Coppee and Church-y

1:35pm Thursday September 5, 2013 – Roughly twenty-five minutes until Garrett’s first teacher’s English class. After a busy morning of teaching 4th-6th graders, he is frantically prepping materials for 9 adult beginner English learners.

Garrett - “Helen, is there a place I could make some copies?”

Helen - “No, I am so sorry. The school only has iced coppee.”

Garrett - “Oh, no no, I think you misunderstood. Umm. Is there a copy machine were I could make copies?”

Helen - “No, we don’t have any coppee machine. I know you love coppee. I love coppee too... You know what I will do? For you, I well tell Hye Yong, who is in charge of the funds, that the school should buy a coppee machine – from Garrett. Yes. I will do that. Now, I can make you an ice coppee? Yes, I will go make you an ice coppee. Wait here…”

We have postponed writing this blog – because we knew it had to be honest. And honestly, we’re in the “frustration” stage of culture shock. 

Andie knows once she sees the cow head,
she's almost to the bus stop

We really like what this great blog on the stages of culture shock said, “culture shock is walking out the door, being greeted by a neighbor and wanting nothing more than to shout obscenities at them.”

We can play charades with the best of them, however, we are constantly being misunderstood – and we don’t have a clue what is being communicated at least 97% of the time.

One of Andie's Kindergartners
showing of her traditional dress.

Every time we buy something, we hope desperately for a register with a monitor that displays the price – otherwise we’re left handing them Korean won until they nod their head that it is enough. 

We peak through restaurant windows, looking for some indicator that they might have an English menu inside, or at least pictures that we can point to.

We get lost at least once a day, totally unable to differentiate one street sign from another (Ok, this is more Andie; Garrett not so much… and actually, this happened even before we moved to Korea, but anyways…)

Students run up to us at every moment of the day shouting “Teacher! Teacher!” and then continue in some quick hodgepodge of sing-song syllables, looking at us expectantly as we just smile and think, “Look, you're really cute, but I haven’t got a clue what you’re trying to tell me”.

Now, we’d be lying if we said we haven’t found any comforts. There are three things we’ve found Koreans love: coffee shops, ice cream, and pizza; all of which we know how to order just fine.

Bingsu is a popular Korean shaved-ice dessert that we've discovered and LOVE

We’d also be lying if we said every interaction was a miscommunication.

This week Andie asked Yellow, the music/art teacher she shares classroom space with, “Are you a Christian?” pointing to the translation on an English to Korean app.

Upon realizing what Andie was asking, Yellow exclaimed, “Yes, yes, yes!”

Before Andie could finish getting out the words, “Me too!” Yellow grabbed both of Andie’s hands, started rubbing them and saying “Church-y, church-y, my church-y you come?” Andie, nearly in tears, told Yellow she would love nothing more than to go with her to church-y.

So tomorrow Garrett and Andie will go to church-y with Yellow.

We have continually found hope in that, though we are strangers in this land, God is with us and is ever present in the life of the Church here in Korea. And although we feel disconnected from the people of Yesan, we, in some mysterious way, are connected to the thousands of our brothers and sister in Christ who live and worship here.

Through that short interaction with Yellow we are reminded that we are members of the Body of Christ, a very global body that spans all generations and cultures, a body that transcends time and space.

Each time we see a neon-red cross atop a church building here or a wooden cross on a back wall at a family owned restaurant, we find comfort knowing that we, through God’s grace, are connected.

It is our hope and prayer that throughout our time in Yesan, we become a part of this vibrant community both spiritually and socially. 

(Stay tuned for our next post with a more in-depth explanation of our jobs, daily life at our schools and photos of our apartment.)