New Projects

This week was a little busy so no interesting photos to put up. I would have had some if I would have remembered to bring my camera to Aimee Lee's fulbright forum. She presented on her work on Korean paper. It was really neat. She had the lights of the classroom where the forums are held covered in dyed paper which tinted the lights the color of the paper. She also had up some of the paper she made. It's really amazing all the labor that goes into making the various objects that can be made from Korean paper (ranging from wallpaper to shoes to chamber pots!).

I've taken on a few extra projects over the last couple of weeks. I will write a short article on Wang Kon's ten injunctions. Wang Kon, also known as Taejo (great founder) established the Koryo dynasty which ruled Korea from 935 to 1392. I had to study the injunctions because several of them are directly related to Buddhism so I've already done some work on them. One of the chief reasons I took on this project was to have something in my resume without the word "Catholic" in it. I have to show that I can do work outside of my specialty.

I also was asked by the Korean Institute for Advanced Theological Studies to do some translation work. Specifically they wanted me to help translate some poems that Yi Pyok (an early leader in the Korean Catholic Church wrote). Fortunately they are allowing me to translate from the modern translation (I don't understand old Chinese poetry, it's very difficult) though I am referring back to the Chinese when I'm unsure of the Korean translation. The poems are all religious in nature. I've only done the first couple of chapters. The first one covered the creation of the earth and the fall of man and the second was about Cain and Abel and Noah's Ark. It's a lot of fun.

A professor I know asked me to do a guest lecture for his class. It will be on my birthday:). I'll be talking about Catholicism in Korea to graduate students. It should be fun.

Tomorrow I will go on a the Korean Church History Institute pilgrammage so hopefully I will have some interesting photos for next week.

The Hotel

Fulbright put us up in a nice hotel.
The view from our hotel room.

The hotel.
A nice pond and pavilion on the hotel grounds.
The ocean.
A waterwheel.

David plays the arrow game. Usually you are supposed to throw them in the vase.



All the controls for the room were on the lampstand. David managed to set the alarm for 4am!



David plays with his stroller.

David's friend

David made a friend in Jeju.

David on his own. David makes a friend who apparently is teaching him about God.

David's friend gives him a rock.

Good friends!

Reflecting on their fun together.

David runs from his friend



Rocks are fun!

Conference at Jeju

To go to Jeju we took the subway, then a plane, then a taxi.

Arlene and David on the subway. Usually subways are busier than this, but this was 8:30 am on a Saturday morning.

Arlene, David and I at the hotel.

One of my colleagues presenting. She studies dance and so is performing a court dance.

Me presenting.

A group picture of the Fulbright staff and junior researchers.

Mobbed at Jeju

Last weekend there was a Fulbright Conference on Jeju island. Families were invited so David and Arlene came along. On the way to Jeju David met a large number of schoolgirl fans at the baggage claim. The non-school girls in the pictures are Fulbright people. The one holding him in the movie at the bottom is Erin, a good friend of ours who really loves David.





Here is a movie of the fun



Hopefully in a couple of days I can post more pictures and movies from the actual trip.

Prayers 2

Mom's surgery went well and she has already been released and is at home recovering. Thanks for all the prayers but please keep them coming so she will have a speedy recovery!
God bless!

Prayers

This morning my dad called me and said that mom has to have her gall bladder removed. She'll have it done Sunday morning. It is just a routine procedure but we want to ask for your prayers.
God bless!