Koreans singing a gospel song you are very familiar with!

This is a perfect example of why I had so much fun in Korea.

Korea will always be a part of me!

Memorial Day Weekend was a blast! S&C!

I received an email from one of my Korean students

Between 11:15am service and Communion service yesterday, I went home to relax, eat some food and check my email. When I checked my hotmail account for new emails, I found that I had received an email from someone I was not expecting to receive an email from. This person is very special to me and I love him very much. I received an email from one of my first grade students in Korea. And I am telling you that almost let a tear drop. I could not believe it. I have not seen, Mark since I left Korea on September 30, 2008. Its been about 6 months.

Before I left, he told me that he asked his father if he could create an email account so he could keep in touch with me. And so he did. We emailed each other a few times after I returned home but somehow life became a distraction. Now that I have received this email, I have begun to recollect all of the memories that I have stored in my mental archive as well as my blog archive.

This is the email Mark sent me. Wouldn't this make you a little teary eyed?

Hello! Christoph!!
Did you have a good time?
I am 2nd grade now.
In Korea it is spring.
Did you forget me? I did not forget you.
If you forget me, I will be very disappointed.

sincerely!

from mark

I miss my students so much! See, in Korea and in other countries. Students have no problem with saying, "I love you." And it is not a problem for a teacher to respond in like manner.

So, Mark, I want you to know that I love you and I will never forget you!

Christoph J.

Spain may have to wait a while and that's OK!

There are many things in life that I would like to do and I have been able to check a number of those things off my list. Going to Spain to learn Spanish is definitely one of my "to dos" and it will be done! I claim that in the name of Jesus! However, being home and experiencing the recession after hearing all about it while I was in South Korea, some realities set in. I recognized that because of the recession, there are certain opportunities that are available to me that line up with a number of my other goals. One of those goals is to own my own home. I've been doing some research and have been talking to some of my family members who dabble in Real Estate about the realities of buying a home now-a-days. It seems to be a great time to buy a home right now and for a good price. So this is where I am right now in my life.

Also, I'll keep you all posted on the updates dealing with the car that I am in the process of purchasing. Until then, continue to be blessed while not being stressed.

Remembering how much fun I had on the subways in Seoul.

"Coming To America"

I have touched down on American soul and I am very glad to be off of that plane. That flight felt like it would last forever, but I'm happy to see my family.

Once I touched down on American soil; my layover in Detroit

This is what I wrote during one of my layovers.

I have finally arrived in America. However, I have not reached my final destination. Originally departing from Seoul, South Korea, I took a NWA flight Narita, Tokyo that lasted close to 2 hours. This layover lasted long enough for me to connect to my next flight departing to Detroit, Michigan. Now this flight almost drove me a nuts. This flight lasted a mind-throbbing 12 hours. I heard everything from babies crying, old people snoring, to cold-filled folks sneezing almost the entire ride. I sat in the middle of two women. One of which, sat by the window. She felt the need to converse about life’s changes. I can’t really be too specific because I wasn’t really listening. I strategically had not slept for two days just so I could sleep during the majority flight. This obviously did not happen. The other woman sat in the aisle seat, the seat that I should have had my boss book for me a month a go. She had the upper hand on me because she seemed to have the answer to my problem. She slept most probably 9 of the 12 hours. Maybe she took sleeping pills prior to boarding the plane. I don’t know but she slept so much, she made it difficult for me to get up and go to the restroom or pace the aisles of the plane to stretch my legs.

I would most nearly compare this flight to the time I was arrested and placed in jail for 16 hours just for suspended license that I was not aware of. In both situations, I was not allowed a phone call, nor could I go to the bathroom whenever I had the need. I could not wait to get off that plane. I have to go my next flight to Baltimore is boarding.

TTYS!!!

Even buying luggage is an adventure in South Korea!

Watch this video!

The ATM in South Korea is an adventure in itself

Being in Korea, you definitely have to be able to adjust to certain things. Even the smaller things in life, like finding an ATM that will accept your Mastercard! See how happy I am for an ATM that will finally accept my card..

