Special Needs Home Visit/Party! (The Peace House 평강 의집)

A few weeks ago, I decided to take part in a party at the Peace House that the AVA (Andong Volunteers Association) organized. The Peace House is a special needs home on the outskirts of Andong that a man and his family run. A good amount of foreigners here are affiliated with the local Christian church, whom donate money to the Peace House, which is in turn, how the foreign community came to find out about it. Since then, AVA has organized monthly visits. Unfortunately I always had something going on during those weekends, so this was the first time I had actually visited the home.

Side note: Serious kudos to Meredith Stein, president of AVA and a big reason as to why this all came together.

A little bit about the residents:
They range in age from 5 months old to about their 30 or 40's. I spent most of my time with two different residents. One 16 yr-old girl (who developmentally, looked about 8 or 9.) She is incapable of walking on her own and is most comfortable on her back resting on your legs. She is unable to speak well but had the biggest, most beautiful smile. This girl was all about the balloon we were passing around, and kept trying to hit it. I also spent some time with a 9 yr old, who again, physically looked like he was no more than 3 years old. He was just the cutest little boy. He sat between my legs the whole time, playing with my bracelets and a fan I gave him. During one of the games he was screaming and laughing and so full of life. There was another girl who walks on her knees, and is damn good at it I must say! She has such a light in her eyes. So much of the world can learn from her. I never once saw her frown, and she was just gliding across that floor so effortlessly. So full of life that one.

Lee Ji-wan, is an adorable baby boy who was given up by his parents because of his medical conditions. He has a condition called Congenital Anomaly Facial Cleft #7. This means that he has lateral facial cleft and ear deformities. Despite these conditions, his brain is a normally-functioning brain. Therefore, he has a bright future and a normal one at that. This home took him in and is their youngest resident at just five months old. The AVA was informed that he will need 3 surgeries total,  and the first one is roughly the cost of one foreign teacher's monthly salary (2,000,000won- 3,000,000won). The AVA decided to open up a separate bank account solely for Ji-wan. After a few short months of fundraisers and getting the word out, the Korean and foreign community of Andong has raised 2,300,000won ($2,072). As of a few days ago, we received news that Ji-wan will go to Seoul in a few weeks for his final evaluation and surgery. It really is quite amazing when a community of people, despite your culture, background, religion, beliefs, race, sex, etc. can come together for something simply because it's the right thing to do.

As of a few weeks ago, Ji-wan's father has very abruptly come back into his life. Now, I am about to say only what I've heard. Serious topics like this, can get misconstrued very easily. You have to keep in mind translation issues and Korea's "saving face" culture. Apparently from what we gathered, the father found out about what we were doing and how much money we raised, and he now wants the rights to his account, he wants to take Ji-wan to his surgery by himself (He made it clear he does not want anyone to go with him.) After the surgery he intends to take Ji-wan out of the Peace House and take him back home with him. Now, we all have very mixed feeling about this, but in the end it all comes back to the one similar conclusion... he most likely wants the money for himself, and even if he does get his son the surgery, he has no idea what the recovery will entail. Most importantly, we believe he does not have any right to this child after literally dumping him and leaving him for basically dead, just because he was too damn arrogant to love, care for him, and accept him as his own. But let's not fret- The AVA has complete rights over Ji-wan's funds and will not be handing them over that easily. OK. END OF RANT.

Ji-wan and our friend Gospel

   
We had organized a few different games and activities for the party, including face painting and Pass the Parcel, where we sat in a big circle and passed around a huge wrapped gift. Each layer of paper had to be torn away to reveal a smaller gift, and the last layer contained a huge package of tooth brushes for everyone in the house. We had a Fishing for Fish game in a small inflatable pool, in which the residents got socks as prizes. We finished with handing out juice boxes and popcorn, and popped in a movie as we quietly slipped out the door. They get very emotional when we leave them, so we thought it best to be a little sneaky this time..

