*Sigh* ... hello dear friends....

My dearest friends,

It's been a little while since I could update-- what with the tragic loss of Dell and my ever shrinking amount of free time. I love my job, but it is not conducive to hours of free time pouring my heart out into cyber-world. :)

Our students are doing well, yes "our" because I feel as though you've walked some of this journey with us. They are becoming quite proficient in American culture.

They are now posting pictures of their American houses on facebook. Taxidermied deer are quite popular themes for photo-ops it seems. Do they not taxidermy in Korea? Hahaha.... Apparently, when they wake up in the morning, the wide glass eyeballs of the great White Tailed Deer are a little.... overwhelming.

According to my very scientific poll, when I pass them in the hallways, they love ESL and math is good. They were sad at first not to be in my Spanish classes, but I think the 5 that did score high enough to join Spanish have told the woes of Miss Herman vs. Miss Elie Teacher. The ESL teacher at Grace is wonderful. She is creative, fun, and very kind. Her name is Joanna, if you'd like to pray for her. :)

There are several boys on the JV soccer team. They are scoring and putting up stats like nobody's business. It's so fun to watch them light up as they play. The American boys have taken quite a shine to being teammates with our sweeties. Daniel always waves to me from the field.... it's cute.

As for our staff, Daniel Teacher has arrived safe and sound, and has begun his job of commuting back and forth to the more rural schools in our partnership. His daughter is attending Broadfording, and told me that she likes it. Silvia and Enoch are back in their Hagerstown routines. All the Grace teachers were glad to have them back for another year. It seems to be going smoothly. Justin and Phillip are braving the adventures in Maryland. We've taken to swapping logic riddles.....

Here's one you can do yourself: Draw a 3X3 chart (so 9 boxes). Using only the numbers 1-9, fill in one number per box so that each row (diagonally, vertically, and horizonally) adds up to 15.

Thanks Justin for ruining my lunch break, because now I have to solve these things. :)

The students are performing tomorrow in Chapel, the Changing Me song that they learned with Christina at camp. Everyone is very excited to hear them sing. Quite a few kids have joined the band and choir! Even two boys!! I can't wait!
Tomorrow night, I am giving a presentation about our adventure in Korea. As you can probably guess, I'm struggling to pare down my grand time to just 5 powerpoint slides. I'll do my best. :)

Thanks to those of you continuing to pray for us. We have a long road to travel yet, and many memories to make. Hopefully I'll be able to upload some pictures another day!

Missing my adventure-groupies....
-elie

Some movie memories...

Here is a movie that Christina made of our month at ACE Camp! Hope you enjoy some funny candids!
It's in 2 parts:

http://vimeo.com/27758700
http://vimeo.com/27133962

Enjoy!
--elie

They have ARRIVED!

Yay! The children are HERE! It's a day I've been praying for and worrying over since I arrived on Monday. I started school teacher-inservice Wednesday, counting the hours until Friday when we could go to Dulles and get the ACE kids. 

We left school around 10:30 to get the bus from Faith. It was an old school bus that couldn't travel faster than 55 miles per hour. Excellent. Hahaha! You know what a worrier I am! To make matters more... interesting... it was the September 11th memorial motorcycle parade. If you have never seen one of these parades, you probably don't live on the cross section of 81 and 70. Worst cross section of highway ever. Everything goes through there... So roughly 2,500 bikes (according to local newscasters) were slowly roaring through town, while we tried to plough through with our bus. I tried thinking loudly: We're going to get my children! Please let us through!... but that really wasn't working.

So I prayed, and Alex prayed, and the bus driver prayed... and we took Leesburg Pike. Picturesque.

Pulling up to Dulles in that big bus had me literally in tears. Seeing all those little faces smiling and arms waving as we pulled up. They had 50+ suitcases and bags, all around them-- like a little island of travelers. When we got close, I really cried, because they were all calling "Miss Elie! Miss Elie!" I have missed their voices so much! 

So we packed the bus and pulled away... their adventure starting on August 19th, 2011.

We're exhausted but still adorable.

Notice all the luggage packed in the back. Alex said it was like a giant game of tetris, trying to manhandle all those bags out of the aisle and on the seats. 

Sleepy smiles...

Taramjee and Chulmonetaramjee were out within 5 minutes. They slept in 100 different uncomfortable positions during our 2 hour ride. My favorite was when Andrew was sleeping on his own lap, with Opie sleeping on Andrew's back. It lasted 3 minutes until Andrew shoved Opie into the window.

Alex had to guard David the whole ride... he kept trying to flip out of his seat and onto the floor! Poor baby is so tired!

