a beautiful story.

I can't stop watching this video, it's so lovely.

and tomorrow is here.

School starts today. 
And since graduating highschool, this will be the third city I've lived in. It's also the third school I've attended, and the third time I'll be a new student. 


They say the third time's a charm. 

good morning, Edmonton

Date: September 4, 2010

Location: Starbucks, Edmonton

Drink: Tazo Green Tea w/peach

Company: my awesome Quest friends Melissa & Jackie!

I'm finally here! I've been nervous, worried, stressed, and so excited about moving here, but now that I'm here, I can honestly say that I am already loving it. My roommate (&best friend!) Jenna, just moved in a couple days ago and it has been WONDERFUL. I'm so glad I have such an awesome friend living with me. Things certainly haven't been that easy moving in here and there's been a lot of stress from trying to figure our issues with power, leading to long, frustrating phone calls with Epcor and now being frustrated with the ridiculous bill they sent even though they were the ones who made the mistakes! But I'm trusting that God will smooth things over and I'm praying that it will happen soon. 

This year marks a definite new chapter in my life. A new school, another new city, and my first year truly on my own, not in a residence, and with my own apartment!
Nervewracking?  
   Yes. 
Exciting? 
   Definitely. 
And to add to my excitement, this will be the LAST DAY that Caleb and I will be doing long distance. Praise God! I am amazed at how God has led us this far and I know I say this in almost every post, but I feel soooo blessed to have Caleb in my life. I can't wait until he arrives in Edmonton today. My life is so full. 

a summer sonnet

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st.
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
                                  ...//William Shakespeare

...and finally, a word. Or two.

I apologize for how long it has been since my last post! However, in my defense, I will say that it has been an extremely busy time for me and my family. When I arrived back from Korea in May, I was put straight into "mom" mode as my parents left for Enderby and left me in charge of taking care of my grandma, my older cousin, and my younger brother. (My respect and love for my mom has grown ten-fold since!) I am NOT cut out to be a "mom" to a teenage boy, that's for sure... although, I am now well-versed in what to do when your car gets towed and ticketed. Not that I was dying to know or anything!

When my mom came back to Calgary a month afterwards, I thought my life would slow down a little bit, but then, unfortunately, my grandma had an accidental overdose of tylenol which put her into the Intensive Care Unit at Foothills Hospital. It was a big scare for my family as initially, the doctor told us that they were having troubles figuring out what was wrong with her and didn't expect her to make it through the night. The possibility of losing her ended up bringing all my mom's sisters to our home in Calgary and so life became even crazier as we had family from Toronto and Seoul flying in. Thankfully, God has healed my grandma, and after 4 days, she came out of her coma. Her health has been steadily improving and she will hopefully be out of the hospital soon! So thank you for all your prayers and your support =) 

Between work, spending time with family and going back and forth between the Hat &Calgary to see Caleb, life has been HECTIC. But God has been so good to me this summer. Along with the hardships of being a caretaker, juggling work, and the incident with my grandma, God has also given me so much joy. I now know how blessed I am to have such loving parents, who will always take care of me; a supportive boyfriend, who always reminds me to laugh and enjoy life, despite how hard it can be; and dedicated friends, who never fail to lend a listening ear. 

Which brings me to now. After the shock of hearing that Caleb's basement suite in Edmonton blew up from a hash oil extract gone wrong, I am SO THANKFUL that God protected him and Travis by now allowing it to have happened during the school year. It bothers me that they lived with these druggies for a couple months! I've been amazed and challenged by the way Caleb's handled this mess and I feel so proud and blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life, who can be so trusting in the Lord and still find some humour in the worst situations. I'm just glad that he wasn't present for the explosion. However, I have been blessed in Edmonton as I found a sweet deal on an apartment suite for me and my friend, Jenna for September and we're praying that God will provide a new place for Caleb,Travis, and Luke too. 
Life is not slowing down at this point, (I'm also the Music Leader for our church's VBS this week!) but I am feeling less overwhelmed and stressed and I only have you, my wonderful and dedicated friends and family, to thank. So, from the bottom of my heart,  thank you. For your prayers, your thoughts, and your love, I am deeply grateful. I love you guys!

[draft 2: korea]

Things I LOVE about Korea...


             1. the lush, green forests!

