It's my turn...and it's also my debut! After one year in the books, I was asked by my husband to post a blog about being in Korea for one year. I think I know what he was thinking now as I sit here and wonder just how someone gives a brief overview of a year. Moments stand out to us, but even then, those don't do justice for what our minds and hearts have experienced. One year of anything is always significant. Although we signed a 14-month contract, one year is still important to us.
And so we celebrate.
It was one year ago that we were shaking in our winter boots a little bit as we were dropped off at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at 5 a.m. with a one-way ticket in our hands to Seoul, South Korea with a time-frame in mind of over a year. Woah. We were off to teach English to we didn't know quite who and well, where we were going to live? We didn't quite know that, either...
14 month's worth packed away in bags
Ready to go, but not before falling flat on my back on that dang big, black bag!
Our boss picked us up at the Seoul-Incheon Airport. We drove to Ilsan, South Korea late that night to meet his wife who had been prepping our one person, studio apartment in an office-tel shared with restaurants and other businesses. After meeting her and listening to a quick tutorial about the place, we went straight to bed only to wake up at 3 a.m. and unpack. You know... stay a while.
Apt. 504 after some minor re-arrangements
It was the next day that I distinctly remember. Our boss' wife came to pick me and Peter up to take a look at the school just down the street. Before we headed there, she brought us through the bakery in the lobby of our office-tel. That morning I heard Mercy Me's, "Here With Me". I reflected on those lyrics later and journaled about them that week. These were words that I thought were so affirming to hear that morning, but that also have dictated our time here thus far.
And I can feel your presence here with me.
Suddenly I'm lost within Your beauty...
You're everywhere I go.
I am not alone.
It has been so evident that we haven't been alone, although the distance has caused its challenges and heartaches throughout certain seasons. We've clung to the promise that God does not sleep. He has watched over us by day and night for the past year and we trust He will continue to do so as we wrap up this chapter in our lives. We've been able to see His beauty in so many different things here that it's almost overwhelming. We've been blessed and there's not a week that goes by that we don't pinch ourselves at least once or twice and say, "We're living in Korea right now."
Come, allow me to take you down Memory Lane as I sift through so many pictures it's not even funny. It's actually confusing.
First Korean BBQ at "Hole in the Wall Palace", named by foreigner co-workers
Crazy Namdaemun Market in Seoul
Me and my gals, Chloe and Charlotte
Trying to keep up with our little guys daily (Taken at an SLP field trip)
Pete's first time skiing
Hiking. Nothing I did before...something that I'm becoming accustomed to!
Creeping on some joyful families in Tokyo, Japan. We had loads of fun traveling to different countries around Korea.
Entertainment in Ilsan. The Spectacular Musical Fountain.
I couldn't have made it without this place-Lake Park. It was my Minnesota, a 5 min. walk away from our apartment.
Guests. Couldn't have made it without them, either! -Devin and Brooke in August-
-Drew and Meg in April-
My parents, Nanc and Ran, in August
Michael Bumann and Caleb in October
We are never disappointed when we have a chance to get out of "the city".
There's no time nor the energy to look through all of our pictures to find all of the incredible people who have come into our lives this year. Many have gone, but we're becoming used to the fact that that's life as a foreigner in Korea. We're so thankful for our co-workers who were so hospitable from the first time we met them and who we continue to have great Friday or Saturday night dinners with. We're incredibly grateful for the church family that we have in Seoul and the lasting friendships that have formed within that body. We have had a blast this past year reminiscing old times and experiencing crazy, new stuff with fellow Bethel alumni who have made the trek themselves to pay off student loans while teaching English in Korea. I think we're up to 9 now?! We've fallen in love with Korea, its people and its culture. Many, many Koreans have reached out to us despite our stupidity involving getting around their city and our lack of knowledge about their language.
We don't want to say we're anxiously counting down the days here in the remaining months ahead, but we're very much looking forward to reuniting with friends and family back in the States. The last year has exceeded our wildest dreams about living overseas and has allowed us to accomplish goals and take in more of this planet. Our contract isn't over yet. We have open classes, Christmas celebrations and parties, vacation in the Philippines, a celebration of another new year, weeks of more teaching and graduation for "our babies", as we like to refer to them as, and hopefully a bit more travel.
We're excited for the journey ahead!
Pete has also made a video commemorating our one year. As the file is too big for blogger, click the link below to see the video. You may need to wait for it to load.
