Mr. Toilet House

Me: What shall we do today?
Anna: Let's go to the Toilet Museum!
Me: Sure, let's.  Call up your friend and let's grab a cab and go!

1 hour later. . .

The girls were squatting over "squatter" statuary.

We were being grossed out by the life-size bronze statue with the hanging gold poo. . .

Thinking over how strange this place was. . . 

And really glad we found the largest golden poo ever!

Unfortunately we didn't get to see an actual arial view of the museum, constructed as a toilet.  But the interior view was plenty!

And to TOP it OFF, we saw the first annual Humorous Poo contest entries which covered the second floor.

I've never seen so much fake poo in all my life.

Thank you Mr. Toilet, AKA former Mayor of Suwon and Chairman of the World Toilet Association for a fun day.

Now for more serious matters, Mr. Jack Sim is now deceased, but he spent his life seeking to improve the circumstances of the poor who lack proper sanitation.  You may enjoy this short film on the internet:

Forward Focus: Meet Mr. Toilet

Mary Shelley meets Shakespeare

I've written two sonnets recently.  This was an assignment given to my seniors, and as you may know, I enjoy writing the creative writing assignments that I assign.  We had recently finished reading and studying Mary Shelley's Frankenstein AND had completed a brief study of sonnets.  You may recall from high school that a sonnet is a 14-line poem with a set rhyme scheme and patterned rhythm of iambic pentameter (essentially 5 pulses per line).  I've challenged my students to post their work on their blogs or Facebook accounts and accrue the most hits or "likes" as a class.  The class with the most wins!  Here's my contribution.

Dr. Frankenstein’s Lament

When I beheld its yellow eye my heart

began to shake. I’d never known my deed

of science, Lord, was such a failing art!

And so I ran away from it full speed.

While nature sang its happy tune for joy,

It ravaged any joy I’d ever seen.

It first decided William to destroy;

Then to my horror fell my dear Justine.

Its vengeance stole my dear Elizabeth -

But just when I refused to make a mate.

Now, all my friends and fam’ly lie in Death,

And I’m alone to fester and to hate.

But at my back I hear another voice

Whisper I should have made another choice.

The Monster’s Reply

When I beheld your intense eyes and corps,

At first I wondered if you’re flesh and bone.

But once I rose, you ran straight out the door,

And I was left to travel life alone.

At first I saved a girl from waters rank

in hopes that my good deeds would make me loved.

But her papa just chased me from the bank

And evil in mankind he wondrous proved.

Again I thought I’d try to join the world

So wood I brought to my dear cottagers.

But kindness brought to me no sought reward,

When “beast” they cried to all the villagers.

And so that voice you hear behind your back

Is just my whisper prior to my attack.

The Lutheran Experience

It was a touch of home right here is Seoul.  Two and a half years in the making.  As far as we know there is only one International Lutheran Church in all of Seoul, and we finally found it.


Just 30 minutes by bus, we walked into the church where Pastor Steve was in his robe, members were happily chatting with one another, and families were having pictures taken for the directory. Several members greeted us and inquired about our background.  I spotted a teacher I knew from another school and met his family.  All of this before church began.

Inside the church sanctuary (a real sanctuary!) was the alter prepared for Reformation Sunday and "the Green Book."  Those of you who grew up Lutheran will know what I mean. The woman sitting in front of me overheard me comment on the green book and said, "Yes, I remember when we moved from the Red Book.  It was such a big deal!  Very divisive."  Common childhood experiences!  It was a taste of home to sing the old liturgy, hear a nice 8 minute sermon, take communion, and have a children's sermon for the kids.  Very nice indeed.

But our experience wasn't over yet. After a ten-minute annual meeting, we made our way to the exit. We shook the Pastor's hand on the way out, talked to several more people and ended up in ye-olde-potluck line!  Anna and Alec were both thrilled to get sloppy joes!  No green jello, though.  We sat at the long tables set up in the narthex and continued chatting with visitors from Maryland there to see their daughter and son-in-law.  The churchgoers were from all different cultures and backgrounds, so it was indeed very international while simultaneously being a familiar experience.

As the potluck was winding up we were happy to win a raffle prize of a potted plant!  The organizers made sure that the newbies got the "first gifts."  On top of that we were talked into having our family picture taken for the directory!

Even the kids seemed to enjoy the service and the community feel.

I wonder how long it will be before we have a key to the church. . . .

Seoul International Fireworks

Where do I begin?

At the point where extraordinary fireworks including those flying through the air and shaped like birds and then exploding happens? Maybe the cool colored flood lights on the smoke for added effect? Or the part where we couldn't fit 8 people onto a subway train because it was so full? Or maybe I should begin with the part where our party of 10 walked with literally thousands (probably millions in all) down the middle of streets to find a venue near the river to watch? I could start at the part where 70 people shoved past that poor security guard to get to another street and then started climbing a fence with barbed wire on top.

