Why not?

In Thailand we rented bicycles and rode around a lake near our Hotel. We found a little souvenier shop and bought some jewelry, clothes and bags. While we were there we noticed that there were scooters for rent. Biking was so fun, why not try the scooters?

Warm and Sunny

I loved swimming in Thailand. The air and the water were surprisingly warm. No blue lips, shivering on the lounge, or "getting used to the water" (all things that deter me from enjoying a swim). It was so warm that even night swimming was fun. I loved swimming in Thailand.

Who Knew?

I've wanted to visit Thailand since we first moved to Korea. Jim speaks Thai and I thought it would be fun and enlightening to see him speak and interact with the Thai people. We finally made it to Thailand. I think that Jim spoke more Thai than English while we were there. He was having so much fun he was giddy. Who knew???

Ground Level

Someday, I hope to live on the ground level.
Seoul is a sea of concrete buildings and it seems like everywhere I go I have to use the elevator. All of the department stores, grocery stores, doctor’s offices, the elementary school, our church building, and our apartment building all have multiple floors. Margaret has the stamina to climb one flight of stairs at a snail’s pace while whining, “Wait for me, Mom. I’m too tired”; and Daniel would like to climb any flight of stairs but can’t because he is riding in the stroller. In nearly every situation, I look for the elevator. I’ve crammed, shoulder to shoulder into many elevators, apologizing as my stroller wheels smash the tiny feet of a little old lady. The only bearable thing to do in such a small crowded space is to look up and breathe. My poor kids are smothered in the crowd below staring straight ahead with their noses or cheeks rubbing up against some stranger’s coat, jacket or tie.
I live on the fourth floor. Thank goodness for the elevator in my building. Today, it took all of my Costco groceries up four flights of stairs for me. My friend lives on the 35th floor. She has a nice view, but I heard its bad fengshui to be so far from the earth. I believe it.
Like all elevators, the elevators in Seoul go up and they go down. In one sense I feel like my life here in Korea is an emotional ride on an elevator and my experiences seem to be one extreme or the other. There’s really not much in between for me. Watching my children go to a new school in a foreign language and culture is one of the toughest, roughest things I have ever done. Seeing them meet the challenge with a smile and optimism is one of the sweetest, most humbling moments of my life.
The day after the children started school our family took a trip to Thailand. In Thailand, sipping Pina Colada at the pool I felt like I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t help but think, “When am I going to get off the elevator and be on the ground?”

First Day

On the first day of school I walked with the children. Outside the gates of the school sat three or four older Korean women selling bouquets of bright flowers wrapped in clear cellophane. The entryway to the schoolyard was crowded with hoards of people. It was impossible for us to walk through the gates without brushing up against people on both sides. Once through the gates I think my mouth gaped open because of the number of children lined up row after row. Hundreds. Inside the elementary school building, same. Hundreds of children. I walked James to his classroom. The forty desks were lined up in the small and crowded classroom row by row with very little space for the five year old children to scoot in and out. James sat in the only vacant seat in the back corner. The chubby boy in front of him snickered, "foreigner", pointing his finger at James. James stared straight ahead. Didn't flinch. My eyes were full of tears as I stood in the back of the crowded room against the wall shoulder to shoulder with the other parents. After standing there for half an hour while his teacher gave instructions that I could not understand the parents were dismissed and I left the room. I felt very overwhelmed, so much that I could hardly walk down the cold, unheated hallway. Somehow, I managed to smile at a few of the parents who stared curiously at me. Out of nowhere the words to a song came into my mind, "I am proud to be an American". I looked around me. No, I am humbled to be an American. Every country I have visited is full of people trying to get to America. After today, I know why.