Thank you, Asia "Different Worlds" (poem) (31 days until Wisconsin)

 In 2010 we took our first trip to the Philippines to Boracay Island.  This is the poem I wrote to capture the place and the people and the experience of snorkelling. 

Different Worlds

The day is sunny and hot in the Philippines

Not as oppressive as a sauna

but more so than an apartment with no air conditioning.

We twelve wade out to the catamaran 50 meters from shore

holding high our towels and knapsacks as azure blue laps at our knees.

The rickety stepladder sways to the rhythm of the water,

So we carefully mount, flanked by Filipinos extended hands.

"It's hot,"  I say.  "Almost unbearably so."

Four men with dark skin and hair and friendly smiles

take their positions having done this a thousand times.

But this is our first so we chatter "This is so cool!" and

"I'm so glad we waited for good weather."

The sound of the engine suddenly drowns our musings,

As it backs out of the shallow water of Boracay.  

The sails flick into the wind;

Securing our bright orange well-worn life preservers,

Someone asks my oldest, "Isn't this fun?"  

She interrupts her singing long enough to smile and nod her flopping braids.

The wind is intense on the Sibuyan Sea.  

I hold my hat with one hand and the boat with the other.

Our group laughs at the sea spray soaking us.

My youngest holds tight to the boat, his blue eyes squinting.

Arriving at an uninhabited island, we  wade in.

The sand underfoot is brown and rough.

The palm trees and beach welcome us. 

In the quiet, only a few straw huts sit about empty.

At a lookout, high waves are crashing on the windward side of the island.

I breathe in the deep blue of the water and the foamy white of the caps and spray.

The breeze threatens to snatch my sarong and hand it to the ocean as a gift.

I clutch it tighter.

Off again to snorkel the coral reef.  My first time. 

The kids are brave and excited to snorkel for real;

My husband wonders aloud what we'll see "down there"

Leaps in and begins drifting away, discovering the sea’s treasure.

I carefully secure my mask and breathing tube then jump feet first.

The rich sapphire water embraces me, warm and refreshing.

My lips wrap the breathing tube tightly.  

I attune only to respiration - In. . . out. . . 

all sounds of the world above are blocked.

I blink.

I've entered another world.

We are visitors - or invaders, in the case of our anchor wedged in the coral below.

It is simply our privilege to view life teeming beneath our floating human vessels.

Brown, green, blue coral, black spikey sea urchins, Nemos and Dories,

Near the bottom, a school of fish swim upright like floating seaweed.

Someone spots a blue starfish and we fin over to admire it.

No need to swim here, the current takes us from one coral to another.

Fish with neon colors swim alone while others swim as a school.

We had no idea this world was under our very noses.

I muse about the existence of these widely diverse worlds

and their thin dividing membrane.

Lift my head to a world of sails and ships and coke bottles marking waterways,

A world of  poverty, 16 hour days, threats of war.

Lower my head - Triton's world of coral, fish, seaweed, starfish, and urchins.

Head up - creatures breathe air for oxygen.

Head down - creatures breathe water.

Head up - airplanes, boat engines, men mumbling at a distance.

Head down - water, only muffled water.

I wonder if this is what it is like to enter the world of souls.

Head down - earth, land, sea, and sky.

Head up - 

Who knows?

Thank you, Asia "The Wombies" (32 days until Wisconsin)

Who is there to support you at work?

Who is there to make you laugh?

Who is there to allow you to blow off some steam?

Who is there to hold you up through the tough times?

The Wombies!

This group of women within the Humanities Department has supported its own for many years.  They readily welcomed me with open arms 7 years ago.  (And everyone who has come onboard since.)

Norbyah, Janet, Elsebeth, Brenda, Meredith, Sunny, Sarah at graduation 2015

Photo Credit: Norbyah N.

Little did I know they would collectively help me through a  challenging first teaching year at HKIS and the rocky year when Adam was transitioning as a trans kid.  

And then there is the fun.  Like tonight.  At least a few times a year we head out to do something fun together.  We have, for example, hit The Bucket for foot soaking in rose water and foot massages and a rooftop bar overlooking Hong Kong. 

