Home Sweet Home

Yes, I am home, and it feels great. I touched down here in the DC Metro Area last Monday, and I've spent a good three days catching up on sleep and seeing all of my family/friends.

Nothing has changed here that much. Many of my friends are still locked in with many of their gigs that they were doing throughout the year, with the exception of a few getting engaged, one getting a new house, one getting a new job, and one having a baby.

I have been officially gone for almost a year, and its amazing I am back. I can't believe a year went by that fast. Sometimes, when I look back at the past year and coming back home, it feels like I never left. My whole experience in Korea...it feels like a dream to me.

I am slowly getting re-energized. I'm just sleeping in, spending time and joking with my friends, spending time with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and spending time with my parents. I am watching American TV (American Idol is still kicking it), using the computer, and taking care of business such as paying my dues to Uncle Sam.

I also got a PlayStation 3 today, which was awesome. I hardly buy big purchases, but after finishing a long year in Korea, I figured I award myself today with some entertainment and one of the top videogame systems in the world. The system rocks.

I visited my church, First Baptist Church of Waldorf last night. Everything still seems to be intact, yet with new changes in store. They have begun building a new sanctuary near the worship center, which has been a long time coming. The whole church is excited to have a permanent home to worship in and continue to grow and outreach throughout the burgeoning Waldorf suburb.

Coming back home after such a long stay away does bring "re-entry culture shock." The term being self-explanatory, there are some things that I found to be "weird" in coming back to my home country:

1. I can speak English at full speed! As an ESL teacher, I have been conditioned to speak at a slower rate to not confuse my students and teachers alike, and also conditioned not to use too many big words. This can take a toll on the verbal arsenal because I end up talking more slower than expected. Yet it was a great relief to have real, intelligent conversations at all corners with my family, friends, and with employees who help me out at stores.

2. Where are the Koreans? This one is a funny one. Its really funny that after staring at a populace that is homogeneous for most of the year (with the exception of Dave, James, and other foreigners in my circle), my visual contact has been accustomed to Asian people. Now being back again, my eyes are bouncing around to see whites, blacks, Latinos, oh my! Where I am from in Southern Maryland, the Asian population is quite small. Its kind of nice actually to see diversity around this area, the beauty of people's tones that makes our America.

3. Going to the Store/Bank/Restaurant - "I can understand them!" Ha, after a full year of immersing myself in a language learning environment where no one helps you and hardly no one speaks English, its nice to come back and be understood by everyone. However, I really enjoyed my time in Korea where I had to take care of business such as shopping and banking, all in Korean. Those kinds of situations only made me refine my Korean skills and learn from my mistakes. I learned how to order in Korean at restaurants through my mistakes, and I learned new vocabulary by bumbling at the bank or shopping. Yet, it was so cool today to talk to a representative at the bank and have a full-fledged conversation without stopping for understanding. Yea, it was cool.

4. Jokes - American Humor Inside humor is the best. Among one's circles, the jokes come out and you can really let yourself become you when you are around your best friends. Seeing my friends Jon, my brother Sean, Jordan, and my other friend Jon, we can really bring out the Humor Archives of some of the best and worst of our lives, but have a good laugh about them. My body felt so much better as I got to laugh about the memories of the past with my homies.

5. The Politics of America We have a huge election coming up. Its most likely going to be Senator Barack Obama vs. Senator John McCain. This election is not just an election of who is going to lead this country, but the election of the man (or woman) who is going to put trust back to the system. I really believe many of our citizens are fed up with the politics that we see today and the way we are combating the ills of our society (such as poverty, health care issues, and overall direction of our country) and the ills of our world (terrorism, global poverty, AIDS, and economic issues). Well, however you feel on the issues, I see a more resolve and fiery action among the citizenry to become more involved. Its nice to be in America, to follow the news and local events that are crucial for the upcoming elections. Take your pick!

6. Sports I love me some NBA Basketball. Shaq to the Suns, Bibby to the Hawks, Kidd to the Mavericks. Its becoming crazy in the Western Conference. Last night I watched my first NBA live game on TV, and it was Shaquille O'Neal's debut with the Suns no less, as they lost to the more dominant Kobe Bryant/Pau Gasol-led L.A. Lakers. It was an awesome battle and fun to watch from my couch upstairs, late at night with my friend Jordan.

7. Home Simply put, its my house. We've been living there since 2002, and many memories were made there. Its been really cool to be home and just revive my spirit.

Though my time is limited here, I think it will be the right amount of time to gather my thoughts, prepare for the upcoming year, and spiritually get my act together. In some ways, this is true vacation.

Home...and Round Two

I found out I had home leave. Right after I got back from Japan, my friend Dave pops to me that I am supposed to take home leave right before the beginning of my new contract.

