Korea is a place that makes you think, "Where am I?" and "What year is it?"
The answers are not always obvious. Where you are is the same place you wanted to reach during your childhood as you were digging to the other side of the world.
Are you in the middle of a traffic jam in an unmanageable, congested intersection, as it pours huge rivers of rain causing the power to go out and therefore a policeman is directing traffic using his whistle?
Or are you gazing at lime green colored rice fields, serene and quiet beyond an old fence that has been repaired over and over for 100 years? There are no human beings in sight, and there is no noise - man made - only a few birds talking to each other and the end-of-summer cicadas singing along.
In spite of one entire year now spent in Korea, we have spent very little time in the country. We had our first chance to experience going back in time last week, as we traveled to the countryside to visit a traditional Korean village.
Sights like this one are commonplace - so many shades of green - from the lighter green of the rice fields to the deeper green of crops, bushes, and pine trees as your eyes travel up the mountainside.
We are traveling with a group of people from our Stake to visit the home of a famous Korean novelist, Park Kyong-ni. Park Kyong-ni died in 2008 at the age of 82. Her novel, "Toji" (The Land) is an epic "novel" consisting of 12 - 15 (I've heard both) volumes. ("Gone with the Wind" sort of Korean style). The book has been read by every Korean with whom I have spoken. Some of the women say, "I read it as a child and I remember weeping..." The book tells the history of a family through the turbulent twentieth century in Korea. It is autobiographical, and Mrs. Park shares themes that are close to her heart: dignity for all human beings, the power of intense suffering, and the roles of women in 20th Century Korea.
Mrs. Park's book "Toji", (The Land) was made into a serial television show, a full length feature movie, and an opera.
The thatched houses are charming, but impractical. As the straw packs down with heavy storms, water begins to leak through the roof. There is always the fear of the house catching on fire.
This picture shows me and Janet, my old friend, posing in front of the estate home of Master Choi from the novel.
New thatching is done every year.
Hanging by the door are hand-woven sandals.
The beauty of the countryside is indescribable.
Sister Barrow explores the village with us.
The old water-wheel still works!
Squash or pumpkin blossoms on the vine
"Time to go!"
I want more of the country.
Luckily, we aren't finished yet. Our next stop is the
"Cosmos and Buckwheat Festival"!
Rain and wind make the flowers look kind of droopy.
We also look kind of droopy.
Buckwheat field - I love the flowers, and the clouds.
Back to 2016 reality. It is Elder Itri's birthday, so we are celebrating with cake, ice cream, and birthday glasses. He and Elder Oh Euichan are the two APs. We love them both!
AN INTERESTING EVENING
We were invited to the home of Stacy, the man on the left. He and his wife (not pictured) come to our English classes. Sometimes he brings his daughter, Sally, and she comes to my class. They asked us over and we played Scrabble (in English). I was impressed with Sally - eight years old and she can already play Scrabble!
A FUN EVENING
We decided to have a "fun" English class on Tuesday. Vicky helped me and she taught everyone - kids, adults, and missionaries - how to make "Hoddeok" - a traditional Korean dessert made of yeast dough formed into a ball with a brown sugar - nut filling inside and then deep fried.
Hyunji and Hana take turns mixing the dough.
Everyone watches, then makes a ball of dough.
Vicky is a fun teacher.
A big success!
