The Streets of Hanoi

I woke up this morning to join the rest of Hanoi in their morning exercises. You can find people of all ages walking around the famous Hoan Kiem Lake, stretching, and playing badminton. Though it was only 6:00 am, the streets were bustling and the street vendors were walking around selling xoi, sticky rice with ground peanuts and shredded pork wrapped up in a banana leaf. Little shops line the streets with tiny plastic tables and chairs that look like my play kitchen that I had as a child. Steam billows out of the large metal pots that contain the stock for the various noodle soups, such as pho, bun, & mien, served with pork, beef, duck, or chicken. As I walk the streets I breathe in Hanoi to take in all the smells, sounds, and sights that once were so commonplace to me. Though familiar, I cannot help but realize how the person that walked these streets a year ago is so different than the person who walks them now. The person now must culturally readjust when before she had become so accustom to life in Vietnam. For example, not letting the xe om drivers (motorbike taxis) who badger and follow all the foreigners around annoy me. Or the extreme high prices that they try to make you pay because you are a foreigner. I was used to the American value of equality but must readjust again. However, I now walk these streets with greater self-realization as this past year has been a road with a lot of tears and yet a lot of laughter. I come to Vietnam with a greater understanding of my weakness and my need for Him and look forward to what He has in store.

A Kiss to Remember

I have always considered myself to be adventurous. I'm willing to try almost anything and love to be able to say that I've at least tried it. Joseph, the professor who was my host while I was in Busan, had a great time trying to see how far he could push me. He wanted to see how adventurous I truly was as each meal (about every 2 hours) was like a new episode of fear factor. I can now say that I have eaten whale and I can now admit that it wasn't my favorite. A bit too blubbery and chewy for my taste. Joseph took me out for raw fish, which I like. However, I must explain that there is a difference between Japanese raw fish and Korean raw fish. In Korea, they kill it and then bring it to your table. This means that it is still moving because the nerve endings have not figured out that death has beckoned. At one meal, I ate some kind of octopus-like fish that had tenacles and as it squirmed around in my mouth, the suction cups attached to the inside of my check. A new way to have some non-commital lip action.

Dongseo University, Busan

Exposed Once Again

After my previous experience in the subway, I guess I felt the need to expose myself just to make things even. I took the subway to the university that I was supposed to be presenting at, taking all my things for my trip to Busan along with me since I had to leave directly from the university to the train station. I had packed my carry-on with all my work stuff and then had a medium sized gift bag that I had put a few changes of clothes so that I could leave my bigger bag in Seoul. I had put all my personals at the bottom so that they wouldn't sneak out of the top. So as soon as the train arrived at my stop, I stood up and to my horror, the bottom of the bag broke. The doors opened and several teenage boys and business men tried to help me as they gathered up my lace panties and blue nightie that decorated the floor and helped me get out in time before the doors closed. I was utterly embarrassed.

Beware of Subways

After a day in Korea, I have to say that of all the countries I have been to, Koreans are the most friendly and helpful people...in direct competition with the Irish who are also extremely friendly and hospitable. I went out today to explore the city and locate a few schools. What better way than to try to figure out the public transportation system? I was surprised to see how few people actually spoke English but how willing they were to try to help me. I had people who couldn't explain to me how to get there in English, so they walked with me the 3 to 4 blocks to the bus stop and communicated with the driver in order to get me in the place I needed to be. This happened several times! I love Korea! I met so many wonderful people today as these strangers took the time to talk with me a little and help me get around. It reminded me that places don't leave you with the fond memories but the people that you've met and shared time with in that place. I'm a girl that loves to see the sights but the truth is that the landmarks will soon fade from my memory and be nothing more than just a place that I marked off of my sights-to-see list. It is the cultural exchanges, conversations, negotiation of meaning (when you can't speak the language) that remain in my memory and form my overall impression of a place.
With all that said, I do have to share with you an interesting story that I could have done without...though it does not change my initial love for Korea and the people here. So, I'm feeling great, getting around, and bounding up the stairs of the subway station. All of the sudden, a man passes me on my left, stands about 5 steps ahead of me and pulls down his pants. Whoa! That was something that I could have done without. I just rolled my eyes and went around him. This was a time that I wished a friend would have been with me because it would have produced a lot of conversation and laughter afterwards. Any takers for the next time around? I'm sure he'd be willing to do an encore!

The Start of My Adventure

I arrived in Seoul about an hour and a half ago. I was able to buy a bus ticket and some how found out which one to actually get on...this was a miracle in itself. I took a seat next to an older gentleman who didn't speak a great deal of English but was able to communicate that he taught "sports" which later translated into teeball. We made a connection right away because years ago at the ripe age of seven, I was a teeball star! They put their best players in left field, right? Anyway, the man proceeded to confirm my hotel on his cell phone and then helped me get off at the right place in order to snag me a taxi to get me to the location that I needed to go. He went out of his way for me and missed his stop because of it. I love Korea already.

Back Home In Colorado with Friends

Brooke, Lan, Kathryn

Dan, Tuck, Tracee

Matt, Kathryn, Jody, Justin, Chris

Thought of the Day: Life as an American

I was reading a book today that discussed American culture and values. Paul Goodman, a social commentator said, "America has a high standard of living of low average quality." In a country that seems to have so much in regards to opportunity and wealth, there seems to be few who are actually enjoying the luxuries and conveniences. Why? In my opinion, it is because we have forgotten that real joy in life comes in the relationships that we surround our lives with...not the conveniences or luxuries that we think will make those relationships or life in general better. We spend more time trying to accomplish or attain the things that our society deems as important while we miss out on the happiness found in the simplicity of relationships.

Teaching at University of California, Irvine

I have been so lucky to be able to teach and spend time with my students at UCI. As I was eager to get back into the classroom again, it provided me that opportunity while allowing me to continue to cultivate my passion for other cultures. Being back in the States for the past eight months has been good, but I would definitely give up Southern California traffic and the materialism for life abroad. The majority of my students are from Korea, Taiwan, and Japan...all countries that I will most likely visit while working with Hope International University overseas so I'll have friends when I go there. Above is Ertan, the token Turkish student, my roomate Lisa, and Lisa (my student). The second picture is a few of my students at a picnic that we had together.