Maybe I should start at the end and go back.  In that case I'd begin with the part where 4 adults and 4 children walked the bridge across the Han River and then some for an hour trying to reach our hotel but still making it back at 1 AM. Better yet I could begin with the lovely story of realizing we'd miss the last subway train followed by the 1-hour wait in the taxi line and then shoving 4 adults, 4 kids and a stroller into a taxi sedan, to the great surprise of the driver.

No, it is probably best to begin with the beauty of the fireworks: 4 different shows by teams of 4 different countries including the US.  And that reminds me of the part where we all were singing the star-spangled banner to the American Fireworks show only to realize later it was actually the Korean show.  That was funny (and a bit humiliating). I guess anywhere I begin will be fine as the whole affair, even the part about getting supper at a chicken and beer joint and then being turned away because we had children with us, was interesting.

Seeing the International Fireworks Festival was somewhat of an epic event, I'd say.

Too bad Brent missed it!

A day in Dongcheon-dong

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When I am six and fifty. . . (a poem)

When I am six and fifty. . . 

1972

When I was six my family lived in the country 

near our church and a graveyard.  

Down the hill was a dairy farm -

cows and chickens and friends my age.  

Days were spent with my older sister, 

mostly swinging or riding my bike 

on the gravel driveway.  

I wrote my first poem then - “Piggy Piggy”

1982

When I was six and ten we lived in small-town Iowa: 

Population 1600.  

I was anxiously awaiting getting my driver’s license, 

hated my wait and worried about friends.

Still, Iloved acting in the plays and musicals, 

and wrote poetry about nature and love and boys.  

1992

When I was six and twenty, I lived in a Swiss-town in Wisconsin.  

Population 10,000.

I loved the thrill of teaching en francais and en englais. 

Best of all, I was deeply in love with the substitute teacher.  

I believed he was “the one” - 

and he was!

2002

When I was six and thirty, I lived in the Promised Land (according to our pastor).  

Population 100,000.

My life had been consumed with love and teaching and church and dogs 

until it became consumed with trying to “have a family.”  

Life was full and empty at the same time.

2012

Now I am six and forty and living near Seoul, Korea.  

Population 10 million plus.

My husband is graying, 

my daughter’s feet are nearly as big as mine.  

My son needs a haircut 

and they both dream of having a cat.  

I swim and bike and do yoga and zumba.

I teach English and learn Korean

and try to make a difference in the lives of N. Korean Refugees.   

I write poetry and teach it and wonder what life will be

When I am six and fifty.

September 23, 2012

Korea in the Fall

The weather broke!  By that I mean the high humidity and temps of 80 - 90 degrees F are finally gone.  Now we've hit the mid-70's to mid-80's and the humidity is low.  Every now and then we get some rain, but for the most part, these are the perfect days for hikes and bike rides.

Yesterday we had a "playground crawl" for the Goodmorning Hill/Ramien apt. families (and anyone else interested in joining us).  There were maybe a dozen adults and more than a dozen kids.  We hung out at Goodmorning Hill for awhile.  The women chatted.  The men played frisbee.  The kids cruised on bikes and scooters.  Then we caravanned over to Ramien to a new-to-us playground there.  The boys found sticks.  The older girls doted on the littlest kids.  And in general, there was lots of running and climbing.

On our way back to GMH we stopped by the Bounce House so the newbies would know how to find it.  This is an awesome service in our neighborhood.  Just one guy mans the place.  It's a semi-indoor facility with 6 trampolines all bound together as if you are in an inflatable bounce castle.  The kids pay 1000 Won for 30 minutes and bounce until they're all sweat and laughter.  Sometimes they manage a bit of dodgeball with the bouncy balls in there.  Sometimes siblings get on each others' nerves.  But mostly, it's a great way to work off pent up energy - even in the winter time.  Now, however, with the weather so much more pleasant, the kids can bounce and the parents can enjoy  some adult time without sweating.

Anna and her new friend Gracie found a small aquatics pet shot across from the Bounce House.  This could be perfect for us.  If we decide we need a larger tank for our turtle or a real UVA/UVB tank bulb, I'm fairly certain the guy will be able to hook us up.  He had some interesting fish and turtles in there.

Today we took advantage of the good weather again.  We headed off to the skate park near Daeduk (or Shinsigae + Emart).  It's a 15 minute bike ride along the river.  I love the smell of the river!  There weren't many kids there when we arrived so the kids got some good time in on the ramps with their bikes.  Then we headed to Daeduk and ended up at a French sort of place called Plate 904 or some such thing.  Two of the outer walls are all collapsable windows, so in essence you are both inside and outside at the same time.  I love it!  Aside from the pesky bee who didn't realize he was "in" the restaurant.  But the fresh air was perfect and my cream-shrimp-pasta was tasty.  Most all of the restaurants in this area are pricey, but it's nice to splurge from time to time.

So, I'm digging the fall temps and the outdoor activities.