Happy May!! Just a little over four weeks remain at YISS!

Yeppers, it is hard difficult to believe that there just four weeks (and a couple days) remaining in this very busy year.  Last week was a crazy busy week and this week, although only three days for students, will be packed as well.  Your continued prayers are appreciated.

First, a quick update on the transition to ICS-Pyeongtaek:

1 - The moving date for my belongings from my apartment and office has been set for June 4.  I will head to Pyeongtaek a few days later on the evening of June 8.  The dreaded packing has begun! :-)

2 - Things are looking better for the renewal of my Visa.  I just need one more official document and then on the morning of June 9 will head to the Korean Immigration Office in Pyeongtaek with the ICS-P Administrative Assistant, Helen Lee.  Thanks for continuing to pray that all will go smoothly and that I will be able to have the necessary documents returned to me so that I can head back to the States on June 22 for a brief respite.

3 - Between June 9 and 22, I will be able to spend time with the current Director at ICS-P, Mr. Bob Newman.  I am praying that this will be a profitable time and a time that will answer many questions and allow me to prepare for a smooth beginning and transition with the staff at ICS-P.

4 - God continues to provide each step of the way and I appreciate your prayers and support.

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Second, I will try to briefly share some of the highlights of this past week at YISS:

*  Quarter Four Progress Reports were sent processed, checked, and sent home to parents.

*  This past week at YISS was Celebrate Korea Awareness Week.  So many activities took place for our students in the elementary school.  There was something for some certain grades each day. Kindergarten cherubs made Kim Bop!  Grade One students were involved in learning and playing traditional Korean games!  Grades 3, 4 and 5 each took field trips to various historic and traditional Korean landmarks.  Grade 5's trip was an all-day Seoul City Bus Tour.  I wasn't able to go, but I have heard so many great reports from students and teachers that I want to take one of these some day. You get on the bus and travel to numerous historic Korean landmarks.  You get off the bus and spend some time there and then get back on to travel to another sight!  I wish I could have attended each of the special trips, but that was not possible with everything else this past week.  Below are some pictures of Grade 1 students learning and playing some of the Korean traditional games.

Grade 1 cherubs listening to parents explain the various Korean

                   games that they would be playing.

Gonggi!

Some cherubs playing Gonggi!                   

The famous Yut-Nori!  This is one of the first Korean games I learned back in 2008!

The two pictures above are of some first graders playing Yut-Nori!

Instructions for Tuho!

                      Cade trying his skill at Tuho!

Directions for Gul Lung Shui!

First Grade students trying the game of Gul Lung Shui!       

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*  A celebration lunch for our Elementary Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Yoo on Tuesday!  The elementary principals took our wonderful administrative assistant out to lunch on Tuesday and then on Wednesday (actual day of Administrative Assistants' Day), teachers and students brought cards, gifts, and songs to the office to thank Mrs. Yoo for all of her excellent work!  She is the best!!

Here we are leaving YISS and heading to enjoy our celebration lunch for Mrs. Yoo at Thai Garden.

Another picture of us preparing to enjoy our yummy Thai feast of goodies!

Some of the beauty that surrounds the YISS walkway and driveway!

More of the beauty.

Two fourth grade students brought this wonderful drawing with some

              great thank you notes from their class for Mrs. Yoo.

Here is our delightful secretary, Mrs. Yoo, with her new BIG computer monitor!  She loves it!

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*  A very busy day on Friday as I was invited to several special happenings around the elementary school and high school!  

To begin Friday, I attended the 2nd Grade "Poetry Picnic," a celebration of the unit on poetry reading and writing for grade 2 students.  What a great group of creative second grade teachers we have! Parents, grandparents, teachers and principals were invited to the Poetry Picnic that was scheduled for four different hours for each of the four classes.  What a fantastic time I had interacting with these cherubs as they presented their books of poetry (using many forms and styles), including illustrations, and shared what they have been learning.  I was very impressed!

                Entrance to the 2nd Grade Poetry Picnic!

Some of the parents, grandparents, and teachers who stopped by this class to enjoy the Poetry Picnic!