We were greeted warmly at Grace Academy, nearly too weary to notice. But Cici's Pizza and lots of soda perked us right up!! As families began to arrive, you could nearly feel the shiver of questions through the crowd "is that my mother? is that my family? do all those kids live with me? who do I belong to?" 

It was a very touching moment, as I thought how near and dear that question is to each of us in life. Who do I belong to? Who loves me? Who wants me? I don't think this question is a rare one or an odd one. Everyone of us craves to have relationships and people who want them. 

The greatest answer to your question is Jesus Christ. He loves you, just as you are-- weary, pizza sauce on your chin, your hair stuck up, and sleepies in the corners of your eyes-- just the way you are--not the smartest, a little stressed, with a mediocre job, a coffee addiction, and bills to be paid. 

Jesus is waiting for you to come home, just like all of our Grace families were waiting, anxious to see their new sons and daughters... to bring them home, to tuck them in bed, and to be with them ever step of the way. 

I hope you know that this is true... Jesus is waiting just for you to come home. You can bring all that baggage with you, he'll carry the suitcases for you-- not even grumble about how heavy they seem to you, because he won't notice. I hope you come home to Him...

A Joyful Homecoming is waiting for you, just like for my children when the bus arrived at Dulles. 

If you have any questions about this relationship with Jesus begins, or just what it looks like to come home, I hope you'll email me! I'd love to tell you. It's the best homecoming you'll ever know...

--elie

Below: The Story of A Homecoming from Luke 15

The Story of the Lost Son

 ^11-12Then he said, "There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.' ^12-16"So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
 ^17-20"That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father.
 ^20-21"When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'
 ^22-24"But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.

Seoul for a day....

Our trip is winding down... we're living out of suitcases in the Hi Seoul Youth Hostel. At first, we-- as the first class Americans we are-- thought "no way are you putting us up in a YOUTH HOSTEL!! We're too old for the 'adventures' of a hostel!" We were picturing all the sketchy hostel stories we'd heard. Just like ghost stories, Hostel Horrors tend to breed amongst scared people. Tales of weird roommates, thefts, and strange odors were being shared in hushed whispers at the office... then dear, wonderful, amazing Esther said "oh my no! Not in Korea!" So we looked it up online, and it was the most beautiful hotel I've ever seen. Apparently, the lack of everyday maid service and the no-food-room-service makes it a hostel. We blushed at our silly stories and our fears. Of course, dear Esther had only the best for us. :) 

First off, we went shopping!! Here is one of the street markets we went to in Seoul. It was not as innocently amusing as Eumseong had been! They were armed and ready for tourists!

Two interesting finds of the day: I got a 5,000won fan of "high quality" for only 2,000won when Georgette saw me 'flutter my eyelashes.' I, of course, do not remember doing anything of the sort!! It is a beautiful fan and the man was very nice. End of story.

Second interesting story is that I ate silk worm larvae. Henry bought an ENTIRE cup of them. Yes, they were kind of scary looking. It looks like bumble bee bodies, but no wings or legs. It is served warmed up, and scooped into a dixie cup. Henry loves to feed me strange things and laugh at my facial expressions. I've eaten sesame leaves (courtesy of Henry and Phillip, the jerks), Rice Juice (courtesy of Henry and Justin, the meanies), and now larvae. It had a slightly nutty flavor, a little chewy with a little squish on the inside. Don't think about it too long, it will turn your stomach. Apparently, according to Henry (with a grain of salt), it is a delicious protein filled Korean snack. yum. Hahaha!

Paige made friends with a dog in bumble bee clothing. She bought several outfits to torture her own pets back in Maryland. I am SURE they will LOVE their gifts, Paige! :) 

Then we got all tourist-y and went to Namsangol Hanok Folk Village in Seoul. It is circa-1860's, and full of very traditional buildings and compound outbuildings. Think Korean-Jamestown. It had reenactors and little exhibits where you could read about traditional Korean life. The gardens were full of Rose of Sharon (the national flower) and little fountains & falls. It was a lovely, albeit drizzly, Sunday afternoon. 

Some men in traditional clothing weaving straw into bags, baskets, and shoes! I'm not sure the baby blue fan is traditional, but the exhibit was cool! I think we used to hook our hemping yarn on our toes like that, too! 

Time Capsule Room. The Capsule is due to be opened in the year 2,394 AD. I'm not sure yet if I'm busy, but it will be interesting! On November 29, 1994 it was the 600th birthday of Seoul. The people of Seoul buried the capsule with 600 things about their lifestyle in Seoul-- clothing, toys, technology, etc.

Paige showing some traditional Korean clothes. Isn't it sweet?

Some bibimbop for dinner?! It is a VERY VERY hot stone bowl with rice, veggies, sauces, and a raw egg in it. You mix it all up very quickly and the egg cooks in with everything else... like personal fried rice. We also had bean sprout soup, Korean pancakes (little flour and green onion things), and of course kimchi. It was very yummy! 

