Thomas journals

Chris and Cole arrived finally, on separate days, after separate delays, but all healthy.  Just in time for Christmas holidays. We went to the gorgeous National Museum, on a beautiful cold winter day.  Note the NamSan tower in the distance.

Diorama in our subway station Is it DokDo? or TsuShima? or Liancourt Rocks? Two very tiny islands in between Korea and Japan are the cause of an ongoing dispute between the two countries.  They are simply large rock outcroppings, never inhabited — but national pride and potential mineral or navigation rights make their ownership valuable. Korea claims the Dok Islands, says they were part of the old Korean kingdoms five hundred years ago and so marked on old maps. Japan claims the Tsu Islands (the same rocks—Japanese name) because  Japan owned Korea in the first part of the 1900s so they designed the navigation maps used since then. This is a virtual carbon copy of similar disputes about similar rock outcroppings between Japan and China; between Philippines and China; and between Vietnam and China; as well as uninhabited glaciers between India and China.   Notice a common thread in these last sets?  The recent air-rights claims made by China over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands is more w

Our Drama Department put on an adaptation of Pride & Prejudice .  Barb coordinated the costuming for the show.  She adapted costumes that we borrowed from a sister school that had done the same show a few years ago — she developed additional costumes and jewelry as well.  The result looked great, and all had a fun time.  I helped on show nights, selling baked goods at the concession stand, putting up signage, taking tickets.  I have promised to help with the elocution for the next play, as most of the performers had trouble slowing down enough to be understood.  Next spring, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!

Korean currency is denominated simply into Won.  Given inflation of the 70s, it now has lots of zeroes.  However, because the exchange rate is quite near USdollar decimals — at 1100won to the dollar, now increasing in value so it will soon be 1000won to the dollar — it is easiest for us to simply treat 1won as equaling 1/10 of a cent.  Thus, a one-thousand-won bill is like a dollar bill.   A ten-thousand-won bill is like a ten-dollar bill.  Easy! I think the won has a bit better purchasing power also — many small items can be purchased for under a dollar, whereas it is rare for anything substantial in the US to be sold for under a dollar. It is interesting to note that, just as in the US, coins are less and less important:  there is no coin valued as much as a dollar (unlike in Canada or Europe). I would guess that the government in Korea has a problem similar to that of all mints — it now costs them more to produce and distribute small coins than those coins are actually worth! 

Jeff and I were among many YISS teachers who attended the concluding worship service of the "God of This City" Youth Event, at our school in September. It was held at the end of a full day of activities for Christian high school youth from English-speaking congregations and schools in Seoul. The YISS Praise Team led worship and did an excellent job. Afterwards, a team of youth leaders from the U.S. called Axis, led a tag-team discussion about how to read the Bible - a practical message to inspire us all to read our bibles as a story, not just as isolated passages. I was impressed that the message delivery appealed to the youth, but was not "dummed-down" for them - it challenged their thinking, as it did mine. 

Barb and I last night attended a lecture by a group working with Third Culture Kids, and specifically with North Korean refugee children.     The featured speakers were two young women who (separately) crossed the river from North Korea into China then made their way arduously to Seoul.  Their personal stories were touching, and their personalities were winning.   I wish we had more time to talk with them about life in that mysteriously isolated place.  They gave every evidence of being quite apolitical throughout, and neither had suffered from famine -- they simply wanted to escape from the incessant monitoring and fear of their government. The several autobiographies and memoirs of refugees from North Korea are incredibly frightening, all the more so because of their proximity -- in both time and, here, geography.   And we wonder, what can we do?   We can support refugee organizations and political efforts to pressure the Chinese government to accept the refugees -- or at least not

For several weeks after our arrival in Korea in July, the weather was quite consistently steamy and hot, changing little.  Whether rain or shine, the humidity was unrelenting.  But on September 1st, it seemed to shift, with cooler and dryer evenings, and a different feel to the air.  The crickets and cicadas changed tune as well.  By now it is downright chilly at dawn, and wonderful warm weather at mid-day.  I suppose autumn and winter are coming -- this has been a clear change, something different from the New York back-and-forth up-and-down temperature swings. Our weekend at the staff retreat, at Taejeon Beach Association cabins, was just in time.  We caught the warm sun and warm water, for a truly restful weekend.   I swam at two quite different beaches-- one open to the mild waves, a very public beach with lifeguards and snack shacks and rental boats; the other, just around the point, in a sheltered bay with no waves, few people.    Unfortunately we had to depart early, in order

