"Sometimes I pray, sometimes I meditate, sometimes I float around like a cloud."

마곡사: (MA-GOK-SA) 

       This weekend I spent my time about four hours outside of Seoul at a Buddhist Temple, famous for it's original buildings and paintings.  I came to Korea in hopes of finding new ideas about life and how other's live it.  I must say, being in a temple for two days, and living the lifestyle of a monk, has definitely helped me to fulfill that want.  Doing a temple stay has not been the most exciting thing that I have done so far in Korea, in fact, it's probably one of the most boring.  However, I think sometimes, something that I need to realize, is that everything in life does not have to be a giant exciting adventure in order to sit high on your list of incredible moments.  I think something that I took from this experience is that, sometimes, it is okay to just BE, and appreciate the beauty in what surrounds you every day.  You do not need to climb a tall mountain, jump out of a plane, or mud wrestle to feel exhilarated. You can find solace in just your thoughts alone, if someone teaches you how to understand them. When asking a monk what he does every day at the temple, his response was as follows, "Sometimes I pray, sometimes I meditate, sometimes I float around like a cloud. Sometimes I am happy, and sometimes, I am sad." I will forever remember these words... simple, pure, and honest.

      We arrived at the temple around 2pm in the afternoon. We were given traditional clothing, which we quickly changed into, and made our way into a room where we sat with a monk and had tea with him.  I don't know what it was about this holy place or about being in the presence of a monk that was so exhilarating to me.  I suppose a monk is no different than a priest in my religion at home, yet, I could not help but wonder, why this experience felt so different.  I think to me, I see monks as such pure and spiritual beings.  Their focus is not solely on the idea of worshiping a higher being, but being in harmony with yourself, and the world around you.  True harmony based on the belief of reaching happiness and putting aside greed and other sufferings. He spoke so honestly.  He was both sincere and extremely humorous.  He made countless sarcastic jokes, keeping the moment light, while still answering all of our questions about the religion seriously. 

       We filled the majority of our time at the temple with meditation, prayer, meal times, some chores, and some walking around the temple.  On Sunday morning we were awoken at 3:30am in the morning for prayer.  We quickly arose and made our way to the main temple, where we then followed a chanting monk in circles around the outside of the temple.  This was one of my favorite moments.  It was before dusk, therefore, the moonlight was still guiding us, and I was the first person in line behind the monk.  As he lead us in circles around the temple, he hummed, struck a wooden instrument, and sang a Buddhist prayer, stopping twice at each mid point of the temple to bow.  As we followed behind him, hands in folded position, and bowing to the Buddha at the appropriate time, I could not help but feel worldly. I can not even begin to express what was going through my mind during all of this.  It was somewhere on the spectrum between being breathlessly astonished to being in some sort of disbelief of where I was and what was occurring. After he completed the prayer walk, he lead us inside the temple, where we knelt, bowed, and followed the prayers of three monks. Aside from not knowing what to do or say, I basked in the beauty of the religion I did not know, and how devote they were.

        Meditation was quite different than I had expected.  We were told how to sit, and how to breathe, as well as what to think of.  In my experience, meditation has always been about clearing your mind of any thoughts and reaching a point of complete peace and relaxation.  Buddhists seem to meditate in order to attain an understanding for life, life's sufferings, and what we are here for.  Before the monk struck his wooden wand three times as an indication that the meditation had begun, he instructed us to focus on who we are, where we came from, and where we are going.  As we sat in silence he paced the room, making sure that no one was sleeping.  Fifty minutes of meditation goes by so slow when you are sitting in complete silence and darkness... however, if the rain was good for anything this weekend, it was a nice accent during this time.  I can't say I got very far with my meditation, however.  I didn't feel what I was hoping to feel. My mind wandered from there to Timbuktu.  I think I need to practice.

