Waaay back in February I started taking tae kwon do classes. I had recently gotten my blood pressure checked and it was a little high. This bummed me out because one of my goals is to get off blood pressure medicine. As I walked to my car (which is really a mini-van) I determined that I needed to add something to my exercise routine. At that precise moment I spied the local tae kwon do center. Perfect!
Tae kwon do is Korean martial arts and it is awesome! I can punch, kick, use nun chucks, and even break a board with my hand. AND my blood pressure has gone down. Yeah, I rock.
But the real (secret) reason I love tae kwon do is because my teacher, Master Kim, is from South Korea. Every class is also a learning session of Korean language and culture. Oh how I love a two-for-one deal. I can now count to eight in Korean with real confidence.
Master Kim has lived in the United States for ten years. He has an American wife. He has American kids. He runs a business. He deals with Americans on a daily basis. He speaks English. Really. He does. But I have the hardest time understanding him. Giggles and The Boy go to class with me once a week and they don't understand him either.
I found this video of Leeteuk speaking English to some American fans at his radio show. As I watched and listened I realized that he sounds a lot like Master Kim.....
Uploaded by YesungCenter on Apr 20, 2011
The funny thing about this is that Leeteuk avoids speaking English when ever he can. When Super Junior was in LA last September he didn't even say "hi" in English. I thought they could all take some English lessons. Well, it turns out they all know enough English to get by.
And as I have learned from Master Kim, you cannot tell how much a person has mastered a language just by talking to him. You have to get to know him. And understand him. And really listen to him. And have a conversation with him.
I think that would probably work with any person you are trying to communicate with. Don't just talk to them. Know them. Understand them. Really listen to them. And have a conversation with them.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Let Me Explain...
Oy! This month is more than half over and I've only posted once! What's wrong with me?
It's called being in a funk.
My definition of being in a funk - going through life in a state of withdrawal, kind of like depression but not so severe. Over a period of time you realize that you are no longer doing the things that bring satisfaction to life.
Yup. That would describe this month. And it's not like there haven't been things to be happy about -
1 I got my yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do
2 My front yard is (mostly) cleaned up and flowers are blooming
3 We had Spring Break
4 The Crafty One and Moli are done with finals
5 Ummm..... I guess there is no 5
So what's the problem?
1 Dude-Man is always working. And when I say he is always working what I really mean is he works 6 days a week and is there at least 15 hours/day. Yeah, ALWAYS working.
2 My daily routine has been thrown all out of whack. But that's probably because I'm in a funk, it didn't cause the funk. Although it has made the problem worse.
3 The freaking sun NEVER shines!!! Aha! The root cause of The Funk has been revealed!
Darn you CLOUDS! and RAIN!! and WIND!!! and COLD!!!! even freaking SNOW!!!!!
Spring time in Utah = the worst season ever, anywhere, anytime.
It's called being in a funk.
My definition of being in a funk - going through life in a state of withdrawal, kind of like depression but not so severe. Over a period of time you realize that you are no longer doing the things that bring satisfaction to life.
Yup. That would describe this month. And it's not like there haven't been things to be happy about -
1 I got my yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do
2 My front yard is (mostly) cleaned up and flowers are blooming
3 We had Spring Break
4 The Crafty One and Moli are done with finals
5 Ummm..... I guess there is no 5
So what's the problem?
1 Dude-Man is always working. And when I say he is always working what I really mean is he works 6 days a week and is there at least 15 hours/day. Yeah, ALWAYS working.
2 My daily routine has been thrown all out of whack. But that's probably because I'm in a funk, it didn't cause the funk. Although it has made the problem worse.
3 The freaking sun NEVER shines!!! Aha! The root cause of The Funk has been revealed!
Darn you CLOUDS! and RAIN!! and WIND!!! and COLD!!!! even freaking SNOW!!!!!
Spring time in Utah = the worst season ever, anywhere, anytime.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sharing Faith
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I am often encouraged to share my beliefs with those who are not of my faith. When I lived in Chicago this was pretty easy to do since most of my family members, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances were not of my faith. Now that I live in Utah nearly everyone I come in contact with is of my same faith. I find it difficult in this environment to share what I believe. Actually, I think this is a little strange since most conversations tend to revolve around shared topics of interest. Hmm... something for me to ponder.
Anyway, Donghae recently posted on his cywold account an encounter with a man named Michael that he and Siwon met on the street as they made their way back to their apartment in Taipei, Taiwan. This is a translation of that account that I found on the internet -
Title: Pray for Michael…2011.4.1 AM 3:13
Translated by @ASHKooKoo
Posted by: reneee (www.sup3rjunior.wordpress.com)
When I first read Donghae's story I was reminded of how missionaries from my church go out two-by-two and try to awaken a love and trust in God in the people that they meet each day. Missionaries talk to people on the street, knock on doors to share their message, and generally try to share the gospel with anyone they come in contact with. I think it's so cool that Donghae and Siwon do the same thing.
Another thing that struck me is that they were on their way home from Bible study. It is so awesome that even in a foreign land they are keeping up their religious worship. When I was in India I did not attempt to go to church at all because I did not want to inconvenience my family. I also felt uncomfortable with the thought of attending services in a language that I did not understand. I wish that I could go back and make a different choice. But since time travel is not possible, I must go forward with a determination to make a different choice in the future. My faith is so important to me and I should not let a vacation or language barrier keep me from worshipping my Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ.