Culture! We attended a piano recital at the IlShin recital hall, hosted by the Ecuadorian Embassy -- two brothers now attending Chicago Conservatory performed a dozen pieces (arranged for piano and viola) by latin american composers.   The key piece was a dramatic tango by Astor Piazzola.  A beautiful concert hall, a creditable performance, very pleasant evening had by all.  Afterwards we all repaired to the art gallery/atrium of the IlShin building for a very civilized glass of wine to sip while admiring the modern art and discussing the music.   The IlShin building is a 15-minute walk downhill from the school. 

Energy conservation notes made while at Woodstock Energy Conservation Ideas for energy conservation and/or greening at Woodstock Conservation is simply using less energy – typically electricity – regardless of the source. Greening means to use renewable energy sources as a substitute for less-renewable sources.    Renewable sources Solar – sunlight Water, hydropower Locally-sourced biomass such as leaves or paper or compost or sewage Muscle power, from people or animal Lighting Incandescent to CFL to LED Incandescent bulbs are cheap to manufacture but expensive to operate Incandescent appropriate Some lamps only fit this size Some lampshades are designed to clip onto a spherical bulb Publicly-accessible: because of the great cost differential, CFL bulbs are easily stolen Dimming necessary, as incandescent bulbs readily vary light output by voltage Heating: most of the electricity of the incandescent bulb is used in heat; only part results in light

Attending new staff orientation all this week.  Tech Tuesday includes a self-made photo-tour that allows us to use the school's cameras with the school's MacBooks and iPhoto, to make this slideshow

Friday around Seoul, with our tour guide Asst.Principal Garman.  He relished the opportunity to show people around the neighborhood, and guided us to the office of Santa Fe Relocation – the company shipping our household goods from Saudi and from Ossining – so we could sign the papers.  Then a walk down InSaDong shopping street, an upscale pedestrian mall of art galleries, handicrafts, and street vendors. We watched young vendors demonstrate the making of spun-honey sweets, called Dragon's Beard. They were very cute, so we bought a 7-dollar box of sweets, not that delicious, but it was a great performance!    He also took us to our new apartment: 3 (small) bedrooms, 1 and a half bathrooms, a tiny laundry room, and a large central kitchen/family space.  It is a "floor-through" apartment, with glassed-in balconies on both sides so we get good cross-ventilation.  The weather is pretty hot and sticky these days.  We will move in tomorrow.

Arrived at Seoul, after helpful and happy times with various family and friends in Texas, New York, and California.  We departed Seal Beach at the crack o'dawn for a quick van ride before rush-hour to Santa Ana airport, then a short flight to San Francisco to take United's flight 93 to Incheon Airport at Seoul.  School administrators met us, and some other new staff all arrived around the same time, so we could together ride in to town, to the Capital Hotel for a brief debriefing and lots of rest.  A few of us new folks joined for dinner at a nearby Korean Noodle restaurant.   No pictures yet.

A few days stopover with Barb's parents in Seal Beach, for some final touches of shopping and packing. Dinner with Luke and Grace Kim, receiving gratefully their good wishes, and their lists of contacts in Seoul.  Meeting with Meg and Lyle at The Hangout and Wahoo Fish Tacos for farewells. To Fry's for a quick purchase of an Obi100 phone router that allows me to connect a telephone to answer my Google-Phone from any internet connection.  It really works! Departing early tomorrow for real.

The Ogden family arrived for a weekend at SpringHill Suites in Tarrytown-- sisters came to help sort and view the fashion show of winter clothing. Sister Jaime is famous for the expression “It'll be fun!” – in this case, it was fun gathering together for meals and family stories. We also treasured worship at  Pleasantville Presbyterian Church  -- Jeff and Cole sang in the summer choir, too.  Pastor Debbie commissioned us for our upcoming mission service in Korea.