So I got back from Japan literally last Sunday. When I found out this piece of news, I have only touch landed in South Korea for one week, in which I will be headed back to America the next.

Three countries in three weeks...I am true road warriors.

So thus ends my first year of teaching English in South Korea. It ends on a successful note. Going home. I miss home. I miss my family and my friends, and I am looking forward for an energon booster to get me going for year two.

I said goodbye to all of my teachers, prinipals, and staff, and of course, my students. My students were sad to see me go, but in the end I have to move and they have to move on.

In a twist of God's Will, He placed in at the same high school I worked at as a guest English teacher over the winter: Hagik Girls High School. As my friend Doug noted, "From one extreme to the other." I moved all of my stuff out from my first apartment and moved to an older, but more bigger apartment, which resembles my friend Bobby's apartment. Props to my friend MoMo for coming out to Incheon and helping me move.

Well, I'm just thankful to God that I got my apartment before I went home...because coming back to a new place with nothing set up would be an absolute logjam while being jet lagged.

But, enough of the worrying. I am tired. I am exhausted. Dave and I duked it out with Japan's natural and artificial wonders for two weeks, I had to pack up everything and move out of my office and apartment in one, while teaching, and try to say a brief goodbye to my Korean family throughout the week. Wow, the plane ride back to the States sounds great about now...sleep!

I'm going to enjoy that plane ride for once.

I'm going to miss Yeonsu High School though, even though I might stop by to say hi now and then. A great staff, great students, and a great English Zone really made the transition much more easier for me to come here to Korea.

I made a huge risk in asking for a school transfer, but the Lord's Will has put me into another good school. I'm looking forward to working with opposite end of the gender spectrum and do alot of comparing while doing classes...its going to be weird.

To even start over again in a new neighborhood is like coming back to Korea all over again: to find the supermarket, to find a bank, to find the local subway station, bus routes...yeah...I was a little stressed out thinking about it. But God kinda told me to just, "relax...go home, and let's take care of things when we get back." So let's go home for two weeks.

Things I want to take care of when I get home:

a. Mexican Food - I miss Mexican food. I'm going to go to Mexico Restaurant and get me some Mexican food.

b. Taxes - I have to pay dues to Mr. Sam sometime

c. Register to vote absentee - someone has to be president by my decision

d. Church - church family is important. I miss First Baptist Church of Waldorf and their support for me this whole year, especially through prayer

e. Rest - no thoughts about Korea

f. Laughter - talk about things that we Americans can understand, especially humor

g. Fellowship - catch up on a year's worth of fellowship within two weeks with my family and friends in Christ

h. Sleep - I never get enough

So, Goodbye Yeonsu as I open the chapter to Hagik...only God can use me to be an effective tool for his Kingdom.

Mark 9 says, "'If you can?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for him who believes.'"

2008, I believe.

Byakkotai

I've been to Japan for almost one whole week, and the experience has already been special.

I tackled the huge monster called Tokyo for one week. Let me tell, it was chaos! Tokyo is one of the most dense cities in the entire world, so everywhere was just an onrush of humanity. Good thing my new travel partner Dave and I stayed in a hostel on the outskirts of the city, because it was absolute madness. My first hostel experience was awesome. Very friendly staff, and the travellers come from all parts of the world who are friendly and very open-minded to new cultures. Obviously you sort of have to be or else you will have a hard time travelling. So staying in Tokyo was really great because I got to sight-see during the day, and come back to a very friendly hostel that has great people you can meet and share your adventures with. I met people from Europe, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Korea. What was even more neater was to listen and learn about some of these people's hopes and ambitions for life. Some want to study Japanese, some want to live here in Japan, and some just want to see the world. We all have a story to share.

Tokyo has so much to offer, something will have to click according to your hobbies or interests. For me its the history and the cultural relics. For others it could be the international flavor in the Roppongi district, Japanese youth culture in Shibuya (and the awesome crosswalk that you see on TV where there are four crosswalks filled with people, while surrounded by huge, neon-lit buildings), the entertainment districts in Shinjuku, and the quiet parks in Ueno. So it had something for everybody. Dave and I were really keen in the Akihabara District, which offers girl and boy geeks their fantasies in the form of manga, or Japanese comics, or anime, Japanese animation, or other major stores containing all their electronic needs. There were videogames galore, which was very tempting and fun for my hands to press the buttons of a Japanese Nintendo DS.

We spent a few days in some cities in Northern Japan, thanks to our train pass that allows us unlimited rides on the Shinkansen, or bullet train, in the northern areas of Japan. Getting out of Tokyo was so tight just because you can see what the "burbs" are like. The town we stayed at last night, Aizu-Wakamatsu, reminds of a small midwestern town in Illinois. Very quaint and low key, and the mountains surrounding the city just made it seem like Colorado-like. Even Japanese style fast-food restaurants seemed to resemble their American counterparts as they lined up the small streets. People seemed more friendly and more laid-back compared to the city folk, as a I met two Japanese ajumma who helped us with directions, but proceeded to ask me questions about my background...in Japanese! With whatever Japanese skills that I derived from my textbook, I managed my first basic converastion in Japanese...that was a riot!