Photo cred: Chris Colverd

Photo cred: Chris Colverd

Photo cred: Chris Colverd

Photo cred: Chris Colverd

Photo cred: Chris Colverd

Photo cred: Chris Colverd

Photo cred: Chris Colverd

Photo cred: Chris Colverd

Overall, it was a great day full of special little moments that I will take with me when I leave this country. I also realized that despite me not having a direct relationship with the Andong Church and its members, I am very grateful to them, especially to Sunny, our main connection. They have included us in this city; they have kept us informed; they have made us feel like we matter and that we are respected here. Sunny is a big reason for connecting the Korean and Foreign community. Without the help from this church, a lot of what we have done here in Andong would not have been possible.

Finally, I was overwhelmed with the amount of residents (about 40) that live in this home and the dedication and selflessness this man shows in order to care for them. The Andong government gives the home 1,000,000won ($1,000) per month. They rely on donations for the rest of their finances, mostly from churches. My co-teacher didn't even know this place existed when I told her about it. $1,000 is less than half of my monthly paycheck. Less than half! Put that into perspective for a second. It's wrong on every level. It really is just unbelievable that they don't get more support. Most of these children and adults residing in this home are disconnected from their families because of their conditions. They either did not know how to care for them or did they did not want to.

A developmental disability does not mean a crappy life. It's sad that it is 2013, and so much of the world is still thinking this way. Where are the resources? Where is the mindset? Where is the education? Where is the selflessness? The open-minded-ness? The educated? The high expectations? Is it up to the minority here to show the compassion and the time, so that it eventually triggers some sort of change? I really do hope so. I hope sooner rather than later- people change. People start to learn.

Hope.

Month 16: Update

I feel like a slacker. I apologize that I haven't updated this in a few months.. I guess nothing extra special has happened, but little things are worth mentioning. So here's a quick update as to what I've been up to...

Cherry Blossoms:

The Spring Cherry blossoms have come and gone yet again. They're only in bloom for about two weeks and then they sadly disappear. It's one of my favorite times in Korea. The weather starts to change and the streets become a winter wonderland full these beautiful flowers. We attended the festival and ate some necessary fried street food.

Andong Orphange:

I started volunteering at the local orphange here in my city, where I teach five middle and high school students. They are an absolute joy to teach. All of them are full of life and very eager to learn. There are six foreign teachers and a few lovely Korean university students who pair up with us. It was my turn two weeks ago, and the students were great! My friend Scott was grand and accompanied me on Monday, because there were no Koreans available. Then on Thursday I headed there by my lonesome, and had a great old time with them. I brought along LCR (greatest gambling game ever. If you don't know what it is, you need to get on that. It often comes out at many of my family functions.. Yes, I was introduced to gambling by my family at the age of 8.) Anyway, I use it a lot in the classroom. Instead of gambling with money, I use it to study  English expressions in unique ways. These kids are great, and it's very comforting and satisfying to know I'm helping to build their English language skills. This will aid them tremendously.

10K:

I ran my third 10K last month. Cut time off my last race. And didn't stop ONCE! EXCITING! A bunch of my friends ran the 5K. Saw some of my students and my school's vice principal. An all-around great day =)

Suzanne, Lisa, and me

Bull-Fighting:

Last month I headed down to Cheongdo, a small city, outside of Daegu- famous for two things and two things only. Bulls and Persimmon. So, two friends and I headed to the famous Bull-fighting festival to see what it was all about. Personally, I've never been to any kind of bull-fight so all I had to go on was what I've seen and heard about Spanish bull fights. It was definitely not as exciting as all that. I admit that it was actually quite boring. The worst part was probably how much time draggggged on between fights. It took them forever to bring out the next pair of bulls. To top it off it was actually frigid that day, so we didn't stay too late. My friend Angel bet on a bull and won- that part was exciting! haha After that, we headed on over to the famous Wine Tunnel where we bought ourselves a bottle of Persimmon wine (the only wine for sale.) Leave it to the foreigners to not think twice about buying an entire bottle. (Every Korean had gotten themselves a single tiny glass for themselves.) We also bought a thing of Brie.. which was delicious. I always forget how much I miss cheese. I practically NEVER get cheese in this country. The good cheese is off the charts expensive, so it's a true treat.

