6: # of days in Thailand,
5: # of books I read,
4: # of massages I indulged in,
3: # of hours I spent in cooking class,
2: # of friends I travelled with,
1: # of nights I stayed up after 11:00
0: # of moments I thought about work
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Plight of a Thai Jasmine Bud
A single jasmine bud pirouettes from the tree
to skip along the pool’s surface,
it dances in the ripples of the couple’s wake.
Dark fingers laced around a white bristly neck
and caress a shoulder stained with sagging tattoos.
The faded face of an old flame,
gone or continents away
peers from beneath her fingers.
Farang fantasies enshroud the embrace
Hope, Desperation, and Fear braided into invisible handcuffs.
Together they float in the luxury hotel’s pool.
Sloppy kisses, tokens of lives promised.
Stability nodding blindly
as children paddle by.
The blossom bobs silently,
cascades suddenly:
the pull of the drain overbearing,
the dainty petals useless parachutes
against irresistible currents.
www.nightlightinternational.com
www.rahabministriesthailand.org
http://homeofnewbeginnings.com
to skip along the pool’s surface,
it dances in the ripples of the couple’s wake.
Dark fingers laced around a white bristly neck
and caress a shoulder stained with sagging tattoos.
The faded face of an old flame,
gone or continents away
peers from beneath her fingers.
Farang fantasies enshroud the embrace
Hope, Desperation, and Fear braided into invisible handcuffs.
Together they float in the luxury hotel’s pool.
Sloppy kisses, tokens of lives promised.
Stability nodding blindly
as children paddle by.
The blossom bobs silently,
cascades suddenly:
the pull of the drain overbearing,
the dainty petals useless parachutes
against irresistible currents.
www.nightlightinternational.com
www.rahabministriesthailand.org
http://homeofnewbeginnings.com
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thailand is...
beautiful, relaxing, and most importantly... WARM.
That is all I have to say for now.
That is all I have to say for now.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Seriously?
The Californian in me is flabbergasted that the refs did not call yesterday's game on account of weather. It was like no game I had ever experienced. Perhaps I am a baby when it comes to cold weather, but a snow capped field transforms soccer into some mutant sport that is more like a combination of ice skating, snow wrestling, and football than soccer.
Yesterday, our teams drove up to one of the base schools near Seoul just in time for a relatively heavy (unanticipated) snow storm. Their turf field, one lacking the rubber gravel necessary for traction (even with fair weather), was under about one and a half inches of snow at the start of the game and several by the end. Heavy snow reduced visibility and drenched everyone/everything. Not exactly the dream turf we were hoping to finally get to play on.
Kick off sounded about 2 hours into the storm. With each revolution the soccer ball made, it gathered snow and expanded into giant snow mounds, only to shatter into powder in the faces of receiving players. The damp snow collected into solid masses between the spikes of cleats, forming slick blocks of ice for the girls to tediously balance on. Bodies were flying everywhere! It became common for both opponents to run in the general direction of the ball and miss it altogether as they tumbled together in a giant snow-wrestling mass. At half time, our talk consisted of strategies for sprint and sliding, getting up off the ground, and persistence.
We tied the game 1-1. I am looking forward to seeing what real soccer looks like the next time we play them.
I couldn't feel my feet for about an hour after we got back to Daejeon. Thailand in 3 days is continuing to look better and better! So is the weather in Uganda!
Yesterday, our teams drove up to one of the base schools near Seoul just in time for a relatively heavy (unanticipated) snow storm. Their turf field, one lacking the rubber gravel necessary for traction (even with fair weather), was under about one and a half inches of snow at the start of the game and several by the end. Heavy snow reduced visibility and drenched everyone/everything. Not exactly the dream turf we were hoping to finally get to play on.
