One of the worst things to come home to is an email account with no new emails. It really crushes my day because I always expect at least one measly email.

When I go to my LG job, I have to go up five flights of stairs in the subway station. It's hard to see in the picture, but the last set of stairs is actually three mini flights of stairs. Whenever I exercise in the morning, I consciously think about how I need to be in good enough shape to do those stairs without much trouble. Those stairs really killed me the first time.

This is the view from the room that I meet in. It's a fantastic view in real life.

The tall building in the back is the 63 Building, Korea's tallest building.

Today, Angelo and I talked about how so many people think that money and career = happiness. I learned that Bangladesh has the highest index of happiness. By the end of class, I think I got Angelo really thinking about what he considers happiness. On our way out, he asked one of the secretaries if she was happy. That was funny.

I started studying Korean on my own every night for one hour (more like 45 minutes). I basically make flash cards, memorize, and will start on an easy Korean novel next week. Studying after running around a 12 hour work day requires a huge discipline on my part. It actually feels a lot like exercise: you hate the thought of doing it, but once you've finished for the day, you feel really good. On a realistic note, I no longer have dreams of becoming fluent within the next 1.5 years. I will merely have an improved vocabulary and a better sense of the culture. With my current lifestyle and exposure (or lack of), fluency is out of the question. God has brought me to Seoul for other purposes.

For the past several weeks, I've been going out to dinner with my co-teachers at least once a week. In our past two dinners, the issue of religion has always come up. I happen to be the only Christian teacher at my hakwon, so everyone notices when I pray for my meals. Anyways, they have these intense, critical discussions about how Mormans are super nice or why Jehovah's Witnesses are ridiculous. In the end, they are strongly opposed to religion, and I'm just sitting there silently with my mouth full of pork and vegetables. Last week, Kathy's boyfriend even tried to challenge me to a discussion about hell and condemnation, but I didn't further the conversation because 1) I was timid and 2) it would have just led to angry, disorganized debate. Psalm 56:5-6 says, "All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me. They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life." When it comes down to it, I lack boldness and care too much about "what if I stumble?" This lone christian thing is hard.

Speaking of work, I actually gave my resignation notice to my boss today. I sought a lot of advice, asked for prayers, and cried out to God myself. After six months at Elite, the irony is that I'm leaving because of personal obligations, not mere dissatisfaction. I actually have a great fear and worry for Elite. Next month, we're supposed to move to another floor. By May, Kathy and I will be gone. By June, our secretary will be married and probably be gone as well. If there was ever a time to quit, now is not the time. I'm sorry, Wonjangneem. I don't have a choice.

As soon as I wrote down "3/22/07" on my homework sheet today, I literally remembered that it was Terrance's birthday.

Happy Birthday, Terrance!

Thought of the Day: Airfare.
Song of the Day: Muse-Starlight