The Beginnings to a Global Community

My alarm sounded at 4:15am central time. My internal alarm had been sounding since my last gathering with friends in Houston over chicken tortilla soup and DosRita’s the night before.

It started to sink in as I glanced at the clock. In Jeju, it is 6:15pm… I was getting ready to move half way across the globe… for the next 730 days… to teach a subject I have no previous experience in instructing… on an international boarding school campus...
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I am so grateful that leading up to departure for Jeju, South Korea, I have had the opportunity to reconnect, rekindle, and recommit with many dear friends over many dear occasions.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  ~Acts 2:42

All of the recent experiences and incredible individuals mentioned below will stay fresh in my mind throughout my Korean journey:

My teaching community:

o   Destiny Shantell Woodbury-Veals wedding… This awesome occasion reminded me that my passion for education is shared among so many – and if we continue this fight for educational excellence and equity – one day, the achievement gap will surely no longer be in existence.   

o   Katie White (and Gregory Wisian)… CONGRATS on the engagement! Your friendship, thoughtfulness, and southern hospitality has been a blessing from God throughout my various seasons in Houston. You have demonstrated what a simple hug and smile can do to change someone’s day.

o   Lourdes Barrientos… Sweet, sweet girl – you are beautiful on the inside and out. Praying for your hard work and dedication in your 10^th grade classes to be motivation in itself! I cannot wait to return in 2 years to watch you walk across the stage in your cap and gown J

The trip to Tallahassee:

o   Noelani Mumm… Your passion for studying the word is obvious through your day to day reactions and responses. Thank you for inviting me into you and your husband's beautiful home... and, of course, for being weird with me in our photo competition ;)

o   Stephanie Shumate… You continuously and consistently live out the words inked on your wrist. I truly admire your outlook on life and cannot wait to reunite, and pick up exactly where we left off J

o   Melanie Cabassol, Rueben Stokes, and Avi Assidon… LLDL ;) You are TRUE leaders in our Seminole Community and I know that the campus is in good hands.

o   Benjamin Crump… Thank you for reminding me that there are always under-represented people – in EVERY community - and there is always something that WE can do to help.

o   Warren Thompson… You have always stayed in touch, even with the addition of your family, and encouraged me through sweet words. I am continually praying for your success in Atlanta and can’t wait for a visit upon my return to Houston J

My COR Community:

o   Tuesday night Women’s Refuge Group… From fellowship over movies to our bible study turned going away party; to be a part of a group of women who consistently live out the words that I read in the Good Book – I miss you and love you tremendously, and think of you each night as I do a devotional in the journal before my head hits the pillow.

o   Jane… When the final weeks before leaving approached, you truly stood out as a sister in Christ. Your positive words and assistance in moving had an insane impact during those stressful days.

o   Heidi Schroeder… Your passion for HEALS, and your vehicle for raising money for it – SOMO beads – well, I am impressed and proud of your drive. I am so excited for your adventures in Uganda!

o   Stephanie Minda… Thank you for opening your house up to me and keeping watch of my belongings while I am overseas. I bet, as you are reading this, you have another window opened, searching for great hotel prices over Thanksgiving. Shanghai, look out J

o   The Barnes’ Bunch… You have been a living example of what it looks like to love your neighbor as yourself. Breaking bread with your family is a continuous highlight in my life. Receiving valuable words of wisdom and guidance are prayers being answered. Thank you for your friendship!

My Family:

o   Mom and Dad… I am the woman I am because of your continual support in my adventures. Thank you for believing in the path that God is leading me on. Thank you for communication via skype. Thank you for taking yet another one of my animals for your own. J

o   Aunt Sandi and Tom… The calls. The emails. Each time I hear from you, I get a renewed sense of purpose on this mission.

o   Miranda… girl, girl, girl J The last 7 months were a growing experience for the both of us. Know that I am so proud of the strides you made toward adulthood – you matured more than I think you realize. Continue doing the right thing – even when you think no one is looking.

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After a 3-hour flight to San Francisco with a 4-hour layover, a 12-hour flight to Seoul with a 2-hour layover, a hop-jump-skip across town to the Domestic airport and a 1-hour flight to Jeju island, I arrived ready to collapse on my hotel bed for the next 2 weeks of orientation. It was only a week and a half earlier that we were notified our campus would not be ready to move into until the first weekend of September. No kidding – ground breaking didn’t even occur until January of this year!

But, as Dr. Beedy (our school headmaster) has commented on numerous occasions, “The Koreans have told me – what takes Americans 2 years to build, and the Japanese 1 year, we do in 8 months.” So I do believe that we will be right on schedule to move into the dorms/apartments next Friday! That does not, however, mean that the rest of the campus will be completed. For the first month, we are in an INCREDIBLE predicament… with the sports fields, gymnasium, and auditorium still in the last stages of construction, we will be wrapping up classes around noon and taking the children, sack lunches in hand, on busses and exploring the island of Jeju.

“Community is where people are known, needed, cared for, and have an opportunity to shape their environment” –The Total Human Development Project

I LOVE that one of the focuses of our Total Human Development - with a focus on global education - is the fact that academics only composes a small portion of what we aim to offer our students at KIS Jeju. Character education will be a core component of the daily curriculum as well as something we focus on during the other 16 hours of the day we have the children in our care. I am interested in seeing what sort of spiritual component we will be able to incorporate within the campus. (I already miss my City of Refuge praise, worship, and fellowship!) While no religious groups or activities can be conducted during the school week, it has been made clear that we may take trips on Sundays to take students to houses of worship. According to a presentation today, of the Korean population - 50% consider themselves religious, and of that 50%... only 12% consider themselves Christians. I pray that my relationships with students, faculty, and staff will demonstrate Jesus' love and kindness.

On a completely different note - the Korean Alphabet is much easier to learn that I anticipated - my friend Emily has helped me and I am able to decode most words (knowing what those words mean is a completely different story!) And the food here is delicious! While living on Jeju-do (Jeju Island) for a week now, I have experienced all sorts of asian cuisines. From Some of my personal favorites include:

Yukgaejang (육계장) is a spicy red soup made with beef strips, red pepper, and assorted vegetables (usually green and white onions, bean sprouts, among others); many variations include egg dropped into the soup. (Wikipedia)

I am also trying my hardest to become accustomed to Kimchi. This is a pickled cabbage dish that is served with every meal. There are other variations that I prefer... including pickled radish and pickled onions.

Bibimbap. YUM! The word literally means "mixed meal." Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chili pepper paste). A raw or fried egg and sliced meat (usually beef) are common additions. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating.^[2] It can be served either cold or hot. (wikipedia)
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Friends, I PROMISE for the next blog to be more informative about all of the happenings on Jeju-Si (Jeju City). Getting settled in and being productive at orientation has taken a lot out of me - I have been in bed before 8:30pm every night and up before my alarm at 5:30am every morning. Please let me know if you have skype! I would love to see your beautiful faces when our times can coordinate!

Please feel free to send updates about what is going on in your life! I am interested in staying in the know even though I am half a world away... sara.sokola@gmail.com.

Love you. Miss you. Talk to you soon :)
~Sara (사라)

PS: Happy Birthday Mom!