        Aside for tea time with a monk, my two favorite parts of the temple stay were doing 108 prostrations (bows) and making our own prayer beads.  We all knew going into this that we would have to do 108 consecutive bows and pretty much every one of us were worried about this portion of the stay.  The bows require you to go from standing position to having 5 points on the ground (two knees, two elbows, and forehead) and then back to standing position. The entire movement from standing to floor to standing again is one full bow.  We had to do this 108 times continuously.  Each bow had a purpose in lowering your heart and washing away your soul from the impurities.  With each bow, we were lowering ourselves to the ground, and as we did this as we were ridding ourselves of the sufferings of within our soul (jealous, hatred, greed, anger, resentment) and filling ourselves with peace.  Each bow was for a reason, for example: "I bow to be diligent in my efforts to improve myself. I bow to be thankful for the hard times I have had because they have made me strong. I bow for the times I have used angry words towards others.  I bow for the times I have taken my parents for granted.  I bow for the times I have failed to be thankful to all those who help to provide my shelter. I bow for the people who are working in bad conditions.  I bow for the people who work to provide me with healthy food.  I bow to have a generous mind, even if I do not have enough for myself.  I bow for the precious lives of all the children in the world.  I bow for the times I have taken things for granted.  I bow for the times I have used slander to hurt others.  I bow for humility so that I can always put others first."  Although doing 108 bows in a row was strenuous, I really appreciated this part of my visit. I truly thought about what each bow meant, and how it pertained to me and I felt more at peace when it was over.  I also really enjoyed making prayer beads.  The prayer beads has 108 beads on it and can be used as a tool for counting when you are doing your 108 bows.  The monk also told us to keep it with us always and when we are feeling overcome by suffering to use the prayer beads. It is a symbol of the perfect you.  As we made the beads we were told to envision ourselves building a perfect model of ourselves where our hearts are lowered and we are at peace with ourselves and the world.  When we need a reminder of ourselves in that perfect state, we can reflect with the prayer beads.  It is a circle and represents us and our lives as a circle, continuously changing and accepting what life brings to us.

Although the rain was quite a buzz kill for the weekend, and I had to wake up at ridiculous hours, do some chores, and eat yucky vegetarian food, I have a new found appreciation  and respect for the Buddhist religion, as well as those who practice it.  I have to say, I am enlightened just to know that there are people in this world who strive for peace and happiness in this way.  It is truly amazing.

                                              Magoksa Temple

                               This is where the monks ring the bell before each meal time.

            <3 the monk who shared tea and conversation with us. he was an inspiration.

                                       Inside the temple... three Buddha's.

                                 My prayer beads, a true treasure.

           

one fine day.

It's been a while and so I suppose it's about that time.  Tonight, as I arrived home at 11:00pm on a Monday night, I decided that my day had left me feeling too content and light to just go to bed without reflecting on it... and my "Iced Americano" has left me too awake.

Moments. We all have them.  Moments of random happiness, inspiration, sadness, realization, contentment. Today I had a million moments. An exaggeration, maybe, but a well deserved one.  Today was probably one of the most beautiful days in Seoul that I have experienced since moving into my apartment. Today, I truly FELT spring.  Everything about it was wonderful.  The sun was shining, the window hung open beside me at work, my desktop orchid basked in the glowing sun, and I was well suited for it in my new spring dress.  I am always happy to see my students' faces on Monday morning. It might be the start of a new work week, but they make it worth it.  I couldn't help but smile each time a new period began and I greeted my students with "Isn't it BEAUTIFUL outside today!"  I received a lot of responses... from blank stares, to "Teacher NO.. I don't like the sun."

At 1:40pm, when my last class left my room... all I could do was sit and contemplate a nice long walk and wonder which direction the city would take me.  At 4:40pm, I was out the doors and on my way through city streets, tall city buildings, and rays of sunshine.  I walked for two hours from Wolgye Station to Myeonmok Station..

It was there where I finally met up with some friends, Aileen and Cameron.  Korean BBQ and Baskin Robins... pretty typical for the three of us.  It was what happened after that really took me to a happy place.  We started walking, originally to locate and purchase some strawberries at a locate market, yet somehow ended up blowing bubbles in the city streets, making small Korean children smile, conversing with a local drunken bubble loving old Korean man, and inspiring everyone in the park to purchase bubbles of their own.

