FROM THE FILES OF MY EMAIL

In some arenas this would be considered plagiarizing or cheating but since it's my own work it's just repeating.

Honestly I thought that it was good material for a blog and hey why re-invent the wheel, right?


It has now been eight months and some days since I arrived and I'm definitely settled in. This photo is of me on one of the church outings back in the summer.

Korea is wonderful. I'm enjoying the change in atmosphere and environment. I've established a routine so much so that it feels like home!

I could do this for another year or two easy. I like my area, not too overly crowded as it is in Seoul. (I'm an hour out).

I have not done a lot of traveling about the country. Here and there on the bus and train lines. I have also taken a few road trips with members of the church, Bright World English Worship, that I've affiliated myself with. And they are almost like an extension of my home church family. Very kind, loving and supportive.

One thing that I enjoy about the Korean culture is that they are family focused. So we do a lot of things together.

I joined the fitness center just up the street and even there the people in the classes that I take are very friendly and accommodating.

Oh and it's a shoppers paradise. There's so much to buy and the prices are not bad. Some areas are higher because of foreign traffic. But away from those hot spots I have found great deals.

There are of course some down aspects, many related to cultural differences, like scooters riding on the crowded sidewalks, what's that? and then they do not cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze....disgusting. But with the news on swine flu that is changing somewhat.

There are others that I could point out but it all boils down to my being in a foreign country and that's how they do their thing. The important aspect is that I have not allowed it to be a hindrance for me to be able to do my thing.

I'm well respected in my community. People that I do business with and others who have become familiar with my face speak and try to hold conversations with me within the confines of their environment and out.

This community is considered to be small so everyone knows and talks to one another.

Once I dropped by a florist and while waiting for the person to wrap my purchase another person came in with a small child. As it turns out she's the owner. Her English was little, but she indicated to me that I was the talk of the town in that people speak of how I dress. That I match, my different style and colors.

My employer says that a dress shop owner calls me a "stand out".

Duh! I'm one of the few persons of color traipsing around town draped in African fabric, jewelry and head-wraps.

It's a delight though. People are people and most have wonderful personalities.

I even had another florist, who sees me a lot, just out of nowhere hand me a beautiful Jasmine plant. And she said "gift".

She apologized for not being able to speak English and then proceeded to try to tell me how to care for it. I was moved to buy something of course. It was just so sweet.

And as I said to the recipient of this email: Anyway, there are a lot more stories and yes, I will create a Blog. I actually had begun one prior to leaving and just recently logged in only to find it. It was indeed a surprise to me and an inspiration to catch up and continue. So you may see some of this info again! LOL

And here it is.

FIVE MONTHS LATER and GOOD INTENTIONS.....

My plane landed at Incheon International airport on the evening of February 18th, 2009. Who knew that it would be a 5 month delay, which I quickly tagged as 'divine".

The process of getting here and the reality of departing and arriving ebbed and flowed like a battle between good and evil that culminated into a surreal adventure......

Let me pick it up from when I received the official confirmation call. But one quick observation: This Blog was also started 1 month shy of a year. I really need to break out of this pattern.

THE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION CALL

My brain was not prepared for what I was about to hear. "We have a school for you when can
you fly out? We need you here by February"

My body seemed to take on a personality of its own. I was no longer cognizant. I wanted to feel
elated but instead I felt nervous which quickly began to morph into panic!

What's this... I asked, fear? Why? Isn't this what you'd been hoping for? A big break, a cash flow opportunity, a major change in scenery yes? After all you asked and received, you sought and you found, ok knocked and the proverbial door was opened. And on top of all that it had taken 5 months. So what was with the anxiety? My nemesis! Fear of success. I began to second guess my decision but knew that my hat, coat and shoes were already over the fence and I had to follow.

Although I felt the 5 month delay was Divine, (gave me a chance to do more research, the value of the money had declined and was on it's way back up, vote and celebrate the election of our first truly African-American President in the USA, etc) I did not expect the emotional tail spin that I went into. This lasted almost until my day of departure.

But I fought it like a soldier to keep my faith strong and to quiet the crop of nonsensical "what ifs" that kept looping like an on hold message.

Once I boarded the plane my panic turned into excitement and anticipation. I was back. I was almost giddy, tripping really thinking about how now at this mid stage of life I was doing a 180. What!


Annyeonghaseyo!,

That's hello, I am now in South Korea in the city of Incheon, I arrived on Wednesday 2/18.I had a very smooth 13 hour flight from Chicago to Japan then 3 hours from Japan to Seoul.

I've managed to find my way to a late night store on day one and then my Director took me to a large market, sort of like meijers, except this has three floors and a shopping cart escalator on yesterday. I found that to be so cool.

My apartment is a newly constructed, efficient studio but very nice. The heat comes from the floor and the bathroom is the shower. There is a drain beneath the pedestal sink. A bit odd but I've adapted. Culturally the Koreans don't stand to shower but the sista is not dealing with squatting to shower.

A really cool feature is the key. It's keyless and uses a wireless device that's waved across an infrared light to access the building. Then at my apartment door I input 4 digits on a key pad to unlock. It auto locks when I leave.

The weather is similar to home, they have 4 seasons. Because I just arrived I've missed most of winter and spring is coming just like at home. There were lite snow rain showers last eve but no bitter cold.

My internet is not on in my place yet so I'm online at the school for now. Once I'm connected I'll send out photo's and a bit of video that I'm trying to do a daily entry on.

I'm loving it and I'm not coming back!

REALITY

MY QUEST TO BLOG BECAME BOGGED DOWN IN THE MORASS OF MY DAY TO DAY EXISTENCE. YOU SEE MY TIME IS DIVIDED BETWEEN MY LIFE, FAMILY LIFE MY DESIRE TO GET A LIFE AND TO JUST LIVE.

IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS, LIFE CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. BECAUSE ONE DAY SHORT OF TWO MONTHS FROM IT'S BEGINNING, MY DAD'S LIFE BECAME DIVINE. HE TRANSITIONED, BECAME A SPIRIT AND TRAVELED TO THE NEXT PLANE..........

THAT COMPLICATED YET CHALLENGED MY EXISTENCE FOR HE WAS MY LIFE........

I AM CHALLENGED TO RE-INVENT TO BECOME MORE AUTHENTIC TO ENGAGE ALL OF MY SENSES AND RISE.......

I AM CHALLENGED TO FACE MY FEARS, DRY MY TEARS AND LOOK AHEAD TO SEE WHAT LIES.

I CAN'T LOOK BACK FOR YESTERDAY IS GONE. WHAT LIES AHEAD IS A LIFE UNKOWN BUT FORWARD IS WHERE THE ROAD LEADS THUS I MUST GO

CURIOSITY

I've wanted to create a blog for quite sometime, not really knowing it's direction or it's function. I've come to realize however, that rather than to force it's identity, I will allow it's true essence to come forth as I continue on this quest to blog. I will use this space to inspire thought as well as to place comments on current events, books that I've read, and some feedback on experiences that life hands to me daily. This will also be a place where I will share poetry and other products of my creative endeavors. It will not become a soapbox for I believe in freedom of speech and thought. As the line in one of Bob Marley's songs goes: "Every man has a right to define his own destiny"......