October 17, 2008

Subject: Journal Entry October 17 2008

Is it possible that some things in Seoul are becoming routine? I guess anywhere in the world you go, there would always be days where you just don't experience something new. Well today, is NOT one of those days! Today the students had the day off, so their teachers could go to school. And boy did we ever! Today we went to Seoul Foreign School, (SFS), for Educator's Day. The official name of the conference was KORCOS/DODDS CONFERENCE 2008...see why it is just better to call it Educators Day? It started at 6:45 A.M. with Susan and I riding on one of those very nice busses we have over here. We arrived across town at SFS about 45 minutes later. Everyone, I mean several hundred teachers, got off the busses and stood around waiting for someone to tell them what to do next. I couldn't stand the suspense, so I started hiking up the hill to the courtyard area. I knew the layout from Cross-Country, we had just beaten SFS on their own track three weeks ago, so I figured if I got to the soccer field surrounded by all the buildings I would eventually run into someone who would direct me further. A few steps up the road, I noticed I was being followed by a very large contingent from Seoul American, Daegu and Osan Schools! They must have figured I knew where I was going! Luckily it worked out perfectly, as a SFS staff person directed me from the soccer field to the right building and the whole gang was happy. This just reminds me how many people follow their shepherd, or Jesus to eternal life. How awful it must be for someone following Budda or someone else, only to realize, too late in some cases, that their leader was just a seeker themselves!

The Opening Ceremony started right on time with a Traditional Korean Drum Dance performed by some local professionals. This was followed by brief, but positive, speeches by Dr. Einstein Lavina, (President of KORCOS-International School Federation), and our American Teacher of the Year and our own acting Superintendent. The Keynote speaker was Mr. John Joseph from Australia. You can get a pretty good idea what he talked about if you want from: john.joseph@focuseducation.com.au online. He was a brilliant educator and a fine speaker too.

Then followed many sessions for about an hour each. I got to choose from a booklet, which ones I wanted to attend. I went to several foreign language and language arts presentations made by other teachers. This was fantastic. Some of the best professional development I have received in many years! These teachers shared freely and openly some of their "best secrets" to success in teaching. Some of them I had heard of, but no one had ever really explained them to me so clearly! I enjoyed every minute of each presentation! While I did not really have much time for lunch, I did stop by for 15 minutes to grab a quick bite from the cafeteria. They had international dishes being prepared by people who were really from those countries. I finally chose an Indian Curry Chicken plate. I was not dissappointed. It was spicy and delicious, and only cost $5! That left me enough money for two raffle tickets and emergency cash for a taxi, in case we missed the bus to go home. Emergency cash for a subway, taxi or train is really essential in a foreign country!

Well, the many wonderful presentations finally ended and we went to the closing ceremonies. I cannot believe how many hills and steps I had climbed today! No wonder the teachers and students of SFS are all in such good physical condition! We were blessed in the closing ceremony by a Harp presentation by a young girl from Osan. She was very good, and her music was indeed...are you ready for this...heavenly! What else? It was a harp! Today I learned about foreign language resources, research writing, digital scrap-booking, making vocabulary stick in English and German classes, and all about the brain and how different people perceive their "worlds" from one of the world's foremost authorities on the subject! What could make this even better?...Winning with both of my tickets in the Raffle! Yes, believe it or not! My lucky number 214 was drawn, and I won a night in the Seoul Hotel Hilton! I went online later and found out it was worth about $190! I think God might have had his hand in there somehow, because we were just starting to wonder what special thing we could afford to do for our 30th wedding anniversary! Isn't God good?...All the time! And to top it off, my number 215 ticket was drawn for a Breakfast Buffet at the Comiskeys', one of the fine restaurants on the Post!

The weather has been wonderful, highs around 72 and sunny, but very dry, and we have seen quite a bit of Yellow dust from Mongolia move over us. We almost jumped up into the BLUE zone today (UG over 200!). This means it was unhealthy to stay outside for periods of time today. Usually this doesn't happen until March, but then it can go over 400 and become downright dangerous to be outside for periods of time. We will keep you posted how this develops, especially with Susan's allergies!

Yesterday, Susan and I voted for the President with absentee ballots! Good Luck, Mr. President!!!
Next week we are getting a satellite dish and an AFN decoder, so we will be able to watch some American News and Sports programs in our apartment. The installation is a moving in present from our landlord, and we only have to pay $13 per month for the American programming. Tomorrow we travel to Oijamboo, (WE-SCHJAM-BOO) for the KAIAC Conference Championships! Our kids are really pumped!

I am encouraged by the number of people who have written and told me to keep sending my journal entries. I am glad you find them worth your time to read. Even if there is only some of my ramblings that inspires you to live intentionally for Christ, it is worth the time it takes to write them. We have so many friends now, in so many places, I am just so thankful to have a computer to be able to reach out to you all. We love reading your responses too. By all means send us updates on your lives, experiences, trials and tribulations, and anything the Lord is doing in your lives. We watch for them daily! God bless you all, and to all a very good night. I will close this entry with a benediction shared with me by one of the finest Christian Pastors I have ever known...Charles Trull!

‘ Lord, support us all the day long, until the evening comes, the shadows lengthen, the busy world is hushed, and our work is done. Then in your mercy, grant unto us a safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at last, through Christ our Lord. Amen.’

Friedhelm & Susan Illian
a.k.a. Sung-Ho & Su-Ji