For my Mummy part II

Here is the second instalment of my blog dedicated to my dearest, devoted Mummy! Why? Because she is my mother, I love her ;).

So it is nearing the end of September and Autumn is definitely aknockin at the door. The weather turned COLD literally overnight. Twenty four hours ago I was wearing shorts and a singlet. I am wearing a black sweater right now.

I think that I am ready for the cold though. Its just part of the reality of the way things are and I am going to have to learn how to like, nay, love it.

So any way lots to catch up on.

I have recently started tutoring for two lovely ladies and their children. The Mother of one of the boys i teach (her name is Mi Jin which means beautiful truth) is helping me learn Korean for about an hour before i start to tutor. It has been wonderful getting to know them and hanging out with them and their kids. After tutoring we went to this area about an hour north of Seoul. It is a small artist community with all these galleries and little cafes. All the buildings are done in this earthy, modern, constructivist style with wood and concrete and angles. It was really beautiful. Clara (one of the women I tutor for) her son had a piece of art displayed at this one gallery for a kids art show thing. The show was dedicated to the Dok Doo Island controversy. This Island is still being fought over by Japan and Korea. Korea says its their land... Japan says its theirs.... why do they both want it? Good question, probably because the other country does too. Any way there was a bunch of food and playdo and you do printmaking if you wanted. They also had a bunch of drummers there doing a great drumming performance. It was really fun. I got stared at a lot....

Then the week went by pretty quickly. We are going to be putting on a little concert for the parents in the next few months. I am in charge of the 4/5 year olds which will be .... interesting. I am not sure what we to do but it will have to be at least 30 mins long. I have been enjoying teaching more and more. The School I am at, Guri Wonderland, is great! I am really happy there, they have been taking great care of me. One of the Korean teachers, Yuri, is going to stay late after school on Tuesdays to help me with my Korean which is so so nice.

Yesterday was Saturday and after language class Alicia and I went to Insadong (the old town of Seoul) and met up with a friend of hers from Australia. We had tea at this place called "The Old Tea Shop" and i nearly cried the place was so beautiful. It was all ornate wood furniture and little cushions the tables were big porcelain bowls filled with gold fish and covered in glass. The best part was the birds the just flew free around the room. A little canary came and sang to us for a long time.

I continue to look forward to fall, and am learning every day. My schedule here has almost become monastic in some ways. I wake up at 5:45, walk around the lake for a bit, have breakfast read the bible, meditate, go to work, come home, study Korean, read the bible and meditate and go to bed. I had no intention of things being so... I don't know... devotional in nature, but I have the time and its really the only thing that I feel like doing. I have been making sure that I go out and met with people at least part of the time. And if there is a day I don't feel like doing my monastic thing, i don't. But most of the time I want to which is such a blessing. I have been praying for God to teach me to pray. I feel really healthy and happy, and know that I will learn in time.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! I love you all so so much. Here is a quote compliments of my dearest devoted Mother:


'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come
out of you.'
Karen - age 7

I am all eyelashes and stars for yall!

Miss Maggie Iba