On to Changwon City
Trip Start
Jan 21, 2009
1
7
Trip End
Feb 03, 2009
Changwon City, Korea Rep.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sunday morning we went to Hanbit Church which has an 11:00 am English service. It was great to be listening to and singing familiar hymns and greet and meet people from all over that came to this service. We had attended in 2006 and had met the missionary, Arianne VanWingerden, and spent time with her helping at the orphanages she is involved with then and now. After a good sermon from Hosea, and a time of friendly fellowship we went down the street for lunch and to continue to get to know some of the attendees and participants in the service. What a diverse group, mostly other English teachers that are working in Korea, but all enjoyable to listen to. Sunday afternoon brought some relaxing time before we left for a little more shopping and Pizza Hut! The family treated us and it was somewhat similar to American Pizza Hut, other than some of the salad bar offerings (cereal anyone?) and the toppings on the pizza (Bulgogi we think?) It was all delicious and good to taste cheese. Koreans don't like cheese so we don't come across it much.
Next, we had to take Bob to Noreabang (Korean Karaoke) as one must experience this if one comes to Korea. It was a fun hour of each of us choosing songs and singing (or trying to sing for a couple of us). It is relativily cheap and you don't have to go to a bar to enjoy it as Korea has many Karaoke Clubs.
Monday morning (yes, Monday) we got up and watched the SuperBowl (live) on Korean television on a Japanese channel (figure that one out). We could actually understand a lot of what was going on and ended up seeing a great game! Then we were taken to the train station so Beth could get her ticket to head back to Daegu and there we also met Hee Jung, who was joining us for lunch. Hee Jung is the program director for Inje University and she and Beth have stayed in touch since then. We drove to downtown Changwon City and had a great lunch at Outback Steakhouse (very similiar to USA) and some even better conversation. It was great to get to know her and have her and Beth reconnect once again.
Tonight, we will be taking Beth to the train station and saying good-bye as she heads back to Daegu. We leave early in the morning (7:00 am Tuesday Korean time, 5:00 pm Monday night Michigan time) to head to the airport to come home. We are looking forward to it, but also will be missing the many good times we have had in Korea and of course our precious gift Korea gave us many years ago, Beth. We stay in touch via e-mail, skype and phone calls, but seeing her in person was the best since it had been since last August when she left. We certainly found a more confident and independent daughter that is doing well with her job and life here in Korea. God Bless you Beth!
To the many of you that have been reading this travelpod - thank you and many blessings. Please also pray for safe travels for us as we return home. See you all soon!
