It's 2009

I finally started Community.  I remember seeing this video somewhere a while back (probably 2009) but finally watched the episode where it actually came out.  It's so much funnier when you know the characters.

Thought of the Day:  소포 (not 뽀뽀)
Song of the Day:  No Doubt-Just A Girl

Reruns

I was rereading through some of my old blogposts from every September I've been in Seoul.  I came upon two hilarious stories that I had long forgotten about:

Story #1:  Statue of Liberty

Me: What? 

Daniel: State of Laboratory. 

Me: What did you say?! 

Daniel: State of Laboratory!

Story #2:  "Stand By Me"

Finally, my private student, David, was listening to Ben E. King's "Stand By Me," and he thought the song was saying, "So darling, darling, ZIM...BA...BWE! Oooooh ZIM...BA...BWE! Oh ZIM...ZIMBABWE. ZIMBABWE."

I'm so thankful for this blog.  Sometimes, it secretly makes me want to write a book some day.  But till then.

Thought of the Day:  Marvel

Song of the Day:  The Smashing Pumpkins-Tonight, Tonight

This week's persecuted church: Indonesia

According to our latest data at 7 a.m. this morning, we found out that seven people were dead and 65 suffered from minor injuries. From this 65, two were police officers.


Thought of the Day:  Meet the Parents
Song of the Day:  Davichi-안녕이라고말하지마

This week's persecuted church: Pakistan

"I thought of him as a good friend, since we were working together...he used to visit my home often and was known to my family.  He started criticizing Christians for not observing the purdah (covering of women) and of following our 'own brand of religion.' One day when I was least expecting it, he told me that he had started liking me and that I should convert to Islam and marry him.  I told him that I had always considered him just a friend, and that although I held him in great regard, marrying him was not possible since we belonged to different faiths.

He was holding my arm tightly and forcibly led me to a white car in the parking lot.  He said that they would shoot me if I raised my voice.  I was in cmoplete shock...my senses went numb, and I could not believe this was happening to me.  They took me to a house, where he raped me while his friend filmed the entire incident.  They ruined my life completely."

In Pakistan, a rape victim is genreally considered too shamed to resume a normal life or pursue marriage.

Thought of the Day:  삼청동
Song of the Day:  The The Band-DO YOU LIKE SOMETHING

After the Storm

My week started off horribly with my head cracking open and everything. But to my surprise and delight, the week ended fantastically!

Sam's favorite hobby happens to be fishing,

and I happen to be down for fishing.  Totally beats working.

I did ALOT of walking on Saturday.  After going to Costco, David and I walked over to 신도림 to meet up with Michael to check out the new D-Cube City that was under construction for forever.

It had many floors

and looked pretty modern.  But ain't no Times Square.

After we walked to Times Square, we went to 홍대.  Then 신촌.  Then 이대, David's favorite place in all of Seoul.

Here is my new Canadian friend that keeps me accountable every Friday.  I totally forgot that I was wearing that bandaid the whole day.

I never knew 이진's school

was such a beautiful campus.  

Yesterday, my dad turned 60 (in Korean age). Even though I get my dad the same Dunkin Donuts cake every year, he (and my mom) never get tired of it.

My dad's usually in his 아저씨 wifebeater mode at home, so he purposely put on a shirt just to pose for this picture.  He didn't bother with the pants though. ㅋ  I was in a particularly good mood because I was expecting some freak accident scab/scar after taking off my bandaid.  It still looks kinda nasty up close, but it's all about perspective...and apparently, expectation.  

My life felt like it was in a storm last week, but I was all smiles yesterday.  I'm sure the weather had a lot to do with it too.  I leave you with a nice remake of an old classic.

Thought of the Day:  Circumcision
Song of the Day:  Martin Solveig-Hello

This week's persecuted church: Afghanistan

'Ali' (not his real name), an asylum seeker in an immigration center in Jaeren, Norway, had boiling water poured over him after he would not comply with Ramadan fasting rules. He and the other converts at the center now fear for their lives. ‘If you do not return to Islam, we will kill you,’ was the message from the other asylum seekers at the Asylum Reception. He said, "Two of the Muslim residents asked why I had not fasted during Ramadan. When I would not answer, they began to discuss the matter. One of them said that he knew I was Muslim and converted to Christianity, and that they had to engage in Jihad."

One resident held Ali while another struck him in the back of the head with a pot of boiling water and Ali collapsed to the floor. Several other Muslim residents joined the commotion. A third man walked into Ali's room and began to trash it. The police arrived, but only an hour later - the damage already done. "I was still on the floor when police arrived. I told them a little, but was in too much pain to talk, so I was taken to hospital," he said.

After a night in the hospital, Ali went back to the reception center, knowing that danger had not passed. When he checked, the door handle to his room turned out to be covered with an acidic substance that causes burns on contact. He summoned the staff who washed away the chemical, but the Christian Afghan feel still does not feel safe.

"They're really killing me and they will not rest until they have done it."

Thought of the Day: Ehwa Expert

Song of the Day: Casker-천생연분