Class outing

YEOSU, SOUTH KOREA, April 2018

NEWS

6 Weeks had passed and we have seen the season dramatically change.

This is just near our school. 

20 mins by bus and 5.5 hectares of wild Azaleas.


Oh yes and several thousand Korean visitors.


And 4 Westeners

...... actually that should read 4 old, exhausted Westerners.

Azaleas and Cherry Blossoms

That's us.....

7 days and they are gone!

In the car park   - for 5 days only.

And more and more ..... and more.

These tulips were at the Gardens from the 2013 Garden Expo in Suncheon.  It was 30 minutes by bus or 20 mins. by car.

I started to feel coloured out.

Every where we went there was colour.














We went on a class outing.

What fun.
There were of course 100's of Korean visitors plus the class of 7 Koreans who were loudly taking and laughing in English.  Many of the other Koreans in the gardens seemed quite bemused at all these Korean English speakers.  

++++++//++++++

AND THERE WAS A CLASS OUTING The video of which is below.

KOREA MARCH - MAY 2018

NEWS

I knew we were back in Korea when Aileen got up from the group dinner table and headed back to the serve yourself bench
" I'm still hungry." she said " I think I'll get some more seaweed."

Yes, we are back again and loving the country, the people, the food and the culture.

This is our second week and we are starting to relax, as are the students.  As usual there is a mix of people from various regions and countries.

We have couples from Africa, China, Vietnam, Laos and several other fields.  Amongst the others we have graduates from university.  Their majors include animation, computer games, web page design, engineering  and of course theology.

We are well as are the Packers, our friends from Bridgeman.  It is their first time but they have taken up the challenge of teaching running.  They are a great encouragement for us and the whole school.

We are into Spring with temperatures of 15 - 17C - nice.  We await true Spring with its flowers and greenery. 

As always there is a need for teachers.

KOREAN CULTURE

Look closely at the two photos.  What do they have in common?



These are typical gifts for a "housewarming" party.

The toilet paper expresses the fact that the visitor sees your life as becoming less tangled. The same applies to the tissues and napkins.  The detergent produces bubbles that symbolise a prosperity as many bubbles come from a few drops of detergent.

FOOD (Robin's favourite topic)

While in Seoul we went to a restaurant that was a little different.  You were served spicy stew and meat.  In addition you could have as many fried eggs as you liked as long as you cooked them yourself.  The family had 2 young boys who delighted in cooking some 20+ eggs for 9 people. Can you imagine in Australia letting young children loose with a gas flame and a frying pan! 

 The boys didn't seem too interested
 in eating eggs so ....  Robin ate a lot of eggs!

To eat with EGGS.

POLITICS
Always interesting.
The present President Moon has found himself involved in the "#me too " movement with several in his party being accused of improper sexual behaviour.
The previous President, (Park), is awaiting sentence for criminal and political crimes and is expected to get 30 years in gaol.
The President before her was President Lee.  He is on the front page of the 'Korea Times' accused of 20 charges including bribery, abuse of power, embezzlement, breach of trust and tax evasion.
The President before him was President Noh, who suicided after being accused of embezzlement, etc
The next president (Kim) won the Nobel Peace Prize
President Kim (another) retired with no problems.
The next president (another Noh) was imprisoned.
President Jeon was imprisoned and was responsible for the Gwangju massacre of Korean civilians.
Before him, President Park was assassinated by his Chief of Security

Politics is often discussed!!!!!

PRAYER POINTS

We are very fortunate to be here.  The days are long but it is fun and we still have the energy to do it.
THANKS:

• For our co-teachers, especially the Packers.
• Good health
• Great students 

GENERAL

• Family back home
• Energy
• Our previous students who are still in the field or have been "kicked out".
• MTI needs ESL/TESOL teachers. You might check their website: http://www.mtikorea.org/

Peace and grace
R & A

December 2016

December 2016

FUNNY:   As a Friday evening activity, Friday evening being free, I started cooking biscuits.  Basic stuff, flour, baking powder, butter, eggs, sugar etc. so in 45 minutes we are sitting eating hot biscuits.
The first night the students were very cautious.  Then the following Fridays freedom reigned.


Remember these are adults.