          

                                                          
   



                             2. springflowers ♡

3. the Seoul Olympic Park












4. the FOOD: korean bbq, han-shik, seafood, papinsu (pictured below), and the list goes on forever!

                       
 5. traditional architecture

6. the crisscrossing mountain ranges 
(geographically, over 70% of S. Korea consists of upland & mountain ranges while N. Korea is over 80%!)

       

 7. the coast...

8. artsy, cute, little shops










                                                                                          9. ✎ craft & art supplies 

10. korean pride: be the reds (everyone in Korea is already getting so excited for the World Cup in Africa, hopefully we do well!)

[draft 1: korea]

...I love Korea.
When my dad and I initially flew into Seoul ten days ago, I was instantly overwhelmed by the city. It seems to happen every time I come here; the people, the noise, the traffic, the skyscrapers...there's nothing quite like it in Canada that I can compare it to. To be honest, after the first night, I couldn't remember why I had been so excited to be coming here in the first place. It was everything I detested. People are in constant fast forward motion, appearing to be concerned only with their next destination. There's no laidback friendly smiles from strangers, no such thing as giving the 'wave' whilst driving, and people don't open doors for each other, in fact most tend to push and shove to be the first ones through. Small things I realize, but they left big impressions.


The first couple days here, I found myself getting frustrated and upset at what I saw, which only made me realize how little I really understand of Korea and how I will probably never fully understand as a Canadian-Korean. As a visible "foreigner", (despite my Korean background, most Koreans know right off the bat that I'm from the West), I find that I never feel like I quite fit in here. This is so frustrating to me as a 2nd generation Korean. I find that I can't fully be accepted in Korea because of how Canadian I feel (in thought, action, and lifestyle), but I also sometimes feel as though I'm not fully accepted in Canada because of my Korean background, appearance, and my close ties to Korean family & traditions.


It wasn't until my dad and I went out of the city to 설악산 (Sarak San Mt.) that I remembered that I was sooooo incredibly blessed to get the best of both worlds. In the beautiful, green, flowery lush countryside, I was reminded of why I love my heritage and this country. All the hikes we went on were unbelievably gorgeous. I couldn't deny God's awesomeness. We were also blessed on our trip as we met so many interesting people! An older Korean couple from San Fransisco, who had connections with some of our Calgary church members; a young Israeli man who was exploring Korea on his own without knowing a word of Korean; and the coffee shop 아저씨, who was a professional rock climber that shared with us so many delicious free drinks and his crazy stories...all in exchange for a short tutorial on english!


Here, I was reminded of Korea's generosity & hospitality. The fierce loyalty and dedication to culture, the exotic landscape of florals and greens, and the rootedness in tradition reminded me of why I love Korea. This is Korea to me; not the busy streets, the crowded malls, and the 9 different levels of the subway. (The poli-sci major in me argues that this is purely a product of capitalism...) I realize that the city is part of the make-up of what Korea is today, but I've found that Korea is so much more than what I first saw on the surface. There is so much depth and history in this culture and I'm so excited to learn more about it & come to a deeper appreciation of it!


*pictures coming soon!*

4:27...and counting

It's come to my realization that I haven't blogged in quite a long time. So naturally, the right thing for me to do would be to wake up at 4:27 in the morning the day of my birthday and post something, right? For some  reason, sleep has escaped me the entire night. I didn't get to bed until 1:30, after having a drinks and appy night with my family, and I've been waking up every hour. So I've been enjoying the quiet of the house, reading Scripture, listening to classical cello, and wondering why I feel so calm and at peace at this ridiculous hour instead of being exhausted out of my mind. 

I've been reflecting on this past year, and I can't believe at how incredibly blessed I am. God has moved in so many amazing ways. Thinking of the countless tiny steps that have led up to this moment now, I am awed by His goodness and faithfulness. It's hard to believe that this time last year, I was finishing my hike in the Himalayas and falling for the most amazing man that I know. By the end of India, my life was headed in a completely new and different direction than it had been before Quest. I have received blessing after blessing this year. Living at Menno has given me another beautiful community, meaningful friendships, and lasting memories. My life in Vancouver was full of excitement, adventure, food, learning, and growing. I loved it. 
And now, I'm embarking on another journey and entering a new chapter of my life.
I'll be honest, I'm terrified to not be going back to Vancouver. 
But I'm still unbelievably excited to be moving to Edmonton. 

