living room/bedroom/kitchen/dining room/study.
I still shower over the toilet. Gotta love asian bathrooms!
There's nowhere else I'd rather live.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
home sweet home.
This is what $650 a month will get you in Seoul. Luckily, I work for a school that pays the rent.
living room/bedroom/kitchen/dining room/study.
I still shower over the toilet. Gotta love asian bathrooms!
There's nowhere else I'd rather live.
living room/bedroom/kitchen/dining room/study.
I still shower over the toilet. Gotta love asian bathrooms!
There's nowhere else I'd rather live.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
thoughts on thanksgiving.
A year ago today I was standing on the side of the road in my thick winter jacket waiting for a peasant to finish roasting 14 sweet potatoes. I was in Zhengzhou, China for the weekend visiting Grant and we were on our way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with a few of his friends. Everyone was bringing a dish to share and our contribution ended up being common street food.
Earlier that day we had peeled and mashed about a dozen potatoes in his apartment. Unsure of how to cook them, we placed the potatoes in a large pot, added some milk, salt and pepper, and began heating them on an electric burner. After a few minutes a horrible smell started to fill the room. We took off the lid to the pot only to discover the potatoes were beginning to stick the bottom and were turning black. The more milk we added the more intense the smell. Eventually the whole apartment reeked of burnt trash. Knowing that we couldn’t take the trash-smelling potatoes to dinner, we grabbed our things and hit the street in search of a sweet potato vendor. In China sweet potatoes are one of the most common types of street food and can be found on virtually every corner during the winter…. except for on this particular day. After walking around the neighborhood for a good while without any luck, we hopped in a taxi and drove around until we spotted a portable black roaster and a vendor eager to make a few Yuan. Thankfully, we showed up for dinner just in time with a trash bag full of steaming hot potatoes. Everyone else had prepared homemade dishes and they weren’t so impressed with our street food. If only they had known the alternative.
Today I find myself on the other side of the world once again wishing that I were home to enjoy turkey, stuffing, rolls, green bean casserole and pecan pie on this Thanksgiving Day. It’s always hard to be away from family during the holidays. I so badly wish there was a way to have it all in life…family nearby, shared holidays, travel, adventure, etc. I haven’t yet found a way to merge all of my favorite things about life into one. When I am in America I long to be back overseas living, traveling, and learning about new cultures. When I am overseas I find myself missing family and the traditions of home. I guess that’s just part of living. We can’t have it all. I love being overseas more than anything, but it’s always just a little harder around the holidays. While my family is sitting around the dinner table tonight eating and laughing and telling stories I am here in Asia with so much to be thankful for. Tonight I will most likely go out for dessert and coffee to celebrate the day with friends, but it doesn’t beat my grandma's freshly baked pecan pie! If only the pilgrims had landed in Korea….
In the spirit of Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for: mom, dad, Amanda, Kyle, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, my bffitssfaea, meagan, lauren, brent, new friends in Korea, my warm apartment, the chance to live my dream of traveling the world, hope, education, blankets, shoes, my job, memories of China and Southeast Asia, freedom, toothbrushes, clothes, pillows, my journal, coffee, public transportation, temples, the opportunities that come from being born in America, books, music, beaches, mountains, hostels, warm showers, scarves, my seat near the window at Starbucks, inspirational quotes, shampoo, computers, washing machines, candles, movies, photographs, streets full of neon lights, cars, air-conditioning, heat, cell phones, hair dryers, fruit, long underwear, hammocks, church, democracy, snowflakes, sunshine, rainy days with nothing to do, etc. etc.
happy thanksgiving!