Field Trip:

I recently went on a field trip with my fourth graders to Gumi, a city about 90 minutes away. I was  very surprised that it was not a hike. Every field trip I've been on so far involved a hike (which is great and active but noticeably a bit boring for the students after a while.) This trip was a nice change. They started out at a gorgeous park where they had a tour guide who lead them through fields of flowers and pointed out the various species of trees. Students each had a small notebook where they had to jot down notes on each leaf and flower. After, we had a picnic and then headed to Gumo Land (a small amusement park.) Yes, I went on one of the rides.. pictured below. It was actually a bit eerie. No one else was there except for our school, so it was like a set-up for a creepy horror movie. Ghost town.

Cheongryangsan Part II:

Probably the most difficult hike in Andong is the famous Sky Bridge hike. I hiked it last year so I decided to give it another go.

Me, Jay, Natascha, and Lisa

Decorated for Buddha's Birthday

Me, Lisa, and Natascha

Principal's Art Exhibit:

A few weeks ago I was asked to help my principal write the English translation to his resume/professional background which was going in the back of his new published art book. I had no idea this man was such a talented artist.

My principal is the one in the blue tie to the woman's left.

Last Friday evening he had the opening ceremony of his art exhibit, which I gladly attended. A good amount of the staff from school were there as well as other admirers and fans. They had food and a ribbon cutting ceremony- It was a nice hour of Korean culture and conversing.

Gangnam, Seoul:

Simon, Emer, Conor, Ariel, me and Marc

I made it to Seoul last weekend. Boy did I miss that city. This is the first time I actually spent time in Gangnam and didn't stop by. I once had breakfast there at Butterfingers, but I don't count that. It was literally just to get our western-breakfast fix on and then we were out. I met up with a few friends I haven't seen since February. Relaxed at Rainbow Bar, a fun, laid back hookah bar, where we listened to some great live music (video below). We then made our way around the streets of Gangnam where I gave in and indulged in the greasiest, most delicious burger I've had thus far in Korea. Complete with rice cakes in the meat? Why of course! Don't act surprised.. this is still Korea haha. Somehow we made it to Itaewon where we finished our night.

Met up with Tom the next day, with our new 8,000won rip off Ray Bans, and had...

Greek food!!! I've missed it sooo much! This was at Santorini in Itaewon

Here, we met two Finnish guys who were not our favorite people. Let's just say they were rippping America and Americans apart. My fiend Ariel and I did not hold back when it came to defending our country and our people. Now when it comes to American expats... I have no doubt that everyone of us has gotten some sort of criticism, vulgar smart-ass comment, and/or stereotype. What you choose to do with these situations says a lot about you and what you stand for. 

I mean let's face it. We don't have a lot of fans. A lot of the world does hates us. We credit this to movies, bad television, and our government's need to butt into everyone else's business. Having spent a month in New Zealand, traveled to Japan, Taiwan, and called Korea a home for 16 months, I am automatically a victim of this... just because I'm American. Even if it's as little as, "Where are you from?" "The States." "Hmmm American huh?" *the judgy look*. I can't count how many times that has happened to me. Whether it's followed by a laugh and a "just kidding." or a full on conversation as to why the guy doesn't like America and/or Americans. It's not a fun feeling. It's not comfortable.

I am stubborn as hell.. thank you mom. hehe. I stand my ground and I will make my voice be heard if I feel I am being judged or attacked. However, living abroad has taught me that as much as we travelers are all very tolerant, approachable people, you will still come across ones who have their opinions and won't open their mind to anyone who differs. These are the times I stop talking and walk away. And that's exactly what I eventually did to the Finnish in Itaewon.. We agreed on two things: First of all, yes, our government needs to back off other countries and let them try to work things out on their own. Many of them are fully capable. End of story. Secondly yes there are some Americans out there who give us a bad name. They are obnoxious, arrogant, and unable to judge a situation and act appropriately. I have seen this time and time again living here. Everyone knows the types of people I'm talking about. The ones you are embarrassed to be standing in the same room with. The ones you actually take pity on. I am blessed to know and be friends with people from various countries and backgrounds as well as Americans who are pleasant, open-minded, and can absolutely take a situation and adapt to it. As we explained to these two guys... yes, there are Americans like this out there, but that's not where it ends.
It doesn't have to become your problem. You don't enjoy someones company, you walk away.  Simple. These guys were so set on, "America this, Americans that..." You could see our words literally going in one ear and out through the other. It was a waste of time. The shaking of their heads and the dirty looks, and vulgar comments were enough to make us get the hell out of there.