I feel as though the last 5 years of my life have been cycles of moving: a decision, packing, saying goodbye, traveling, arriving, unpacking, planting new roots, nurturing new relationships, memories, change. More packing, another goodbye, tears, excitement, hope, and a new destination.

I'm excited to see what God has in store for my 20th year and where He'll lead me. And to wrap this birthday post up, this is my prayer for the year... 
[came to my rescue: hillsong]

Falling on my knees in worship, 

Giving all I am to seek your face. 

Lord, all I am is yours.

I called, you answered.

And you came to my rescue, 

And I want to be where you are.

My whole life I place in your hands.

God of mercy, humbled I bow down, 

In your presence at your throne.

In my life be lifted high.

In our world, be lifted high. 

In our love, be lifted high. 

Love Your City

     I [ L O V E ] MY CITY.

  1. cherry blossoms  2. jericho beach  3. salts  4. crown st. 

[untitled]

A brief explanation...
My desire for these two canvases was to reveal the contrast in the construction of identity of trauma survivors. I wanted to be able to express the tension between the differing perspectives of identity that are presented by Western media and the trauma survivors themselves.

The Mixed Messages of Mixed Media

In my first art piece, I used mixed media to express the Western concept of identity for trauma victims (individuals who have experienced extreme violence, genocide, war, etc). By using newspaper articles, online sources, and pages from a book, I wanted to reveal the kind of language that Western media uses to create identity. I feel as though the identities that the media constructs of trauma victims can be problematic as the media tends to portray these individuals as victimized, helpless, broken, and vulnerable. Although I do believe that these titles are true to an extent, they fail to portray the strength, passion, and beauty of trauma survivors. Which is why, for my second piece, I chose to use a wood canvas and used the more traditional art mediums of acrylic paint and watercolour. 

A Sunset and a Sunrise

My second piece is my favourte. I've decided that I absolutely LOVE working with wood canvases and hope to paint on many more of them this summer. I wanted this piece to express the pure & raw identities of trauma survivors that are self-constructed. Being in a major that deals heavily with issues concerning the developing world, I've come across many life narratives of trauma survivors. I've learned about the Lost Boys of Sudan, the Rwandan & Bosnian genocides, the war in Iraq, the deterioration of the Niger Delta, and countless other heart-breaking stories. Yet, in each story, I have been amazed by the personal accounts of survivors who, despite the struggles they face, maintain strong spirits and push forward in life. 


These two art pieces were specifically drawn in remembrance of the Lost Boys of Sudan. 27,000 ethnic Dinka boys who fled their homes during the Second Sudanese Civil War, fleeing first to Ethiopia, then back to Sudan, then into Kenya. More than half were lost along the way. I was specifically inspired by the personal stories of Benson, Alepho, and Benjamin, three lost boys who wrote the memoir; They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky. It is such an incredible testimony to God's grace, power, and love. Throughout the memoir, the boys hardly ever speak of their own personal suffering, instead their greatest suffering comes from separation and/or hearing that a family member has been hurt or lost. Rather than seeing themselves as helpless victims, I was amazed at their positive attitudes as they focused on the few blessings that they did have. 


Through the sunset/sunrise concept, I wanted to express the passion, love, and pride the boys expressed in their memoir as they remembered their family, culture, and country. Their rootedness to their past is such a beautiful thing to me, and I love that although they are willing and eager to move on towards a better future, they still remain fiercely loyal to their past and feel a sense of responsibility in the construction of their country's future. I want to dedicate these art pieces to the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan, in hopes of a better future, yet in remembrance of a beautiful past that existed before the civil war.

Let's not forget...

Keep praying for this country and for the people of Haiti! It is so easy to forget when 
the shock, horror, and sadness fades from the media, but we are called to defend 
the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. 
Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. psalm 82:3-4

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I’m waiting for the skies to break,

For the light to fade away the mess I’ve made

And when the heavens stop flooding the earth with tears,

I know the cool waters will wash away my fears

I’ll wait for the great painter to colour the skies,

With the colour of hope and the promise of life.

And somewhere over that rainbow,

I’ll hear the lullaby,

Of blue birds, lemon drops, and starry night skies

I’ll wish upon a million shooting stars,

And always wish for love to not be far.

