mountains beyond mountains

and there's no end in sight.

south korea is beautiful. a rippled, wrinkled landscape full of hills, and mountains traced by snakes of low-lying clouds. it has been lush and wet and green. we're living on jeonju university's campus, which is huge and modern. we walk to class, we eat in the cafeteria, and we sleep back in the dorms. we sit through long lectures and have homework. we're literally "back to college" for a week, which i suppose some people would wish for, but i find myself feeling a little old. most of the young teachers here seem to want to recreate just that: the endless party that some immortalize college to be. most of the people here want to do everything in their power to make that party last a little longer. hence, teaching overseas.

so far, honestly, the biggest culture shock has been the western peers that we're surrounded by. i've been thrown into groups before not knowing a soul, and have always come out with lifelong friends on the other side. but i never gave much though to the fact that all those groups (camp, college, ywam) had strong christian communities that i could be supported by. i do hope i find that here, and i have found some wonderfully kind people, but most of them seem to have only 1 objective in mind this week: to drink. and drink. and drink.

i've never been one to pass up a cold one, but the way that most people orient all their energies and conversations around it, it almost takes on a god-like glow. and i'd rather not bow down at that altar, especially here and now, when people don't know me and don't know what i'm about.

actually, as i sit here and lament this, david is downstairs at a worship service being held in the cafeteria. my proper response should, obviously, have been to go. i know, sometimes i make no sense. i wanted to go, but the other problem i've encountered here is the endless, exhausting stream of people and conversations and nicey-nice chit-chat that i have to wade through all day long. everyone here is an accquaintance, and it takes time and energy to push through that title and get comfortable as friends. don't get me wrong, it's been a blast meeting people and making connections and hearing their stories. i love that. but at the end of an extremely long day, introverted breeann needs a little time to refuel. my resources are depleted.

these are my tired complaints, but really, overall this experience has started out fantastically well. our classes are so wonderful and are helping me to feel really prepared and equipped. they are actually getting me excited to teach, which is something i haven't felt in a long while. i can't wait to get into my classroom and start trying different strategies and activities out. the culture is wonderfully respectful and peaceful, the food is unique and relatively healthy, and our city sounds like it will have so much to offer david and i. there's so much natural beauty to explore - mountains, coastlines, and islands. i can't wait to soak it all in.

our (or at least 'my' anyway) continued prayers are for authentic friends - christian and non-christian so that we can be encouraged but also be a light. before i left, i also prayed that my faith would stand up under new and unknown pressures, and i already feel that happening here. christians are in the minority, and it's odd to feel that way, but i want my faith and convictions to be unwaivering.

onward.