Shake it up!

I have had an exciting week! Beginning with last Friday...

Last Friday I got to meet one of my college friend's closest high school friends. I know, sounds confusing! They were both MKs (missionary kids) and went to boarding school in Germany together. Jenny (Jihye in Korean) is Korean, moved to Uzbekistan when she was 13 I believe where she learned Russian, then went to a high school where she had to pick up English quick. For college she moved back to Seoul and has been here since. We had a fabulous time getting dinner and hot chocolate. She is my sister already...I loooooooove her and we just clicked! It's so nice to connect with people on such a deep level. The body of Christ is astounding!

Speaking of, this Friday I met up with Lindsey. Lindsey went to the same small college as I...we lived in the same dorm and were even in the same Tiger Tunes show and somehow never met. But, here in Seoul, we became friends! Lindsey is another unexpected but precious connection! God is such a master at creating communion among His people!

On the school front I got to teach my 8th graders (by far my favorite grade of kids) a lesson on people who change the world. This led to a conversation about what THEY can do to change the world. I could tell that there's a big push in Korea to make environmental advances (which honestly I appreciate because this city is NASTY and full of smog), but they weren't thinking of people. Of course making a change in the people front is the cry of my heart...helping others, loving others...and I was a bit taken back that I had to prompt them that changing the world involved people. But once I did, they had tons of ideas! This lesson has sparked an idea for a holiday project that my kids will do to finish out the semester. We will be making Christmas cards for families of terminally ill children in America. There are several foundations that organize this and I'm pleased as punch! A lot of Koreans tend to forget it's a big world out there...they even forget they're connected to a country with severely impoverished and oppressed people. So, I want my kids to open their eyes. To think of others instead of what ipod they're getting or North Face jacket they want. Don't get me wrong, I have really precious students that have big hearts and brilliant minds...but they have few opportunities to see and know the world is much larger than this peninsula.

Along with school I took my first dance class yesterday in years. It was mainly modern but mixed in some jazz, ballet, and yoga. It was FANTASTIC!!! But my body is super sore today! I also got to see New Moon last night...YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSS!!! And the best part of the weekend...IT SNOWED!!!!!

Only 25 days until I'm home for a visit!!!

Love from Korea :o)

*This was a few months ago before I got swine and was asked to wear this every day. I was also dressed up as a cat for Halloween but the mask hid my whiskers!

Stankin High Heels, Gal Pals, and Swine Flu

Alright, alright...I'm back after over a month without writing. I'm sorry for my absence!!!

It's impossible to write everything that's happened so I'm just going to spout out random bits about life here.

First off, it is true...I got the swine! Honestly, I didn't think it was that bad! Much more tame than the normal flu from my end. Of course, I had loads of folks praying it up for me at my request. Mom and dad were in Israel at the time and being alone in a foreign country with a large language barrier is quite scary. I went to the medical clinic down the street (I've now completed 5 visits) and I can just tell they wince when they see me walk in. They don't know English (though thankfully the doctor knows body parts and medical terms) so it's always interesting! I'm pretty sure I had swine a week before they diagnosed me with it, but they wouldn't test me until I had a fever. I had even been to the doctor the day before and the diagnosis was "bronchitis, but if fever, come back and then you have Influenza." So I woke at 3:30 a.m. with a raging temp of 103.3, yippee! Like I said, it wasn't too bad though! The test was painful, and for whatever reason they did it twice...is swabbing your brain via the nose really necessary? I did get a nice 7 day vacation from most of real life...except trying to cook something out of the few things I had.

High heels...every Korean woman feels the need to wear them. I don't get it! They have to walk forever and balance on subways and tromp up large stair wells. These women are troopers, let me tell ya! Did I mention they're usually at least 3 inches? I'm pretty sure that Koreans that see me view me as a slouch because most of them are dressed up at all times. That doesn't mean that their outfits are awesome though! Man, I've seen some doozies of wardrobe faus pas! The first lovely combo is pantie hose with hoochie short shorts and high heels....often times accompanied by a hoodie or a long-sleeve button up plaid shirt. The possibilities for dressing are really endless here. Throw anything together and you've got yourself an outfit. Just be sure to wear heels! One of my most favorite combos was brown leather boots knee high(with large heels of course), purple tights with hearts in them, black and beige plaid shorts, a navy long sleeve top, and what appeared to be a rabbit fur skin vest (gray and white). It was really something! Another necessity to the wardrobe is some really ridiculous hair accessory. Shiny is ALWAYS a plus...on bows, ribbons, clips. Think of the hair items children wore in the 1980s and early to mid 90s and add more rhinestones, and you've got yourself a smash hit in Korea!

And my favorite part of Korean life are my "gal pals". These are a select few 8th grade girls that constantly brighten my day! Seriously, they make me stuff, sing me songs, make me laugh, send me funny texts...they are the reason I'm here! The love I have for them goes beyond anything I can muster, it comes straight from the Lord! They are my precious little peanuts and they are the reason I no longer dread staying here. My heart gushes for them as if they were my own children! As soon as their finals are over next week we're going to see New Moon together and have a girl day, I'm pumped! And, the moment they've been waiting for...they get to come to my house! The student I'm closest to Myeungeun, is actually contemplating coming to be an exchange student in the states in a few years! I'm so excited! She is my little sister! I love these girls more than I can say and I find the Spirit leading me to even pray for their future spouses...it just takes me back how Father can transplant part of His heart for His children into our own! And to think it's only a glimpse of the full spectrum of His love, absolutely incredible!

So, things are going well here in Korea! I loooooooove Korean barbecue and even kimchi these days! I crave certain Korean foods although I still lack the courage to go eat them alone. My language skills haven't much improved and I keep saying I'll get into a class but there's just so much to do here. I am hoping to seriously get in a dance class on the weekends soon...because I have to teach dance in January to my kiddos and it would suck to not be able to move at all, ha!

I will try harder to write more...know that you're in my heart, AND I'll be home for a visit very shortly!

love from Korea...:o)