This little man, Uluc, is so proud of his work!  

David captured my attention with the title of his poetry book, Baseball Top!  We had a great time reading and interacting together!

I love the Simile Self-Portrait that Elias wrote! :-)

  I had a most enjoyable time with this little guy, Aahan!  He 

loved sharing his Poetry Book with me!  Here he is reading to

                                 me his funniest poem! :-)

This little lady was such an articulate young lady.  We had soooo much fun with her poems!  Her teacher told me that this little lady's favorite part of the Poetry Picnic was when I stopped by and read with her! 

This young man had both Mom and Dad present.  He has grown sooo much since his year of kindergarten!  So excited!

Tyler was so happy that both his Mom and his grandmother surprised him on Friday when they both came to the Poetry Picnic!

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Then I went to buy some real estate in the ELL (English Language Learners) class for third grade students.  In Quarter 3, these third grade students were given a challenge by their ELL teacher, Mr. Lantz.  Each was to design a dream house for Mr. Lantz and his family to live in.  They had to write descriptions of each part of the house.  In Quarter Four , the students wrote a persuasive essay trying to convince Mr. Lantz that he should buy their house.  Mr. Lantz invited several of us to come as real estate buyers and listen to their persuasive speaking presentations.  Then each of us decided (Mr. Lantz had given us the name of the student's house we were to buy) to purchase one of the houses for $1,000,000.  We listened and asked questions and then after each student presented, we shared what we liked about the presentations and scored a rubric for them.  Then we presented our seller with a "check" for $1,000,000!  I was sooooo impressed with what Mr. Lantz has done with these students who were struggling to speak any English when they arrived at YISS, but were now able to give a presentation that I told them was better than some presentations I have heard from high school students!  What a great time!

Above are three of the Grade 3 students in the ELL class who were trying to sell their dream homes!  From left to right: Eric, Suoying, and Levin.

This is Eric trying to persuade me to purchase his dream home!

One of the main reasons I bought it was the "transforming bed!"

Here I am presenting Eric with his check for $1,000,000 and his Rubric!

All three sellers with their checks with their ELL teacher, Mr. Lantz and their classroom teacher, Mrs. Hannah!

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Then, in between some Poetry Picnic presentations, I went to hear a couple high school students present in their poetry recital in their English class.  I have been building relationships with two of the Muslim boys in this class + another Korean-American young man.  I was able to be present to hear Mohammad and Robert share their poems.  My other young man, Saoud, had already presented his by the time I was able to get there so I was a little disappointed.  Each student was to develop a poem using the theme "Reaching Forward."  I was very impressed.  Mohammad and Saoud always try to find me during the day to say hello and let me tease them.  Robert and I have been building a relationship ever since he was in elementary school.  I was delighted that in Robert's poem that he gave a clear poem about his faith in God and Jesus Christ without being offensive to the Muslim students in the class.  Please pray for all three of these young men as I continue to get to know them. Please pray that Mohammad and Saoud will see Jesus in my life and want to accept Him.  So sorry the two pics are not very clear.  I didn't want to distract these young men while thy were reciting.

Above is my buddy, Mohammad, as he recites his poetry!

This is my friend, Robert, as he recites.  To Robert's right is the back of Saoud's head. :-)

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*  Friday evening Third Book Launch by Darren Farrell!  My friend and author, Darren Farrell, had his book launch for his third children's book, Stop Following me, MOON!, on Friday evening at my favorite bookstore in Itaewon, "What the Book?"  Darren has been to YISS for all three of his books.  The last time he was there was when he had finished the final draft of this book but wanted to get involvement from our Kinder - Grade 3 students on illustrations.  Our kids were actually the first group to have this third book read to them.  Many of our students were in attendance at the Book Launch on Friday.  Darren is excited about coming down to ICS-Pyeongtaek to do some author visits!

A couple of the cherubs posing with Darren Farrell at his Book Launch on Friday!

Darren autographing one of the three Stop Following Me, MOON! books I purchased.