This upcoming weekend is good old Buddha's Birthday.. which means a 3-day weekend for Korea. I have a Culture Trip organized through EPIK on the following Monday-Wednesday. So I have 6 day weekend coming up and I couldn't be more excited. Busan, Geoje-do, and Dok-do. I'll be posting an entry on that soon after. =)

Holiday Season: SoKo Edition

Thanksgiving has come and gone.. and it couldn't have been more perfect. About 50 of us had gathered at the Andong Church thanks to great Korean friends who helped approve the venue. Two huge turkeys were ordered in from Daegu, and everyone brought some kind of dish to contribute. I made my favorite Thanksgiving dish... mashed sweet potatoes.

 Some facts on sweet potatoes (고구마 pronounced "go goo ma") in Korea: 

1. They are absolutely delicious.

2. Sadly, they are not orange like in the States.

3. You can buy 호박 고구마 "hobak go goo ma." (Hobak is pumpkin. So basically- pumpkin sweet potatoes.) These have more of an orange tint to them.. but to me, taste exactly the same as regular ones.

4. Koreans LOVE their sweet potato lattes.

5. Don't forget the sweet potato pastries in every bakery.

6. Oh, and pizza is not complete without it.. and if you're really lucky.. you can order sweet potato stuffed-crust.. No comment.

My mashed sweet potatoes

Thanksgiving was a hit. Americans were elated. Koreans needed to eat way more than they did. And we all enjoyed each other's company. People made dishes from their own countries. For example, we had a traditional South African salad, a Mongolian dish, along with all the traditional American Thanksgiving sides. It's not every year you have a Thanksgiving spread with pizza, fried chicken, and egg sandwiches.

Lisa taking action!

Suzanne really enjoyed her first American Thanksgiving

My friend Scott was on leave from the Army =) 

Costco Pumpkin Pie!! I wish my mom was with me at that moment I spotted it. I was elated.

I also made turkey hands with my fourth graders and had them write four things they're thankful for. I made Tom the Turkey from felt scraps. I'm pretty proud of it.. 

With the Holidays in full swing, I have mixed feelings..

Thanksgiving turned out to be less of a depressing time than I imagined. But Christmas, I know, will be a whole other ball game. I lived through fb stalking all my friends and their Thanksgiving Eves. I watched a video on the new floats for the Macy's Parade. I was able to call my mom that morning and talk to my brothers who were home from college before they were put to work on peeling potatoes. And my cousin captured a live stream of pictures during dinner so I could treasure them between classes the next morning. My aunt and uncle hosted a bunch of my extended family from Rockaway.

<The Rockaways were hit extremely hard during Hurricane Sandy, throwing them all out of their homes, leaving them with barely anything. They lost their cars, their belongings, and a place they used to call home. From what I have been hearing and seeing, my family has been working with diligence and optimism since day 1. My family on the island has taken some of them in- offering beds, clothes, food, warmth, and a feeling of comfort and security, while the rest of them stay in Rockaway trying to build back what was lost. Their spirits are high, and that's what will get them through it. I am anxious to get home and to help out however I can. By now, most of the basements have been gutted, first floors have been cleared out, and now it's time to rebuild or figure out what to do/where to go next. Schools re-opened about two weeks ago,this week, so the students, (including my cousins) are back on track and in school-mode, focusing their energy somewhere other than the devastation of their homes. We're never ready for these things. Life has its own game of knocking us off course, but keeping your head high and not letting fear or sadness take over is what moves us forward. I am so incredibly thankful for my family. Now more than ever. I think we are all feeling how strong we are when we come together, and I am so grateful for that.>

As I mentioned in my last post, the weather is getting colder, and so I've been coming home from school and wanting nothing more than to change into sweatpants, a hoodie and thick socks, then crawl into my blankets and read a book/watch Modern Family. (This has become my life for the past two weeks because I've been disgustingly sick. The gym was clearly out of the question. But today we started back on our grind =) Thank god. This whole sitting around thing was fun in the beginning, but got old REALLY quick.