In passing, I caught a glimpse of some sword and light saber shaped bubble rods... a must have, I told my friends.  I made my way into the store to make the purchase as the Korean women behind the counter giggled at the three of us relentlessly.  No time wasted, we popped those bad boys open and went right to it on the sidewalk outside the store.  From twirls to full on struts up and down the sidewalk, we danced about and played.  Koreans walked by, either staring at us blankly or simply smiling (two younger guys offered to take our picture).  As we decided to take it across the street to the park, where it seemed less distracting and more free... we were bombarded by a drunken Korean man who wanted to take part in our shenanigans. He attempted to speak a slur of Korean to me just before taking the wand out of my hand and playing with us.  As he made bubbles, he laughed, asked where we were from, flung the wand around while making goofy gestures,  and then went on with his night.  He was kind and fun and really made our night much more entertaining.  At the same time, Aileen noticed a little girl behind her dancing in the bubbles while smiling back and forth at her mother and the bubbles floating around her.  While we waited for the green walking man to cross the street, we blew some bubbles for her and then made our way over to the small park. Just before the little girl ran off, Aileen caught her and gave her bubble wand to her.  She was thrilled, as was Aileen, as she watched her play, knowing that she took part in the smile on her face.  Again, people walked by... smiling or just passing on with their night.  We continued playing, while the small children around us started to join in.  A small boy, about four years old ran circles around us popping our bubbles and dancing in them.  As I bent down to let him try to blow some himself, I saw his face light up, and he ran back to his mother giggling like a happy clam.  Cameron on the other hand had a slightly older crowd of middle school girls in uniforms watching him.  As Aileen and I prompted him to turn and blow bubbles for them, they cheered and blushed. On and on and on it went... we were making people smile. As we continued, we started to notice something... bubbles... coming from other directions.  We started a trend, an inspiration you might say.  People around us had gone to the store across the street and purchased bubbles of their own. As we stopped and noticed what was going on, a feeling of amazement just enveloped my body.  What a wonderful thing that was happening right before our eyes.  I walked over and gave my bubbles to the four year old as his mother thanked me and urged him to, smiles on both of their faces.  I stopped and looked around before we decided to move on.  The little girl, the four year old boy, the middle school girls, and the parents who were watching over their children... simple and pure enjoyment brought on by soapy water. Could it be? In a world where the young grow up too fast and the old forget what it feels like to be young... we sparked a bubble movement. On we went with our evening... as I walked away from the park and we left our bubble rods to others, I felt pure happiness.... and what a wonderful feeling it was. Mission accomplished.

"You are never too old to be young... and maybe sometimes we just need to play so that we don't forget that."<3

"Seoul New Way of Life"

         It’s hard to believe that one month ago, today, I was just boarding United, destination: KOREA.  Now, I’m just living everyday life here.  What a wonderful adventure it has been so far and to think, I still have eleven wonderful months of adventure ahead of me!  I must say, a trip such as this is not what you expect it to be.  When planning a journey such as this, you become inspired by the idea of seeing all of these elaborate things that another country has to offer (the temples, mountains, green tea fields, festivals, art, etc).  In a way, you expect to move here and to constantly have your breath taken away or to be in a continuous state of awe.  In reality, it is not like that.  Perhaps if it were a short trip, it would be, but this is everyday life.  It’s get up every day, make breakfast, go to work, cook, clean, and socialize, EVERY DAY life. But you know what? It’s AMAZING.  The truth is that I lose my breath every day, and it’s not because I see golden temples on my way to work each day (although I have seen some beautiful temples!).  It’s because this city is enormous and I am so small and it’s impossible to get your fill.  It’s because I find different things beautiful here than I did back at home.  It’s because every day on my way to work, I can pin point the exact spot where the sun will hit my face, just between two massive buildings where there is just enough room for the sun to break through.  It’s because every day I feel a sense of independence and happiness because I know that I followed my heart and my dreams and I got myself here. So no, I do not see these amazing things that I expected to each day.  But I do see new things and incredible things each day- whether it’s a woman carrying a bag of garbage on her head down a side street, the view crossing over the Hahn River by subway at night, or Korean children playing on the sidewalks safely and unharmed in the city- it still takes my breath away.

