Today's Real Life Devotional...

This week's verse is found in Mark 10:21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Isn't it funny how God uses real life experiences to drive home points he's teaching us?
So today my computer's hard drive coughed a sputtered and finally breathed its last. (and I am now just beginning to process the implications for this turn of events)

What makes dealing with this fact more comical is that I had actually just been thinking this week about what it would really be like to literally get rid of everything, like my computer, recently purchased recording equipment, cellphone, excess clothes, guitar etc. and how 'theoretically freeing' that would be. (though after much thought I had concluded that I still need to be responsible and involved in the world - and a big part of that being connected I thought revolved around my oh so important need for a computer)
Well, now I get the opportunity/nay, the privelage to put theory into practice...

What I'll (hopefully) learn:
to read actual books
to hang out with people instead of using every spare minute to check the latest news or email
to work ahead (wont have the luxury of writing last minute papers)
to not worry about things outside of my control
...just to name a few

Well I hope that if you're reading this, you learned a little lesson.
Think about what you're most holding on to. What's got your attention? What's stealing your joy? And are you willing to give that up today?

But I took the (road) less traveled...

The Road...
Originally uploaded by locoluko.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, one of the best things about my campus is its location...surrounded by miles of hills and forest ready to be explored, offering a quiet place of solitude and reflection.

I should have figured that sooner or later all the stress of the crazy things and places that I've been to and done these past few months would catch up with me... which explains why (in retrospect) I've been extrememly drained physically and emotionally this whole past week. So having a place to go, rest, think, write and be still (psalm 46:10) has been a blessing, to say the least.

These freeing and refreshing excursions sort of symbolize the time I'm in right now as I wander down the pathway of life, examining past, encountering diverse cultures, refining purpose, and venturing forth with confidence into the unknown adventure that awaits...

"...two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference..."

Hello, my name is Luke... not 'Look'

So, teaching English part-time has been interesting to say the least.
tomorrow will be my forth week on the job, working two days per week.
Here in Korea, there is such an emphasis on excelling in academics. There are hundreds of different "academies" where students go to study after their regular school is finished. For example, there are martial arts academies, academies for the mathematically gifted (or challenged), and a plethera of English Academies, of which I happen to be a part.

Much has changed since the first day when I showed up and was literally told to "ok go, speak english." I had to make up games and activities on the spot for four different one-hour classes, with wide ranges in age (7-17) and varying degrees of English competancy. Some highlights were a student who insisted that his English name be, "Dog," being around kids who actually wanted to learn, and an opportunity to put my creative potential to the test.
The last few weeks have been unquestionably better. I have curriculum now to base my teaching off of, I haven't gotten lost trying to find my way to work anymore (it's 30min away taking 2 different bus lines), and the originally most disruptive/disrespectful/hyperactive class of elementary kids is now my favorite.

Thus I persevere forth, adding yet another generation to a line of educators before me (three grandparents and two parents)...

Luke's top 10 Asian Cuisine

FYI - Dont Try Silk Worm Larva
Originally uploaded by locoluko.

-10. Silk Worm Larva
9. Kimchi (pickled cabbage for breakfast, lunch and dinner)
8. Baby Octopi (tastes like chicken)
7. Korean BBQ
6. Bib im bob (rice salad)
5. green tea ice cream
4. kimbab (sushi roll)
3. toast restaurants (40 new ways to make toast!)
2. chicken and pizza takeout
1. the 200+ new snacks and drinks at the local convenience store

Korean Super Heroes

You know you're in Asia when desired abilities consist of hyper-memorization and multi-linguistic skills. Such was the case as I discovered last night while helping out at a local Korean Int'l Youth Group. I told them to introduce themselves by name and superpower, and those were the most popular answers I received.

Where to begin...I've been in Korea for two weeks now. Every new day speaks volumes. There is so much to learn here, academically, socially, personally. I've been blessed in so many ways.
Let me give just a few highlights:
- my roomates. They're great. I have two Korean roomates and one from Congo (be sure to check out our pictures on my flickr site). They have been so helpful to my adjustment with Korean and Int'l culture. Speaking of which, that has been one of the coolest things.
- I've got new friends from around the world. The other night I was in a van coming back from bowling and Korean BBQ and realized that in the back two rows alone, there were students from Afghanistan, Mexico, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, Korea, US, Mongolia, Argentina and China. I'm in an Int'l dorm and am loving the diversity.
- I love my classes. I'm taking an Int'l NGO course, Int'l Business, Law and Contemporary Issues and Abnormal Psychology. I've found that being in a culture where everyone likes to study (as the above story suggests) also brings out the best student in me.
- God has brought some great opportunities my way. The first day I was here, one of my friends from Afghanistan asked me if I wanted a job teaching English at a Korean Acadamy. Then some local teenagers asked if I wanted to help them out by starting a youth group. Both have been amazing and stretching opportunities in a lot of ways.
- there are a bazillion new snacks here - my goal is to try them all (minus the prawn flavored section)
- my campus is surrounded by forests and hills (and the ocean one mile away) beckoning to be explored. This promises to be an adventure.

Luke in Seoul

Imperial Court
Originally uploaded by locoluko.

Click on the photo above to view my first week of pictures in Korea

A new start

"Do you like to play football?"
"Sure" I motioned with my feet and pointed enthusiastically at my soccer jersey.
"No, American football...I like to tackle people," he said with a grin.

This was my unexpected introduction to Mukulo, my new friend and roomate from the Congo...not quite what I was expecting to find at a Korean university.
But I've learned to throw away all of my expectations by now. Perhaps because I am not the typical student here either. In fact, I am the only caucasian student at this university (good thing I dont have blond hair). I have met new friends from Afghanistan, Haiti, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, and of course Korea. I am learning to enjoy Korean food like seaweed, pickled cabbage, and other squishy delicacies.

My school is in a beautiful location. I am a mile from the beach. Similar to Taylor it is a Christian school away from town and home to only a few thousand students. But that's probably where the similarities stop. Rooms are smaller and with four roomates. Last night I was at a chapel service with performance with acts ranging from traditional Korean drumming to hiphop.

It's good to be at a place where some people speak English. I spent my first two days at a relative of a friend's house who hardly spoke English. But they were very gracious, showed me around Seoul and got me on a bus to my school... all an adventure of me not knowing where I was going - which pretty much sums up this semester for me. I honestly have no idea what will happen next, which classes I will take, how I will spend my time...but I am not worried, because God has been so faithful to me and has shown me that I should clearly be here for this time. I am excited to see what will happen next. (Phil 4:5-6)

So in closing, I will share a joke from my pizza eating, card playing, Bush-loving Congolese roomate:
What do you call someone who speaks two languages? bilingual
What do you call someone who speaks three languages? trilingual
What do you call someone who speaks one language? american

Thanks for following me in my journey to Korea. More updates and pictures will be soon to follow.