Coconut goes to Korea

This is Coconut.  He and his friend, George, were inadvertently left at my house by my grandson, Tyson, who is 4.  When I discovered that they had been left I jokingly sent a text to my daughter stating that George and Coconut had decided to go to Korea with us.

Tyson's first response was "NO!", but after a little discussion it was decided that they could pick up George tomorrow and let Coconut go to to Korea for 3 weeks.  It will be the trip of a lifetime for the little guy.  I had to promise to take lots of pictures of Coconut in different locations.  But what a wonderful way to teach Tyson and his 8-year-old brother, Wille, a little bit about the world.

Stay tuned.  Coconut will be sharing his adventure.  Our plane takes off at 6:15 tomorrow morning.  As often as we can, Coconut will share what he has learned about Korea.  His perspective is fresh, not like mine.   He will not be looking for the familiar, but taking everything in for the first time.

Please follow along with us as we blog about our trip.

Returnng to Korea

I will be returning to Korea in just over a week.  It will be my first trip back in 37 years.  The photo above (shared on facebook- from a missionary collection) is the way I remember Korea.  I'm sure it will be vastly different - a whole new country - a whole new adventure.  My trip has several purposes:

1.  This year is the 100 year anniversary of Seoul Foreign School where I spent most of high-school and scattered earlier experiences dating back to 1955.

2.  I am working with a Korean colleague at St. Catherine's University to create a core course titled "Global Search for Justice" as an international course with transcultural experiences related to Korea as the center-stone of the course.  Korean history is full of social justice and trans-cultural issues.

3.  The physician assistant program where I work is new.  We are looking for international experiences for students- both research and clinical opportunities.  

I am hoping to make lots of connections and new friends as well as return to places that are dear to my heart.  First stop on the SFS tour is Taechon Beach - a place full of memories for missionary kids.  I know it has changed.  I have heard that our cabin has been torn down and probably replaced by tourist hotels, but I'm sure there will still be plenty of memories there.  Boats like the one above will probably no longer be part of the horizon, but I'm still looking forward to it.

Watch this blog for a day-by-day account of my trip to be posted upon return - I am not carrying a computer with me, but will be taking notes - and lots of pictures.