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*  After School Activities continue in full swing!  Quarter Four After School Activities continue to take place.  So many activities this quarter and the kids seem to be enjoying each of them.  Our Grade 2A teacher, Ms. Kara Minor, teaches two after school activities: Math Games for Girls in Grade 2 and Mathe Games for Boys in Grade 2.  The kids absolutely love increasing their skills in Math with Ms. Minor's creative and fun games!  I stopped by the Math Games for the girls on Tuesday and took the following picture.  I am not sure of all the rules of this game, but I will be returning to find out.  These cherubs were having a grand time learning and they didn't even know they were learning!

Ms. Minor and two girls playing a Math Game on Tuesday!

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OK, I need to stop for now.  Please continue to pray for me as the month of May is going to be VERY busy!  Pray that I will take a day at a time and not stress about the packing.  I really appreciate all of your love, care, emails, encouragement, prayers, and support.  Thanks so much!  Enjoy a great month of May!

Love, Gregg

Two Hectic Weeks: Successful, Beautiful, Stranded, Sick, Stressful, and then Joyful!

This past week, one of our Kindergarten teachers at YISS, Ms. Han, posted on her facebook page that she had "the wonkiest days ever." :-)  I teased her about that and asked what she meant by "wonkiest." She said, "You remember the video you shared with elementary teachers a long time back of a little boy who was trying to get all of the animals together in one place?  Well, that's the kind of day it was in KB!" :-)  Well, I guess you could say that I have had two of the wonkiest weeks during the last two weeks! :-)

It has been very interesting (always a safe word) to say the least!  April 11 and 12 we began the Quarter Four After School Activities program and all was successful.  Yes, a few glitches here and there, but overall, it was a great beginning to a very busy quarter of activities.  On the evening of the 12th, I headed down to the International Christian School of Pyeongtaek (ICS-P) to stay overnight with my friends, Tony and Sue Kuhn, and get up bright and early on April 13 to head to ICS-P to meet the Accreditation Team who had come to ICS-P to see if they were going to recommend continued accreditation for ICS-P.  It was a great two days of visiting with the team, the current Director and his administrative team, teachers, and students. On April 14, the Accreditation Team met with the entire faculty and staff at ICS-P to commend them for the excellent job they had done on the Self-Study.  They then gave some major commendations and a few major recommendations that the school could continue working on during the next six years.  ICS-P and its staff had done a very successful job of preparing for the visit and making great improvements since the last accreditation visit.  Later the staff went out with the visiting Team to a delightful Korean restaurant to enjoy a delightful Korean feast of celebration.

During the Accreditation Team's visit, ICS-P had invited a Korean-

American author-illustrator, Ms. Choi, to come for an author visit.

She did a good job!  ICS-P also had a Book Fair in their brand new

                    gymnasium during the Team's visit!

ICS-P's Celebration Feast with the Accreditation Team and many of the faculty and staff from ICS-P!

This was part of the most delicious food we enjoyed at this Korean

restaurant in Songtan!  Sooooo good!                     

Here I am at the Celebration with my friends, Tony and Sue Kuhn and Jon Richards.  I enjoyed a great time of fellowship, yummy food, and laughter with these delightful friends!

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Right before I left YISS on Tuesday to head to Pyeongtaek, I had one other success!!  I had been hearing all sorts of stories about others' experiences at obtaining a Korean Driver's License.  Coming from a long line of worriers, I was becoming stressed and discouraged.  I did not want to have to take a written exam or an actual driver's test.  I began praying and asking others to pray that I would stop the stressing.  I was told that I should talk to Lee Parsons, the YISS High School Assistant Principal because he has been able to assist many in getting their Korean Driver's License with ease and free from pain and worry!  Within one week of talking with Lee, I was able to get an Apostille for my Pennsylvania Driver's License.  I went with Lee (on his motor scooter) through the busy streets of Seoul to the Global Center.  Two American men in suits on a motor scooter driving through the streets of Seoul AND on the sidewalks is not an every day happening in Seoul.  So there were MANY who stopped to stare at these two big white men in suits on the scooter! :-)

