I started Korean class again in April. I'm now in Level 2 and it's going well. There are just so many new grammar structures I can't keep track of them all. Time to make some flashcards. We have our final in 3 weeks so it's time to kick it into gear. I know I'm learning though because I'm starting to understand more of what my students say. I can also understand a lot more of Korean TV. It's pretty exciting haha. By the time I go back to America, I'll be fluent...well hopefully close. Speaking of coming home. I've been thinking more about staying for a 3rd year. I really love it here! And I'm learning and experiencing so many things! God brought me here for a reason. I don't think He's done using me here yet. BUT....we'll see ;)
At our school we have this messenger system that all the teachers use. A couple weeks ago I got a message that our school was participating in a volleyball tournament and I was already placed on the team. Now, I'm not very good at volleyball. I could never get the ball to go in the right place. I'm not tall enough. All of my friends were better than me and my arms would hurt so bad after. I never wanted to play very long. However, I decided it would be fun to play with my coworkers. Their English is limited (my co-teachers didn't want to play) so communicating was a little difficult. I learned their volleyball jargon quickly though. Otherwise I got a stern warning on what I was supposed to do haha. Our coach (a 6th grade teacher) had extra practice for 2 of the other male teachers and myself after school. It helped a lot, but then I went straight to Korean class and I was just exhausted. My new/real co-teacher came back to school after maternity leave and the first day she walked in she said, "I heard you are professional volleyball player." HAHAHA Apparently, I am now a professional volleyball player. At least according to the other teachers at my school. I think they were just shocked that I'm athletic. Most girls in Korea are uncoordinated and that's seen as desirable or cute. Anyway, as a result of all my volleyball practice, my arms decided they didn't like it. Here's a picture after a week of playing.
They hurt pretty bad, but the school nurse helped wrap them everyday and after our tournament they healed pretty quickly. Because of all our dedicated practices we did pretty well at first. We won the first round. It was pretty big deal I think because last year, they lost pretty bad right away. Then in our second game we split the games so we had one game left. We switched a few players because they were tired and then we lost 11-15. It was good game though. And I had lots of fun! I hadn't had so many praises in Korea since like my first week here. During the game, one the guys on the opposing team pointed to me and gave me a thumbs up saying "good" ... awkward. I still don't think I'm THAT good at volleyball. I'm just athletic and will actually run to get to the ball and not duck when it's about to come... I was nice to be included in a school activity and actually get to know some of the other teachers. I think badminton may be next. Not sure about that tho...
Last month Lady Gaga came to Korea to kick-off her Born This Way Tour. Now normally, I would never go to a Lady Gaga concert. Her songs are catchy, but her messages aren't the cleanest. However, some of my friends had good tickets and I thought it'd be kind of cool to see her in person at least once in my lifetime. If you know of Lady Gaga then you know that she is one of the most well-known artists in the world right now. She is also known to support homosexuality and a pretty non-conservative lifestyle. I've heard her say in interviews that she calls herself a 'character.' And that she is. So naturally, in my opinion, because of this and that she's not Korean, she got a lot of negative publicity here. A Korean Christian group even started protesting her concert. They prayed that she would get sick or that something would happen to make her leave Korea. They felt she would corrupt their youth. I'm not sure how one concert would corrupt the youth of the country to buys the most pornography per capita in the world. But never the less, they eventually they got the concert to be 18+. Personally, the 18+ part didn't bother me. I understand their concerns and her show was pretty risque. I have so many more personally opinions on this subject, but I think that's enough for now.
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| My friends & I posing before the Lady Gaga Concert |
I'm also working on completing my missions summary from last winter. I got to share my experience with many of you, but I wasn't able to share with everyone. I've been meaning to write this for a while, but I'm halfway done, so hopefully I will be done soon :) No seriously, I'm making it a priority. It will be done soon! Talking about missions, I'M GOING BACK TO CAMBODIA! This summer I will be co-leading a team to serve with Agape International Missions again. I'm so excited!! And stress haha. When missions was discussed in April, I talked to my school and found out my vacation time didn't match up with any of the missions. Our church is sending teams to Cambodia, Thailand, Albania and Mongolia this summer. I still prayed about it and helped on the Missions Committee with planning and sign-ups. Other people were praying for me too. And the day after sign-ups ended my co-teachers told me our camp schedule changed. They asked me when I wanted to have camp. God really wants me to go I guess. Since my camp was shorted, the dates worked out perfectly for Cambodia. I knew in my heart since the day we left Cambodia last Jan. that I would be back there. I just didn't think it would be this soon. I was hesitant about going this summer, but I feel God telling me to take this opportunity again. He's put it in my path for a reason. He taught me so many things last winter. I'm excited for what I'll learn now. We're going July 21-28th. I'll send more updates about it when I have them. We're still in the beginning stages of planning. Prayers welcome :) Thanks!
Ok, I'm tired, been at Starbucks for the last 2 hours. Thanks God for giving me the persistence to finish this :) Time to go home and study Korean. Hope all is well at home, home. Miss & love you all!!
~Krista~
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