down and enjoy my tacos,I placed my order and then went to the coffee shop next door.  The coffee shop owner is a very hospitable Korean woman who welcomed me to enjoy my tacos there on the condition that I purchased a drink from her.

As I don’t consume sugar or caffeine and she didn’t sell bottled water, this wasn’t an easy feat.  She didn’t speak great English and I don’t speak Korean, so it was a bit of an adventure communicating.  While I have not yet learned Korea, I have improved my speaking of English to people who don’t speak much English.  With some simple sentences, some accentuated gesturing and pointing, we were soon on the same page and I had ordered myself a drink.  No sugar added (and no caffeine!)

This wasn’t just any drink!  It was a kiwi smoothie made of fresh kiwi, seltzer water, some ice and that’s it.  Then purreed to perfection and voila.  A beautiful drink for me.  I was so impressed by its beauty and thick straw.  I had to take a picture of it.  In truth it was so lovely that it made my tacos look ugly.  But I enjoyed them all just the same as I sat in the air conditioned simplicity of her coffee shop.  The guys at the taco stand even delivered my tacos there to me when they were ready.  Fabulous indeed.

I spent my afternoon today at Lotte Outlet Mall just up the street in Paju.  It is colossus. I made the venture with a basic mission in mind – a hair cut.  Several teachers had recommended a place and a stylist to get a hair cut there so I took a leap and off I went.  After a bit of a wait, a little shopping, it was my turn for a cut.

Did I mention I got it cut short?  As I sat there and watched my locks of hair fall to the ground I slowly began the transition of adjustment. The poor stylist was a great guy, but because of language barriers we weren’t able to communicate that well with each other.  As he saw my “I am adjusting to this hair cut – not so sure about it yet” face,  i tried to convince him that it was okay.  In the end, I liked it but… was still adjusting.  I payed my extraordinarily reasonable price for the cut, style and pampering and I was on my way.

Before I headed home I picked up a little take-out, a rare luxury, from an American style restaurant at the mall and happily headed home.  A great way to complete the weekend.

How has your week been?  How did you spend your weekend?  As always, it’s great to hear from you!

Photo at top from a morning walk in English Village.  It was a quiet Saturday morning before the “kids were up”.

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At Home

28 Jul

It’s a rainy Sunday afternoon at English Village in Paju City, South Korea.  It’s one of those days that I am grateful for rain.  Somehow it gives me permission or sets a good mood for spending a day relaxing at home. It seems we are nearing the end of the rainy season.  After almost a month of mostly cloudy skies and rain, this week we’ve actually had a few moments of sunshine.  But not today.

I just finished chanting “Nam myoho renge kyo” for about two hours.  My SGI Buddhist group in Seoul meets today to chant together for five hours.  Those who want to join can stay for as little or as much of that as they like.  Today I opted to stay in Paju and chant “with them” from home.  I enjoy going to Seoul, but some days I just need a more relaxed day in my own “hood” without the travel to and busy-ness of Seoul.  Plus I am still in my “restoration” phase, so I continue making an extra effort during free time to take it easy.

Today while chanting I had a really interesting experience.  About half way through my two hours of chanting I got so tired I just couldn’t stay awake.  So I stopped for a few minutes and closed my eyes to take a little rest.  I quickly fell into a sort of “sleep” for about five or ten minutes.  When I woke up I had the feeling that I was at “home” (the home from when I was a child) just hanging out with my sister. The feeling was so relaxed and easy and I haven’t felt that good and at ease in a long time.  I woke myself up and continued chanting. When I was complete I had this very satisfying feeling like I just spent time with friends and loved ones.  Really great.

As I nurture my current mission of restoration, I continue to bring more exercise into my life.  I have either done yoga, taken a brisk walk, or gone swimming nearly every day this week.  Slowly, my body seems to be coming back to life.  It feels good to move… even when at first my body is balking otherwise.  This weekend I saw a glimmer in my eye that I haven’t seen in a long time… a look and a feeling of being more at “home” with myself. I think this is in part to the added exercise.  I re-watched the movie “American Beauty” this weekend.  I had to laugh as many years have passed since I last watched the movie and I am now the same age as the main character in the story, Lester, who is 42.  At the beginning of the story he looks old, depleted and defeated by life.  As the story unfolds, in addition to many other distractions and  eccentricities, he begins to exercise again.  As the movie continues, you see a new spark of life on his face and in his eyes. It was a good reminder really of the importance of exercise, especially as one “grows older”, and its power of rejuvenation.