Han River Boat Cruise

A weeks ago when I had some time off of work, a friend and I came across an event on meetup.com that was taking place in Seoul. This event turned out to be a nice little cruise on the Han River. The cruise boat was really nice and it lasted about an hour and a half. They had a live band and they also sold food so it was a great time.

That was my first time going to meetup.com. This site is great for meeting new people with the same interests. My friend and I met some interesting new people on the boat ride. I heard from my friend that meetup.com is the world's largest network of local groups. Meetup makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up face-to-face. More than 2,000 groups get together in local communities each day.

Konglish or Engrish! Which do you speak?

Walking around Korea, you will definitely see a wide array of funny things. One of the most widely recognized things that are just hilarious are the many phrases and sentences written in "Konglish" or "Engrish." Konglish/Engrish is basically the result of a Korean, who is not a fully fluent English speaker, that attempts to speak or write in English. In a nutshell, when Koreans are in the semi-advanced stages of learning English, they get a little excited and try to spark up a conversation with a foreigner, who is a native English speaker. Or you'll have the business owner who attempts to cater to the foreigners by use marketing tools that have English translation. Lets look at some examples of "Konglish/Engrish."

Namsan Mountain & The N Seoul Tower

During the Chuseok holiday weekend on the Monday that us teachers had off of work, I connected with 2 of my friends from church, Natarsha and Roger, along with the pastor of my church. We hung out all day, checking off a number of things that I have been wanting to do in Korea before I went home to America. We climbed and hiked up the Namsan Mountain and when we reached the top, there was the N Seoul Tower. One of the major landmarks in Seoul, South Korea. Over the years, it has become on the most desired tourist attraction in South Korea. We had a blessed time. My friends and I had great time hanging out and getting to know our pastor, Pastor Bob.

My Korean co-teacher and I wish Da-Hye a Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Da-Hye!

Single digit days...almost home!

WOW! I honestly cannot believe that I only have 9 days until I board the airplane to come home. This is unbelievable! I've been here so long, I feel like I'm going to have a reverse culture shock. I think that I will have to detox from the many Korean practices that I have picked up here.

Every time I meet someone new here, I shake their hand with my right and I touch my right forearm with my left hand to show respect. Where on my arm I touch depends on the level of respect I choose to show.

Also, when I meet someone new, I tend to bow slightly, even when I meet new foreigners. I forget to think and distinguish the two sometimes. Then that person laughs because he/she understands because they tend to do the same.

I wonder if I will continue to take off my shoes when entering someones house. lol

Now instead of saying that something looks the same or just merely saying, "that's the same thing." I say, "same same." Or if something is similar, but not necessarily the same, I say, "same same, but different."

It's the Korean way!

In Loving Memory of Maximus-G

The other morning, I was forced to do something I hadn't done in about 3 months. I had to walk to work. I know that sounds really minuscule, but the reason why I had to walk is the disturbing part. Someone stole my bike the previous night while I was in a PC Cafe at midnight. Recently, my internet signal has been pretty weak so it has been going in and out at the most untimely of times. So after I came from the weightroom, I figured that I'd go to the cafe and handle some business on the internet for about 2 hours (11pm-1am) and then head home. When I left the cafe, my bike was gone. And the worst part about it, I couldn't communicate my frustration with anyone.

I can't speak Korean so I'm approaching everyone in the vicinity trying to ask them if they saw someone ride off on my bike. I'm standing there looking like a mime with a voice, making hand gestures and vroom vroom sounds trying to explain my plight. Each and everyone of those Koreans said the same thing pretty much. "Mu-ly-0!" That means, "I don't know." Thay said a lot more, but the rest just sounded like jibberish.

Needless to say, I'm highly upset and saddened. It would be good for me not to see a Korean riding my bike because if I do, I might catch a Korean charge and have to stay in Korea for clothes lining a Korean off my bike. lol

Anyway, here is a video of me riffing my bike for the last and a few pictures in ceremonial remembrance of dear "Maximus G." Oh! Sorry to throw you off, but that's the name of my bike. Look!

Photos by www.NatarshaNWright.com