You Know You've Lived in Korea Too Long When...

1) You forget to use articles when speaking
2) You can only remember the Korean word for something and not the English word
3) You bow to everyone...even Americans...
4) You give your money to the cashier using two hands
5) You have no problem with pushing people out of the way
6) You stop at the top of the escaltor to plan your day
7) You stare and comment when you see a foreigner
8) You barely notice people staring at you
9) Konglish comes naturally
10) You own plenty of forks but never use them
11) You're ok with eating in barefeet in a restaurant
12) You feel safe all the time except when you're around foreigners
13) You find it strange if there is no corn on a pizza
14) You answer every phone call with "Yoboseyo?"
15) You see a roll of toilet paper on a restaurant wall and think nothing of it..in fact, you use it because you are thankful for the abundance of napkins
16) You use scissors to cut all your food
17) You can walk down the street at 2 in the morning and not be afraid at all
18) You refuse to hang out in Itaewon
19) You don't bother lining up
20) You replace the word "yes" or "ya" with "uh uh uh" (grunt)
21) You see a kindergartner on the subway alone and think nothing of it
22) You don't have to turn around to see if cars are coming...you just know and glide to the side
23) You ALWAYS take your shoes off before going into a house
24) You're really good at rock, paper, scissors
25) You can hum the song that plays in the subway and mimic the announcers
26) You take multiple pictures of yourself with your cell phone all the while not cracking a smile
27) YOu use instant coffee packets but you only fill the cup half full
28) You don't drink water with your meals
29) You carry toilet paper around with you because you know the public bathrooms might not
have it
30) All white people look the same to you
31) You see a real bathtub and stare at it in wonder
32) You're used to having the door swing shut in your face
33) You don't even flinch when the taxi driver cuts off a bus and misses it by inches
34) You're shocked when you see a trashcan
35) You can stand up in a bus without holding on

more to come...

"Rejoice always" 1 Thess. 5:16.

I love that verse, but I forget it so easily. Rejoice always. A simple command that means so much in 2 short words. Does it mean "rejoice unless you have a trial" or "rejoice when everything is going great?" No, it means just what it says : rejoice ALWAYS. Dictionary.com defines "always" as : all the time; continuously; uninterruptedly; forever; in any event; at any time." There is never a reason for a Christian not to rejoice. What about trials? I like to ask myself some questions when I'm tempted not to rejoice because of a trial. 1) Is God always in control? (yes) 2) Does God always give His children what is best for them at the time according to His perfect will? (yes) 3) Will God always give the strength to get through each trial? (yes) 4) Does God know the outcome of the trial (yes)....and the questions could go on and on. Point being, God knows, He cares, and He's with us. There's never a time when God says "Here's a trial. I'll be back in 2 days. You handle it for now." No. God never leaves and never stops helping us carry our load. So, the question again: What about trials? A Christian can rejoice in trials. Trials help us to see our inadequacies and turn to God for strength. They also teach us about who God is, and they help us to become more like Him. He knows what we need, and that's what He'll give us.

Rejoice always. So important to remember, yet so easy to forget. Don't just rejoice when the sun shines, but rejoice when it rains.

When you say:

“I can’t figure this out”
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“I can’t do it!”
God says: “You can do all things (Philippians 4:3)

“I feel so alone”
God says: “I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

“I don't have what I need ”
God says: “I will supply all your needs” (Philippians 4:19)

“I’m afraid”
God says: “I have not given you a spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7)


"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"I love the Lord because He hears my voice and prayer for mercy. I will pray as long as I have breath." Psalm 116:1-2

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Psalm 91:2

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Corinthians 4:7-8

For I the Lord God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not, I will help thee. Isaiah 41:13

I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:1-2

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee. Isaiah 26:3

But thanks be to God who giveth us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians15:57

"There is no need to worry about what will happen tomorrow, because God knew what would happen tomorrow before yesterday happened." (Hope that doesn't confuse anyone!)

Things here have been pretty busy what with the Christmas program and all. That was Friday night from 7:30-10, but the kids came at 1 and we had class until 3 and then practice. Because my kids are in 5th grade, they are in the elementary program and then they are in the beginner band and orchestra with the high school. So, right after the elem. program finished, I had to whisk them upstairs to change. I'm running from basement to 3rd floor down to 2nd back to 3rd then up to 4th then back to 2. I get them down the the basement on the stairs where I find out they're way too early so I take them back up to 2nd then back down. Still too early so back up then back down. It was really crazy but SO fun! At least I had fun! :) Not sure how some of the other teachers felt. But, it's done. Praise God it went well. A few mess ups here and there, but overall it was great.

I leave for China on Saturday afternoon! YAY! I couldn't be more excited! We'll be in Shanghai from the 19th to the 22 and then onto Xian until the 25th. We'll be in Shanghai again from Christmas day until January 2nd. I'm so excited!!! :D I'll get to use my limited Chinese once again. And when I say limited, I mean LIMITED!

Well, I'm off for now. I have a lot of work to do still in the classroom. Peace.

It's Dark Outside

Actually, it is dark outside right now. That's because I am sitting at the computer in the library staring out the window while I attempt (key word being attempt) to enter grades into the new online grade book. It would be easy expect that sometimes I'm a little electronically slow. I got 2 classes put in just in the later hour. I'm pretty tired so I think I'll head home very soon.

Nathaniel left *shed a tear*, but I will see him in 10 days. Actually, less that that. I'm very excited to go to China!! I've been studying Chinese again the last couple days. I can read and write 你 (you), 好 (good), 叉 (fork). 公园 (park), 船 (boat), 出租汽车 (taxi), 茶 (tea), 我 (I), 也 (also), 高兴 (happy), 哥哥 (older brother), 很 (very), and a few more...pretty good for 2 days! haha It's going to be slow, but I actually enjoy learning the characters rather than sounding out a word letter by letter ( because each character=one word) They're random words, but I can say simple sentences like "Hello, how are you? I'm fine and you? I'm fine as well." At least I can be polite!!

The Christmas program is coming up on Friday. It will be a long day, but I'm sure all the parents will enjoy it. The elementary is doing the story behind the song "Silent Night." It's going to be very cute, and they've worked very hard! I can't believe it's less than 2 weeks until Christmas break! I feel like just yesterday I landed in Korea in August!

I'm looking forward to going home this summer to visit my family and go to the wedding of my 哥哥. It should be fun! I love Korea, though, and I'm starting to think of it as home.

Oh, glory be! April, one of the women in our church and also a friend of mine, got saved on Sunday!!!! I had been praying for her since I met her a few weeks after I came to Korea, and others had been praying for her for a looooong time before that. But, God drew her to Him and saved her! Now I have a new sister!! I was so excited for that!

This Saturday is the last week of Korean class. I've really enjoyed it, because I haven't taken any kind of language class in so long! Korean is a HARD language. I think Chinese will be easier. MUCH easier.

Well, better run. My bed is loudly calling my name. Pardon any grammar/spelling/punctuation mistakes...I've found my English going downhill since I came here. :) Peace!

Oh and also it snowed yesterday!