Monday, July 24th
Seoul
6:37 a.m.

The retreat was really good for me. It helped me begin to find my way back to God and to rediscover some enthusiasm about life. I formulated a plan as to how I'm going to do things after I get back home, and now I feel a renewed sense of purpose and connection with God. I think of Him more as I go about my daily business, and He gives me strength. On the other hand, the food left a little to be desired - it WAS just a YMCA - but that didn't really bother me because I was finally enjoying myself, and by the end of Saturday, I was singing to the Lord with just as much enthusiasm as everyone else. I'm so glad that I went.

Most of the missionaries to Korea were Presbyterian, so it seems to be the dominant denomination of Christianity here. That would explain the ritual differences. Still, I did finally recognize some of the songs that they sing, so that made me feel better. I'm beginning to think that long-winded-ness is normal with these people though. . . . (After the retreat ended yesterday, we all went to Onnuri Christian Ministry together. My impressions: huge congregation, poor air circulation, long service. . . and no communion! Still, I'm planning to go back next week. Perhaps because they gave me a little envelope full of candy? It's already half-gone. :) I'm actually doing it because I'd rather go to some church than none at all. I wouldn't get more candy next week anyway: It's only for new people.)

Well, I ate a Big Mac for the first time in four-and-a-half years last night. Korean McDonald's restaurants definitely compare to the American ones better than KFC. There are more KFCs and Burger Kings around here than McDonald'ses(?), though. Anyway, the Big Mac cost me nearly three dollars, but it would have been only 60 or 65 cents more to get the extra value meal with soda and fries. I've been eating unbelievable amounts of food lately, but for once I wasn't that hungry, so I just got the burger. Either way, I've still lost about ten pounds since I arrived. Must be the hills.

For all future visitors to Korea: Paris Baguette is a much better bakery than Greenhouse. It's cheaper, and the food is better. That's where I bought my little loaf of bread last night so that I could eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich this morning. I've been wanting one of those for awhile. I went to a supermarket near the church yesterday afternoon, but for the life of me I couldn't find any bread. Maybe it's not a big thing here. They did have cheap Pringles for sale, though - not that I bought any. Wow, passing up Western food - maybe I've been here too long. :)

I am looking forward to going home. I know that I'll miss Korea when I'm gone, though, and that I'll experience some reverse culture shock as well. I remember my reaction the first time I went to Itaewon (little America). Every other person there was white, and I couldn't get over it. What will happen when I'm back in the States?

I miss cereal and veggie dogs and macaroni & cheese the most, along with vegetarian lasagna, burritos, brownies, peanut butter M&Ms, chocolate peanut-butter ice cream, skim milk, egg salad sandwiches, deviled eggs, Cheddar cheese, string cheese, pop tarts, apple juice, and crusty bread. They're even worse at French bread than Americans, and all the juice is either carbonated or has pulp in it [except orange juice]. They drink weird stuff, too, like pear juice and plum juice - although the second one isn't so bad. And they have absolutely NO breakfast food. Breakfast for Koreans consists of rice and kimchi, just like every other meal. When I get home, I swear, I could eat scrambled eggs and pancakes and waffles and veggie sausage and maple syrup for an entire week. I miss cooking and driving and being able to make a phone call or check my e-mail without leaving my little apartment. I miss all of the clothes and movies and CDs that I left at home. I miss my favorite TV shows, and I miss American sports, and having a fridge, and being able to ask lots of annoying questions in restaurants, and playing piano and cello, and not having to peel all of your fruit before you can eat it, and all of my SHOES. . . .

But I DON'T miss pickles. Everything here is pickled - STRONGLY. And of course I don't miss rice. . . although some Spanish rice or broccoli-and-cheese-flavored Rice-a-roni would be appreciated. And I am SO sick of MEAT!!! I can't wait to get back in the States so that I'll never have to eat it again! (Isn't that a song. . . or two?) But I think that I'll probably have to continue to use chopsticks. I especially love how they avoid knives: Cut it with kitchen scissors, or tear it with your chopsticks! I've never been one to pick up a knife anyway. I usually used the side of my fork.

And I'll definitely have to find a restaurant that can make a good "doksol" (served still sizzling in a stone bowl) bibimbap. Yum. :)

Wow, I really got off track there. I was on the subject of bakeries. . . . There is a huge fascination with the French here - almost as much as with the United States. A lot of businesses have French names, which is great for me because then I can actually read it. I miss being able to say a phrase in Spanish or French and be understood. For most of the kids in this program, the only foreign language that they can speak is Korean.

The only other things that I bought yesterday were two lovely shiny hair clips for a combined cost of less than five bucks - and the vendor threw in a couple of glittery butterfly bobby pins for free. What a sweet little old lady. It was my friend Danielle who had shown me the place, and she was like, "Hey, she's never given me anything for free!" I think she was impressed when I said "Thank you" in Korean: "Kam-sa'am-ni-da." And I can answer the telephone, and greet someone, and get a man's attention in Korean. . . .

I've been wearing some of my hair in six small braids for the last several days. . . .


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