Nancy and Sarah at The Bucket

Upon occasion it's a simple gathering for wine on a Friday.  Tonight it was a going away celebration at the JW Marriott for "tea" (imagine a huge buffet but with mostly hors d'oeuvres both savory and sweet).  The ladies kindly crowned me queen for the evening.  We obediently sat at our two tables of four (Covid restrictions, you know) while somehow managing to chat as a group.  

LeAnn, Norbyah, Zella, Betsy, Sarah, Sarah, Kelly, Brenda at the JW Marriott

Photo Credit: Zella T.

It's a rare thing to work at a place where people not only get along but enjoy hanging out with each other, too.  To be accepted as you are unconditionally is a true gift.  Thank you, Wombies.

Kelly, Elsebeth, Meredith, Janet, Sarah at a rooftop bar in HK

Thank you, Asia "The Dong" (33 days until Wisconsin)

For four years our family lived in Gyeonggi-do, Yongin-si, Suji-gu, Dongcheon Dong, Goodmorning Hill buildings 503 and 509.  There were 10 apartment buildings in our complex and many KIS families living there.  We affectionately called the immediate neighborhood "The Dong" - as in "we're just enjoying life in 'the dong'". 

Here we raised Alec and Adam from first grade to 4th and 3rd grade to 6th grade respectively.  I remember being astounded at all the services that were within walking distance of our apartment building.  The kids especially loved the stationery store only 3 minutes away.  We also had a few grocery stores, clothing stores, dry cleaners, Baskin Robbins, and lots of coffee shops and restaurants. 

We could easily walk to an adjoining neighborhood called Ramien where we loved the newness of the urban sprawl - so many little restaurants and convenience shops to choose from.  Our favorite restaurant with the kids was Gino's where Adam would get the butter chicken and Alec would get the waffle with bananas and whipped cream and syrup.  We were always greeted with glee by the co-owner, Cindy. Our favorite restaurant with friends was the GS25 convenience shop with the plastic blue chairs outside, because we could buy a beer there and then go sit outside at the table and jabber the night away for cheap.  Brent and I also enjoyed the Italian and Vietnamese restaurants.

We loved the Korean BBQ places nearby, too, including one that served duck (called Ori, meaning Duck in Korean). 

Other features of the neighborhood included the creek running along our complex (great for rock hopping) and the walking and biking paths to walk on along side of it.  We would often take the kids along the path for some ways and let them play in the water, too.  Little pop up gardens always intrigued us, and we enjoyed watching the progress of the lettuce and onions out of what seemed like pure gravel.

Also nearby and straight across the bridge over the creek was the local jjimjilbang (public bathhouse).  (Click on a previous blog for more.) 

There were plenty of playgrounds, too.  See my KIS family blog for more on that. 

And, of course the landscaping of beautiful flowers in the spring always deceived us into thinking we didn't live in a big city at all.  (Click here for more.)

There was also a Presbyterian church and a Catholic nunnery and school nearby.  Great areas for finding beautiful gardens and nature for extra quiet and contemplation.

Put all that together with the constant flow of people young and old, on the sidewalks, in the parks, and coming and going from parking lots to apartment buildings or stores and you have "The Dong." 

I loved the hustle and bustle of "the dong" and also the quiet of the place after 10 pm.  No sirens.  No neon lights.  No extraneous sounds from neighbors.  

However, with just a short bus ride on the 17 bus, we could land in Migeum, where the look and feel changed to more city than sprawl.  There we could catch the metro, go to church, or hit any number of coffee shops.  I still remember the buildings covered in advertising, the vendors of street food, and the beautiful young Korean women beaconing people to come to their shops to buy snail beauty masks and all sorts of skin whitening products.  The girls would have a mic and a very small, tinny amp hanging from a string like it was a purse, as they encouraged people to get a great deal from their shop. 

Any cars on the street were probably newish, clean, and grey, black or white.  And most of the people quickly shuffling by were wearing black suits or skirts, dressed for the world of business.  Everyone was in a hurry.  Always. (We called that the "Korean shuffle".)

Back at the dong, the kids might be riding bikes with friends or playing on one of 5 playgrounds in our complex.  Life was busy and challenging and fulfilling and our kids were growing up fast.  

