Hello readers!
It has taken almost a week to get up and running in Yongin-si, but we're here and I'm writing my first blog. It's hot and humid here, much like Wisconsin. The difference is the smell in the air; it's hard to nail it, but I think it is like sea salt (not pollution) that permeates the humidity.
I'm sitting at our desk in the sunroom on the 15th floor of our 25 story apartment building. There are 10 apartment buildings in all in our complex. Each apartment is 25 stories and contains 4 apartments on each floor. The apartment buildings create a big square with a courtyard in the center. Cars are forbidden on the very interior of the courtyard area. Our interior walls are all windows - floor to ceiling, so we have a fabulous view and lots of sunlight. All the windows open and have screens and railing so we can get "fresh" air. There are 3 playgrounds on the premises. In the main courtyard area there is a playground, a fountain, a badmitten court, trees, sitting spaces, and lots of cobblestone. There are some nifty lights that light up for part of the evening, changing colors constantly. It's a gated community with 2 guardhouses, so we feel very safe. No keys to the apartment building - just a key card for entry into the building and a keypad with code for entry into the apartment.
When you enter the apartment, first take off your shoes! There is a small enclosed entryway for taking off shoes and hanging up coats, etc. Tan storage cupboards to the right and a mirror to the left. Go through the door and step up slightly. Directly in front of you is Anna's room. She has a bed and a closet bureau and a desk and chair. Her back wall isn't a wall at all. It is all glass sliding doors which take you to a small area looking over the courtyard (all windows). Her room, as all the rooms, is a combination of tans and whites, with a linoleum floor.
Next to her room and to the direct right of the entrance to the apartment is a full bathroom. Think Europe - fixtures, white tile, toilet, all very European. There is a bathtub with shower capabilities (if we get a rod and curtain). It's pretty small, but functional. Nice, big mirror.
From the main entrance hang a left and you will enter our living room. It is a good size - 15 ft x 18 ft with wood floor laminate. It's interior wall is a continuation of Anna's - all sliding glass that goes out to the "sunroom" portion overlooking the courtyard (desk and chair, where I am now, small table with two chairs and a plant). Lots of natural light! In the living room we have a small couch (tans/brown) a chair (same), a coffee table (dark brown wood), a TV and stand, and a shelving unit (that we purchased ourselves). The living room also houses the air conditioning unit, a stand alone piece about 6 ft. tall. Right now Brent is sitting on the couch on his computer (we're both on borrowed wireless until the cable guy comes today) and Alec is playing Wii. Our TV came with the place and is pretty small for a family that had a 50 inch TV! It's probably a 26incher. Ouch! (So far mostly just Korean available; that should change with our cable package, though.)
Keep walking to the left through the living room and you'll hit the open entrance to the kitchen. Again, neutral colors with tan linoleum, white countertops, white and silver appliances. A small dark brown table with four chairs completes the kitchen. Happily, the appliances are full size and the sink is huge! Lots of cupboard space for our needs. We have a stove, dishwasher and a microwave with all labels and manuals in Korean only. Have fun figuring out how to use them! (This is true for all the electronics in the apartment - security panel, air conditioner, washing machine, light fixtures, thermostat, everything! But I digress.)
Behind the kitchen, running parallel on the backside of the apartment to the "sunroom" on the interior is a similar concept. A length of hallway is divided into three parts - a small room holding the washing machine (no dryer), a laundry room with entrance from the kitchen, and a storage space.
Okay, go back to the living room and turn left (away from the front door). To your left is Alec's room. Tan linoleum floor, bed and dresser. His backwall is also sliding glass door. Open it and you've entered that stretch of hallway with the storage area. Again, lots of natural light everywhere as we essentially have windows on both the length of the interior (courtyard) and exterior. Opposite Alec's room is our bedroom. It is a great size, probably 15 ft x 15 ft. with it's own full bathroom (sink, toilet, shower - all white tile). Again, tan linoleum in the bedroom. A queen size bed, dresser, 2 standing bureaus for hanging clothes. Also, a small built-in desk. Our far wall is also all sliding glass doors (2 sets, 1 for privacy). Behind it lies the rest of that length of "sunroom" overlooking the courtyard. This space has a linen closet built in and is designed for drying clothes. Lots of clothes drying racks here. More windows with screens for air.