                Seoul: The third largest city in the world? With pretty much the lowest crime rates?- I’ve never felt so safe.  I feel at peace walking during the day and even at night, with the city lights guiding my way, I never feel I have to look over my shoulder.  Small children walk alone here, next to strangers and city towers that engulf their shadows, and they are safe- no doubt about it.  I would have to say that traffic here is more of a threat than people are.  And seriously, if you don’t see the green running man- for God’s sake, don’t walk. 

                So is it an adjustment being here? Well sure, I’d be crazy to say it’s not.  It’s everyday life, sure, but sometimes the small adjustments can be the harder ones because you don’t expect them to affect you like they do.  A big adjustment is the language barrier but luckily you can get around that by becoming a really great actor, learning to use your hands when you speak, speaking super slowly--- and, oh… learning the language.  Small adjustments: coffee shops don’t open until 12pm, but they also stay open until  11:30, students bowing to you when they see you on the streets (oh yes), learning what to buy at the grocery store, no street names, and the fact that blue cheese is literally nonexistent (come on people)!  

                So all this talk about everyday life and you’re probably wondering what it’s like here for me.  Here’s the run down.  So I live on the 7^th floor in an apartment in Wolgye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul, Korea.  I wake up in the morning at 645am.  I can shower, pee, and brush my teeth at the same time in my magical shathroom and I eat breakfast in my bitchen.  Every day, I have an 8 minute walk to my school, YeonJi Elementary.  I listen to my ipod on my way there; pass by some of my students who giggle upon seeing me, and greet the crossing guard with a warm smile, a bow of the head, and a friendly “annyeonghasseyo!”

                On average, I teach between 3 and five classes a day, including mostly fifth and sixth graders and a few third and fourth graders.  My students put a smile on my face every day.  I love teaching English here and my kids have told my co-teacher that my class is exciting, which absolutely makes my day.  When I’m not teaching, I am “desk-warming,” which consists of lesson planning, attempting to learn some Korean online, and ohhhhh um, facebooking.  I leave every day at 4:40- walk my 8 minutes home and take it from there.  I usually end up going for dinner or drinks (which usually consists of around a 30 minute subway ride).  Wing night is on Tuesdays in Itaewon (a very Americanized area in Seoul) and other than that we just kind of play it by ear day to day.  I’m so thankful for the many friends that I have made here.  So far it’s been one of the best experiences about my trip.  I have literally made friends from all over the world, including: America, England, Australia, South Africa, Ireland Canada, etc. I feel so blessed to have made such good friends already in such a short amount of time.  When I’m not with them during the evenings, I usually spend my time cleaning my apartment, planning more for school, enjoying the coffee shop on the first floor of my apartment complex, and browsing the city with my camera and ipod.

                Weekends are just completely out of this world.  Seoul’s night life is ridiculous and unreal.  When staying out until 6am is the norm- it’s likely that you’re not where you think you are, you are actually living in Seoul.  The subway stops at 12, and most bars don’t really seem to close, so most people just stay out until the first subway starts up again at 5AM.  This seems to usually result in losing your friends, falling asleep on the subway on the way home and missing your stop, paying a large taxi fee in order to get home earlier, or crashing at someone’s place, a DVD room, or a jimjilbang (spa where you can pay around 4,000 won (4 USD) to sleep on a heated floor for a few hours.)  Things and places we like for night life here: Itaewon pubs, Hongdae night clubs, norebangs (singing rooms… like karaoke in the states but ten times better and in a private room) and oh… SOJU.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the city, my friends, and the last month’s adventures:

                                                A nice look out of the city at night <3

                                   A rainy night outside my apartment in Seoul... so beautiful.

