Fall Reflections

One more day and our first October in Korea ends. Since our mission is 18 months, we will have a second October here... a second fall and a second summer but only one winter and only one spring.  Each month seems to pick up speed, like a runaway truck coasting down hill. The passing of time is a mixed blessing in this case. I still struggle with being homesick on a weekly basis. For instance the first big snow of the season hit our home-town this week- announced by a multitude of Facebook posts and pictures. My thoughts turned to our big warm house, a cup of herbal tea, and lots of family and friends coming and going. The first snow is so beautiful. Clean, bright, white and soft! Its so quiet as the snow falls. Looking at the big picture reminds me that it initiates the onset of winter. Which also brings icy roads, frosted car windows, piles of coats and boots by the front door, runny noses and bone chilling cold. I try to keep things in perspective, but I can still find myself longing for home. On the other hand, as time passes we get closer to the end of a once in a life time experience. So though I do feel the pangs of homesickness some days, I also enjoy many days of awe and excitement as we explore beautiful Korea. I have failed at my plan not to get too attached to people I may never see again. I must confess that in our nearly five months here I have fallen in love with the people in our branch, in our FHE and in the Korean ward. Yes, passing of time is a mixed blessing!  This last week of October has been  busy and fun. Here are some pictures of the highlights:

HARVEST HOE-DOWN

Fred and I, together with Brother Kim from the Korean Ward,  organized a combined fall festival for the Korean Ward and our Military Branch.

It began with a short musical program.  That was followed by food and games.

I think its amazing that we had hot dogs and chips, plus ddeok (compressed rice filled with sweetened read bean paste) and Korean fruit. Truly symbolic of the merging of  two cultures and languages into an evening of fun and fellowship. Missionaries and families from our Military Branch learned one of our children's hymns in Korean. They were excited for the chance to share their talents with the members of the Korean Ward. Their number was beautiful and very well received by everyone. 

                              TRANSFER BREAKFAST

 

Once every six weeks we fix breakfast for all missionaries in our zone. That's 37 young men and women who are ready for a nice warm "home cooked" breakfast. This time the menu was pancakes, sausages and hot chocolate. They loved it.
Elder Fairhurst could hardly keep the pancakes coming fast enough.

ZOO ADVENTURE

With an open day after two big events we were ready to set out on another adventure. We put on our walking shoes and headed back to Seomun market. I did much better this time (refer to the previous post entitled Seomun Market). It was not crowded and the weather was cool and comfortable. We actually had a snack and did a little shopping while we were there. No panic!

Then off we went on a quest to find the zoo. Elder Fairhurst loves zoos and we have visited them all over the world. We found a beautiful park, with a small but delightful zoo. What a find!

The park is on a historic site that dates back to the 1300s! Now that's not something we see very often back home. We crossed paths with a few school groups. The kids were astounded to see Americans. We were quite the celebrities.  Some could speak English and couldn't wait to ask us where we were from. We are finding it a little easier to communicate using a few simple Korean words and lots of gestures and facial expressions!

We walked around the park for about an hour, then decided to begin our walk home. I felt a little like Lewis, or would it be Clark? Our trip home turned into a four hour expedition! Fred won't admit we were lost, but we didn't know where we were about half the time. We did make it back to our neighborhood long before dark. So we treated ourselves to a traditional Korean meal at the local Donga Mart food court. What did we eat? Potato and ham pizza! It was "jung mal mahshee suh yo" (really delicious).

 

1970 Class Reunion

We had another Apsan adventure on Saturday. President and Sister Gilbert came to spend a couple days with us. Fred arranged a day of golfing for the guys. Sister Gilbert and I just spent that time relaxing and visiting. Golfing, relaxing, visiting... very uncommon in the life of a mission president and his wife.
Saturday we took them to our favorite hiking trail, up Apsan. It was an absolutely beautiful fall day. This was the first time we went on the weekend and we found that it was filled with happy Korean families. I loved seeing the little children enjoying a day with their parents in such wonderful surroundings. Memories. These families were creating joyful memories.

