Final thoughts for 2007...

I know there's still half a month left before the year ends, but I'm going home for Christmas and doubt that I'll be posting much during the trip! I just wanted to share a little bit about what's been going on in my life and heart lately.

I am so thankful that God has led me to Korea and I'm so thankful for the people He's placed in my life here and the experiences I'm having. Yesterday at a ladies brunch, I shared a meal with about a dozen women from places like South Africa, Russia, Canada, Korea, the Philippines, and America. As I listened to some of them give testimonies, I was just amazed by God's sovereignty in bringing together women from all over the world to share life together in Korea. He's placed us in church that has a passion to see His name proclaimed throughout the world. I am so blessed by my brothers and sisters there.

In my time here, I've discovered that even through my faith is very small, God is faithful. As I've travelled to "the ends of the earth," I've experienced Christ fulfilling His promise: "I am with you always."

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and I hope to see many of you soon!

Happy Birthday to the Greatest Dad Ever!

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Dad
Happy birthday to you!

I Hope I Remember...

I'm coming home for Christmas! While I'm home, I hope I remember...


• it’s okay to walk in the house with my shoes on
• how to use a dish washer, an oven, and a clothes dryer
• I don’t need to bow to Americans
• to tip the waiter
• my age (in Korean age, I’m 25, not 24)
• how to use a knife and fork
• it’s okay to throw the food trash in with the regular garbage
• I don’t have to use simple sentences and body language to be understood
• to say “thank you” instead of “gamsahamnida”
• movie theater popcorn isn’t free
• how to drive
• and if I remember how to drive, I hope I remember stopping at red lights is not optional

Kim Chi

Kim Chi is a very popular Korean food. Today my church had a Kim Jang Festival to teach foreigners like me how to make this dish. In addition to kim chi, we made kim bap (similar to sushi) and dak doritang (spicy chicken chunks). Before and after the cooking, we also watched a variety of traditional Korean performers.

Making Kimchi is Serious Business.


Kimchi (spicy chicken). It's good when it's fresh (once you get used to it); I'm not a huge fan of the fermented stuff.


Kimbap making. I had a good coach. Oh, and I got to keep the apron.

Martial Arts

Mad Gab

Sometimes reading Korean feels a little bit like playing Mad Gab. In the game Mad Gab, you read a nonsense phrase and try to figure out the real words that phrase sounds like. For example, "pier steers" sounds like "pierced ears" (thank you wikipedia for that example).

Many words in Korean are borrowed from English, but don't sound like exactly like English once they are put in the Korean alphabet. Join the game and see if you can figure these out:

When you read it in Korean it sounds like:

dohminoh pija









But it comes from the English for...

Domino's Pizza


When you read it in Korean it sounds like:

Kehee epuh shi


















But it comes from the English for...

KFC (which also serves hamburgers in addition to fried chicken)

Isn't this a fun game?

Saturday

10:30 Went downtown to watch one of my coworkers perform in a YWCA end-of-the-year talent program that included singing, dancing, and a fashion show featuring global outfits recreated in newspaper,

2:30 Met my friend Kang Na and her boyfriend for ice cream.

3:00 Had my picture taken with a Korean man (see photo)

4:00 Saw a Japanese movie with Korean subtitles (yep, that was tricky).

6:30 Ate samgyeopsal (pork) at a traditional Korean restraurant. By traditional I mean you take your shoes off and sit of the floor, cook the meat yourself at your table, and enjoy lots of side dishes.

9:00 Met my Korean coworker Mi Hwa and went back to my apartment for snacks and make-up fun (girls from any culture can get excited about make-up)