The last thing to mention are the sounds in the apartment. First, it is very quiet. We barely hear any sound from outside if all the windows are closed. If they are open to the courtyard we can hear the children playing below and a bit of traffic or the barking dogs (some lady who wouldn't sell out when the apartment buildings went up and now keep LOTS of dogs just to piss everyone off with their incessant barking). Inside the apartment we only hear footprints from upstairs occasionally. However, the most unusual thing is that everything here dings or talks to you! The voice on the elevator speaks. The entry keypad has a certain melody upon opening and closing. The air conditioner has its own set of tunes when turned up or down, on or off. The microwave, stove, washing machine - all different dings.
All told, I believe we stand at about 1000 ft sq. We like it a lot and are happy to be in a place only 2 years old. We just need COLOR. We can't really hang things on the walls, so that's an issue. It's slowly becoming home. I think we need to host a game night! Get some other people in here and it won't feel so much like a condo, right?
PS Suggestions: I'll try to get video on FB or YOUTUBE of our apartment soon. Also, go ahead and google Yongin-si to learn more about our city of 300,000!
Lastly, don't be afraid to leave a comment, even just to say hi!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Bad weather makes for flight delay
Airport at 7:15 AM Saturday
at the counter with Marlin from UA
Marlin: Passports, please.
Me: Sure. We're headed for Seoul.
Marlin: No you're not. That flight has been cancelled.
Me: (expletive)
2 hours later still at Austin Straubel Airport, 14 bags checked, extra luggage fee paid, and new flights secured.
Marlin: So, we've got you booked on the same flights for tomorrow.
Me: Thanks so much for your help!
So, we said good-byes to my parents this morning in a different circumstance than we expected.
But as homeless people with no car and 4 carry-ons to our name, we needed a place to land for 24 hours. Thanks to Brent's cell still working, we were able to call his friend John who graciously picked up the 4 vagabonds to hang out with them for the day.
Next problem, how to contact our welcoming committee that we would be late. Thanks to a conversation earlier this week with someone who texts their friend internationally, I suggested to Brent that we try texting our contact. Can you believe it worked? He texted the update, and although the time difference put that at about 12:30 at night, he instantly received a reply from Lisa in Korea. Technology ROCKS! All is well.
On a side note, what a joy it has been to see so many of you these last weeks and days. Again, I feel so incredibly blessed to have such marvelous people in our lives.
Anyone reading this today (July 24), feel free to call Brent's cell as we are "adrift" today with no agenda (and no car.)
Next blog will likely be from Korea. . . provided we don't run into more delays!
at the counter with Marlin from UA
Marlin: Passports, please.
Me: Sure. We're headed for Seoul.
Marlin: No you're not. That flight has been cancelled.
Me: (expletive)
2 hours later still at Austin Straubel Airport, 14 bags checked, extra luggage fee paid, and new flights secured.
Marlin: So, we've got you booked on the same flights for tomorrow.
Me: Thanks so much for your help!
So, we said good-byes to my parents this morning in a different circumstance than we expected.
But as homeless people with no car and 4 carry-ons to our name, we needed a place to land for 24 hours. Thanks to Brent's cell still working, we were able to call his friend John who graciously picked up the 4 vagabonds to hang out with them for the day.
Next problem, how to contact our welcoming committee that we would be late. Thanks to a conversation earlier this week with someone who texts their friend internationally, I suggested to Brent that we try texting our contact. Can you believe it worked? He texted the update, and although the time difference put that at about 12:30 at night, he instantly received a reply from Lisa in Korea. Technology ROCKS! All is well.
On a side note, what a joy it has been to see so many of you these last weeks and days. Again, I feel so incredibly blessed to have such marvelous people in our lives.
Anyone reading this today (July 24), feel free to call Brent's cell as we are "adrift" today with no agenda (and no car.)
Next blog will likely be from Korea. . . provided we don't run into more delays!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Korea Update
Believe it or not, by this time next week we will be living in Korea!