We were also creating some memories of our own. This was our third time hiking to the cable car, riding it to the top, and then standing out on the viewing platform looking over Daegu. I don't think I could ever grow tired of it. We had some fun conversations with Koreans along the way. I am getting braver about stumbling my way through just using the little Korean I know and lots of gestures. Our mission president speaks Korean fluently, but even he admitted on occasion he just bluffs by saying "Nay, nay." Nay is their "yes" or "yeah".

After we rode down from the cable car, we stopped for a picnic lunch. I had packed chicken cranberry nut sandwiches, grapes and some fresh raspberry jam bars. The food was good, but everything tastes better at a picnic. Almost everything! An older Korean woman came by and gave us some hard ginseng candy. We politely tried a piece, which unfortunately tasted like dirt. I gave her one of my cookies in return. She politely took a bite, then wrapped it in a napkin and put it in her pocket. I am pretty sure she thought it tasted... well, maybe like dirt! She carried on quite a conversation with President Gilbert. He didn't have any idea what she was saying most of the time, although he did understand it when she offered to buy us each a beer. Guess she has no idea what our missionary name tags mean!

It came time for us to head back down the mountain so the Gilberts could get back to the nonstop business of running a mission. But there was one last memory to be made. A large group of Korean adults were gathering on a set of steps for a picture. They held up a banner with lots of Korean words and the number 1970. President Gilbert said it was a class reunion. Fred said he should be in the picture because he graduated in 1970 and jokingly walked over like he was getting in it. Suddenly the Koreans started laughing and clapping and gesturing for him to come and sit with them. Which he did. Then they motioned for the rest of us to join, which we did. So now their class picture includes four Megooks (Americans). Not only that, it was their elementary class reunion, so to them we were old Megooks. It was such fun. Two groups of people from very different cultures, speaking different languages sharing a moment to remember. As we walked the rest of the way down, every little bit a few of them would cross our paths. We would smile and laugh together again.

Small moments can make the most joyful memories. I am so glad we have this picture to remind us that we can enjoy the small and simple memories again and again.

"Mere pleasure is at best but fleeting; happiness is abiding, for in the recollection thereof is joy renewed." Elder James E Talmage

Two Rat Monday

Rock sculpture of otters.

Twice a week I am on my own for my morning walk as Fred plays basketball with the young missionaries. I take advantage of this time to just let my mind wander and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the river walk. It really is a wonderful walk. The river is controlled by a series of inflatable barriers. When they are deflated, the water flows quickly forming several small water falls along the way. When the barriers are inflated the water is much deeper and very calm. The parks along the edge are adorned with pretty trees, bushes and flowers. The river is home to fish, ducks and cranes. Signs all around the river warn of otter crossings, though we have never
seen a single otter in the four months we have been here. BUT... I have seen rats. Yes I am sure they are rats and not otters. Every couple of weeks one will dart quickly across the trail in front of me. Big fat nasty rats. I also have seen them lying dead near the trail. I am not sure which is nastier. Today I saw two rats. One running across my path just a few steps ahead of me and the other floating belly up in the river. YUK. My first thought (after I was through cringing and shuttering) was... This is a two-rat Monday, it must be a special day. So my wandering mind took off in a strange direction. Follow if you dare.

Monday was a special day. When I left my apartment that morning the gate guard spoke to me and I understood (kind of). I was able to answer him in Korean and he knew what I was saying (I think). As soon as I arrived at the park I saw my favorite Korean Harmony  (grandmother).I see her everyday that I walk by the river and she is always very friendly. Since we had been out of town, I had missed three days in a row. So when she saw me, she not only waved, but she clapped her hands and laughed. My Korean chingu (friend) was happy to see me. In fact it seemed like everyone was a little friendlier.

