Something new... I love the sound of music.

Yes, I love the Sound of Music and much much more..

---

Listening to the OST of the Korean drama called Secret Garden (시크릿 가든) .   I really like the songs, simply for the voice of the singers themselves. Listening to foreign music is a great way for me to connect to friends of  other cultures and to learn to respect  other genres of music. Also a great tool for studying foreign languages.  I may not understand the lyrics, but I can enjoy the sounds and voices of some very talented and sometimes not so talented artists.

Baek Ji Yong (백지영) sings at least two of the songs in Secret Garden. She has a large range, reaching notes most people only dream of, and wonderful control. These aspects make for a beautiful voice.  I really like her songs That man (그남자) and That woman (그여자 ).  Some of the lyrics are a bit much in regards to the romantic ballad nature. That aside,  here is "That Man".  What do you think of her voice?  

Hyunbin has a voice! Secret Garden also stars a great Korean actor, Hyunbin (현빈).  Girls swoon over every move he makes. Not that I can say the same myself as much as I love cute dimples and his sweet smile.  Though, I did fall for the guy while watching Kim Sam Soon (내 이름은 김삼순). It was one of the first dramas I watched all the way through. Anyway, Hyunbin sang a version of That Man and it's not that bad. Supposedly it's topping charts. I hope Hyunbin's voice will develop more. Looking forward to what else is in store from this sensation.

Here's the song.  

Any preferences?  

Change

From darkness to light, from the inside to the outside, may change come.

nourishment

BEWARE: Random tangents and lots ...

On Friday night I considered going to Busan. I wanted to meet with others, but their plans were not solidified. Regardless, something needed to happen. I wrote down a list of some touristy and site-seeing destinations I wanted to visit (and never got to more than two of them, which is fine, fine).

i had not yet seen the fall colors, something i miss dearly after spending some high school years on the east coast, and needed some time to refresh. Although I considered Seoul again, it was time for a much needed break. I longed to be away from everything here and in the presence of the creator. I longed to feed myself in more than one way.

soo...despite not knowing what my friends were doing, I was Busan

bound alone. 1 bus to the bus station --> 1 hour+ long bus ride to Daejeon --> 40 minute bus ride to the bus terminal in daejeon, and a --> 3+ hour ride brough

t me to Busan.... the loooooooooooong trip WAS GLORIOUS, indeed.

on this journey, my eyes and soul were fed. I was so thankful^^ that I was able to see the beautiful mountains and trees, catching the last glimpse of Autumn colors as the leaves fell from the trees and winter began to blow its way in with a chill. (IT WAS FREEZING this weekend!)

My spirit was fed.

On Saturday.... I read 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galations, and Ephesians +. I began to dig in and cherish a word of comfort and encouragement. I've been so torn up about my decision to stay in the same shigol/city until summer that I haven't slept at night. the kids at school are getting crazier and there is a lot of uncontrollable frustration and tension... Sometimes I

live in the WORLD, living up to someone else's expectations and letting my heart and patience go. While talking to my K scholar again tonight, we considered giving

up if we weren't working together in the future.. but NOOO. That's not the point. "I suck" (as some koreans say when they feel they are bad at something) in a lot of ways. Life away from our comforts and norms is not easy, but these are the test and trials we are to endure as we build strength to build up others. I came to love and share the light I'm given. instead of becoming hard and angry with my students, i must remember what it is to love. because i was loved , i can love..... . (Please help me love the child that I'd rather ask to leave and never come back for she, too, is hungry and broken; please let the light shine through. ---For he who said, "Let your light shine out of darkness", made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Back to the story: during my travel, I discovered that friends were heading in the same direction. so.....another 45 minute subway ride brought me to 자갈치 , the huge fish market.

and so my stomach was fed! We had the most delish, fresh

seafood for lunch. ...so fresh it was moving as we scorched it over the fire bringing it to its final seconds of life. ) :

then we ate pho. The best pho in Korea.

Then, we had waffles...

Then, we had 찜질방 food. Satisfaction at its best.

We landed at a decent 찜질방 (a lot of people come through here?) near the area we spent most of the time shopping and eating.... it had a fantabulous view and refreshing baths... (and Angella got an amazing pic of the bridge that lights up with different colors at night.)

After a short sleep, I woke up at 5am to someone's obnoxious alarm and decided to rise in awe of the night lights. As dawn approached, the ships headed out to 'sea' one by one and two by two, more and more they came. I watched the clouds roll in and out and...

dark become light... and night become day.... (cell phone pics) :

~some of them went out to sea on on ships, they were merchants on the mighty waters~

~where morning dawns and even fades, you call forth songs of joy~

if i rise on the wings of the dawn, if i settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me

해운대

~he has made his light shine upon us~

Then retracing my travel, back I came the next day. The real world!!

As the week progresses, I will continue to find meaning in life and my purpose here despite the obstacles in our way.

Peace

by your side

If I walk with You, then Fear shall I not.

Still.

I stand before you.

smile

I will.

How I got my first ride with the police.

I had already had an eventful evening. (The only one in quite awhile.) Dinner and supplementary teaching, and a trip to the GS for ICECREAMMM. I'm addicted. In bed...I get a message from person 'B'. "I have a bite that's black and it hurts. " 'Okay, explain your symptoms, please."

