Ready or not...

Man the Korean way can be frustrating at times! I am sitting at my desk when Mr. Kim comes in and says "Nancy..." I always know something is up when he calls my name. Apparently there is a musical he wants me to see. Okay, okay, music sure, I'm coming.
When I arrive, the mothers are singing a lovely song in Korean. Immediately after that the principal is talking away and I do not understand a word until I hear...you guessed it, "Nancy". He is holding a microphone out to me at the front of the room. As I make my way to the front I mumble "surprise!" to myself, as no one in the room speaks English. I fumbled my way through saying that I am from Canada, teacher there too, Mokpo very nice, etc. Afterwards the principal told them that I hardly speak Korean (I am guessing that is what he said as he was bowing like I do to him in the mornings and saying "see you tomorrow" as I do after school). My cheeks were even red. Me!
Today is not the first time this has happened. There was the time when I thought I was being led down the hall to go and prepare a speech that my co-teacher would translate, when instead I am thrust outside onto a stage in front of 1700 people (students/teachers/members of the education board) to talk about myself. Surprise!
At first I am frustrated, but when I re-read what I have written I have to laugh. Just like the other mishaps in my life, it makes for a good story.

Drama? I thought you said "pa jama"

Please please think before you speak. That is what I keep telling myself. Problem is, I never seem to listen.
An hour after I met him,when Mr. Kim said, "Nancy...(in the special way that he does)can you do a play for the festival?" Me, ever trying to be helpful, said I would try.
Fast forward a few weeks. The children in the drama club are there because the clubs they wanted to be in are full. They don't speak English very well, are not interested in acting like the animals they are supposed to be, do not want to make costumes, do not want to wear costumes we pick out/buy with our own money... What am I? A miracle worker??
Why couldn't he have said, "Can you wear your pajamas to work everyday?" Now that I could do!

I have been trying to post on here all day and have been getting very frustrated. When I want things to go a certain way, I lose my patience if they don't. Yes, patience is a virture and I am trying to be patient while I aquire patience!

I went to the pink room again tonight. Three of us veterans and one rookie. She enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as me. What can I say? It is so girly and so unlike any place I have been before.

As I was walking home tonight I got to thinking (quelle surprise)about the people that come into our lives. Over coffee, we were discussing the need for reciprocity in a friendship and how a person earns the priviledge to be in your life.

Later, one of my new friends said that I had given her so much in such a short time and she felt that she had not given me anything. I was surprised to hear her say that. I reminded her that she gave me her company (a great comfort in this "new found land"), a different perspective on life, she has shown me new things that she has discovered, and she laughs at my jokes (always a plus), which to me reveals acceptance.

When I got home, another friend (currently on her first solo voyage in Thailand) was on msn. It was a joy talking to her. I was reminded of our time together in Kenya and how people don't have to do anything "extra" ordinary to contribute to our lives. A good belly laugh, a supportive shoulder, half of a wet nap...can bond two people for life.

A vision of pink

A few weeks ago some friends introduced me to the "Pink Place". I am not sure of the official name, but pink it is! I could not stop exclaiming: "I love this place!" Even the bathroom is lovely; which is saying something in Korea. We had various types of drinks, I had an iced mocha, seemingly without any sugar. I had to pour the sugar(liquid) in from a vinager container. How bizzare...

I think I know how to upload pics now...

My first blog!

I thought that I would join the blogging crew and create one myself. Stay tuned while I figure out how these things work!