Y

YOGURT

Okay...actually, drinkable yogurt - sometimes it comes taped to milk jugs, we have it for dessert at work, and the bank gives them out!

X

XYLOPHONE

just jammin' at 삼성지역아동센터 

[my children's center]

W

WATER DISPENSER - WEIRD FISH

This snazzy thing lives in our kitchen. It is a water filter that dispenses both cold and hot water. It is quite convenient, and they can be found everywhere: homes, restaurants, school buildings, community centers, etc...

Uncle Simon suggested this weird fish be part of my 'W' blog, so here it is! It was part of my lunch yesterday [apparently after spending some time in a blender]. Yum?

V

VULNERABILITY

This year I have watched quite a few TED Talks. TED stands for technology, entertainment, design and "is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading." I have watched talks about everything from education to running to heart disease to food to introverts to energy and even a prank by Improv Everywhere, but I wanted to share with you one by Brené Brown called The Power of Vulnerability.

I think the word vulnerable has always brought to mind an image of Achilles' heel rather than an opportunity to connect and live. I have begun to think of it differently. 

"There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community."

-M. Scott Peck

U

UNRESOLVED PROBLEM?

solution:

가위, 바위, 보

[g/ka-wi, ba-wi, bo]

scissors, rock, paper

가위

 

바위

 

 보

Yes, it is pretty much the same as rock, paper, scissors in the United States but played much more frequently and a variety of ways [in a big group, with a song, etc...].

T

TAEKWONDO

Last semester Mr. Hong, a University Church member, invited us to his taekwondo 장 to learn some moves while experiencing a part of Korean culture. We started out going every Friday, but around Christmas he asked if we would like to start coming 3 times a week during the next year...OF COURSE!

We were the tallest students in the class, yet started, like everyone does, at the bottom of the totem pole, with white belts:

안녕하세요

Since then, we have moved up to green with a blue stripe and have a test in two weeks, where we will hopefully upgrade to blue with a brown stripe. The colors go white, yellow, green, blue, brown, red, and...BLACK!

For each test we usually have to do a form, a few kicks, some fitness activities, and break a board. There are 8 태극 forms which are sort of like choreographed fighting dances and remind me just how bad I am at remembering dances...Maybe it's okay because I really enjoy the kicking!

 기합

Nicknames continue at taekwondo: glasses master, laughing master, uni, bear & lemur [quite a dynamic duo], lil mama, lil nugget, Harry Potter, and lady master. 

Participating in taekwondo has led to a few enjoyable things outside of class too: 

We went to a an exhibition at Kyung Hee University [the #1 taekwondo school in Korea] where watched an awesome performance by the students, ate lunch, wandered around the campus, and then learned a few new tricks.    

I have been able to bond [though Konglish and laughter] with one of the teachers from my center when she occasionally takes me from work to class.

We started eating and Englishing [that probably removes all confidence you once had in my English teaching abilities...] with Mr. Hong's wife and son.

twinzies with lady master!

Thomas went on a bike ride with fellow taekwondoers!

[pictures arriving soon] 

 

I have also created a list of things not to eat before taekwondo: anchovies, kim, dinner with Reverend 최...

Those foods aside, it has been an excellent experience to make new friends, spend time with a few youth group members, and practice 태권도. I am so thankful that Mr. Hong invited us!   

rocking our yellow belts

 removing a splinter #totalmasterhongmove

S

SWEET POTATOES

Korean sweet potatoes are white on the inside! In the fall we visited 2 youth group members' house, ate lunch, and picked sweet potatoes. It was a very nice time!

 sweet potatoes

 working hard!

 so many for everyone to take home!

lunch [not pictured: chips and salsa - yum!]

 

and of course 'V' for victory