Earlier that day we had peeled and mashed about a dozen potatoes in his apartment. Unsure of how to cook them, we placed the potatoes in a large pot, added some milk, salt and pepper, and began heating them on an electric burner. After a few minutes a horrible smell started to fill the room. We took off the lid to the pot only to discover the potatoes were beginning to stick the bottom and were turning black. The more milk we added the more intense the smell. Eventually the whole apartment reeked of burnt trash. Knowing that we couldn’t take the trash-smelling potatoes to dinner, we grabbed our things and hit the street in search of a sweet potato vendor. In China sweet potatoes are one of the most common types of street food and can be found on virtually every corner during the winter…. except for on this particular day. After walking around the neighborhood for a good while without any luck, we hopped in a taxi and drove around until we spotted a portable black roaster and a vendor eager to make a few Yuan. Thankfully, we showed up for dinner just in time with a trash bag full of steaming hot potatoes. Everyone else had prepared homemade dishes and they weren’t so impressed with our street food. If only they had known the alternative.
Today I find myself on the other side of the world once again wishing that I were home to enjoy turkey, stuffing, rolls, green bean casserole and pecan pie on this Thanksgiving Day. It’s always hard to be away from family during the holidays. I so badly wish there was a way to have it all in life…family nearby, shared holidays, travel, adventure, etc. I haven’t yet found a way to merge all of my favorite things about life into one. When I am in America I long to be back overseas living, traveling, and learning about new cultures. When I am overseas I find myself missing family and the traditions of home. I guess that’s just part of living. We can’t have it all. I love being overseas more than anything, but it’s always just a little harder around the holidays. While my family is sitting around the dinner table tonight eating and laughing and telling stories I am here in Asia with so much to be thankful for. Tonight I will most likely go out for dessert and coffee to celebrate the day with friends, but it doesn’t beat my grandma's freshly baked pecan pie! If only the pilgrims had landed in Korea….
In the spirit of Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for: mom, dad, Amanda, Kyle, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, my bffitssfaea, meagan, lauren, brent, new friends in Korea, my warm apartment, the chance to live my dream of traveling the world, hope, education, blankets, shoes, my job, memories of China and Southeast Asia, freedom, toothbrushes, clothes, pillows, my journal, coffee, public transportation, temples, the opportunities that come from being born in America, books, music, beaches, mountains, hostels, warm showers, scarves, my seat near the window at Starbucks, inspirational quotes, shampoo, computers, washing machines, candles, movies, photographs, streets full of neon lights, cars, air-conditioning, heat, cell phones, hair dryers, fruit, long underwear, hammocks, church, democracy, snowflakes, sunshine, rainy days with nothing to do, etc. etc.
happy thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
sunday in seoul.
One of the reasons I love living overseas is that everyday brings something new. Even the monotonous routines of life seem more exciting when I am experiencing them in a different country. Living in Asia for the last year has made me feel more alive and free than I ever knew was possible. I love living and working among people whose language I don’t understand. I love getting on the subway in Seoul, looking around, and seeing that I am the only westerner in sight. I love the challenge of deciphering Korean on street signs, packages of food, and magazine covers. I love hearing a student shout “hello!” as I walk past, and then hearing them burst into laughter with a friend out of embarrassment for having spoken to a foreigner. I love the excitement of hopping on an overnight train and waking up in a new city. I love riding my bike through my quiet Asian neighborhood and passing markets, fruit vendors, family-owned restaurants, Internet cafes, tea shops, etc. I love developing friendships with natives who can teach me about their culture. I love the beauty and simplicity of Asia.
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Every week I look forward to Sunday morning. After living in China for a year I have come to appreciate the freedom of going to church like never before. I’m convinced that there is nothing better than being surrounded by a group of believers all worshiping the same God. There is something so powerful in those moments. For the last few weeks I have been attending the English service at Onnuri Church in the western part of the city. Each week when I step into the sanctuary I instantly feel renewed, encouraged, and thankful for the chance to worship. The church is really focused on missions and ministering to people who haven’t been given the same opportunities to know God. Throughout the building there are photos of people from around the world lining the walls. There are huge portraits of Tibetan, Latin American, and Chinese children wearing their traditional clothing. Murals pieced together with photos of men and women from Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, etc. There are banners displaying pictures of flags from nations around the world. The church walls remind me of what a diverse world we live in. They remind me of my own passion for the world, different cultures, and the church. The photos remind me that because of where I was born I am an automatic heir to luxuries that others only dream of having, and because of this I have a huge responsibility to meet the needs of those less fortunate.
