The Inaugural Blog

Seoul has been my home for the past six weeks.

For those of you who may eventually read this inaugural blog, you know that I have never been a blogger.  I love to write, I have kept a journal since high school, but writing life updates for others under the presumption that they care to read my daily life, that I've never done.  Today I start.  I have created this blog and played with backgrounds and favicons (whatever those are) for the past few hours so that I can somehow write and keep others up to date with my life.  Staying connected to you all on the opposite side of the world is challenging.  This is my solution; I hope you like it.

I now live in Seoul, South Korea, which is the reason for this post and blog.  Working as an English teacher has been completely wonderful.  My students are possibly the cutest creatures in the world and they are consistently amazing me with their communication skills.  If you walked into a classroom of "preschool" kids, age five, in fashionable outfits and cute little shoes, and they greeted you with, "Good morning Amie Teacher.  How are you today?" in clear English, you'd be blown away too.  Except that they would have called you by the wrong name, but that's not the point.

Last week my friend Elyse, who works at the school, visited my preschool class during our activity class time.  My students were coloring and gluing, singing "I Like to eat Apples," and posing for Elyse's camera.  She is a wonderful photographer.  In fact, she snapped one photo of me and my kiddos that makes my heart melt.  The little guy on the right is on my favorites.  All the kids wanted to smell my coffee, which they know I like far more than apples.  We were all getting a kick out of that song and my cup of coffee, as random as that all is.  Take a look. (And thanks to Elyse, who took the photo).

When I am not singing songs, reading books, and drinking coffee with my kids, I am lounging at the apartment with Alex, hanging out with teacher friends for dinner, or wandering around our neighborhood.  The weather has finally cooled a little bit.  I can now walk outside for a while and not end up completely marinated in sweat, which is a welcomed relief.  And as the weather is cooling, and rain is pouring, the sunsets are increasingly more beautiful.  I couldn't believe the hue of the sky a few nights ago as I was walking through Dunchon-dong from the outdoor market. 

If I said that everything is always sunshine and roses, I would be lying.  It has been raining a lot here and there are no roses that I've seen.  But it is good.  Really good.   When Seoul was placed on our hearts and minds nearly two years ago we didn't know why.  I haven't figured it out yet, but I am here and waiting for God to move.  He brought us here, He found me a job that is a blessing in many ways, He has connected me with wonderful people that I would have never met otherwise, and he has blessed me with rest and the opportunity to live with very little stress.  After the last several years of working and going to school, student teaching, keeping up a house and bills, and generally working myself to the bone, I believe this is a good season for me.  I am learning to appreciate free time.  I am learning how to be content in myriad circumstances that are out of my control.  And I am spending more time with Alex, which has been one of the greatest blessings thus far.  

So, thank you for reading.  And thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.  And if you are in Portland anytime soon, go grab a cup of Stumptown and take a walk on the waterfront for me; I really do love that city and all my favorite people on both sides of the river.