US from Korean Viewpoints

Something that never ceases to amaze me is the dramatically different views that Korea has about their country that Americans don't.

I learned a lot today when I went to the DMZ.  I didn't actually go inside it, nor saw any North Koreans.  However did many other things of which I will blog about shortly.

Anyrate, South Korea is really mad, evidently, at our former president George Bush Jr.  The US had been eating, hugging, and hanging out with North Korea with peace talks underway and the nuclear program suspended when ... three months later... George Bush is elected president and gets up front to make a speech.  He calls North Korea the axis of evil along with Iraq and Iran.  North Korea gets upset and asks for reassurances that the US is still willing to work on improving their relations... the US doesn't respond.  South Koreans  point out that we then attacked Iraq, one of the axis of evil that we named.  They said North Korea was afraid they were next and that is why they returned to their weapons research.

Also learned that North Korea won't harm any Chinese, their only ally left.  So if they attack, go to Jeju Island there there are a lot of Chinese ^_^

And learned that South Korea also doesn't like CNN.  CNN evidently is still in the teenage years of life making a big dramatic deal over nothing.  South Koreans don't like Korean being called one of the dangerous spots in the world nor that this area is most likely to have a nuclear war.  They enjoy pointing out all the reasons why CNN is wrong.  I have to say, I agree with them.  No need to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

Photoshoot

With normal Korean style, someone can after one of my classes and said we were needed outside.  So all us foreigners walked outside to discover they were doing a photoshoot for their International Program.  The one day all week I did anything nice with my hair.  Good thing too.  Feel bad for the other teachers though.  Willis was trying not to fall over (he is sick) and Geoff basically did fall over (he is really sick).  It was a long 40 minutes.  I had fun and am hoping that this time around, they will give me a digital copy of the pics they took of me.  They have a lot of pictures of me.  I would like to have them.

Salsa

In Korea, there is a large problem with human trafficking just as there is anywhere else in the world.  Sadly, many of the women who have found themselves in this position have come about it because they went into dept and were unable to pay back what they owed.  They took the only option left, as who wants to go to prison.

A lot of it is illegal and many find themselves trapped in a life they don't want and can't leave.  In an effort to help raise awareness of human trafficking, a group that promotes awareness decided to hold a fundraiser.  They had a salsa dance night with drinks and food for all.  I went an hour early for just the dance lesson.

Learned the basic step and attempted to learn two basic moves.  Very clean dance that is requires a lot of feet movement.  Had fun and found out what dancing is like with a good partner versus someone who doesn't know what to do with his feet or is off on the timing.

It was good exercise, but by the time I finished I was worn out.  A professor from Daegu University had heard I was coming downtown and hung out with me.  Was nice to have someone there to make sure I was okay.  He made sure I got back to Gyeongsan and on a bus okay.

Salvation

I had a boy translate the sermon for me one Sabbath.  He tried his best but was having trouble.  It ended up coming out like this.  "God retrieved us back up there by having Jesus take on our problems."  That isn't exact but pretty darn close.  I rather like it.  Simple and to the point.

Firefighter

I was tutoring my little elementary kids today.  I asked what firefighters did in our lesson on the word "service."  The little boy replied that firefighters made fire die.  That they killed the fire.  Both his mother and I bursted into laughter.

Visitors

Today we had visitors from America come visit our school.  Several of them I know from the SDA Washington Conference.  I hadn't met the others nor had really any time to talk to them.  I wanted to so bad.  I couldn't stop staring.  There was Americanism and Westernism just dripping off of them and their very appearance screamed HOME.  We got some pictures before they had to move on.  I am eager to get copies, even if it wasn't my best hair day.

Missed My Calling

I just had the most amazing evening in the world.

I tutored two elementary aged kids.  A brother and a sister.  They are the most sweet, cute kids I have ever tutored.  I couldn't believe it.  Have I missed my calling?  Was it the tutoring or was it working with younger kids?  Which was it?