Today the worship team started singing “How Great is our God” all I could do was close my eyes and listen to the words. I felt so overwhelmed and humbled thinking about God’s greatness. As the song played on I envisioned people from countries around the world…. those families living in straw huts across Africa, the women who walk miles everyday to get clean water, the children who run barefoot through the streets of Southeast Asia, the young girls who have been forced into brothels around the world because they have no hope for a brighter future. However, when I closed my eyes I also saw the comforts of the western world. People driving their cars to and from work, children sitting in air-conditioned schoolrooms and learning from textbooks, friends spending an afternoon at a shopping mall. It seems so strange that these two ways of living can even exist on the same planet. They are worlds apart. However, being in worship today reminded me that it is the same God who is Lord over everything. “How Great is our God.” He never promised that life would be equal. He only promised that he would care and love for us despite our circumstances. It’s overwhelming to think that I worship the Lord of all creation. It’s my job to be His hands and feet in a world that’s crying out for justice, compassion, and love. It’s my job to try and level the playing field of life.
How great is our God.
How great is our God.
Sing with me, how great is our God.
Today I am thankful for my freedom. I am thankful for a church where I feel inspired and encouraged. I am thankful to be part of a congregation comprised of people from countries around the world. I am thankful for this quiet Sunday evening at home in my warm apartment. Life is wonderful.
-------------------------------------
Every week I look forward to Sunday morning. After living in China for a year I have come to appreciate the freedom of going to church like never before. I’m convinced that there is nothing better than being surrounded by a group of believers all worshiping the same God. There is something so powerful in those moments. For the last few weeks I have been attending the English service at Onnuri Church in the western part of the city. Each week when I step into the sanctuary I instantly feel renewed, encouraged, and thankful for the chance to worship. The church is really focused on missions and ministering to people who haven’t been given the same opportunities to know God. Throughout the building there are photos of people from around the world lining the walls. There are huge portraits of Tibetan, Latin American, and Chinese children wearing their traditional clothing. Murals pieced together with photos of men and women from Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, etc. There are banners displaying pictures of flags from nations around the world. The church walls remind me of what a diverse world we live in. They remind me of my own passion for the world, different cultures, and the church. The photos remind me that because of where I was born I am an automatic heir to luxuries that others only dream of having, and because of this I have a huge responsibility to meet the needs of those less fortunate.
Today the worship team started singing “How Great is our God” all I could do was close my eyes and listen to the words. I felt so overwhelmed and humbled thinking about God’s greatness. As the song played on I envisioned people from countries around the world…. those families living in straw huts across Africa, the women who walk miles everyday to get clean water, the children who run barefoot through the streets of Southeast Asia, the young girls who have been forced into brothels around the world because they have no hope for a brighter future. However, when I closed my eyes I also saw the comforts of the western world. People driving their cars to and from work, children sitting in air-conditioned schoolrooms and learning from textbooks, friends spending an afternoon at a shopping mall. It seems so strange that these two ways of living can even exist on the same planet. They are worlds apart. However, being in worship today reminded me that it is the same God who is Lord over everything. “How Great is our God.” He never promised that life would be equal. He only promised that he would care and love for us despite our circumstances. It’s overwhelming to think that I worship the Lord of all creation. It’s my job to be His hands and feet in a world that’s crying out for justice, compassion, and love. It’s my job to try and level the playing field of life.
How great is our God.
How great is our God.
Sing with me, how great is our God.
Today I am thankful for my freedom. I am thankful for a church where I feel inspired and encouraged. I am thankful to be part of a congregation comprised of people from countries around the world. I am thankful for this quiet Sunday evening at home in my warm apartment. Life is wonderful.
the beginning.
I've never been very good at blogging because I write most of my thoughts in a journal. However, I've recently decided that I want to share my experience of living overseas. I want my family and friends to understand the details of my days spent in Korea. I want people to understand the reasons behind my passion for travel, the world, and more specifically, Asia. I often feel like the luckiest person on earth to be able to live my dream every day. I want others to understand this joy that I have found.
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