Finally, this story reminds me of myself when I lived in Chicago. I could not keep myself from sharing the good news of the gospel with those I came in contact with. I was a teenager back then and sometimes lacked a sense of tact. Now, I have an over developed sense of tact and I am usually reluctant to share the reality of God's love for all mankind. This makes me sad because I wish that all people had the opportunity to know that there is a purpose to this life, that they are spirit children of our Heavenly Father, and that He loves them very much.
Once again I am grateful to the example the Super Junior boys. Today they have given me the courage to live my convictions even when it is inconvenient or unpopular to do so.
Anyway, Donghae recently posted on his cywold account an encounter with a man named Michael that he and Siwon met on the street as they made their way back to their apartment in Taipei, Taiwan. This is a translation of that account that I found on the internet -
 |
| Donghae and Siwon at an unrelated press conference |
Hi. This is Super Junior Donghae. I’m doing well in Taiwan. Doing hard with my members on the album, Extravagant Challenge with Siwon…for the drama I’m working hard. Today at 12:30am I was on my way back to my room with Siwon from the Bible study that I have it everyday with my members, and I saw one Chinese man drinking alone on the street. So I asked him why he is drinking alone…He said he has laryngeal cancer. We had a conversation for about an hour and a half. The doctor will tell him whether he can live or not by having a surgery on April 3rd. So the man told me he’s too upset, tired, and scared. Siwon and I told him to stop drinking and put the cigarette on his hand down, and pray together. Michael said he doesn’t know God and praying is useless. He said he would spend his last minute with drinking and smoking only because he will die soon anyway. But Siwon and I told him to go to a church together and pray, think positively and leave bad thoughts away. Michael said such pretty words and good thoughts…anyone can say like that. He said he really thanks us, but we are not him or not in his situation, so we cannot understand him or how he feels now. So I told him about my dad who passed away. My dad had cancer too. During 3 years at the hospital he found God and was willing to become God’s son. (He was really a Christian.) I lied to Michael…that my dad is fine now…so pray and stop drinking and smoking. I can see Michael is afraid and feeble through his eyes. So I wanted to give him a hope, and also wanted him to get well soon and then we can have a meal together as friends; I believe this lie was good, which gives a hope to someone. Michael is very successful. He kept telling us to go and take a rest, but we didn’t leave him and kept talking. In front of us, Michael throw the drink and the cigarette away. He said he really thanks us for telling him a good story and giving him a good message, and he will pray and think positively. But surely we walked heavily… He said his wife is home and it’s too late, so we asked him to come to our house. He told us it’s okay, and he’s too happy to meet Super Junior and make two good friends, and he will invite us to dinner. I believe if we just said hi and passed him, he would have worse thoughts. The old saying, “Even a graze creates karma”…is right. We’re proud of being God’s sons who can be a hope of someone and encourage others. Though everyone lives each one’s life, hope we get easy, and look around ourselves to give a hand to others, and that will be a huge help. Do not just pass someone because you don’t know him or her, but say hi with a smile. If someone doesn’t say hi to you, you go to the one first and say hi with a smile; I’m sure the one will like you and you can make a new friend. I ask you to pray together. For Michael …April 3rd is the date he will receive a test result. Please pray for Michael to get healthy and the light will shine his way. And because this writing is in Korean …I don’t speak English…And I cannot speak Chinese fluently. If anyone who saw this and is able to translate, please translate it, so one becomes ten, ten becomes a hundred, and more people will be able to read this and pray for Michael for at least 30 seconds. I don’t think a success nor money is important. The importance is in other stuffs… Thank God who trained me again today. And thanks to Siwon who leads my members to God everyday, for us to be able to come to God closer. Good night, Michael…Source: http://minihp.cyworld.com/62000821/211798335 (@donghae861015)
Translated by @ASHKooKoo
Posted by: reneee (www.sup3rjunior.wordpress.com)
When I first read Donghae's story I was reminded of how missionaries from my church go out two-by-two and try to awaken a love and trust in God in the people that they meet each day. Missionaries talk to people on the street, knock on doors to share their message, and generally try to share the gospel with anyone they come in contact with. I think it's so cool that Donghae and Siwon do the same thing.
Another thing that struck me is that they were on their way home from Bible study. It is so awesome that even in a foreign land they are keeping up their religious worship. When I was in India I did not attempt to go to church at all because I did not want to inconvenience my family. I also felt uncomfortable with the thought of attending services in a language that I did not understand. I wish that I could go back and make a different choice. But since time travel is not possible, I must go forward with a determination to make a different choice in the future. My faith is so important to me and I should not let a vacation or language barrier keep me from worshipping my Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ.
Finally, this story reminds me of myself when I lived in Chicago. I could not keep myself from sharing the good news of the gospel with those I came in contact with. I was a teenager back then and sometimes lacked a sense of tact. Now, I have an over developed sense of tact and I am usually reluctant to share the reality of God's love for all mankind. This makes me sad because I wish that all people had the opportunity to know that there is a purpose to this life, that they are spirit children of our Heavenly Father, and that He loves them very much.
Once again I am grateful to the example the Super Junior boys. Today they have given me the courage to live my convictions even when it is inconvenient or unpopular to do so.
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