                                                            Night view of the city<3

                                           Changgyeonggung palace with the girls :)

                                           Valerie and I having some fun in the Hyewa area

                                           Delicious street food with my Erin!<3

                                            Walkway at the palace.

                                            A night out during orientation with the ladies

                                            Last night of orientation! Bagged alcoholic drinks ;)

                                             Kimmie and Chris<3love love loveee them!

                                                                   Norebang Nights!

                                                            Two of my best girls<3 love you

                                    My Aileen and I having a lunch date in Seokgye with Cameron!

                                                                     My beautiful Kim<3

                                                              CHEERS TO SEOUL!

Departure and Arrival :)

Driving to the airport, it still hadn't hit me.  A year in another country? A year away from home and my loved ones? I was about to embark on an extraordinary journey... and still, I had yet to feel the real pang of nervousness or anxiety.  The goodbyes were hard, but they seemed to be even harder from the air.  I had said goodbye to my parents and friends, but saying goodbye seemed much more realistic when I was up in the air, my family behind me and below me.  I finally released some good healthy tears but calmed myself down and reminded myself that although that was behind me, I also had a lot ahead of me as well.  The six hour plane ride from PA to San Fran was harmless and before I knew it I was arriving in California and making my way to the next plane.  Now, talk about a big plane... this thing was MASSIVE. Two floors, three separate rows across summing up to about 12 seats across with two walkways in between... even this description does not seem as accurate, as it does not justify the size.  On the 16 hour flight from Cali to Seoul, I crossed over the Pacific for the first time ever, and it was then when I was able to open the letter my Dad had slipped into my carry on.  I sat next to two Korean men on the flight who where probably wondering what was going on window-side when I started crying and blowing my nose. My Dad's letter was beautiful and a good closure for my departure from the states. I promised myself that would be the end of my tears, enough of the sad goodbyes and hello to the excitement of the new journeys.

Upon arrival at the Incheon Airport, after waiting a good hour to get through immigration, baggage claim, and customs, I finally met up with Valerie and David. From the airport we took the subway towards Itaewon and then grabbed a taxi to take up to the military fort where David is stationed.  They let me shower and refresh on base and from there we went to an awesome first dinner at Fuji, where we were able to try five different sushi rolls (my favorite!) and Valerie and I tried soju for the first time. Soju has a potent smell of rubbing alcohol and has the strong taste of vodka.  However, upon David pouring it into my soda, I realize that it's true what they say... soju is deadly, because although strong on it's own, when mixed with something else it's almost undetectable. A good first dinning experience!

We took another taxi off post in order to make our way to the hostel, Bebop House, where Valerie and I would be staying for the first few nights until orientation.  Once we arrived at Bebop, we were greeted by the others who were staying here as well.  We met and made friends with three other travelers from Brazil, France, and Germany.  Once we settled our things in and found our room, we made a quick seven eleven run, which was cool because they have them here but also strange because they sell none of the things we have back home.  I was intrigued by everything... I had to have touched almost everything and kept asking David and Val, "what's this?!"  We left with some soju (korean liquor) and cass (korean beer), among some other nonalcohol beverages.  We spent the rest of the night drinking in and chatting in the living room with our new friends.

Valerie and I hit the sack shortly after David went back to base and we were shortly woken up by him in the morning once again for breakfast. My new Brazilian friend, Jono and I walked to some cafes and find none of them to be open. Ten in the morning and no coffee shops are open? I'm going to have to get used to this. Needless to say, we had to go for the instant stuff this morning.  Coffee, a disappointment, breakfast... a success! David brought enough to make breakfast for all of us and our new friends, so we had a delightful little set up in the living room with everyone.

As for the rest of the day... Valerie, David, Jono, and I plan on enjoying some shopping in the city! :) Updates to follow...

Almost there...

It is officially February. In 19 days I will arriving at the Incheon International Airport in South Korea. Updates to come... :)