The scenery was breath-taking on this beautiful fall day. The sun was soft on the mountains causing them to look almost velvet. The breeze was cool and fresh on my face. Here and there an autumn leaf would drift across the pathway. I just felt happy. I also thought about the fact that I was actually walking in Korea, just like walking on our own river walk at home- feeling completely safe and comfortable in a place that wasn't even on my radar six months ago. My life just seems amazing.

So the phrase "two-rat Monday" is stuck in my mind. It means any day that is special or that you make special. Do you think it will catch on? Will people hear my grandchildren wishing them a two rat Monday? Hmmm.... probably not. But for now dear family and friends, I wish you a week filled with two rat Mondays.

Chapel Fair

We had a wonderful opportunity to participate in a chapel fair at one of our assigned camps. We are so appreciative of the chaplains that invited us and helped plan this fun event. It was a beautiful day and a perfect opportunity to connect with lots of people of varying faiths.

We planned and prepared for weeks. Our leaders in Salt Lake sent us materials we could share with those who stopped by our table. The three young sister missionaries made our very professional display boards. We received lots of compliments.

Our mission president and his wife traveled from Busan to offer support. We couldn't believe they could make time in their busy schedule. They helped served hot dogs and chips- our contribution to the picnic portion of the fair. We were the first to run out of food, despite the fact that we brought 25% more food than we were assigned. Hot dogs are very popular here... on the army post and off. The picnic also included ribs, hamburgers, bulgogi, rice and lots of other food.



The air was filled with music the whole day. Rock, blues, gospel... all kinds of musical praises to God. No Mo-tab this time. Maybe next year. We surprised one of our sister missionaries by arranging to have one of the bands sing happy birthday to her. She was so happy. It was a fun way for her to celebrate her birthday so far from home. She also found a little birthday buddy.

Many members of our branch (congregation) came to support our efforts and to fellowship with their neighbors and friends of other faiths. This was a rare opportunity to show off the wonderful, friendly, kind, just plain good people who share membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We had the largest representation of any group that participated in the fair, despite the fact that we are a small congregation.



At the end of the fair, the head chaplain invited everyone to participate in a prayer walk. An opportunity to express gratitude and offer our prayers for our nation, for peace or anything else in our hearts. I was just filled with gratitude.... for the good people of faith who spent the day sharing, for freedom of religion, for those who are honest in heart, for this beautiful day in this beautiful country where God has sent us to share his word.

Our religion is often challenged and criticized. We are sometimes not even recognized as Christians, though we are completely devoted to Jesus Christ. That is what made this day of sharing and fellowship all the sweeter. This event will most definitely be a highlight of our Korean Adventure.

When life gives you lotus root, make stir fry!

I have been looking for sweet potatoes since we have been here. Not the deep orange ones that are referred to as yams. I love the light fleshed sweet potatoes that have a milder flavor and firmer texture. The other day I was thrilled to find them being sold by a sidewalk vendor. We purchased four medium sized potatoes for 3,000 won, or $3.00. Not a bad price here in Korea.





As soon as I took them out of the sack I became doubtful that they really were sweet potatoes. I scrubbed the dirt off of one and became even more doubtful. So I cut the end off. If these were sweet potatoes they were the victims of some very creative worms. No! Not sweet potatoes.

I turned to my trusted Korean culture resource, "google". Did a quick search for Korean root vegetables and found out I had purchased lotus root, a popular crunchy vegetable similar to water chestnuts. They can be eaten raw or cooked. Then I googled recipes and found something I could use. So I scrubbed, pealed and sliced the lotus roots. Then I boiled them for 20 minutes. After I drained them I dropped them into hot sesame oil and cooked them another 10 minutes. Then I added a sauce made of brown sugar, soy sauce and ginger. After cooking that until the sauce was absorbed, I added them to a veggie stir fry.

It was actually very good, but I think if I ever again accidentally buy lotus root I might just try it raw!