And when I see the colours painted across the sky

I’ll sing the once forgotten lullaby.

Cause somewhere over the rainbow,

...I know I’ll find a pot of heaven’s gold

My Ten Loves

1. Morning runs along the beach 
2. Fresh strawberries
3. Watercolour and Indian Ink
4. Ingrid Michaelson
5. The smell of cherry blossoms 
6. Late night phone conversations
7. The poetry of the Psalms
8. Snail Mail
9. Sushi 
10. My nalgene & water
11. How often my family moves... oops, that's eleven now. 


Good thing I'm an Arts major and not in Math. 
But yes, we're on the move again! I just found out this past weekend that our family is heading out West again to Enderby, BC. I know, shocking. We broke a record, we lasted almost 4 years in Calgary! It was due time we packed up again... and no, I'm not bitter. Just shocked.
                                                                               
And excited  =)


It was always my parents dream to live in the mountains near the lakes, and I'm so happy for them! Although this seriously botches up my summer plans, it could be worse. Enderby is such a beautiful little town (approx. 3000 people) and it'll suit my family perfectly as it's surrounded by the great outdoors. I'm sure my parents will end up hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing every other day now instead of just Saturdays. I don't know the details of when we're moving, if we have a place, or where I'll be for my summer... but that'll all come with time. 

I like kids and ukuleles.

This little boy makes me love life!

Bwana Asifiwe!

So I've started some early morning yoga again, finally! I haven't been very active the past couple weeks because of my snowshoeing accident and it's been killing me. 

For those who haven't heard, while on a winter retreat with my house in Hemlock Valley, I was in a minor accident. On my way down from one of the peaks, I was sitting off to the side at the bottom of a steep decline waiting for the rest of the girls to come down when one of my friends slipped and sent a small avalanche of snow down toward where I was. It wouldn't have been bad at all if a large rock hadn't been part of it! I was hit in my lower back near my left hip by a rock bigger than my head, that the boys estimated was about 20-30 pounds. The impact just knocked the breath out of me and for a moment I seriously thought I had broken something but after about 20 minutes I was able to get over the initial shock and assess the situation better (thank goodness for First Aid training in Quest and Margaret!). After making sure I could move a bit, we slowly hiked back down to the main trail where ski patrol found us and snowmobiled me out to their ski hut. To wrap things up, I went and got checked up at UBC Urgent Care and was told that it was only severe bone and muscle bruising and that I should stay active but take it easy (riight...seriously, choose one or the other!)

All creation definitely praises His name! The view at the peak was stunning, but the trek up was just as breathtaking and just so beautiful to be a part of =)

This is about where the rock fell from when we were hiking back down. You can kind of see the steepness here and how much momentum and force the rock would have had when it came hurtling down and hit me. I was only a little farther down than where the last person in the picture is. It's crazy to look at this picture because I realize how fortunate I was that my injury was as minimal as it was... Thank-you Father!

I feel very blessed that God was looking out for me and that my spine wasn't impacted, as I know that it could have been much much worse for me. I am also soo so thankful that I had an amazing group of friends with me, one who is a nursing student, two who basically carried me off the mountain, and the rest who paved the way for us in the freezing cold! (It quickly got darker after my accident as we didn't get off the mountain until near suppertime). My injury also resulted in my poor mama booking a flight out here as soon as she could because she was so worried about her baby girl! Not that I was complaining...I felt slightly bad that she thought it was so serious, but I did tell my parents repeatedly that I was FINE. I'm glad she came anyway as we both had such an awesome time hanging out in Vancouver and even managed to get a trip down to Seattle in as well to visit family and do some shopping. So I received a HUGE blessing from what seemed to be a little bit of pain and for that I'm very thankful!!

I'm basically as good as new now, except for the huge hardened knots that have formed since it happened. I've been massaging and stretching so that I can work them out, but as I'm still bruised it's taking a little while. Thankfully, my morning yoga class seems to have loosened it up a little bit, and I'm sure that it will only continue to get better from here! I know it will, because the break is coming up fast and Caleb will be here in just over a week now and we will be PAR-TAYYYIng it up in BC with a huge group of Questies! Soo excited =) 
             Thanks for reading!

With my bruise =(  taken just a couple days ago.
It's definitely not as bad as it looks anymore though!