30k to a Different World

I have 5 weeks of teaching at KNU. There are only so many weekends left before I leave Korea to travel this summer. For those who don't know I'm in my last semester at KNU. This summer I'm planning a trip in S. East Asia and will leave Korea in August.

Today two of my Korean friends, Mrs. Do and Hyun Suk, and I spent the day touring a region only 30k away from me. It felt like a different country! The province next to ours, Chungcheonbuk-do, has far less people and due to a lack of industry it has a ton more green. Today I felt like I was looking back into time at a non-developed Korea. The comparison between new Korea and "old" Korea is shocking.

In Cheonan City I live in the land of high rises. I forget what a skyline looks like without apartments. One can get "cabin fever" even in the outdoors in the urban areas of Korea. So today when we traveled in to a lush, hilly, small town Korea my heart was full of joy.




We visited a Buddhist temple which was gearing up for Buddha's birthday Monday. There were teenagers on a Buddhist retreat weekend. Ha. They all had cucumbers sticking out of their peach colored monk outfits. I was informed that this was food for their hike. Ha. Can you imagine sending high school students out on a hike with Buddhist monks and a cucumber?

The gardens around the temple site were full of color and full of sweet fragrances. There were rows of hanging brightly colored lanterns. I hear you can buy a "prayer lantern" for around 60 USD. Mrs. Do and Hyun Suk treated me to one of their favorite snacks. It was a green rice cake. It was comfort food for them. They reveled in being able to find it freshly made. I would have shared their excitement if there was a woman selling funnel cake next to the green rice cake! I can't say that I loved the green rice. It tasted just fine. I've come to enjoy the consistency of Korean rice cake. I loved eating it with my friends and I loved watching them enjoy it even more. We ate this snack under one of the biggest trees I've ever seen. It must have been close to 10 feet wide with branches as big as regular trees. It provided a massive shade for friends like us to sit and rest under. With the temple, the flowers, the mountains, the tree and the friends I was full of joy.

We visited the memorial of Yu Gwan Sun. She had a significant role during the Korean Independent Movement of 1919-20. Her story really touched me today. She was only 18 when she died in prison by the hands of her Japanese torturers. I have no idea what it would be like to stand up and fight for "rights" I consider automatic givens. The more I learn about the histories of most countries the more I realize that rights I've always had--free speech, freedom of religion, etc, are not "givens" at all. Living in developed Korea makes it so easy to forget where this people was only a short time ago. What would it be like to be on the other side of colonialism? What would it be like to lose your country, land, culture and livelihood to another people group? Koreans still have a collective memory of this. As much good as colonialism did for impoverished countries, its destructive capabilities were even more destructive. Japan was the colonial power in Korea and the reason why Gwan Sun was martyred for her fight to free her country.

I often feel frustrated with Korean culture--especially their extreme mono-cultural mindset and the extreme competitive spirit which enter into all areas of life. Yet when I'm reminded of their history I gain more perspective and a whole lot more respect for their strength and fight.

I have learned about and met some pretty courageous people over the last few years. I marvel at the courage of human beings in some of the most dire situations--Auschwitz, Rwanda, S. Korea, Philippines, Hiroshima, etc. When faced with the deepest hells on earth people rise up to offer hope and joy. Somewhere deep in the reality of being human is this desire to see beyond circumstance to a higher reality. This for me is a sign that the power of God to redeem and restore is as real as it is great. I can only begin to understand how courage forms in even the youngest of people and enables them to give their lives for something greater than themselves. When everything is taken from you--or is being taken away--fear takes a back seat. When everything is being lost you really do have everything to gain.

It was wonderful to be surrounded by a beautiful place and beautiful people. I had so much gratitude. I can not believe I was only 30k away from home today! What a different world!!!