How are we doing? Pretty well, actually. We all have tickets and passports. Brent and I have our Visas. We're almost caught up on our bills and tying the loose ends with insurance, phones, forwarding address, etc. We had a successful garage sale which cleared us of much of our stuff and furniture (the kids have been sleeping on the floor for a week.) My Prius is sold. An hour ago we had someone looking at the Outlander, so perhaps that will sell. My brother-in-law may end up using the TV (still for sale, though!) We've got most of the bags packed and most of the boxes for storage packed. We have yet to make a trip to my folks to place some things in storage.
As far as preparations on the other end goes, we now have email addresses at our new school. (I've even received 2 emails from students in AP English Literature.) AND we have an apartment! It's a 3-bedroom that should be about 1100 square feet. Not too bad! Write to me on facebook or at my email if you'd like the address.
The good-byes continue. It has been wonderful seeing so many friends and family "one last time" before next summer. What a joy it has been! We hold you in our hearts. I'm so glad I've been collecting pictures and video to remind us of the ones we love.
If you are on Skype, please look me up by first.last name. Once we are back online in our apartment, we'll try to keep Skype running when we are home in case you'd like to call. Remember, we'll be 15 hours ahead of Central Standard Time.
For those of you who are curious we'll be flying from GB to Chicago then directly to Seoul. The flight to Seoul is direct from Chicago and about 13.5 hours, ugh!
Now, for more packing. . . .
(Don't forget to leave a comment - it only takes a moment to say hello!)
How are we doing? Pretty well, actually. We all have tickets and passports. Brent and I have our Visas. We're almost caught up on our bills and tying the loose ends with insurance, phones, forwarding address, etc. We had a successful garage sale which cleared us of much of our stuff and furniture (the kids have been sleeping on the floor for a week.) My Prius is sold. An hour ago we had someone looking at the Outlander, so perhaps that will sell. My brother-in-law may end up using the TV (still for sale, though!) We've got most of the bags packed and most of the boxes for storage packed. We have yet to make a trip to my folks to place some things in storage.
As far as preparations on the other end goes, we now have email addresses at our new school. (I've even received 2 emails from students in AP English Literature.) AND we have an apartment! It's a 3-bedroom that should be about 1100 square feet. Not too bad! Write to me on facebook or at my email if you'd like the address.
The good-byes continue. It has been wonderful seeing so many friends and family "one last time" before next summer. What a joy it has been! We hold you in our hearts. I'm so glad I've been collecting pictures and video to remind us of the ones we love.
If you are on Skype, please look me up by first.last name. Once we are back online in our apartment, we'll try to keep Skype running when we are home in case you'd like to call. Remember, we'll be 15 hours ahead of Central Standard Time.
For those of you who are curious we'll be flying from GB to Chicago then directly to Seoul. The flight to Seoul is direct from Chicago and about 13.5 hours, ugh!
Now, for more packing. . . .
(Don't forget to leave a comment - it only takes a moment to say hello!)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Dear Friends. . .
Who knew that the final days and weeks of our life in Green Bay would be so busy with social engagements? I pictured us packing, sorting, throwing, donating, and storing our household stuff in these last days. I pictured working to eat ourselves out of house and home - literally. And while we are doing these things, I never imagined how blessed we would be to have so many friends come forward and say, "We've got to get together before you go!"
So I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to our friends whom we love and will miss. I've so enjoyed spending time together over dinner out with you, the wine tasting tour, the evenings in your homes, the precious French beverage (you know what I mean, Bill!), the games of pool, swimming in your pool or hottub, and POETS. I thank you for keeping me company during the garage sale or making that final call or email wishing us well.
We are so blessed to have friends such as you. When I feel homesick in these next months, I'm certain I will look back on these days for re-energizing and grounding. While we're tempted to measure our success in life against the amount of possessions or wealth that we have, these days with you are one more reminder of that which truly matters - love in our lives through our relationship with others.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
I shall close with a saying from Anna, "I have hearts popping out for you."
So I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to our friends whom we love and will miss. I've so enjoyed spending time together over dinner out with you, the wine tasting tour, the evenings in your homes, the precious French beverage (you know what I mean, Bill!), the games of pool, swimming in your pool or hottub, and POETS. I thank you for keeping me company during the garage sale or making that final call or email wishing us well.
We are so blessed to have friends such as you. When I feel homesick in these next months, I'm certain I will look back on these days for re-energizing and grounding. While we're tempted to measure our success in life against the amount of possessions or wealth that we have, these days with you are one more reminder of that which truly matters - love in our lives through our relationship with others.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
I shall close with a saying from Anna, "I have hearts popping out for you."