Bible Study at Lake Stahahe (A journal entry from a day at Camp Jefferson) It was HOT in the cabin when we arrived, 80 degrees outside and humid. I opened up all openable windows, ran the fan, and slept out on the covered porch very comfortably. We woke at first light, put towels over our faces and dozed until 9 AM, when wakened by a cell phone call! Breakfast, more phone calls, then down the new shorter dock. Jeff swam while Barb sunbathed and enjoyed some time "in the Word." The shorter dock now puts water entrance in tall lake weeds and "gunk" from decaying lilypads. (sad face) Lots of fish jumping and one turtle sighting (I swear he was checking US out.) Canada geese swimming past Blueberry Island and tons of mating dragonflies. The daycamp kids are having a ball at former Camp Wabinaki. We'll see what other camps are in use on a boat ride later when it cools off. The hills are verdant and lush. Clouds rolling in - rain later? Toni Tucker Hearn called -

July 5 th Ossining waterfront featured a sunset concert where we enjoyed a picnic. Jazz combo with KJ Denhert played wonderfully, illustrating the pleasant weather and sunset over the Hudson River. We saw some old acquaintances, and shared dinner with the D'attores.  Afterward the village showed an outdoor movie at the fence of SingSing Prison 20000 years in SingSing .  We watched for a while;  it was a bit eerie to see a watchtower in the 80-year-old movie, then turn to see the original watchtower in real life. Days in Ossining packing and repacking suitcases, retrieving and organizing boxes in the attic at Hudson View Hill – fortunately the renters went away for the weekend, so we spend Saturday and much of Sunday in the hot hot attic.  Winter clothes were our primary target, but it gave us opportunity to sort and discard other papers and photos and books, as well as select more items to ship to Korea.   In the end, we relieved the attic of a dozen boxes, and a few hundr

Fourth of July came and went.  We missed the fireworks.  But Jan favored us with her famous federal-holiday homemade-ice-cream treat the night before -- what a nice sendoff!  (I added the photo to the album linked to the previous posting) We flew to White Plains by 9pm, got rental car, drove to our one-night-stand at Marriott Courtyard (thank you, Priceline.com!); the next day we went to friends' house at Pleasantville, for their hospitable in-law apartment.  Interestingly, we forgot to ask for their house wi-fi password, so we went to the local library to review e-mail!

Friday we drove with my father and Cole up to Austin to visit Chris at his nice new apartment. The adults stayed over with family friends Kohos and reminisced about old times in Israel and Beavercreek. Click to see some photos Saturday we returned to San Antonio in order to get Father back for his Sunday church service at Castle Hills First Baptist, as it would be the patriotic JulyFourth service. We were happy to get him out of the house for his first overnight-away in many years. It was also a chance to get Chris back to San Antonio for an overnight, as he has spent all summer studying in Austin. We all returned to Austin Sunday morning in time for breakfast at famous Kerbey Lane Cafe, and then to attend St.Austin Catholic Church with Chris, noting the similarities in the liturgy particularly to our recent Episcopal services.

We moved out. The last day of classes was the 24 th , then a day of staff meetings and cleanup on the 25 th .   We departed Jubail at 8pm on the 25th, in the hot evening, in a nice new Toyota SUV, to the Bahrain causeway one last time. Strangely, at both points – Saudi emigration and Bahrain immigration passport control booths – the officer made us go to the supervisor's office; and in both cases, the respective supervisor scolded us for bothering him, said to go back outside. No problem, except that the Bahrain computer evidently did not record our entry to the country, so when we – one hour later – went through Bahrain emigration control at the airport, they had no record of us. Another visit to the supervisor, who this time politely helped us, evidently by recording our official entry, so that they could officially stamp us out. Just smile and act patient. We then enjoyed a drink in the Irish Lounge, and coincidentally met again with French-teacher colleague

The NESA conference is 5-8 April.  We departed home on Wednesday afternoon for an overnight flight to Bangkok, no problem.  But the 4-hour timezone difference is difficult, so we allowed this extra day of recovery.  I must also make some final preparations to my presentation, due to be delivered on the very last session, on Monday.   Bangkok is hot and steamy and friendly and crowded.  We wandered from the Bossotel to the conference venue at the Sheraton, got lost on a side road to an old ramshackle customs house where the local fire department parks their trucks.  We gave up and hired a tuk-tuk to drive us the few blocks remaining.   There we met other colleagues also just arriving, and I checked the venue for my presentation  (a very large room!). I re-activated my local phone chip, so we have local mobile phone service at (08)5042-6267 for a month.  Also visited a local tailor to get some nice teaching clothes before the presentation and before our trip to Seoul next week. Bangkok