"Let's add coffee!"
"Butter is bad for you so let's use olive oil."
" Here's some colouring so let's make them pink."
We also added dried persimmons, raspberry milk flavouring and chocolate "hundreds and thousands".
We are then sitting eating them and they asked, "Where did you buy the eggs for the cookies Robin?" 
"At the Supermarket." (Obviously!)
"Robin,  didn't you notice?  (I can't read Korean!!!) These are very famous eggs.  They are garlic flavoured eggs and very good for your health."  ?  Curtis Stone (Coles) eat your heart out.  I expect our son to mention this to Curtis Stone - soon.

The gift

                                               
 I was out walking in a somewhat remote village.  There were some people sorting small dried fish (they call them Anchovies.)  I took some photos of the man doing the sorting and he fed me tiny dried squid.  Then I gave them a small gift.  They rushed off and I got some dried anchovies - lovely people.

 ==//==

The Inspirational Students (my friends):

D and his wife are headed back to L.... He is a sports coach.  He has coached the National youth team of L... and before his marriage, coached in the country of T.....  He's a happy guy with a charming wife.  Life is not easy where they are going but they are aware of the issues.

M is visually impaired.  He has been married 10 months.  About 7 years ago he was a missionary in Africa for a year.  Then he worked as a missionary in the Philippines for 6-7 years.
His friends told him.  " You're blind.  You'll die!"  - He didn't.  Next year they will go to **.. with the aim of staying long term.  He preaches with passion.

E and W are a young married couple (3years).  They have found a church that will support them and are certain they are going to one of the poorest countries on Earth.

Y and E have served as missionaries in C.. and an African country.  In the African country he was beaten very badly.  He had broken bones and a fractured skull and cheek bones. In the African country they stitched him up but he returned to Korea and they put plates in his cheeks.  His eyesight was, miraculously, undamaged.  He no longer has pain and is slowly recovering.   Financially they are on the edge but plan to return as soon as possible in 2017.

B and E are going back to C..  They already speak the language.

J and his wife and child are headed for the Middle East.

Y... is a specialist in a medical field.  She is trained and experienced in  very complex procedures. Unmarried and strong of character, her passion is social justice.  She is planning to go to a country where justice, particularly for women, is of some question.  

There are several charming young families with kids and they are off to various places around the world.  Some know where they are going and have the financial support.  Others struggle with leaving aging parents, finances, destinations, visas or other issues. They will work as teachers, nurses, builders, translators, social workers or whatever their gift is.  They will be Ch... miss ..... serving the people with love. They have heard God's call, they will go.

Me:
I miss both Aileen and not seeing my new grandaughter but at the end of December Aileen will be here with Katy, Emily and Max.  ****Actually they have arrived***

Christmas Eve I went on a boat trip.
 It was a gift from a church member and I was included.  Steak, Spanish wine, and stone cold vegetables.  A floor show and at the end I got to dance with the cartoon characters. The idiom "There's no fool like an old fool" was well demonstrated that night.

 Christmas dinner was noodles, spicy kimchi, rice and stew.  Dessert was after church when we had a cream cake cut into pieces, served in a paper cup and eaten with chop sticks - the red decorations on the top are actually tomatoes!

Food:
Always interesting.
Excitement in the kitchen as the news is out.
We are having live squid for dinner.  The live squid comes out of the large plastic bag and is chopped up and served.  "Robin, chew it well as some people have died when eating live squid." (They stick to your wind pipe!)  Talk about over-rated.  The best description I can come up with is tough "jelly babies" with ZERO taste, that wriggle a bit in your mouth.
There is a very famous Korean movie with a scene where the hero eats a live squid.  Don't watch if you have a weak stomach.  I did NOT eat my squid like in the video, but then again I'm not a famous Korean movie star.

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz_a_XoNgsY


 
SOME PHOTOS:

Ladies after a church service in traditional Hanbok.


In a restaurant you pay for the main dishes. In this photo it is the black pot and the fish on the flat white dish, everything else (side dishes) are free and they will top them up free.

 Grave site.

 Very typical ocean scenes around where we
live.

We will be back in Australia on Australia Day 2017.
That means heat and humidity.  At the moment it is 4 pm and 6C. Aileen is in Seoul where it is -4C and she is out ice skating with our grandchildren (watching!!)
Prayer points:

• Health as the Asian* flu is here - 2 types
• Health for our daughter Katy and grandchildren Max and Emily who are running an English Kid's program in the church.
• The program they are running.
• Wisdom in Robin's interaction with students.
• Protection for all here at MTI.