I had all my pictures, my Korean Alien Card, my Passport, and my cash all prepared. We arrived and went to the first office with all of my paperwork.  I signed a few papers.  Then the lady told me to go for my physical exam in the next building.  I went in and the two nurses gave me an eye exam, which was a piece of cake.  Then they sent me to the doctor for my "physical."  I was expecting a physical exam like I have with my doctor back in Chambersburg.  Lee told me that he would be very surprised if it took longer than 5 minutes.  I went to the doctor and he asked me to have a seat.  Then he asked, "How long have you been driving?"  I said, "Since I was16 years old."  He held up his hands and wiggled them.  He asked me to do the same.  He said, "Good."  Then he took his stethoscope and put it against my heart and lungs for 15 seconds at the most.  He then wrote on the paper, "No Problems." And in the next blank, he wrote, "Pass."  I believe it took 4 minutes! :-)  We went back to the other office after paying 8,000 Won (about $6.00) for the physical, and the lady finished the paperwork, stamped everything, collected 7,000 Won from me, and presented me with my beautiful Korean Driver's License!!! Thank you, Lord, and your servant, Lee!

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I had to leave Pyeongtaek right after our celebration Korean dinner on April 14 to head back to my apartment to back for the YISS trip to Jeju Island on Friday and Saturday.  We needed to be at YISS at 5:30 AM on Friday morning for the bus to the Gimpo Airport.  This began the beautiful journey of 25 faculty and staff from YISS to Jeju Island.  It is a beautiful island off the southern coast of South Korea.  This trip was one of the study trips that the Korean Foreign School Foundation gives to teachers at YISS.  Usually, they take the first 25 who sign up.  We visited some very delightful places on Jeju, including the Spirited Garden, O'sullock Green Tea Museum, Mt. Songak, Hanwha Aqua Planet (an aquarium), and the Haenyeo Museum.  Friday evening we stayed at one of the Korean Airlines Hotels on Jeju.  We were to visit several other places and enjoy a boat tour to Gapa Island, but the rain and very strong winds began on Saturday and we had to cancel those and the tour guide made other arrangements.  In fact, we were informed that our flight back to Gimpo was canceled because of the very bad weather.  So we had another evening at another Korean Air hotel very close the airport.  Sunday was relaxing and we did some walking.  The sun came out and the winds had ceased.  We were told we were booked on a flight leaving at 6:45 PM and e needed to be ready to leave for the Jeju Airport at 4:00.  The traffic on the streets in Jeju City was like a massive rush hour. We got to the airport only to discover wall-to-wall people; some standing, some sitting on cardboard on the floor, some in airport chairs, some in restaurants, etc.  It was a delightful bit of chaos.  I got a couple pictures, but they really don't show you what we could see and feel at the airport.  All of the rescheduled flights were late.  At our gate, the public address system was terrible.  The airport employees walked among the crowd with these portable speakers or using their own voices informing people of their flights.  Many thought they were going to be stranded once again in Jeju.  All of us knew we needed to be back for school on Monday morning!  Our flight finally left at 10:35 PM and I arrived back at my apartment in Seoul at 2:01 AM.  Those on the trip were given permission to come in late to school on Monday morning.  

Here is the group from YISS in the very beautiful Spirited Garden, our first stop!  What a great time!

This is the YISS group at the Aqua Planet, the site of one of Asia's largest aquariums.  It was really quite nice.  I have added only a couple pictures.  You really have to experience this in person.

At the Aqua Planet, this very familiar Jeju Island      

man (usually in stone) was dressed in an orange color   

as he promoted Jeju Oranges and Jeju Orange chocolate!

This is one of the sculptures at the Haenyeo Museum in Gujhwa on Jeju Island.  Very fascinating to learn of these Haenyeo (women divers) who only exist in Jeju Island and Japan.  The term refers to very sturdy and hearty women who gather seaweed, abalone, or other shellfish from the sea.  They do not use diving equipment and no oxygen devices and can spend up to three minutes diving at a time for these sea creatures in order to make a living.

Above is our KAL Hotel where we stayed on Friday night!

You can see these monuments throughout Jeju.  You can read about the tradition of "Mool Ho Bok" in the next image.