Some more American fare at the LotteMart. It was like a JC Penney's. Escalators, multiple floors, any and everything you'd like to buy. We found it on our walking adventure of Seoul. The college students from Californian went on a bus trip-- but we're more the independent walking types. :)

This is the Seoul Tower. Yes, they thought they were going to take ME up there. HA. No way.

Shrouded in clouds. You have to walk UP A MOUNTAIN to get TO the tower. Buses can't even make it up the driveway it's so steep! Georgette and I whipped out our activity-induced-asthma-inhalers and marched. The view from the mountain was incredible. It was nighttime, so you could see forever with the city lights below you. Henry told us about the Locks. You buy a little lock (like the kind you put on your diary when you're 7), and etch you & your love's initials on the lock, then clip it to the railings. It's supposed to be good luck. Henry said they bolt cut them off every once in awhile when the locks take over... so... do those couples break up?! Very sad thought. 

Dominique, Karla, Briana, and Paige... the brave ones... going up to the top of the tower. They said the clouds were in the way of the compete view, but they're still glad they went up! 

View from the safety of the ground. It looks like those things from Star Wars. :)

Bobbie and I in the Hostel. Our last night, we hosted a movie night with one of our Classic Hollywood Love Stories and some pastries from the bakery downstairs (yes, the 'hostel' had a bakery & coffee shop... it so deserves to be a 'hotel!'). It was a good but sad night as we thought about leaving all our new friends. 

Brielle being sad.

Breakfast with DK! 

Daniel K (an exchange student at Grace last year) came to see us off at the airport!! We had a lovely breakfast of sandwiches and coffee before going through customs. It was so wonderful to get a last DK hug before boarding the plane. He was such a pleasure to have in my Spanish class. What a talented young man! Also pictured, Pat & John. :) 

John managed to get a (wooden) sword through in his checked luggage. I was a little nervous when I saw him shoving the GIANT sword into his suitcase; but it went through! :) 

Dawson and the girls.... last Korean meal while we people watch... Did you ever notice the random things people wear to the airport? Contemplating a 13+ hour flight... what would you wear? Stilettos? I think no.

Esther Seon!! I will miss her so much!

At the gate... Last minute facebook posts from "this side."

Sideways but mandatory... me & Brie. We were very sad to leave. All the way onto the plane, I kept thinking, 'surely it's not today!' I really lived everyday convinced it would never end, but it had to... which makes the adventure that much more irreplaceable. 

The 13 hours in the air went too quickly! On the way there, I kept thinking the ride would never end... we'd be that plane forever gliding over Canada. But 5 Hollywood Blockbusters later, we arrived.

Brie and I both arrived at Dulles, wishing for one more day with our wonderful friends, students, and colleagues. We listened to the last PA announcements in Korean, cherishing the words we couldn't understand-- knowing that soon enough we'd forget what it felt like to be illiterate, lost, and completely out of the loop. 

Hopefully my students learned a little compassion for speakers of other languages living in the States, a little empathy for those who are illiterate or barely educated and the struggle that one lives in when reading is a seemingly unattainable skill.  

I think that teachers are such a noble profession, and not just because I am one! Think of all the things you do what require reading: working the microwave, programing your tv, going to the grocery store, driving down the highway, the world or local news, or trying to communicate with someone far away. If you can read, you have a freedom to "figure things out," to go on adventures of your own choosing, and to make your own choices... 

I'm thinking of getting my ESL cert this fall. God really used ACE Camp this summer to teach me some things about myself, and to put the desire to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages. What an awesome vocation! 

So we're home at last... our families jumping up and down (at least my mother was!) at the receiving line. I felt bad for the people "coming home" to a poster board with their name on it. We carefully navigated the highways home, stopping to fill our American food cravings (Olive Garden, Mexican, Panera, etc). 

Thank you for traveling this first leg of the Korean Adventure with me. I've cherished your notes and encouraging posts. I hope you've laughed (a little), and prayed (a lot) for our students.

I'm going to try to continue... to write some of their adventures... So please keep reading and praying for our little friends as they being their American Adventure. 

-elie

Our last day in Eumseong...

 Our last day in Eumseong, Henry took some of us to town to see the street vendors. It was a HUGE set-up! Normally there are stores and a few vendors anyway, but they had actually shut down town! It reminded me of Sidewalk Days in Greencastle. Of course, we saw lots of silly "English" t-shirts for sale. My personal favorite said "MARYLAND- Ost We Go Backa Long Way." Whatever that means!

The main street...Clothes right next to food right next to butchers right next to shoe stores...

Do you like Raisin or Craisins? 

Biggest craisins I've ever seen.

