The first full week of the new routine

Blessings and salutations! Here is a quick update with some pictures of my work and home life. I'm settling into the routine here, intentionally building in time to breath, relax, read, express myself, volunteer, and practice. Being social has not caught up yet, and I'm very okay with that. May you find peace in your routine today, too. 

My classroom - the gym with a stage, full mirrors, and a piano. It's a wonderful space. 

Some 5 year olds, the youngest students at the school, showing their emotions and expressions that we're learning about this week with musical Mary Poppins. 

A 6 year old class having fun with stretches (very yogic looking) in gym class with Mr. Jared

My Sacred Space at Home - a one room studio with heated floors and plenty of space for me

 

A Day in Fukuoka Nature

Three relaxing days of nearly no agenda and the space to be were a great respite from Seoul and the structure of working. One hilarious misadventure (well, two) was that on Monday after I went to the Korean Consulate, I walked to Ohorikoen lake, in part to see a Japanese garden on the south side of the lake. I thought I had found it, but the gates were closed. When I consulted the tourist map I was given at the airport, it turned out that they were closed on Monday. So, Tuesday morning I set out to see another Japanese garden near my hotel in Hakata and...it was closed on Tuesdays I found out upon arrival. So Wednesday became the lost Japanese garden day. I wandered the gardens, drank matcha, and languished in the chilly December air for much of the day and eventually made my way back to the airport for a late flight in a nearly deserted airport, Visa in hand. A successful trip in all of the ways.  

I will post updates from Seoul soon! 

The canal under my hotel (I didn't have this view, unfortunately.)

Rakusien Japanese Garden

Serenity

Traditional matcha tea and sweets

I had a wonderful conversation with these two women - who spoke nearly no English - about balance, harmony, nuclear dangers, Yin/Yang energy, the tranquility of Japan, and warm-hearted people in the tea house. Often, words are far less necessary than we think.

Harmony in the tea house

I loved this tree!

Garden #2 at Ohorikoen

There is ever peace, balance, and nonattachment in Nature. These traits are effortless to resonate with when surrounded by beautiful scenery. 

Peaceful Fukuoka Day 2

A few more selected photos from a spontaneous last 24 hours in Fukuoka. It is freeing not being able to speak with anyone, even if you want to. Hence, a mostly silent day for me of meditative walking, besides the occasional konichiwa and arigato gozaimusu. 

Ramyen and gyoza for dinner. Hard to be veggie here, so I just go with the flow. 

The lights at Hakata Station near my hotel and a main hub in Fukuoka. 

Maybe that's what we need in America, a "social etiquette center" near the police station!

It's hard to see, but that bus is going to "You Me Town." You coming?

 

Small Zen Garden at Torinji Temple.

Torinji Temple Gate

Wishes at Sumiyoshi Shrine

Praying for good grades on your exam? Pay 100 yen and drop a prayer in the box.

Zenshoji Temple entrance

Kushida Shrine Gate

A prayer hall and lanterns at Kushida Shrine

A very old and powerful set of gates at Kushida Shrine. 

More Shinto gates in their traditional orange color. It's almost an optical illusion.

 

The Zodiac on the Shrine entrance ceiling.

Don't want to stay in the hotel all night? Okay, you can just stay a short time. 

 I love kale decorative plants in city walkways. 

A relaxing matcha latte at Tully's in Hakata to end my walking day.

Soul in Seoul - Adventure 2015...First stop, Japan?

A Relaxing Day in Fukuoka

To make a long story short, I came to Korea on faith and a tourist visa so after getting a great job teaching music to kindergarten kids in Seoul, I needed to come to Fukuoka to process my teaching visa at the Korean Consulate here. It's warm and sunny and I've enjoyed a wonderful day of wandering through the peace of Japan. I know people love photos, so here are a few that I snapped today, most of which have some connection to Seattle, oddly enough. 

The baseball team in Fukuoka is called the 'Sea Hawks' and they have the only retractable stadium in Japan. Now that sounds familiar....

An artists rendition of a Seahawk? 

The bus stop at Seahawk Stadium (?!)

Yes, the Fukuoka Sea Hawks. We should be sister cities!

A happy and warm beach morning.

  A very traditional sight in Japan, the row of vending machines. 

This was just a really cool building I saw on my wanderings. 

Quaint Japan

Perhaps this is an ad for meditation? Just the space what you have been looking for!

This park reminded me so much of Golden Gardens. I had a Family Mart picnic with this view...

nearly got pooped on repeatedly by the friendly wildlife...

quietly observed a family of nesting hawks (maybe?) who live in the middle of the lake....

And then scoffed at the line (out the door) and prices ($4 for a short drink) at Starbucks on the lake. 

Like I said, just like Seattle. 

I plan to enjoy myself these few days while I wait for my visa to be processed. And I'll share about my life and work in Seoul soon. 

Hugs and Blessings!