Explanation of the "Mool Ho Bok" in Jeju.

This is a picture I took of our KAL Hotel in Jeju City near the airport.  It's where we stayed on Saturday evening.  I sort of like this photo.  Across the street from the KAL Hotel was a building where the main headquarters was on Jeju Island for Korean Airlines.  The image in the glass building shows a reflection of our hotel.

The mass of humanity at the Jeju Airport on Sunday evening!  This picture and the following ones can't even begin to show you the wall-to-wall people and the pushing and shoving by this sea of humanity on Sunday!  It was crazy!!

This picture was taken near our Boarding Gate on the bottom floor.  The one above this one was taken on the first floor at the various airlines' agent counters.

 Closer to our departure gate!  You can see the man in the middle

holding up a speaker while he walked through the masses making

                                    gate announcements.

This is a group from YISS playing a card game on the floor and a 

Korean family having fun together while waiting to hear when the

flights would be leaving.  Such fun!  NOT! :-)               

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I was starting to feel one of my bouts with my bronchitis, or sinusitis (as Dr. Kim calls it), and when I arrived at school I was not feeling so wonderful.  I came to school on Tuesday and had lost my voice and was feeling nasty.  I made it through the day and then headed to Dr. Kim's office.  He did some tests and confirmed that I had acute sinusitis and ordered some medicine for me.  I stayed home from school on Wednesday and returned on Thursday feeling much better.  Thanks for praying for me.  I hate being sick, especially when I can use my voice.  I am sure many others at school were delighted that I was quiet for a change. :-)

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When I returned to YISS on Thursday, the Spring Book Fair was in full swing.  These are always happy times for me.  I love reading and our kids at YISS love to read.  It is always fun to watch children select books at the Book Fair and often see parents helping students select books.  (Please remind me to quit buying books!) :-)  Below are a few pictures from this year's Book Fair.  Love observing elementary and middle school YISS kids selecting books!

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Part of my stress has been over renewing my Visa to work in Korea.  I was being told several different things that I would need to do and most of these involved being here in Korea or having to start the entire Visa Application processHelen at ICS-P, Young Nim and Sean at YISS for their patience and counsel.  Things are in process.  It is a complicated process that I won't confuse you with, but please continue to pray that everything will work out according to His plan.  I just need one more document, my contract for 2016-16, and then we can proceed.

One other good thing is that ICS-P will be sending movers to my apartment probably on June 4 to pack and move my belongings to ICS-P.  My dear friend, Ji Sang, will be coming some Saturday before then to help me move my belongings from my YISS office to my apartment so that the movers only have to pick up things at my apartment.

Saturday was a relaxing day for me.  I went out for breakfast at the Original Pancake House and enjoyed some time along with some yummy food.  I saw a number of YISS staff there and had a delightful time talking with the owners and the one manager who loves cats.  His name is Jin and we have connected because of his cats.  He always likes to show me pictures of his many cats.  He is starting to ask more questions about what I do and believe.  I would appreciate your prayers as I keep building my relationship with Jin.

After breakfast, I went to do some shopping in Itaewon.  As I was walking, I noticed for the very first time a sign above a small store.  I have no idea why I had not seen it before.  Here is a picture of the sign on the store.  It appeared that they were doing some remodeling or something; not sure exactly what.  So I am not sure what kind of store it is, but I love the name.  It reminds me of my father and all that he taught me.  I had a special time of reflecting on my Daddy's input into my life this morning.  Oh, you see, the first grandchild of my parents started the name that we all have used for my Daddy every since that first grandchild.  He was called "Popeye" by the grandkids!

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I believe next week I will be giving information on my visit to the States this summer.  It is going to be a very busy one and a shortened one.  I still hope that I can see many of you.  Some have asked about my salary and support as I move to ICS-P.  I will be taking a cut in salary because the school is much smaller than YISS  God has always provided and I am sure He will continue to provide.  I will be sharing in the future how you can support me financially, should you desire to.  Thank you so much for your prayers, your love, your care, your emails, your regular mail, and support.  Please enjoy a great week!

Love, Gregg