Kuwait for the weekend:  almost 3 hours' drive north to the border, then mysterious bureaucracy for 90 minutes (no English signage whatever -- evidently all foreigners must apply for a visa and pay some money.  I give thanks to a friendly Indian engineer who translated a bit for me), then another hour north to Kuwait City, then another hour trying to find the Ibis Salmiya Hotel  (google-maps lists two different locations).  We are glad we started out early in the morning. I am recording most of the opinions (good) about the hotel on tripadvisor , which worked out well. Overall, Kuwait was a great weekend destination:  certainly happier and a bit more organized than Saudi.  Fashionable people and cars in the tourist districts, perhaps more obvious because the women were not monochromatically forced to wear black abaya robes. The weather was surprisingly cool and windy -- we wished we had brought jackets! The National Museum is a must-see, more for its bombed-out condition than

Response to corporate wives considering a move to KSA: To some extent we all live in social bubbles. In Saudi Arabia the bubbles are more clearly defined, particularly for women, specifically manifested in the requirement that women wear an abaya cloak in public. For Muslim women the bubble is even more tangible and restrictive.  Compound living allows for a slightly bigger bubble. Message to women in Saudi Arabia:  You can be happy living in the bubble of your house, your chauffeured car, your fitness club, your women's group, your friends' salons, your kids' school. And periodic escapes to other countries with more freedom. Restrictive, yes; Dangerous? no. Happy? chacune a son gout. Most will say that pursuing a vocation greatly eases the feeling of restriction.  That vocation could be a homebound one, such as book editing or telecommuting.   As in most countries, foreign residents need permission from the government in order to work here; however, there s

We decided to accept teaching positions at Yongsan School for next school year! We will technically be mission workers of the Network of International Christian Schools, seconded to Yongsan for two years.   It's exciting!

Just back from the International Recruitment Center conference in Bangkok, exhausted and reassured -- 10 interviews, 9 different schools, all encouraging and polite.   Most firm offer from Yongsan International (Christian) School of Seoul, Korea.  Barb would continue in first grade, and I would teach Grade 9 English.   I am aging out of technology relevance; but in English, age (presumed wisdom) is a benefit.   I came to dread the question "How do you keep up with developments in technology?", as that felt like the undertow of stereotypical gray-haired irrelevance.   What would a 25-year-old respond to that question?  or would he be asked the question in the first place?  Yes, I find that many people, including tech types, get mired in expectations borne of past mistakes and find it difficult to shift mentally to new paradigms.    The good Calvinist reminds us that we all are sinners and must be constantly on guard against the human tendency to repeat past mistakes. 

The departure wall at Dammam Airport, just prior to passport-exit-check: we bid farewell to Chris; then we all drive to Bahrain (typical 90-minute crossing time at the frontier), check in at Holiday Inn Express , walk to dinner at the nearby Arirang Korean restaurant, then drive Coleman to Bahrain airport to bid him farewell.   Ironically, due to the vagaries of air-ticketing, Chris flew to Bahrain to make his flight connection--he passed through there an hour before Coleman.   Then back to the relatively-conveniently located hotel for an easy night's sleep (too-smoky bar, cough! cough!), a pleasant breakfast meeting a Saudi ex-military guy (apparently visiting Bahrain in order to boost his blood alcohol content, now hungover, still quite red in the face, and very amicable).  Barb is at Ellie&Jean's Beauty Salon to get her hair done while I wander through Bahrain's business district looking for lunch with wi-fi.    There is a McDonald's clone -- even the logo i

New Year's Eve at friend Jefferson's house near the beach at Ras Tanura, a nuclear family Nu Year's Eve it was, watching movies (the guys watched the first umpteen episodes of Battlestar Galactica while Barb watched that and at the same time watched Downton Abbey on the computer screen), playing card games, and at 12midnight, walking out to the beach.  It was surprisingly empty, little noise, only a very few houses had party lights on.  The weather was in the 60s, gorgeous but breezy. Then on New Year's Day  (no photo evidence of it?) Chris and I went swimming.  The water was probably 75 degrees, chilly but not too cold.  o.k., yes, I wore my Christmas present: a shorty wetsuit.  It certainly made the chilly water more comfortable. Happy New Year 2013!