I apologize.
I realize that I have not posted much (or actually anything) in the past month. Please forgive me family and friends who actually read this blog. I know being busy is not an excuse, but it's the most common one used in Korea for not being able to do or not having done something. So I'm using it mostly because it's true and slightly because I feel like Korea has started to become a 'home' in a way.
This post promises to be merely a journal entry, an update if you will, of things that have happened in my life since the last time I wrote. There may or may not be a witty, bright, or enlightened conclusion at the end. Most likely not because it's Sunday night and I have to get up to start another full week of work in the morning. So don't hold your breath - I wouldn't want to be the cause of brain damage or a broken bone from passing out.
A little over 6 months have passed since I left the U.S. and landed on foreign soil. Excitement and terror then loneliness then acclamation and adaptation then normality then both a yearning for and a fear of home have worked their way through my mentality and emotions. The past month of February was full of changes, uncertainty, and anticipating, by Monday afternoon, the sleep I would get on the weekend.
First of all, I found out that my coordinator, Henri, the person on whom I have relied upon for much and who asks for nothing in return, suddenly told us that he had taken a new job at the Main institute training all the newbie teachers. This also meant that his wife, Belinda, who was a teacher here as well, would be leaving with him at the end of the term. We were pretty shocked since it was extremely sudden and unexpected. Then, we found out that our assistant Korean pastor, Pastor Daniel, was being placed at an institute way down south in Korea. Daniel helped me get through some really rough times and was one of the first people who actually made me feel comfortable and like I belonged here in Daebang. He was always joking with me and teasing me and I would tease him back - not many bosses in Korea will take that from their 'lower' employees. So that was a double whammy. Then . . . yes there is another 'then' . . . we found out that our head pastor, Pastor Kim was also leaving. We would now be getting a new director and have to learn how to run the school with him. Three strikes - you're out! That's what it made me feel like doing anyway, finding my way out of this place. Change and I aren't the greatest of acquaintances, and when Change brings along Caught Off Guard and the Unknown, I just really feel like running to my room and hiding under the covers.
I received a new roommate - she was to teach in the place of Henri for the last 3 weeks of February. It was a difficult time. She was an older woman from South Africa, I'm a younger woman from Wisconsin - we didn't really see eye to eye on temperature settings, housework, or conversation topics. Most days consisted of her sleeping all morning into the afternoon and me going out with friends or holing up in my room with my computer and lesson books. It was hard going from months of an apartment to myself to having to share it with someone with whom I was only cordially acquainted and felt no connection. She left to another institute on the Thursday of our 2 day term break, right before the new (and present) term started on Monday, March 4.
Then came the Friday when I found out that one of my dearest friends at this institute, a confidant and ally, the person with whom I'd always share the inevitable Saturday night question, "So . . . what do you want to do tonight?", was being moved to Daejon institute, which is about 2 hours south of Daebang. This happened 3 days before the new term started. We were both pretty bummed out and I will admit to this online audience that yes, I actually did cry. We both had feelings of resentment at the fact that the main office can uproot a teacher whenever they very well please and place them wherever they feel like they need another teacher. The end of every term is stressful because everyone has one question on their mind - "Am I going to get moved?" Anyway, it was rough at first, but I convinced myself that God was moving him there for some specific reason, to continue unfolding the plan of my friend's life in the way He knew it should. It was more difficult to convince my friend of this fact, but I think after a week, he's starting to adjust well. Although, he's really missing us up here and we're all really missing him.
My new roommate is pretty great. She's non-SDA but a good Christian woman. She's only a couple of years older than me, we're able to talk, we have some similar interests - I can't tell you how much I've been missing having someone here that is around my age. FINALLY! lol The new class schedule and classes have been challenging to say the least, but God really does answer prayers I'm finding out. It's crazy how He's successively answered so many of them - not at the exact time I want, but just at the time I need. Slightly humbling for me.
The new teachers, foreign coordinator, and Korean pastor/director we've gotten here will be good for us, I think. One of the teachers plays guitar AND trumpet! I can't believe how much I've missed singing songs along with a guitar but it made me feel right at camp (that's like saying 'right at home' since camp basically is my summer home. lol). The new director and coordinator bring such a fire and passion for God and for the sharing of Him with our students. It's really helped to start to put me back on track spiritually, which in turn puts me in a much better position to present as much of Christ as I can to my students during our 50 minutes together every day. Our new pastor/director, Pastor Park, can speak English amazingly well! He did last Sabbath's sermon in English while one of the Korean teachers translated it into Korean. I understood the whole thing and it's the first sermon in a long time at Daebang church from which I've come away and actually felt rejuvenated.
I wish that all of you could be here so I could show you my day to day life. It really is something like I've never experienced nor will experience again. Like my one of my fellow teachers said this weekend during Sabbath school, "When you live in Korea, you're life motto truly becomes 'Expect the Unexpected'". Anyway, I know at the top is says that I am writing this on Sunday night. Well, that's when I started it. However, it is now 10:20 Monday night and my pillow is quietly summoning me to take my respite from high heels, language frustrations and hilarities, and vomiting children for the night. Having to write this at random times over the course of 24 hours should tell you that I'm at least a little bit busy over here. lol I stay out of trouble for sure. I have so many stories that I could write on here but it would make this post WAAAAAY too long. So this will have to suffice for now. A brief overview of the major happenings in the past month or so in the life of Ashley Schebo - I actually think I like that better for a title than what I put as the actual title for this post. Good night all. Enjoy your Monday, because I've already made it through mine. ^_^
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