Henry giving Georgette some information on the strange snacks. The snacks were MOVING. We did not eat them. No, no, no....

The market was lots of fun and we got to eat GIANT rice cakes (as if we needed rice in another form), and buy strange t-shirts. We also watched chickens, fish, and cows get butchered. It was educational... and smelly. Georgette likes buying her meat in a grocery store wrapped in cellophane.... not from an outdoor market at an average of 85 degrees.  We are so glad that Henry is a fan of babysitting Americans!


Next stop: Seoul.

Running out of time....

So, we're running out of time... the little routines and funny Korean-American lifestyle we've adopted have become our real life. It seems crazy to me that we won't walk past the restaurant that serves "DUCK" not "DOG," despite our first introduction to the fare; that we won't watch the SAT camp play soccer from our office windows; sit in the hallway of Lydia trying to connect to life back home; or struggle with when to wave and when to bow... 

Korea has been an amazing adventure. It is such a beautiful country-- the natural landscape is breathtaking, the people are generous, kind, and courteous, and the short experience life-changing. I didn't really know what to expect when I wrote "11 Days..." so many weeks ago! I've met friends who changed my life... older friends full of wisdom and encouragement, peers full of laughter and gentle friendship, and new students who challenged me and brought me to new perspectives in the classroom. 

Here we are in the "American Cafe" enjoying some breakfast!

Dawson and some students during lunch break. We loved to have our students "visit" us in the office.

They're getting better!! Tae Kwon Do class... Bobbie & I went everyday!

sweeties!!

Grace (Wongsungee= The Monkey), Emily (Bug), Kathereen (banana) and Liam (the Big Sister)

Esther Seon giving Joy her certificate of appreciation from GVCS.

Packing up the classroom.... obviously we're not very enthusiastic about saying goodbye!

Bobbie & I sharing some last minutes and some "Corn Flights" in the "American Teacher Room."

Thank you for sharing our adventures in Eumseong... but the big picture adventure isn't quite over! We leave for Seoul tomorrow, then the children arrive in Hagerstown! 

We travel to Seoul....

We had to go to Seoul for the children and teachers to be interviewed for their visas. We decided to stowaway on the bus for a chance to see Seoul. Here is a picture of our entire group together! 

ROADTRIP... 

As previously mentioned, Koreans picnic in style! We had a "light" 3 course lunch on our way to Seoul in the bus. I was a little disappointed that the boys did not boil water in the bus for soup. I would've been really impressed. This is Sarah & Daniel Teacher in the foreground, and Justin & Phillip in the back.

Georgette and I trying to be cute despite the creepers behind us! 

Seoul is very beautiful. It has mountains all around it; every once in awhile the buildings give way to a view that is just crazy! 

As this picture better illustrates! This statute is for the man who created the writing system (Korean Alphabet letters). As you can see, lots of groups were in Seoul with us!

Henry & I with the Writing System Guy! 

This is part of the Navy Memorial... 

The statue is of a Navy commander (or whatever his title was a long long long time ago) who saved Korea with his Navy ships from an invasion from Japan. 

A beautiful pavilion. It was so foreign to see beautiful gardens and pavilions right in the middle of skyscrapers and "downtown metropolis."

Behold: American Tourist.

This is Charles in the middle of the picture. I was trying to photograph that sculpture in the back. It is pink and purple. Henry said it was famous... he was probably kidding me. We couldn't decide if it was a big soft-serve ice cream or a seashell on its end. Either way! The bright colors looked a little silly next to all the serious buildings around it.

More tourists... oh wait... that's Mary! Henry is counting. He was like a momma duck all day, trying to keep us in tow as we walked around. He kept counting... we kept wandering. He must have done a good job because no Americans were lost. 

A gallery of photos & the Han River. The river goes right through the middle of Seoul, and along the sides are places to sit, look at art work, and picnic. 

The girls at the Han River.

This is the "Henry Pose." Here are Pat, Henry & Charles at the river. 

Wading in the Han River...

Georgette & I forged the river!! 

Henry met the love of his life outside a cafe in Seoul. 

We walked along the river quite a way, Henry got goofier as we went. Charles is obviously amused by our Henry's antics.

Hahaha... couldn't resist. We went to a little cafe for lunch. The inside was beautiful... the other people? slightly odd.

Sarah and I...

I think we wore them out. :)

Ride home... Phillip & Henry being silly...

The interviews must've been rough because Phillip & Justin slept the whole way home!!!

We had such a good time goofing around Seoul with our friends. I am not sure how much accurate information I was given and how much silly stuff I was fed; but I know I loved seeing Seoul. It was very very hot, but thankfully there were banks with AC, little cafes for lunch, and Navy Memorial fountains to cool off in!