Kick off sounded about 2 hours into the storm. With each revolution the soccer ball made, it gathered snow and expanded into giant snow mounds, only to shatter into powder in the faces of receiving players. The damp snow collected into solid masses between the spikes of cleats, forming slick blocks of ice for the girls to tediously balance on. Bodies were flying everywhere! It became common for both opponents to run in the general direction of the ball and miss it altogether as they tumbled together in a giant snow-wrestling mass. At half time, our talk consisted of strategies for sprint and sliding, getting up off the ground, and persistence.
We tied the game 1-1. I am looking forward to seeing what real soccer looks like the next time we play them.
I couldn't feel my feet for about an hour after we got back to Daejeon. Thailand in 3 days is continuing to look better and better! So is the weather in Uganda!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
It's supposed to be spring!!
This California girl has finally adjusted to long johns every practice and a general lack of feeling in her toes. The sunny sand shores of Phuket for spring break have never sounded so good!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Running on fumes...
This has been a very good, but long week filled with seemingly ceaseless icey rain, emotional face-painted girls, and plenty of exciting moments. The girls team has now played 3 soccer games (2 wins and one very muddy loss). Add my soccer roller coaster of a week to a full teaching load, a pottery class, an online IB class, a mountain of marking, and a variety of other commitments, and you have one exhausted woman! I have completely refused to step out of my pajamas until church tomorrow morning! I would imagine some of my girls feel the same way.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Starting on top
Today marks the first game of the TCIS girl's varsity soccer team's season. It also is the first game that I have ever head coached. All in all, I think it was a strong start to the season. The girls had fun, won 8-0, and I had the opportunity to give all my subs substantial playing time. While the game was hardly flawless, the girls all improved and worked out many of their early season kinks. I'm proud of their solid start.
(photo taken by Christine, one of my team managers)
(photo taken by Christine, one of my team managers)
Friday, February 26, 2010
Reviving my blog
To say that I have been busy in the last month, since the job fair, would be quite the understatement. I returned from London to Korea just in time for soccer tryouts. This year I am head coaching the girls' varsity soccer team and was excited to see quite a few new faces on the field. While weather has not worked in our favor for our pre-game practicing, I am optimistic that the girls will do well this season. Our first game is on Wednesday. Wish us luck!
A week and a half after the fair, my mom flew to Korea (for the second time) to see her baby and join my school's lunar holiday short-term mission trip to Borocay. Six adults and 10 students travelled from Korea to the Philippines to join with a ministry based out of Borocay. We spent our mornings building a community center/medical center/Bible School. Then we spent our afternoons at various feeding sites around the island. We cleaned wounds (so they would not get infected), ran mini Bible lessons, sang songs, played with children, distributed vitamins, and eventually helped pass out food to the children. Borocay was an interesting island of contrasts: ritzy touristy bars and hotels lined the beach front just a short walk away from poor local villages. As I have been with other mission trips as well, I was struck by the warmth of the Filipino people and the responsibility that I must take to share my resources with those in need. I was also incredibly proud of the kids from TCIS on our trip-- they worked very hard, supported each other well, and showed respect to everyone they encountered. I couldn't have asked for a more fun-loving, positive, and genuine team! I am so happy I was able to share the experience with my mom!
A week and a half after the fair, my mom flew to Korea (for the second time) to see her baby and join my school's lunar holiday short-term mission trip to Borocay. Six adults and 10 students travelled from Korea to the Philippines to join with a ministry based out of Borocay. We spent our mornings building a community center/medical center/Bible School. Then we spent our afternoons at various feeding sites around the island. We cleaned wounds (so they would not get infected), ran mini Bible lessons, sang songs, played with children, distributed vitamins, and eventually helped pass out food to the children. Borocay was an interesting island of contrasts: ritzy touristy bars and hotels lined the beach front just a short walk away from poor local villages. As I have been with other mission trips as well, I was struck by the warmth of the Filipino people and the responsibility that I must take to share my resources with those in need. I was also incredibly proud of the kids from TCIS on our trip-- they worked very hard, supported each other well, and showed respect to everyone they encountered. I couldn't have asked for a more fun-loving, positive, and genuine team! I am so happy I was able to share the experience with my mom!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I'm moving to Africa!!!
