Hello friends - having been here a couple of weeks, I thought I would share some observations from one of the most vital parts of my life here, I mean the most immediate to me, because it is an activity in which I partake each day. I mean the transportation.
This morning I couldn't get on the first bus that came by; it was too full, so I had to wait with some other passengers for the next one. I was amused, as I have been almost every day, to see the taxi drivers pause at the bus stop in case one of those passengers should decide to take a quicker way.
This bus I take is a green one - Seoul has a system of shuttle buses (green) that just circle through small sections of the city, and perhaps always related to the subway stations. The blue buses are longer trips across the city. Then there are yellow buses - I think they are company buses picking up employees.
When I board my green bus in the morning, I always have to stand because it is full. However, three stops from mine there is a major transfer stop, and the bus always empties. Then those of us still on are going to the subway station, Suyu subway station, where I catch the blue line, and later transfer to the green line.
I am always amazed at the people who sleep on the subway. They are seemingly sound asleep, then suddenly come to life and get off at a stop. I wonder how often they go by their stops. I missed a stop the other day because I was studying, and had to find my way across to the other track and come back. I need to remember to pay attention. The other day I was just revelling being part of a big crowd, and kind of praying for the people going up the stairs ahead of me; and found myself on the track going the wrong way. Again I had to find my way across to the other track (up a flight of stairs, across a concourse, and down the corresponding stairs. I had gone up the first flight of stairs instead of the second
The subway is a very anonymous place, one never takes notice of what another is doing - like sleeping, like putting on makeup, etc. I often am afraid that some of the women will poke their eyes as they apply makeup. Except people will notice an old lady (me) standing, and often give me their seat. The front section of each car is reserved for the elderly. One day I was invited to sit there, a woman came, tapped me on the shoulder, and motioned me to sit in the reserved seats.
I am surprised, people don't usually rush in the station. Usually they even just stand on the escalators until it gets them to the top or bottom. Unless, of course, they hear their train just pulling in, then they charge up or down the stairs to get it.
Enough for now. These observations may be familiar to any of you who live in cities; Seoul may not be unique in these things. I have never lived in a city - well, I lived in Ottawa, but Ottawa is not a city on anywhere the same scale as Seoul.
Korean lessons are not going so well; the first month is nearly over, and I fear I will be repeating the first session. Oh well, the point would be to get a basis in the language, and if repeating the information will anchor it more firmly in my brain, how can I resist? Bye for now.

third day in Korea

As my son says, it would be hard to find anywhere more different than Abbey, Saskatchewan. Yesterday I got lost twice going to my language course, with the beginners at Ganada Language School - lost twice, once missing my station at the subway, the other missing my stop on the bus. But today, not a miss. 45 minutes to school and 45 back. I am living on the 13th floor of building 11 of an apartment complex. I haven't met my neighbours yet, but hopefully I will and be able to practice my fledgling Korean with them - as with the owners of the small corner store just outside one of the gates. It is a very comfortable apartment; I am very grateful to the PROK and especially Yu-Mi and the maintenance folks who have done the hands on work of getting it ready, and of course, to Mary for leaving me so many items from her household. There is a crew here this afternoon installing the air conditioner, cable for TV and internet and phone.

It has taken until today for me to empty boxes of belongings. Why? Well, let's see; I arrived on Tuesday evening, and was only anxious to fall into bed. The next morning, Yu-Mi was here before 9 to take me to the PROK office, where, after morning devotion time, I met all my new colleagues. Not long there and we set out to take the trek to the language school and register me for the next day; then we went to the immigration office to apply for my alien resident's card, then to buy some necessary supplies for my office. The unfortunate thing is we returned from the school by a different route (having to go to these other places) so I didn't have the way sufficiently implanted (refer to story about getting lost yesterday). By the time we dragged in, again all I wanted to do was shower and fall into bed. Then yesterday I was up early and out of the house by 8 a.m. School doesn't start until 10, but I didn't know how long it would take me. 8 a.m. is RUSH hour in Seoul, I bravely squeezed on the bus and the subways. The class was good, about a dozen folk, half European background, half Asian. Hopefully we will be spouting all kinds of wisdom by the end of the month. Then coming home, as you heard before, was lost - I didn't get in till 3 (class goes until 1 p.m.) - so that's not so bad, just lost for an hour. An hour and I had to be ready to go out to supper with the PROK ecumenical dept and the mission dept - my colleagues to be. And after getting home from that, again, only wanted shower and bed, but still had homework to do.

But today, and tomorrow is free - organization is coming (until the next boxes arrive).

Last day in Toronto

This is the last day of the orientation program for Overseas Personel. We are having to say goodbye to all these beautiful people who have made a community together over the last two weeks. This was the Bible study group that met in the

library at 9 every a.m. Travis and Sarah, Andy and Anna and me.