Overseas trip coming up
In about another week, I will be absent from physics forums for a few weeks. I am about to go on a little trip.
If you have read my biographical blog entry "Who is sylas?", then you may know that I was born and grew in South Korea. I have never been back there since I left at the end of 1968, at the age of 9.
Well, I am about to rectify that. My Dad has been invited back, and I am going to accompany him to see our old haunts.
Dad was a missionary there for about 11 years. Mum was a missionary there for 13 years, from before they were married. Now, however, she feels the trip back might be a bit much for her. She's delighted that Dad and I are going back for a visit, however. Dad taught in a theological seminary in Pusan, and was involved in a range of other projects and activities. He is now retired, of course, but still preaches regularly as a kind of stand in at local churches where for one reason or another there is not a regular minister available. He's 83 years old now, but still fit and active and sharp as a tack. I am very much looking forward to having him as my expert guide.
I am not quite so much looking forward to sitting in on a large number of meetings and church services, as my Korean is almost non-existent. Dad has been practicing and will get on fine, I suspect. It may also be a bit awkward as I am now a rather definite atheist. Dad and I get on fine and share our thoughts on religion and theology and so on all the time, but some of our friends in Korea may find it hard to handle.
I have suggested that I try to explain myself as clearly and accurately as I can in Korean. Since this is pretty much smiles, nods, and a selection of "hello", "excuse me", "goodbye", and "where is the toilet", I think we'll be able to keep my black sheep status from distracting things.
I should be back sometime in mid June. I'll report back on how it all went. Right now I am quite excited. I remember Korea very well, but I have grown up since then. So has Korea. It will be great to get reacquainted!
If you have read my biographical blog entry "Who is sylas?", then you may know that I was born and grew in South Korea. I have never been back there since I left at the end of 1968, at the age of 9.
Well, I am about to rectify that. My Dad has been invited back, and I am going to accompany him to see our old haunts.
Dad was a missionary there for about 11 years. Mum was a missionary there for 13 years, from before they were married. Now, however, she feels the trip back might be a bit much for her. She's delighted that Dad and I are going back for a visit, however. Dad taught in a theological seminary in Pusan, and was involved in a range of other projects and activities. He is now retired, of course, but still preaches regularly as a kind of stand in at local churches where for one reason or another there is not a regular minister available. He's 83 years old now, but still fit and active and sharp as a tack. I am very much looking forward to having him as my expert guide.
I am not quite so much looking forward to sitting in on a large number of meetings and church services, as my Korean is almost non-existent. Dad has been practicing and will get on fine, I suspect. It may also be a bit awkward as I am now a rather definite atheist. Dad and I get on fine and share our thoughts on religion and theology and so on all the time, but some of our friends in Korea may find it hard to handle.
I have suggested that I try to explain myself as clearly and accurately as I can in Korean. Since this is pretty much smiles, nods, and a selection of "hello", "excuse me", "goodbye", and "where is the toilet", I think we'll be able to keep my black sheep status from distracting things.
I should be back sometime in mid June. I'll report back on how it all went. Right now I am quite excited. I remember Korea very well, but I have grown up since then. So has Korea. It will be great to get reacquainted!
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Comments
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I had the same problem and took a book plus a small handheld pc that converted english to Korean it really helped!Posted Jul2-10 at 04:58 PM by hodge33 