Next holiday up: Christmas.

Even though a good percentage of Koreans are Christian, Christmas is not as big as it is in America, and other parts of the world. Schools and mos businesses are off Christmas Day, but that's it. Unfortunately there's not a lot of talk of Christmas, nor are there many decorations floating around town. Some coffee shops decorated, and that puts a smile on all of our faces. You'll see "Christmasy" things here and there but it's nothing like at home, so you kind of have to deal with that. I've been making it a point to take pictures of almost every Christmas-related thing I see, just to keep my sanity.

Fun Polar Bear

Mammoth Bakery in Andong

This is a Korean winter cabbage arrangement found on many streets.

To celebrate here, we are doing a Secret Santa with my friends in Andong, and having a Christmas Eve dinner and a huge Christmas lunch. If you know me or my family, Christmas Eve has always been more of a big deal to me than Christmas. Christmas Day is spent in Rockaway, with my enormous extended family. I compare it to our big NY weddings, because when the end of the night comes, you realize that you wanted to talk with so many more people than you actually did. It is lovely seeing everyone under one roof when we barely get to see each other all year long,  but it's a lot of people, and it's like you have to time your conversations to make the rounds. Haha I love them all nonetheless.

My mom has hosted Christmas Eve as long as I can remember, and it consists of my immediate family, and my maternal aunts, uncles, cousins, and our closest family friends. Even then, it comes to about total of 35-40 people. It's a more personal, more cozy, and more intimate night.

This past Saturday we took a 5:45am bus to Seoul to attend the Christmas Market. We started the day with Butterfingers, a very popular breakfast joint in Gangnam. I recommend it to anyone who is missing their American breakfasts. We then made our way to Insadong for some  Christmas shopping, then over to the European Christmas Market near Hansung University. It was very small, but still had plenty of Christmas cheer going around. There was a tree, lights, kids writing letters to Santa, and a Mexican band playing Christmas music. The European countries who were represented were serving traditional foods. We ended our day in Myeongdong to continue our shopping. There, I found a great new sweater for an equivalent of $2.00. Awesome find.

Oh yes, it's 5:45am 

Me and Angel at the Christmas Market

Those are my gingerbread pecan pancakes and blueberries I'm enjoying =) Heavenly.

Having fun at 9am.

Mexican Band

Not quite Macy's but I'll take it =) 

Not quite Rockefeller, but I'll take it =) 

Lovely tree in Insadong

Wasn't the biggest fan of Gluehweine (hot spiced wine)

Tom, Leandi, Suzanne, and Myself

I've never spent a Christmas away from my family before, so this year and next will test how I cope. Nevertheless, I am excited to spend the holidays with my six close friends here. The seven of us have grown into a family away from home. We have bonded incredibly well, and though we all come from different parts of the world, (South Africa, UK, and the States) even though we speak different dialects, even though we come from different family dynamics, we all bond over something so huge, that it brought us all the way to Korea. Curiosity. We live for new knowledge of cultures, exploring different countries, ways of doing things, why things are the way they are, how we are different, how we are the same..Our desire is with gaining knowledge of the world.  This is something I don't really share with many friends back home. This urge to travel and seek out new experiences bring our conversations and actions to life here. Of course teaching in Korea and the struggles that come with it is something that has also so greatly bonded us together. These people here are my family, and I truly believe you make the best out of what you have. So if this amazing opportunity is taking me away from my mom, brothers and the people I love most in this world during Christmas, I might as well spend it with my other family here. The people who make me laugh and smile on a daily basis. Pair it with some wine.. and we've got ourselves a nice looking Christmas.

My Andong family =) Leozanda, Leandi, Lisa, Suzanne, Tom, and Angel