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The E-7 Visas Story
This is a long story. I'm warning you right now. You may not want to proceed. It should be a short story. I wish I could say it were a short story. But, alas, it is a long one. If it were a short story, it would go something like this:
We applied for our E-7 Work Visas. We had some paperwork to do, needed to mail it off to KIS who took it to the Consulate in Korea who issued us each an issuance number. Once we had the number we mailed it off to the Korean Consulate in Chicago with our passports and waited for them to arrive in the mail. They came about a week later. All is well!
That is how the story SHOULD go. In this case, the story doesn't quite go the same way, although the ending is the same. So, if you wanted to know if we got our Visas yet, we did. No need to read on. But if you want to know the LONG story. Here goes. . .
We needed to apply for E-7 work Visas to work at KIS for 2 years. I knew it would be a bit complicated as anytime you deal with another country, things are complicated. The initial paperwork reminded me of adopting from Russia - lots of official sorts of documents that needed to be gathered and signed. We gave ourselved plenty of time to meet KIS's deadline of May 1 to have all of it ready. We were done and paperwork was FedExed by mid-April. Documents needed included a signed work contract, an information form, copy of teaching licences, copy of passport photo page (which requires up-to-date passports, which of course I needed to apply for - first step), ORIGINAL diploma of our highest degree (thank GOD that wasn't packed away in a pod already and that I found it!), passport photos, resume showing current employment (meant tweaking my resume), copies of recommendation letters (had those), authenticated Criminal Record History.
And this is where it begins to get interesting.
As you can probably tell from the list, these documents take a bit of time to gather. No big deal. But that darn Criminal Record History.
Initially we were told to get that from our local police, which we did. But long about May 5th we were notified that the rules had suddenly changed on their end and that now we needed an authenticated Criminal Record History from the state level, including an apostille (for those of you who don't know, it's a sort of notarization from the State level that the notarization is legit - at it costs about $10). So we made our phone calls to learn what to do, paid our additional fees to have matters "expedited" and soon enough we were re-mailing our new-and-improved Crimnal Record History to Korea.
Wait for word. . . . Yes! It arrived safely. Now we wait for the Issuance Number from Korea. We need these for the final steps in the process to the Visas. Still on schedule, we get the numbers via email. A few phone calls later, and we are delighted to learn that we won't have to drive down to Korean Consulate in Chicago after all. We have just enough time to mail our passports and other accompanying paperwork (including the issuance number) to them. If we Overnight it (I like to use USPS Express as it costs about 15 bucks versus the 50 bucks FedEx will charge you), all should be well as they have about a 3-day turn around. Put the return envelope in there as another Overnight (USPS Express) and we should be good to go. If all goes well, should be about a week - 10 day turnaround time; unheard of, right? I kiss the envelope for good luck and tell it good-bye - our passports are in there, after all, and we are due to fly out in 5 weeks!
In the meantime, we had an eight day trip planned to Minnesota. So we asked our neighbor to get our mail and keep a close watch out for this very important document that might be coming. She agreed.
A few days later, while admiring the gorilla at Como Zoo with my family, my cellphone rings - on Roam. It's the Korean Consulate in Chicago. She's noticed an error in the paperwork from Korea. They are under the impression I am a male and must be notified I'm female. She'll change things on this end, but won't I get word to them right away that I'm a girl? Sure, no problem.
First thing back at my sister's home, I email KIS with the request. An hour later, I get another call - on Roam. It the Korean Consulate in Chicago again. She noticed that they are under the impression that my husband is a female. Would we let them know he's a male? Sure, no problem. Brent emails KIS telling them to tell the Consulate he's a guy. (Hey, don't laugh, would you know if a KOREAN name were male or female?)
The good news? We know they are processing our Visas.