I think I will have to change the name of my blog soon! I just signed a contract to go to the International School of Uganda next year and while June will mark the end of my Korean adventures, August will mark the start of my African ones! I am going to be teaching at a highly diverse school in Kampala, Uganda. I am incredibly excited!
This has been an interesting week indeed. Thursday, I flew to London for a job fair thinking I was likely going to accept a job in Europe. Friday, Sat., and Sun. I had whirlwind interviews with 8 schools on 3 continents. Monday, I signed a contract to teach IB and MYP English at the International School of Uganda. Tuesday, I flew back to Korea (landed on Wednesday). Today, Thursday, I have began talking publicly about my move with people in Korea and abroad! My goodness this has been a bit crazy (or maybe more than a bit)!
I really feel as though ISU is the right fit for me for next year, but I can't help but smile at the wide array of reactions I have encountered as I have shared my news: excitement, tears, bewilderment, etc. One kid today literally open-mouth gaped for about 20 seconds before muttering, "You're going to Africa?!?" My favorite reactions, by far, were those who tried to act suave, but clearly had no idea where in the world Uganda was situated. I loved watching their faces contort and their forced smiles while they asked questions that indicated they did not know whether I was moving to the Middle East or Africa (neither of which were acceptable locations, in their modest opinions). At the same time, I have also been comforted by the surprising volume of connections that surfaced: Ugandan medical trips, teaching jobs, volunteer opportunities, hosted choir children, etc... this is really one small world! I have heard SO much positive feedback about Uganda, each day I feel more confident that I am going to love it!
I know the hardest part in any move is the people and things you leave behind. I already feel a bittersweet sadness for the communities that I will depart from and feel the voids of those whose proximity will no longer be minimal. However, I can't wait for the adventures that will come.
If you are ever in Uganda and want to take an African safari (or want to relax in a temperate winter-free climate), shoot me an email. I am happy to be your host!
The link to my school's page: http://www.isu.ac.ug/
A few pics from the school's webpage:
This has been an interesting week indeed. Thursday, I flew to London for a job fair thinking I was likely going to accept a job in Europe. Friday, Sat., and Sun. I had whirlwind interviews with 8 schools on 3 continents. Monday, I signed a contract to teach IB and MYP English at the International School of Uganda. Tuesday, I flew back to Korea (landed on Wednesday). Today, Thursday, I have began talking publicly about my move with people in Korea and abroad! My goodness this has been a bit crazy (or maybe more than a bit)!
I really feel as though ISU is the right fit for me for next year, but I can't help but smile at the wide array of reactions I have encountered as I have shared my news: excitement, tears, bewilderment, etc. One kid today literally open-mouth gaped for about 20 seconds before muttering, "You're going to Africa?!?" My favorite reactions, by far, were those who tried to act suave, but clearly had no idea where in the world Uganda was situated. I loved watching their faces contort and their forced smiles while they asked questions that indicated they did not know whether I was moving to the Middle East or Africa (neither of which were acceptable locations, in their modest opinions). At the same time, I have also been comforted by the surprising volume of connections that surfaced: Ugandan medical trips, teaching jobs, volunteer opportunities, hosted choir children, etc... this is really one small world! I have heard SO much positive feedback about Uganda, each day I feel more confident that I am going to love it!
I know the hardest part in any move is the people and things you leave behind. I already feel a bittersweet sadness for the communities that I will depart from and feel the voids of those whose proximity will no longer be minimal. However, I can't wait for the adventures that will come.
If you are ever in Uganda and want to take an African safari (or want to relax in a temperate winter-free climate), shoot me an email. I am happy to be your host!
The link to my school's page: http://www.isu.ac.ug/
A few pics from the school's webpage:
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