 |
previous posts
While having lunch one saturday, my older brother ...
chuckie, who lives across the hall from me, and a ...
i went to help a church friend today. he is a four...
had another strange dream last night. i originally...
LAKERS SWEPT THE BLAZERS i knew it would happen, b...
STORM youth group: during worship today, both the ...
whew. i'm pooped. after the ceremony, i went out ...
afternoon practice is over. for some reason i was...
just got back from STORM servants (youth group tea...
jennipuh taking her GMAT today. rock it, sista! we...
A BASKIN ROBBINS SUMMER (Part II of ? Please read from Part I)
I made my rounds with various relatives scattered throughout South Korea. The range of education, wealth, accent and geography amongst my close relatives was simply astounding. Though I did come to develop relationships with some of my relatives, for the most part, I was a novelty to be passed from one relative to another. They did a great job of taking me to tourist attractions and the all the best they knew. I accepted anything and everything they offered. I was also able to read quite a bit at a lazy, leisurely pace.
Half of the summer flew by, as did the faces of my relatives. I was beginning to enjoy my summer, when I was sent to the country, to my second uncle’s farm, where my grandmother was staying.
The bus crept along, any forms of the city long gone. Stretches of rice paddies rolled around the hills, and blended into the horizon. The bus stopped in the middle of nowhere, and the bus driver called out at me. My stop was marked by a lone tree on the side of the road. Surrounded by rice paddies. I didn’t know what to do, so I did nothing as the bus rolled away. I pulled out my tattered East of Eden, and started it again. Several minutes passed before I heard the faint sputtering of a scooter. I glanced up, and saw an uninteresting lone rider in the distance. I was warming to the book when the scooter reached me, and stopped. I looked up, into a dusty, hard face that was faintly reminiscent of my father’s. “Ja-gun ah-buh-ji?(small uncle/2nd uncle)” I asked. He nodded, and motioned for me to get on behind him.
We rode for quite some time, but the ride was pleasant. I tried to keep my balance, without grabbing or clutching at my uncle. I wanted to show him that I trusted him, and that I was a grown man. The flat lands became soft, rolling hills, and the lazy warmth of the summer was soothing. We came to a stop, in front of a small cluster of buildings. My uncle’s “house” seemed to be a haphazard compound of buildings reflecting materials which were surplus at different years. (I later came to learn that his house was the largest for miles around, and that he was quite a large property owner. So much for my judgment of socioeconomic standing) I met my aunt: a small, quiet woman, who had little to say to me. I was led into a small room, where my grandmother was waiting.
(stay tuned for Part III)
yakob at 11:17 AM
-----------------
I made my rounds with various relatives scattered throughout South Korea. The range of education, wealth, accent and geography amongst my close relatives was simply astounding. Though I did come to develop relationships with some of my relatives, for the most part, I was a novelty to be passed from one relative to another. They did a great job of taking me to tourist attractions and the all the best they knew. I accepted anything and everything they offered. I was also able to read quite a bit at a lazy, leisurely pace.
Half of the summer flew by, as did the faces of my relatives. I was beginning to enjoy my summer, when I was sent to the country, to my second uncle’s farm, where my grandmother was staying.
The bus crept along, any forms of the city long gone. Stretches of rice paddies rolled around the hills, and blended into the horizon. The bus stopped in the middle of nowhere, and the bus driver called out at me. My stop was marked by a lone tree on the side of the road. Surrounded by rice paddies. I didn’t know what to do, so I did nothing as the bus rolled away. I pulled out my tattered East of Eden, and started it again. Several minutes passed before I heard the faint sputtering of a scooter. I glanced up, and saw an uninteresting lone rider in the distance. I was warming to the book when the scooter reached me, and stopped. I looked up, into a dusty, hard face that was faintly reminiscent of my father’s. “Ja-gun ah-buh-ji?(small uncle/2nd uncle)” I asked. He nodded, and motioned for me to get on behind him.
We rode for quite some time, but the ride was pleasant. I tried to keep my balance, without grabbing or clutching at my uncle. I wanted to show him that I trusted him, and that I was a grown man. The flat lands became soft, rolling hills, and the lazy warmth of the summer was soothing. We came to a stop, in front of a small cluster of buildings. My uncle’s “house” seemed to be a haphazard compound of buildings reflecting materials which were surplus at different years. (I later came to learn that his house was the largest for miles around, and that he was quite a large property owner. So much for my judgment of socioeconomic standing) I met my aunt: a small, quiet woman, who had little to say to me. I was led into a small room, where my grandmother was waiting.
(stay tuned for Part III)
yakob at 11:17 AM