A day later, while we are at my brother-in-law's house in Minnesota, I get another call - on Roam. It's my neighbor. She missed the mailman. There's a note on our door that there was a package that needed to be signed for. Now it needs to be picked up. We have 5 business days to pick it up or it gets sent back to sender. (Oh, oh!) Thank you, neighbor, for the update! Hmm. . . .5 business days would put us on Monday, I think. Does the USPS count Saturday as a business day? I don't know. I make some calls (800 numbers, not on Roam). I THINK I'm safe, but I still don't want to chance it. My first chance at getting to the post office will be Monday morning. What if they mail it back Monday morning (day 5) before I can get there to pick it up? I'd better call our OWN branch and have them hold it for me. More phone calls - on ROAM.
Lucky me, I get the most inept postal worker at the branch on the phone. I know this because of my frequent-flyer miles at the USPS with my IB job. Let's just call her Bonnie. It takes Bonnie awhile to understand what I'm asking. I have a package there Express Mail. I need you to hold it for me and NOT send it back to sender. Once she "gets it", she's happy to oblige. "Sure. I'll just put a note on it for you," she says with finality. I interject, "Wonderful. Be sure to put Brenda B----- on it for me." "Oh, yeah! I guess I'd better get your name and address." Yeah, that would be a good idea. "My name is. . . We live at. . . ," I say, "and Bonnie, what time do you guys open? 8 or 8:30? I want to be there right away Monday morning to pick it up." "Oh. . .8, I think. No. . .8:30. . . . Hold on, let me go check." (No problem, it's not like I'm on ROAM or anything. Is this gal for real?) Back on the line now, "8:30." "Great. Thank you, Bonnie, for all your help!"
It's Monday morning. I arrive at the post office at 8:40. I go to the teller with my little retrieval slip and my ID ready. He's happy to help. He goes to the back room. He returns with an envelope with a note attached (good girl, Bonnie!). He smiles and says, "I see you requested to have this held. Good thing, too, or we would have been sending it back." "So I did the right thing?" "Sure did." He hands me the envelope. I tear it open just to make sure all is well. Two passports? Check. Brenda is female? Check. Brent is male? Check. Visa for Brenda? Check. Visa for Brent? Check.
All is well!
And that is the E-7 Visas story.
We applied for our E-7 Work Visas. We had some paperwork to do, needed to mail it off to KIS who took it to the Consulate in Korea who issued us each an issuance number. Once we had the number we mailed it off to the Korean Consulate in Chicago with our passports and waited for them to arrive in the mail. They came about a week later. All is well!
That is how the story SHOULD go. In this case, the story doesn't quite go the same way, although the ending is the same. So, if you wanted to know if we got our Visas yet, we did. No need to read on. But if you want to know the LONG story. Here goes. . .
We needed to apply for E-7 work Visas to work at KIS for 2 years. I knew it would be a bit complicated as anytime you deal with another country, things are complicated. The initial paperwork reminded me of adopting from Russia - lots of official sorts of documents that needed to be gathered and signed. We gave ourselved plenty of time to meet KIS's deadline of May 1 to have all of it ready. We were done and paperwork was FedExed by mid-April. Documents needed included a signed work contract, an information form, copy of teaching licences, copy of passport photo page (which requires up-to-date passports, which of course I needed to apply for - first step), ORIGINAL diploma of our highest degree (thank GOD that wasn't packed away in a pod already and that I found it!), passport photos, resume showing current employment (meant tweaking my resume), copies of recommendation letters (had those), authenticated Criminal Record History.
And this is where it begins to get interesting.
As you can probably tell from the list, these documents take a bit of time to gather. No big deal. But that darn Criminal Record History.
Initially we were told to get that from our local police, which we did. But long about May 5th we were notified that the rules had suddenly changed on their end and that now we needed an authenticated Criminal Record History from the state level, including an apostille (for those of you who don't know, it's a sort of notarization from the State level that the notarization is legit - at it costs about $10). So we made our phone calls to learn what to do, paid our additional fees to have matters "expedited" and soon enough we were re-mailing our new-and-improved Crimnal Record History to Korea.
Wait for word. . . . Yes! It arrived safely. Now we wait for the Issuance Number from Korea. We need these for the final steps in the process to the Visas. Still on schedule, we get the numbers via email. A few phone calls later, and we are delighted to learn that we won't have to drive down to Korean Consulate in Chicago after all. We have just enough time to mail our passports and other accompanying paperwork (including the issuance number) to them. If we Overnight it (I like to use USPS Express as it costs about 15 bucks versus the 50 bucks FedEx will charge you), all should be well as they have about a 3-day turn around. Put the return envelope in there as another Overnight (USPS Express) and we should be good to go. If all goes well, should be about a week - 10 day turnaround time; unheard of, right? I kiss the envelope for good luck and tell it good-bye - our passports are in there, after all, and we are due to fly out in 5 weeks!
