a few things

the other day, it was stormy and slightly dreary and i dreamed of sitting at LJ's with MJ. there were days senior year we would sit under the overhang and watch the rain and the people. and there was one time in particular where the rain was coming down in buckets and we had to make it all the way to the chapel without umbrellas. dr. b lent me his dryer that day because i was dripping all over his lab. those are days i crave. little moments like that keep resurfacing and make me ache to be back there. to re-do it all. not to change it, but to appreciate it differently. to take note, make mental photographs, never knowing how much i would need or want it back. but i'm grateful M remembers that day, those days, and hopefully misses it just as much. here's to when we'll go back someday and remember.

this is my friends' band formed here in cheonan, korea. they tour around the country, and i've followed them to several of the venues so you could call me their groupie roadie. but they've got some good music and we've had some good times. and this is them: 

a few weeks ago, i climbed another korean mountain.

this one was special, though, because it's the highest mountain on the south korean peninsula. (there's a higher one in jeju and a higher one in north korea). it was a hard hike: because of the elevation, because of the stone steps, wood steps, and metal steps, and because the ascension was a solo endeavor. 

the adventure began when we left seoul at 10pm friday night, tried to sleep on the bus, then began hiking at 3am when we got to the town in the national park. the day started with head lamps and darkness and listening to the sounds of the night and looking at the stars overhead. the stars were so brightly beautiful and visible because we were far away from the busy lights and life of the korean cities. i've never hiked in the dark or with a head lamp, so i relied on and trusted the other people around me to avoid rocks and not fall off the waterfalls and to make it up the steps. the sun began rising when we were halfway up the mountain, when groups began separating. i had a friend before me and a friend after me and we decided to hike at our own paces, so we weren't rushed or held up by each other and so we could enjoy the pace of nature. we did what we wanted. so it was hard because i had to push myself, i had to convince myself i could make it to the top, i had to keep myself going. but it was easy because it was so beautiful and the people i saw along the way were encouraging and i was determined to make it. and it was all worth it. 

i reached the peak at 7:16am that morning. 4 hours of hiking up. 1,915 meters. and i could see for miles. we drank starbucks double shots to toast the mountain. we ate kimbap because that's what the koreans do. and we sat there and looked. looked outward and upward and all around. 360deg view. mountains in all directions. jirisan is the most beautiful place.

while on the peak, a korean man slightly below us started waving his arms and yelling. but we couldn't understand, and our korean guide, warren, was distracted. then a helicopter came and we realized we needed to get off the peak so it could land. the second helicopter evacuation i've seen since starting to climb korean mountains. they're always exciting. after sitting on the top for an hour, we began going a different way down. this way was longer, and we went in a group, and we laughed and talked and realized we all had a lot in common and that we'd just climbed an amazing mountain. everyone was happy on the way down. we finished the hike in 8 hours, 2 hours faster than predicted. we were proud and rewarded ourselves with sitting on big rocks in the middle of the river and taking naps to the rushing water. 

i don't know if it's official yet, but i've decided to re-sign my contract and to stay in korea another year. many of you knew i went in with this notion, but in the beginning, i wasn't convinced. but after having spent, eight or nine months here, i know i'm not done. i've still got some exploring to do, things to learn, things to see, things to experience. i don't think i've outgrown my life here yet. while i sorely miss everything about michigan and life there, and things are going to change drastically here in august, it's good for me // it's still good for me, and i'll stay until it isn't, i think. people are going to leave this summer, new people are going to come, life will be different here, but i think (and hope) it will still be good. 

something i felt i should add: 

i'm realizing how much i miss the friendships of hope. the friendships we spent four hard years on. friendships that are easy and are on the same page as me. i'm glad for email and facebook and pretending i'm still surrounded by people who know me inside and out. i forgot how hard it is to start with fresh friendships! blank pages! and it happens especially fast in korea because people come and go all the time. i'm learning to be alone. people who i hang out with now aren't going to be here after august, and i don't know who's coming. i can't necessarily rely on these friendships because they'll be gone soon. so i'm learning to rely more on my Rock . 

God is the same today and yesterday and tomorrow. and i need that. i need his consistency and his presence. he is always with me, no matter where i go. he is the friendship that i will never be without. 

He is my Rock and my Anchor and my Friend.