Aizu-Wakamatsu is a famous samurai castle town. It has an awesome samurai villa (we couldn't see it due to time contraints), a huge castle called Tsuruga, and a shrine on Imori Mountain. One of the most famous of samurai stories in all of Japan took place in Aizu-Wakamatsu, which tells the story of the "Byakkotai," or the White Tigers. The Byakottai were a group of 20 teenage samurai warriors who fought in the Boshin Wars of 1868. They were all just a mere 15 or 16 years old as they were recruited and trained to fight against the newly formed Meiji Imperial Government. In a tragic twist of fate, after fighting against the government near Tsuruga Castle (which we saw today), they retreated to nearby Imori Mountain, which we also saw today. There, as they rested, believed to have saw their castle and feudal kingdom being burned to the ground. In anguish and in honor, the warriors, all teenage boys, killed themselves through "seppuku," or ritual disembowelment. They did this as an honor and to remain loyal to the Aizu clan to whom they served. However, in a tragic twist of fate, the castle was not destroyed by the government, it was just the surrounding countryside that was on fire. The fall of Aizu would not come for weeks.

Basically, they killed themselves for nothing. Only one teen survived, a 14-year old who lied to get into the Byakottai unit, and he went on to tell what happened. As I went through the castle, I saw portraits of these young guys who killed themselves to keep their honor, all young faces eager for battle. It hit home for some odd reason.

In one part of my mind, I was like, "why did you waste your life like that?" Then, despite what seemed to be a waste of life, there is a method to their madness. Jesus says, "those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life will save it." These boys were headstrong, energetic, but so ready to fight and die for their lord.

I think about all the missionaries and Christians in the world who go to dangerous situations and give up their livelihood to spread the Gospel. Many have paid with their lives with it. I saw sometimes wonder about their bravery and their willingness to go the distance with Jesus. Its a fascinating thing to read, for example, North Koreans going back to their country just to share the Gospel. That's bravery, honor, and loyalty to our Lord.

So through this historical tour of Aizu-Wakamatsu, Tsuruga-jo ("Jo" means castle in Japanese), and the Byakkotai Memorial on Imori Mountain...I learned about one major aspect about samurai life that shows how dedicated some of these warriors are...to loyal and to serve their Lord to the end.

Do I have enough faith and gusto to serve my Lord and Master till the end? Looks like I need more training now...

For now, I am a Samurai who needs more training.

Its V-Time: Vacation Time

Jyea! I'm outta here tomorrow.

I'll be rolling in Japan for a while, so if I happen to find a PC, I'll put some entries about my escapades in the Land of the Rising Sun.

I finished three straight weeks of winter camps, two at my school, and one at the local girls high school. It was like a race to the finish, and the finish line smells real good after all that hard work.

Props to God for giving me patience, to enjoy the experience of 2007, and teaching me new things. Japan is going to rock!

I'm out.

Appreciating Differences

"...and Japan also believed that everyone from the outside looking at Japan thought this way as well (that everyone in Japan is essentially the same). They are teaching them 'everyone is the same.' Everyone is the same, so you don't discriminate. But in fact, indifference, disregard, basically the lack of appreciation for peoples' differences becomes discrimination."

- Dr. Yasunori Fukuoka

Saitama University


I was watching a report on Al-Jazeera English TV (on YouTube) about the plight and struggle of the Zainichi Koreans living in Japan, who face discrimination if they reveal their identities as Koreans. The above statement is very profound because it is so true in our world today, and my thoughts about the professor's insight kept rolling.


We live in a world that is globalizing. With communication and travelling become more accessible and cheaper, more people are on the move. People's curiosity about the outside world have never lived in a prime time of opportunity to pounce on their desire to seek and sightsee places of other cultures. That's why I'm going to Japan again! Jyea!


I think the biggest challenge for societies, especially in East Asian countries like Korea and Japan, is how will they cope with this trend? Living in South Korea for ten months now, one of the biggest fads for future is "we are the future hub of Asia," aka hub for technology, transport, and economic cooperation. Koreans are trying to make their society improve by making it English-friendly (which they've done especially well), implement English instruction in the classrooms, and recruiting all sorts of foreigners for works of all kinds. Trends for success? We'll see.


At first glance, Korea is a wonderful country built on a strong economic uprising (even though it got somewhat rocked in the late 90s due to the major financial fallout). It is home to some of the most powerful companies in the world (Samsung, Hyundai, KIA, GM-Daewoo, POSCO, LG), and a society that is very modernized and well off.