"It kinda hurts. It's black and on the bottom of my foot. (It wasn't on the bottom. hahah)" "Please. I think I need to go to the doctor ASAP. Is it gangrene? Someone said it could be."

I look up gangrene and already knowing Person B's mosquito bite history, it is nothing but a blistered bite. I know 'B' is freaked out, so I figure out all my options because I'm ridiculously tired and just want to go to bed.

Haha...so I ask the neighbor (thank you!) and determine that all I can do is bring some first aid supplies. I'm chatting with Niel...and ask if there is anything someone can do in Korea at midnight for someone with an infection. I kept telling my friend it was nothing and we should wait it out. I determine that I need to calm my friend's fears and I head out with supplies, anyway. I keep this good guy on back up, just in case I can't keep the Korean convo straight with the locals.

I arrive to see my friend near the local GS Mart (I had just been there, haha) to find that the infection is really nothing much..."No, it really is. I'm gonna die. They're going to have to amputate." It's nothing hon...You'll survive. So I hand some wipes and cleaning stuff over and advise that it get checked in the morning at school. (After 7 years of the First Aid experience, I was almost positive it was okay. Kill me if it wasn't going to be...)

Person B and I keep talking while I noticed two guys walking up to the mart and sitting down. The younger one (which actually looked older than the 30 year old) was very wobbly and sounded a little mental (just the alcohol). He was totally gone.... "hyung, hyung, hyung... do this, do that... or what's going on?" hyung, hyung" all night.

Person B and I realize we should part ways...It's getting late and almost after midnight. We get up and Peson B agrees to walk with me part way because I came out.

We walk 2.5 blocks and realize the guys are a ways behind us, following. Are they following? Nah...Let's just walk fast. Hurry, I say in Korean and English.... Then she stops and they catch up with us. (AAARRRRGGHHHH)

"Where are you going? Where are you from?" They ask us. "You speaka English?" Yes, we speak English. "Yaeah..Eng-u-rish" I'm going home, I say. We want to go home. Home, me go home. Understand? The guy keeps looking at us and continues to get closer and move in. I ask "where do you live? Are you students? We really want to go home." (I'm kinda laughing on the inside and smiling too much, cuz I have no idea what I'm doing or how I'm getting home now.) Go, go... We want to go. Person B keeps asking what they are saying. Are they saying bad things? No, the y are not. I give her the info.

Then... chingu one, two (boy points at person B and other dude. Then (points me and him) three, four. Fuuurriendu!! Frriendu..? Understand? ) Yes, but we just want to go home. Anyway, it goes on (1,2, 3, and 4 and fffuriendu) and then we get dragged back to the GS Mart (literally.) Friends. We are willing to follow because they won't let us leave or go home and they have us in their hands already.

We talk and talk. Or I talk and let Person B answer if she understands. The guy is 30 and the other is 26 in Korean age. Creepos. One of them is from Seoul.... "We go home. You home. We want to take you home. Drinking? Drinking, drinking? Come. Come with us. Friends. Friends." NOOOOOO. NOOO It just goes on... and I'm going crazy. I want to go home. So we get up and say we're going ,but they don't let us go. They keep grabbing us and taking us back. I'm laughing the whole time or trying to suppress it and Person B keeps "It's all your fault, ...... Look what u got us into. I think I'm going to die. What are we going to do." I think I heard that it was my fault at least 20 times. Ugh, who got out of bed? I'm laughing because (I realized this morning) I'm on adrenaline and really not sure what we're doing. I'm not too afraid, just a little nervous. Person B just freaks out and raises her voice. "We'll be fine."

We head into the GS...sit there for 10 minutes and I keep laughing and B freaks out. We look out the window and they don't leave... arghh.. I call Niel, Help. What do I do? Can u translate for me? I can't do this alone. The whole time, I'm laughing. sorry friend. Niel translates and we now had to wait for the police. polishi...THey will come. They come... waitee. Okay?

Time rolls by and we look out the window. They're still there... And now we freak out because we are so upset that we called the police because these are nice guys. They just drunk men that can't get their hands off us and want friends to go home with. We really feel bad. What do police do?

Suddenly, some guy (who had been sitting at another table listening to us the second time we came back who had disappeared) drove up in a black car and pretty much scraped the side of his car on a chair. Could've run someone over.... he gets out and starts yelling at the guys or doing something (we can't tell as we are watching thru a window) Another guy comes and gangs up on them. It gets messy.

Our stalker dudes then step aside and start throwing fists at each other and gettin in a fight. Yeah...whose gonna win???? Eventually, all four men sit down and begin some civil conversation. WTF?

We're still worried what the police will do to the men? = (

Finally, the police drive up and walk into the GS. U come. Let's go now. Are you okay? Sure, I just wanna go home, I think. Home? Please? Thank you.

They take us out the door and walk person B home. I'm motioned to follow and go with them. We walk back and they say get in. ugh??? I get in the police car. (Yay my first ride in a police car and in Korea of all places.) My heart is racing as I fall into the car. "house, where? WHere is your house?" Go, right, left, right blah blah. They drop me off at my doorstep.

I get in and collapse on my bed. I start laughing and can't stop... then, I can' sleep because I realized how lucky and blessed I was to be with a friend and know some great people. It could have gone bad. Thank you so much for good friends.

I was exhausted today, but I did the best job in the whole of two weeks.