I feel like perhaps I am in the “homestretch” here at English Village.  We are about to begin a month of special programming.  The month of August is school vacation time for Korean students.  And of course, with parents ever eager to educate their students in English, Korean students will be here at English Village attending a month-long intensive program during their break.  Simultaneously, there will also be a series of one-week programs with elementary and middle school students visiting from Japan, Russia and an international school in Korea. If that isn’t enough to keep you busy, there is also a two-week program the second half of the month called Global Leadership Program.  It is a program teaching basic ideas of leadership (teamwork, global awareness, exploration of self) to mostly middle school students.  The first two weeks I will be working with the international programs and the second two weeks I am one of the three teachers working with the Global Leadership Program.

Shortly after all of the excitement, we have a week of vacation in mid-September for the Korean holiday Chuseok.  After that we are told things will slow down a little bit.  We will see.

Ah, well the day has slipped into late afternoon.  As I am enjoying some lighthearted tunes on Pandora, a restful afternoon and evening are beckoning to me.  It is time to take my  leave and enjoy the rest of the day.

As you know, please write if you like.  I am always grateful to hear from you!

 

Photo of the view from my room of English Village on a rainy afternoon.

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Full Moon Over Jincheon

22 Jul

It’s Monday morning in Paju and the new workweek has begun.  This weekend slipped by all too quickly, but not without much benefit and restoration! Wow, what a great time I had this weekend.  I went on a retreat with my SGI Buddhist group here in South Korea.  We met up with our chapter members, an international and mostly English speaking group, living all over South Korea at the SGI Training Center located in Jincheon, South Korea.

When I heard we were going on retreat… it brought up childhood images of church related retreats – simple settings and a little bit of “roughing it”.  How surprised I was when we arrived in the bus from Seoul at the training center greeted by a beautiful setting of rolling hills and surrounding lake as well as two impressive and welcoming buildings.  It was great to be out of the my regular surroundings for a bit and even better to be someplace beautiful and grand.


As we were welcomed into the building, given our nametags and room assignments… I had no idea what to expect for my lodging… did we have our own rooms?  Were they lovely and luxious?  What I found was a bit unexpected, but totally suitable just the same.  My room was shared with two other female SGI members and our respite for the evening was a Korean style mat that we pulled out of the closet and placed on the floor.  Despite its simplicity, that evening I had a restful and restorative night sleep and easily and naturally shared the space with the other members.

The training and activities of the weekend were a great inspiration and continued my education in the practice of SGI Buddhism.  The philosophy of SGI emphasizes happiness through overcoming obstacles and a “can do” spirit and attitude.  The benefit of the chanting that is the heart of the practice is that it leaves me feeling physically, mentally and spiritually shifted, restored and lifted up.

SGI is an international Buddhist organization with a strong and committed Korean community in South Korea.  Fortunately for me, there is also a zesty English speaking chapter here.  At the retreat I met members living in South Korea from the UK, neighboring Asian countries, as well as Cananda and the US. There are quite a few members who like me are living here teaching English or are American serving in the Military.

I am truly inspired by the generosity and commitment of the SGI members I met – willing to be available and to be of service to make my stay just a little bit better.  The Korean staff at the center even brought out telescopes on Saturday night with easy views of the bright nearly full moon… as well as a good look at Saturn, rings and all.

I left the retreat and returned to my Paju/English Village life shifted in a positive way and more committed to my own life and journey.  It also left me refreshed and inspired by the SGI spirit – rooted in deepening my practice of chanting and overcoming the obstacles in my life with added vigor for living a life of victory!

Photo taken on my cell phone camera through the lens of the telescope at the SGI Jincheon Training Center, staring at the bright light of the almost-full  moon.

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