Peace and grace
Robin
* Yes they call it Asian flu!!!

 PS There are no photos of people for security reasons. The grey person above is NOT a student!


 PPS More cake: Cost $10 approx.
Let's start a business?

Korea MTI 2016 November

 I, Robin, am here alone.
Aileen will be coming after Christmas as she will be in Australia for the birth of a new grandchild in December.  She will come and run a Kid's Camp at the local church.  Actually she will be a helper for Katy, Emily and Max who will also come.
                                                                              

Yes ........ it's lonely.  It's just a false smile.

KOREAN FACT
It's fall or Autumn and the trees have started to have some colour.
Each day it gets a little cooler.

So something about Korea:
Health and natural remedies and natural food is VERY important.  Ginseng as a root, tea or powder is an example.  Aileen has her own unique stories so ask her!
   The first week of teaching I developed a head cold.  The usual things; coughing, sneezing and a sore throat but there was nothing serious.  The first question I was asked was, when was I going to the hospital?
What? This is a cold nothing more.  My students asked me to take something.  Fine I've taken all kinds of stuff, liquids, special teas, powders the list is long.  "You know bee propolis Robin?  It's famous in Australia."  ??? "Yes is very good" and a few drops were placed on my tongue.
Famous in Australia? was certainly new to me.
The next day I was still sick and then there was an independent offer of propolis.  Okay so I tried it again.  " It's really good for you Robin."  "You'll better tomorrow."
   I still had no idea what it was, so I looked it up. "Propolis or bee glue is produced by mixing saliva and beeswax as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the hive."  Wow.  A bit weird but it must be good for you.  I read on,  "The National Institute of Health rates propolis as "possibly effective for treating cold sores, genital herpes, and post-surgery mouth pain."
   And I thought I had a sore throat!!!
Some fellow teachers gave me paracetamol.  Now I'm no doctor but if any of you reading this have a sore throat ---- try .... paracetamol -first.
MTI
The students number 32.  They are an eclectic mix.
We have engineering students,a mathematician,  a soccer coach, several missionaries home on furlough including one who was almost beaten to death in Zambia.  There is one young man who is a graduate of a modern dance department.  He is big in K pop.  There are Pastors (one of whom is a traditional artist), people who speak Chinese fluently, and a vascular surgeon (seems to do kidney transplants a bit.)  There is one man who is totally blind. All these  people are seeking God's path for them and are willing to go anywhere in the world.

They are all wonderful committed people who are teaching me much about commitment and faith.  I teach them a little about English.
My class is great.  They are, as usual, motivated and kind to "grandfather" (that's me.)

MY Class 3 "Special Angels" plus "grandfather".

We had a men's retreat.  It was only Friday night and Saturday morning.  We ate a lot (a barbecue in the rain), watched an action Movie, "Jack Reacher" (spoiler alert - all the bad guys die), and made closer friendships.

Men's retreat prayer time - no chairs.

Oysters at the retreat.

Retreat breakfast + a lot of rice

ME
   I'm fine.  I've taken a few bus trips trying out my Korean.  I got lost a few times but you will all be pleased to know that when I ask, in Korean, where is the toilet  they understand.  I also told a nice friendly man at the fish market, again in Korean, that, no I was not American, I was an Australian person.  He was a little confused because he then said "You speak Korean very well!" But then realised his mammoth error when he started speaking Korean and I understood Zero.
 Please pray for :

• health and safety for me and the students.
• creativity and sensitivity in my English teaching
• the Nation of Korea and the political crisis it is in at the moment 

• Today is "Thanksgiving " day  in Korea.  I give thanks for my family and friends like you

Finally some food.

Mustard greens for spicy kim chi.

Street food.    I think of it as like sausages made from fish leftovers -------but it tastes good.

The view from where we had breakfast after the retreat.

Peace and grace to you all.

Korea 2015 - 2016 January

KOREAN FACT

Korea has a unique housing rental system called Jeonse, which is very unusual for most foreigners. Instead of paying a monthly rent, the tenant hands over a large sum of deposit money, sometimes as much as 50 percent of the housing price, to the homeowner. The owner puts the money into a bank account to earn interest, invest in stocks, or do whatever he or she wants. The tenants get back the full amount of the deposited money when the contract ends.

This system has been popular as the high interest rate guaranteed the homeowner an income equivalent to monthly rent, without worrying about the delayed payments by the tenants, who were happy to get the full deposit money back when the contract expires.