Perhaps the last time Alec could be carried.   Pictured here in Ramien with a leg bandage and boot after being run over by a car.  But that is another story! 

One of many coffee shops.

One of our grocery stores.

Our bus to Migeum, the 17 bus.

Another of our grocery stores. 

And another grocery store.  Lotte is a huge conglomerate. 

The kids' favorite restaurant, Gino's Cafe.

Brent on the walking path right next to our complex and next to the stream.

The Vietnamese restaurant in the dong. 

Ramien area.  Lots of new shops!

The Jjimjilbang across the way. 

A local pop up garden - lettuce in gravel.

Produce growing in rocks between the creek and the walking path. 

A bike path nearby.

Our first apartment building.  503.

Children on the way to a playground walking through Goodmorning Hill.

Local advertising. 

More local advertising all over the building, a common sight. 

Outside a GS25 in Woomi Dong (Photo Credit: Brenda Landry)

Hanging out with friends at Mr. Bins, a restaurant in Ramien

Photos from 2013 and 2014.  Unless otherwise noted photos by © Brenda Brayko.  All rights reserved. 

Thank you, Asia "Traditional Korean Wedding" (34 days until Wisconsin).

 In April 2014 I had the unusual opportunity to attend a traditional Korean wedding.  The circumstances alone are surprising.  You see, I had a former student from Notre Dame Academy land in Korea before we did.  She had become a teacher and was teaching grade school in Busan.  By chance I learned Mary and I were both in Korea.  Once we were in touch with each other again, it turned out she had fallen in love with a wonderful Korean man and they had decided to get married.  Not everyone has a traditional Korean wedding.  In fact, most young people have an interesting hybrid for a wedding, which is entirely different from the traditional wedding.  But in Mary's case, she wanted the traditional kind.  Mary had attended Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay and came from a strong Catholic background.  Neither of her parents were familiar with the language or the culture, but they had flown to Korea to participate in a wedding held entirely in Korean!

This was held at on outdoor venue at a kind of large, ornate pagoda. 

Mary had been sure to have programs created with both English and Korean for all of her English speaking guests.  This way we could more or less follow along in the ceremony.  

First came the bride carried on a litter.  After this, the groom arrives, also on a litter.  

Following that , I remember there was a sort of parade.  There were entertainers such as the traditional Korean dancers who spin ribbon around their heads from specially fitted hats.  And there was a plate spinner/juggler.  There was also a sort of MC reminiscent of a circus master of ceremonies - someone to get and keep the crowd excited and entertained.  

Next, the bride and groom descend from their litters and walk down the aisle.  Mary had to hold her elbows out and high as her fingers touched.  It looked challenging as the walk was ceremoniously slow.

During the ceremony the groom gives his mother-in-law a wooden duck to represent his fidelity to the daughter; as ducks mate for life this is a lovely symbol.  In Mary's case, her parents were such good sports to show up at a wedding and play certain parts without even knowing how it worked or what was being said.  They looked a bit shell shocked, but happy.

After many ceremonial exchanges, the service was over.  Then began the reception!  There was so much food for the guests.  It was rather overwhelming.  We thoroughly enjoyed our opportunity to support Mary on her wedding day. 

Thank you, Mary, and Korea for such an amazing experience. 

Thank you, Asia "Korea's Azaleas and Cherry Blossoms" (35 days until Wisconsin)

Spring time in Seoul was absolutely magical.  First of all, it lasts longer than the usual Wisconsin spring.  Secondly, when we lived there the intentional landscaping of flowers, especially azaleas in March, along the river and in our neighborhood always astounded me.  I'm sure I took way too many photos.  

It's the cherry blossoms that really shine right about this time of year - April.  The look and the smell, too, just wash away troubles and call you out of doors to enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.  

At KIS the road up to the school is lined with cherry trees.  And further on the property, too, they seem to be everywhere you can see. And so, in the spirit of Spring, I offer some photos of the Korean Spring cherry blossoms. 

For a 2 minute video of the cherry blossoms at KIS clear here.

All photos by © Brenda Brayko.  All rights reserved. 

Blossoms in Sunae.