But for some friends and I, becoming comfortable is a difficult task. Being a foreigner, I have alot to offer this country. Globalizing means to share in each other's cultural assets and improving on them, to create inter-cultural understanding.


Yet, one of the interesting things about Koreans, especially in very remote places in South Korea, they have hardly seen or met foreigners. They stare at them (I too am a foreigner, but I attract less attention because I fit in better, until I speak English) and some like to point, which is rude to us. To them its not rude, and they are just being curious.

My quick and major point is that to really become globalized is to change your way of thinking. It does not mean you have to sell out your culture so that you can suck up to the English-speaking world. On the contrary it means to adapt and showcase your culture in a way that people can understand it.

One writer, Maarten Meijer, wrote in a book called What's So Great About Korea, Maarten? that Korea has this "us or them" mentality. Basically its us (Korea) versus the world. "Our culture is unique, only Koreans can understand it, you can't touch it."

Yet slowly and surely, the trends are changing. I'm seeing more mixed couples in the street, usually a male foreigner and a Korean woman, a more diverse foreign community here in Incheon/Seoul, and a more influx of foreign influences. What Korea can start doing is take the English education that they are so desperate for and start using it, share their culture with us! That's one of my purposes of coming here...to share with my students that there is a world out there for the taking, and I want to learn from them.

The older generation, though appreciative of the foreign influences that helped shape Korea for the better, seem not ready for change. They want to keep the culture and way of life intact. They sometimes distrust foreigners because of the stuff they see on TV or from the stereotypes they get from films or the general media. They are not sure these new trends of globalization will benefit them or start to change their people for the worse.

The solution is that you don't have to change your country...just appreciate the differences from your new friends, the foreigners, and add the things that you can use to help improve your society. Appreciation means saying, "wow, that's neat they are from that culture. Tell me more." Indifference means "wow, that's weird. Don't tell me more."

Appreciation or indifference? Take your pick. Look at my country or South Africa to see the reprucussions of the latter. It can be done.

Back to Japan...Return of the Dragon

Classes are out for the winter break...but since Korea is the bastion of educational junkies, classes are not really out for winter break. From 8-12PM everyday, there are "supplemental classes" to make sure the children stay on top of their game. I know, its crazy in this country when it comes to the amount of effort kids put into education and you wonder why these kids just take a "huge nap," but you have to realize what it comes down to: competition. The other kid may get some more "education" (tutoring) elsewhere, so "I must take this extra class to stay ahead of the game." Its a tough life for the young one in this nation, but I know the system will crack sometime...

Another topic. Weather has warmed up recently after a spell of vicious Siberian winds pounding the peninsula lately. Today was a gorgeous day in Seoul, South Korea, as I went to my Korean class and went through the shopping district of Myeong-dong with a friend of mine.

I have to conduct three winter camps this January: two for my 1st and 2nd level students at Yeonsu High School, and recently I volunteered to take on a camp at a local girls' high school in another district in Incheon. I will definitely enjoy this period because I can work with a less amount of kids, be more relaxed with my boys, and just flat out have fun. What will get interesting is how this girls' camp is going to run, because I have never taught English to a bunch of lady students...we'll see the results in a few weeks.

Now, to the title of the post..."Back to Japan." For my winter break, I decided to go back to Japan. I just can't get enough of the Land of the Rising Sun! My teachers were also curious why I wanted to go back a second time.

The reason I'm going back is simple: I just like it. That's it. Its modern enough, and in some ways, more neo-futuristic enough to keep you amazed (in the cities) while maintaining a historical and natural aura to keep your mind engaged. Japan is historical and advanced in many ways, from technology (robotics and electronics) to its olden samurai eras (the many Shogunates that lead the chaotic nation).

Also, in respects to Korea, the two nations are similar enough to have some realistic expectations about their societies: such as top-down social orders, Asian work ethics and laws, and a sense of restraint and discipline to their peoples. So I have some sense of what I'm getting into when I enter a Japanese city.

However, the differences between Japanese and Koreans are different as night and day. I want to go back to do more "social/cultural" comparing between the two nations. I also want to practice and try more Japanese, which is clearly minimal now at the moment, but its a language that I eventually want to learn.

Perhaps this time around I can make more Japanese friends and perhaps a pen pal. That would be kinda cool.

So, towards the end of January, my new travel partner, Dave, and I will step back into the land of the Rising Sun...and see where God takes us as we take another angle on what life is like in East Asia.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, everybody.

I hope you make new plans, goals, and work hard to achieve them. Stay healthy, enjoy your life because you are created by God, and continue to grow in Him.

2008 is going to be...in the words of Tony the Tiger: "Grrrrrrrrreeeat!"