In the meantime, we had an eight day trip planned to Minnesota. So we asked our neighbor to get our mail and keep a close watch out for this very important document that might be coming. She agreed.
A few days later, while admiring the gorilla at Como Zoo with my family, my cellphone rings - on Roam. It's the Korean Consulate in Chicago. She's noticed an error in the paperwork from Korea. They are under the impression I am a male and must be notified I'm female. She'll change things on this end, but won't I get word to them right away that I'm a girl? Sure, no problem.
First thing back at my sister's home, I email KIS with the request. An hour later, I get another call - on Roam. It the Korean Consulate in Chicago again. She noticed that they are under the impression that my husband is a female. Would we let them know he's a male? Sure, no problem. Brent emails KIS telling them to tell the Consulate he's a guy. (Hey, don't laugh, would you know if a KOREAN name were male or female?)
The good news? We know they are processing our Visas.
A day later, while we are at my brother-in-law's house in Minnesota, I get another call - on Roam. It's my neighbor. She missed the mailman. There's a note on our door that there was a package that needed to be signed for. Now it needs to be picked up. We have 5 business days to pick it up or it gets sent back to sender. (Oh, oh!) Thank you, neighbor, for the update! Hmm. . . .5 business days would put us on Monday, I think. Does the USPS count Saturday as a business day? I don't know. I make some calls (800 numbers, not on Roam). I THINK I'm safe, but I still don't want to chance it. My first chance at getting to the post office will be Monday morning. What if they mail it back Monday morning (day 5) before I can get there to pick it up? I'd better call our OWN branch and have them hold it for me. More phone calls - on ROAM.
Lucky me, I get the most inept postal worker at the branch on the phone. I know this because of my frequent-flyer miles at the USPS with my IB job. Let's just call her Bonnie. It takes Bonnie awhile to understand what I'm asking. I have a package there Express Mail. I need you to hold it for me and NOT send it back to sender. Once she "gets it", she's happy to oblige. "Sure. I'll just put a note on it for you," she says with finality. I interject, "Wonderful. Be sure to put Brenda B----- on it for me." "Oh, yeah! I guess I'd better get your name and address." Yeah, that would be a good idea. "My name is. . . We live at. . . ," I say, "and Bonnie, what time do you guys open? 8 or 8:30? I want to be there right away Monday morning to pick it up." "Oh. . .8, I think. No. . .8:30. . . . Hold on, let me go check." (No problem, it's not like I'm on ROAM or anything. Is this gal for real?) Back on the line now, "8:30." "Great. Thank you, Bonnie, for all your help!"
It's Monday morning. I arrive at the post office at 8:40. I go to the teller with my little retrieval slip and my ID ready. He's happy to help. He goes to the back room. He returns with an envelope with a note attached (good girl, Bonnie!). He smiles and says, "I see you requested to have this held. Good thing, too, or we would have been sending it back." "So I did the right thing?" "Sure did." He hands me the envelope. I tear it open just to make sure all is well. Two passports? Check. Brenda is female? Check. Brent is male? Check. Visa for Brenda? Check. Visa for Brent? Check.
All is well!
And that is the E-7 Visas story.
Friday, June 18, 2010
A Tribute to Dad
"It's only when you grow up and step back from him, or leave him for your own career and your own home-it's only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it. Pride reinforces love." Margaret Truman
Father's day is upon us. What better time to reflect on my dad. Dad is still going strong, although currently recovering from sinus infection and a surgery to clear it up. My dad is a retired Lutheran pastor, Men's Chorus director and singer, builder, husband, father, and grandfather. He is a good man who has worked hard at all he does. For a man whose career saw him doing a lot of reading and writing, his sanity has come in the hard labor of building and maintaining cabins and a large acreage as well as gardening. Few days pass that my father doesn't sweat. I wish I could say the same.
"Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad. - Anne Geddes
True enough. So let's talk about Dad. When my sister and I were young, dad's role was pretty typical. He worked long hours, so when we saw him it was at supper time. Usually we'd talk about our day and he and mom would talk about things that were above our heads. If either of us had worn out our mom, she'd use the classic, "Wait til your father gets home!" It worked. If it was payday, he'd do something wonderful like say, "Let's go get A&W." He taught us cards and pingpong (never letting us win; we had to earn it). He taught us how to sing and love singing. Dad saved all his change for our vacation each year. He managed to get us to fun places on change. My sister and I used to get to count up the change by spreading it out on the livingroom floor and making little piles of money. Dad provided and provides the foundation for our family.
Dad's love of nature and the outdoors has been a constant for as long as I've been alive. In that time he's built with his own hands three cabins (one of them two stories). He's cleared more brush than he cares to think about, moved hundreds of rock and stones and reseeded property after flooding, and rigged up ways for us to bathe and shower off of spring water. He's felled trees (quite recently, actually). Anything having to do with trees, he's done - planted, watered, replanted, trimmed (both clipping and decorating), sawed down, chopped up, dragged and burned. He's made bridges, walking paths, and roads. He's designed ponds, dug out and shaped and landscaped. For awhile he ran a lawncare business on the side. What have I taken away from all of this? I, too, have a love of nature, the woods, trees. God is in there, you know.
I hadn't thought about my dad with this label before, but he has always been an ATHLETE. Odd that it took 40+ years to figure that out. When I was little, dad would regale tales of the glory days in college when he was on the gymnastics team and could do the CROSS on the rings (a feat requiring great strength). He'd also done some boxing; his father had been a boxer at one point. (And I like to kickbox, hmmm.) When I was about 10, we got up some mornings one summer at 5:30 AM so he could teach me tennis. I'd never gotten up that early in my life! I hadn't known how loud birdsong was at that time of day or what sunrises looked like. When my sister was in high school, dad challenged one of her boyfriends to a wrestling match in the front yard - and WON! (Needless to say, that guy never came back!) Dad used to be a jogger (today we use the term runner). He jogged 5 miles a day with our dog, sometimes at 4:30 in the morning! I seem to remember he ran a 1/2 marathon once. Even now, when running isn't a physical possibility, he still walks up to 4 miles a day. Walking and maintaining his latest building project (a cabin he had built by the Amish in their area) keeps him quite fit.
"A father is a banker. . . provided by nature." French proverb
This proverb rings true to me. And how apropos that it is a French proverb, seeing as one of the major ways dad - and mom - acted as bankers was for my summer in Paris! That summer in Paris in '89 led to a love of international travel including France, Germany, Italy and Mexico. It played a part in our daughter's adoption from Russia, and a part in my decision to move to Korea. Dad has helped fund my first apartment down payment, various car purchases, and countless can-I-get-that-Dad items when I was young. But dad hasn't just been a banker, he and mom have taught me a lot about the value of money and how to use it responsibly. Thank goodness, because in these economic times we haven't found ourselves in over our heads.
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is love their mother." - anonymous
I know this quote is important to my father because he used this quote on my wedding day. To my recollection, it was the last thing he said to my husband before the ceremony began. Of course we didn't have any children for a decade, but his words of wisdom stuck with me. I know that he has lived his life by this quote, and in so doing has provided a stable, loving home for his two girls. Wise words from a wise man.
I'd like to end my tribute to dad by saying a word about the intangibles. Dad has simply been a man who has done his best to provide spiritual and moral guidance for his family. He's done this mostly by example. He's led a Godly life, loved his wife and kids and grandkids. He's taught my sister and me (and many others whose lives he has touched over the years) honesty, integrity, an appreciation for nature, activity, writing, speaking, diplomacy, problem-solving, fun and hard-work. He's hugged and kissed and said 'I love you.' He's laughed and cried. He's been angry at injustice and wrong-doing. He's taught forgiveness and mercy. He's shown strength and vulnerability.
What more could a daughter ask for?
Thank you, Dad!
Father's day is upon us. What better time to reflect on my dad. Dad is still going strong, although currently recovering from sinus infection and a surgery to clear it up. My dad is a retired Lutheran pastor, Men's Chorus director and singer, builder, husband, father, and grandfather. He is a good man who has worked hard at all he does. For a man whose career saw him doing a lot of reading and writing, his sanity has come in the hard labor of building and maintaining cabins and a large acreage as well as gardening. Few days pass that my father doesn't sweat. I wish I could say the same.
"Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad. - Anne Geddes
True enough. So let's talk about Dad. When my sister and I were young, dad's role was pretty typical. He worked long hours, so when we saw him it was at supper time. Usually we'd talk about our day and he and mom would talk about things that were above our heads. If either of us had worn out our mom, she'd use the classic, "Wait til your father gets home!" It worked. If it was payday, he'd do something wonderful like say, "Let's go get A&W." He taught us cards and pingpong (never letting us win; we had to earn it). He taught us how to sing and love singing. Dad saved all his change for our vacation each year. He managed to get us to fun places on change. My sister and I used to get to count up the change by spreading it out on the livingroom floor and making little piles of money. Dad provided and provides the foundation for our family.
Dad's love of nature and the outdoors has been a constant for as long as I've been alive. In that time he's built with his own hands three cabins (one of them two stories). He's cleared more brush than he cares to think about, moved hundreds of rock and stones and reseeded property after flooding, and rigged up ways for us to bathe and shower off of spring water. He's felled trees (quite recently, actually). Anything having to do with trees, he's done - planted, watered, replanted, trimmed (both clipping and decorating), sawed down, chopped up, dragged and burned. He's made bridges, walking paths, and roads. He's designed ponds, dug out and shaped and landscaped. For awhile he ran a lawncare business on the side. What have I taken away from all of this? I, too, have a love of nature, the woods, trees. God is in there, you know.
I hadn't thought about my dad with this label before, but he has always been an ATHLETE. Odd that it took 40+ years to figure that out. When I was little, dad would regale tales of the glory days in college when he was on the gymnastics team and could do the CROSS on the rings (a feat requiring great strength). He'd also done some boxing; his father had been a boxer at one point. (And I like to kickbox, hmmm.) When I was about 10, we got up some mornings one summer at 5:30 AM so he could teach me tennis. I'd never gotten up that early in my life! I hadn't known how loud birdsong was at that time of day or what sunrises looked like. When my sister was in high school, dad challenged one of her boyfriends to a wrestling match in the front yard - and WON! (Needless to say, that guy never came back!) Dad used to be a jogger (today we use the term runner). He jogged 5 miles a day with our dog, sometimes at 4:30 in the morning! I seem to remember he ran a 1/2 marathon once. Even now, when running isn't a physical possibility, he still walks up to 4 miles a day. Walking and maintaining his latest building project (a cabin he had built by the Amish in their area) keeps him quite fit.
"A father is a banker. . . provided by nature." French proverb
This proverb rings true to me. And how apropos that it is a French proverb, seeing as one of the major ways dad - and mom - acted as bankers was for my summer in Paris! That summer in Paris in '89 led to a love of international travel including France, Germany, Italy and Mexico. It played a part in our daughter's adoption from Russia, and a part in my decision to move to Korea. Dad has helped fund my first apartment down payment, various car purchases, and countless can-I-get-that-Dad items when I was young. But dad hasn't just been a banker, he and mom have taught me a lot about the value of money and how to use it responsibly. Thank goodness, because in these economic times we haven't found ourselves in over our heads.
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is love their mother." - anonymous
I know this quote is important to my father because he used this quote on my wedding day. To my recollection, it was the last thing he said to my husband before the ceremony began. Of course we didn't have any children for a decade, but his words of wisdom stuck with me. I know that he has lived his life by this quote, and in so doing has provided a stable, loving home for his two girls. Wise words from a wise man.
I'd like to end my tribute to dad by saying a word about the intangibles. Dad has simply been a man who has done his best to provide spiritual and moral guidance for his family. He's done this mostly by example. He's led a Godly life, loved his wife and kids and grandkids. He's taught my sister and me (and many others whose lives he has touched over the years) honesty, integrity, an appreciation for nature, activity, writing, speaking, diplomacy, problem-solving, fun and hard-work. He's hugged and kissed and said 'I love you.' He's laughed and cried. He's been angry at injustice and wrong-doing. He's taught forgiveness and mercy. He's shown strength and vulnerability.
What more could a daughter ask for?
Thank you, Dad!
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