An increasing number of people, however, are turning to monthly rent these days due to falling interest rates.

US

In one week we will be home.  We are busy saying goodbye to old friends and new.  We always feel sad at this time.

We have had a wonderful time -- again --- in a fascinating country.  We thank all those old friends/family we have met again.  We are overjoyed with our new friends/family.  Actually in a country that is confusing, physically beautiful, exciting, rich in food, art and history and yet ultra-modern  --  the best part is the people.

Anybody interested in volunteering here?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ia8QGZA78U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7sUWmdwj4M

Thanks for reading.

R & A

 

Korea 2015 -2016 December

KOREAN FACT

North Korea's ruling dynasty has always cast itself as somewhat supernatural. Founder Kim Il Sung was known as Korea's "sun," and claimed control of the weather.

Kim Jong Il's mythology is no less extensive. His birth was hailed as "heaven sent" by propagandists, and state media has often touted impossible feats: He scored a perfect 300 the first time he tried bowling, and shot five holes-in-one the first time he played golf. Upon his death in 2011, the skies about the sacred mountain Paektu in North Korea allegedly glowed red.

US

Christmas has, as usual, been cool, but with blue skies.

We have been enjoying ourselves, with a Christmas party at the school where we ate turkey and roast vegetables.  Here in the West we eat, enjoy and relax during this season, but life in many places is a lot tougher for people. We have been praying for:

......  the millions of people in war-torn countries, who will have no peace this Christmas.

......  persecuted Christians in prison, who will have no freedom this Christmas.

.....   for those who are grieving after terrorist attacks, who will have no joy this Christmas. 

...... for refugees, who will have no home this Christmas.

....... for those who are starving, who will have no food this Christmas.

 ====//====

We have not shared much about our Church here.

It’s pretty big, with about 2500 people and church services are quite formal.  I wear a suit and tie.

It has a coffee shop and serves lunch after Sunday church for about $AUD1. 
The photos give you an idea.  In 2015 they have been active sending financial aid to Syrian

refugees and sending a couple of groups of people to Myanmar/Burma on a short term mission trip.

We have visited some beautiful international gardens in a nearby city, walked along beaches and did

 a three hour walk around part of a beautiful island, saw some traditional dancing and had a traditional Chinese medical diagnosis (after the diagnosis they 'cured' us with a cup of Oriental medicinal tea!)  The diagnosis was only by a computer --- very oriental!  Probably a Samsung computer....

Medical diagnosis

On the less pleasant side we have had a visit to the dentist.  Robin had a broken tooth repaired.  Aileen had lost a filling, and assumed it would be a simple replacement job, only to find that the dentist decided that it needed a root canal and crown - much cheaper than Australia, but no less pleasant!

 FOOD

Mud skipper soup

A picture is worth a thousand words and we have eaten some interesting meals:

Mud Skipper soup

If your kids watch the TV program, “The Octonauts”, you may be aware that the mud skippers (2-3 cm. long fish) saved the ”Octonauts” from an evil crocodile.  They also make excellent soup. Actually that should read; excellent soup is made from them.  Koreans cut off their heads as they feel uncomfortable having lots of eyes looking out from the soup…

Charred Short-legged Octopus

This also tastes good.  Unfortunately “Professor Inkling Octopus”, a short legged octopus, is also one of the stars of the same kids' program. 

Cooking the Short-legged Octopus

 It is very spicy but is served with a soup full of shaved ice and also mint tea so that you can cool your mouth.

MTI

We continue to be inspired by and fall in love with our students.  There is a mix of age groups, families, and a few children. This is a smaller group than usual with only 21 in total.  Some of the children are learning knitting from Aileen and relate to their Australian "grandmother".  The children have a global view.  Some 6-7 year-olds speak 3 languages. 

I, Robin, am still trying to learn Korean and have a teacher twice a week.  I seem to be making progress and then hit a new situation like the dentist…..

Well, I can say, "Where is the toilet?"  " More mud skipper soup please."

Aileen is teaching the beginner class, although only one lady in the class is actually a beginner.  The other three students (a very small class of four) have a reasonable grasp of basic English.  Robin has a higher level and theylaugh a lot.

In three weeks we will be home.

We hope to see you all soon.

Peace and grace

Robin and Aileen

Mud skippers