February 13, 2015

A day at the museum

Shortly after arriving in Korea, Y and I headed to the National Museum of Korea. We have both taken it upon ourselves to learn more about our roots here in Korea and to study the history of this country. (It's one of my resolutions!)

Starting with the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic and the various dynasties, we slowly strolled along the museum and immersed ourselves in the galleries.

(Several weeks later, I took my parents there and I continued on, learning about the Chosun Dynasty. My parents loved the museum as well and I hope to continue going back.)

February 10, 2015

Cambodia in my heart

by Grace Ko in Travel, Friends

Long time! It has been too long. Despite my new years resolution to blog more, I haven't done a very good job at it.

Since ringing in the new year, I have been settling into my life here in Korea, traveled to Cambodia, gotten sick (with a trip with the emergency room), had a few dinner parties, lunched with my aunt, welcomed my parents back from a long trip.

But of all that, Cambodia has been on my mind and in my heart.

Prior to going to Cambodia, I had watched the documentary, Nefarious and was heartbroken at the realization of the prevalence and severity of human trafficking. In preparation for our trip, we watched a documentary called The Pink Room. Having my eyes opened to child sex trafficking left me with a heavy heart and a fear for what I would see and feel in Cambodia. I went to Cambodia with a heavy but expectant heart but I had not been prepared to be blown away. And to utterly fall in love with the country.

Cambodia. A country that has captured my heart.

Here's a photo-log of the trip (warning: it's going to be a long one!)

I went with a team of 16 members from back "home". I was eager to be reunited with friends from home and was especially glad I was able to host them for their layover in Seoul. It felt like a dream to have all of them here in Korea.

After a 6 hour flight, we landed in Phnom Pehn International Airport and made our way to our hotel.

Day 1 (Saturday) - After arriving late Friday night, Saturday morning, we had breakfast, got ready and headed out to visit The Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng to learn about the history of Cambodia and the Khmer people. (The Killing Fields are a number of sites in Cambodia where mass killings occurred and where people were buried by the Khmer Rouge regime. Tuol Sleng is a site which was a former school that was turned into a prison and interrogation center.)

Daily ritual: breakfast at the hotel = 2 sunny-side eggs + 3 toast + coffee

We had lunch at Daughters Cafe, a favorite spot for the team. The cafe is a beautiful respite and the food is delicious.

Day 2 (Sunday) - We visited a local church. Vibrant, welcoming, overflowing with love and joy.

Days 4-5 (Tuesday and Wednesday) - We partnered with a local organization called Hard Places Community and during the mornings, our team prepared various stations on different children's books (Charlotte's Web, The Giving Tree, The Very Hungry Caterpillar just to name a few). We told them stories, taught them songs and did activities with the children at Punlok Thmey.

In the afternoons, we dispersed to various locations throughout the city for Kids' Club with HPC.

One of the days, a few of the team members and I decided to go out during the evening hours. We were shocked by the contrast of day and night in Phnom Pehn. Light and dark. The same exact riverfront where we had play games and sang songs with the young children, at night, became a flashing signboards

"Dark is light you. Depths are height to you."

Day 6 (Thursday) - We had Soccer Club with the kids from the centers.

That afternoon, after returning from Soccer Club, the staff of HPC surprised our team with a farewell party! We were overwhelmed by their love and generosity and I will never forget that day.

Day 7 (Friday) - We worked with another organization, XP Missions and we visited a small village in the slums. We played games with the children, jumped rope with them, made balloon animals, did face-painting for them, sang songs. Some of the team members went around the village and took family portraits and were able to print the photos for them.

Day 8 (Saturday) - Our last day was a "free" day. Some of us started it off by going to the Russian Market for noodles for breakfast. I had been wanting to try it all week so I was excited to finally get to.

To those who supported our team, thank you. Without your support, we could not have gone.

To my HPC brothers and sisters, you are an incredible group of people. You are such an inspiration and encouragement to us.

Cambodia, you are in my heart and in my prayers. Hope to be back soon.

July 9, 2014

Lavender Farm in Morganville

by Grace Ko in Travel, Family

One day I was feeling quite wanderlust(ful). And I asked my mom a question I like to ask others: "If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?" And my mom thoughtfully replied, "Provence". She said she would love to visit the lavender fields there. I started dreaming of endless fields of fragrant lavender and what I would imagine to be quaint villages. I shared this with Y, hoping that one day, we could travel to the South of France with my parents.

Though we were not able to make that happen this summer, we looked into the next best thing: a lavender farm nearby. And I was thrilled to find out that there was a lavender field within an hour's drive. So last Saturday, my parents, the husband and I made a trip to Pleasant Valley Lavender.

To be completely honest, when we first got to "New Jersey's Only Lavender Farm", we all thought, "Oh... this is it?" I felt a bit disappointed that we had driven an hour. But once we met the people there (it's family-owned) it ended up being a lovely experience. They showed us the different fields of lavender: English and French. We learned about the differences between the two and they taught us how to cut our own lavender to take home!

After cutting and making our lavender bouquet, my parents enjoyed relaxing under the shade in the hammock while Y and I scoped out some of their handmade products. I ended up picking up a lavender eye mask and lavender linen spray. Y picked his very own lavender plant (and he planted it in front of our house as soon as we got home! Maybe one day we'll have our own little lavender farm.)

a photo break for Y & me (while mamabear busily cuts lavender)

On our back up from the lavender farm, we got to explore the neighboring towns, stopped by a few garage sales in the area (my mom scored a bunch of toys for her sandplay therapy) and enjoyed some pizza. So all in all, it was a quite a productive day! And I'm glad I got to check off my summer to-do list that I visited a lavender field!

July 3, 2014

Car Rides, Crabs, Caverns, Oh my! Part 3

by Grace Ko in Family, Travel

After Luray, we headed to our nation's capital. I had been before but it was a new experience going with my family and especially because it was my brother's first time in D.C.

It was a gorgeous day to walk around and take in the sights and pay tribute at the capital's various memorials and monuments.

In front of the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool

I had been to most of the monuments and memorials. However, strangely I had never been to the Korean War Veterans Memorial. It was sobering seeing all the plaques of nations that sent their men and women to serve in the Korean War, seeing the individual faces of soldiers etched in stone.

My mind couldn't help but think about how my life would be very different had those people not served in Korea.

Thank you for your service.

July 3, 2014

Car Rides, Crabs, Caverns, Oh my! Part 2

by Grace Ko in Family, Travel

Saturday morning, after a feast of a breakfast made by my lovely mother-in-law, we all hopped into my in-laws' SUV and made the drive out to the Luray Caverns.

It was a lot of walking but well worth it. Magnificent, awe-inspiring nature.