Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Moments for Rejoicing
As concluded
in an earlier post, the joys in my life do outnumber the moans and groans; hence, as a counterpoint to my previous moanings and groanings I shall now recount some of my celebration moments of
the fall:
1.
The
antibiotics worked! I have felt so much
better in the last ten days than I have felt in at least six weeks. Add to this glorious condition of general health the fact that
mucous no longer secretes unexpectedly and perniciously from sundry facial
orifices on random days and you may more fully appreciate my jubilation.
2.
One
morning in early December, I decided to brave the cold and walk to work. Certainly an auspicious influence for my
rationale did include the realization that the temperature had risen several
degrees to achieve a position closer to "freezing". Upon
entering the street that morning, even noting a smattering of flakes moseying in a generally
downward direction did not deter me. About
a block away, I thought saw a flash, and to confirm my thought, a few moments
later I heard the distinct rumble of thunder. Soon my walking commute became enveloped in a thunder and lightning snow storm. After a particularly clamorous clap of
thunder, the snowflakes pushed themselves as close to a pelting velocity as
flake structures can muster. Having
retrieved my umbrella from my backpack, I was actually feeling rather giggly--such joyful wonder at this unexpected juncture of events. At the traffic light I met
up with a soldier decked out in winter PT gear who was whooping and hollering in
glorious disbelief. He escorted me to
the gate in gleeful good cheer, and this walk to school has since become one of my
most favorites during my time in Seoul.
3.
I
really enjoy my students this year. They
are lively, fun, and generally self-motivated to learn. They make me laugh.
4.
I
like teaching English Language Arts.
With all these years of teaching collecting behind me now, I realize
more fully that English Language Arts really is my favorite subject to
teach. I am in the right place.
5.
My
colleagues in the English Language Arts Department this year are all good
teachers dedicated to both students and their subject—not always a given any
more these days. Our conversations teach
me and entertain me.
6.
Being
under the weather, so to speak, for goodly chunks of time this fall has
reintroduced me to the enormity of what I can watch via the television screen,
Netflix, and my own private collection. For
the first time in Korea, I watched two of my best-loved movies—My Brilliant Career and Out of Africa—in close succession and
wandered through the first two seasons of Downton
Abbey. Each fully transported me into its world.
7.
Over
the Thanksgiving break, I journeyed to southwestern Korea to the city of Gyeongju,
where the ancient Silla Kingdom placed its capital. In the Korean Culture and Language Course I
took my first autumn in Korea, the professor claimed that this city was the one
we most needed to visit during our time in Korea. I finally made it, and the experience created
some distinct visual memories.
Tumuli--burial mounds.
Bulguksa Temple, first constructed in the sixth century.
Truly I am
very blessed.
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