Domestic Humdrum

Dear Family,

Two hours ago I very much wanted to sit down and write to you all. Instead, I dutifully forced myself to memorize Korean vocab. Now that I've finished with that, and have a few free minutes, I want to do nothing more than to lie down, shut my eyes, and turn my mind off.

Last night was the first night I spent in my little home. It was also the first night that I've been alone since leaving the States. I had forgotten how very quiet and lonesome a room can be, with no one else to break the silence.
I had also forgotten how very close God draws in the stillness.

It's been a difficult week. Every morning I raise early to get some time with God. Those few hours before ten o' clock are the most relaxed time of day for me. The remaining twelve hours I simply walk through one step at a time.

Classes began on Monday, and are so far pretty easy. I've familiarized myself with the contents of the workbook we're now using, so I don't feel like my mind is frantically grasping at simple concepts. That is a feeling which I am, unfortunately, all too familiar with. The only difficult part of school, so far, is the vocabulary memorization. They tell me that the grammar gets more complicated at the levels progress, but that doesn't intimidate me. I like puzzles, and language is like that for me. It's a mental challenge to wrestle with. But vocabulary is just drudgery, and I have a really hard time remembering which crazy sounds belong to what concepts.

After school I come directly home, and do what I can to beautify my very unbeautiful house. Hours of sorting, and cleaning, and unpacking have left me with something resembling a comfortable home. Yesterday I bought myself a fridge, washer, bed, wardrobe, and desk from a English teacher who's heading back to the states. It makes me happy to finally be settling in.

I still have to clean the kitchen and bathroom. That's going to be a big job, and I'll probably tackle it tomorrow. The previous renter must have been a southern deep-fryer, because the entire kitchen, from ceiling to floor, is bespattered with grease. I'm going to have to pull out the stove, cupboards, and sink to scrub the yellow walls behind them back to their natural blue color.

Actually, yesterday I wasn't very enthusiastic about the kitchen, at all. Except that's describing my feelings mildly. To begin with, the entrance to the kitchen is barely as wide as I am across the shoulders, and not nearly as tall. It looks as thought it was built for a dwarf, and I've lost count of the number of times I've turned and smacked my head into the frame. The bright yellow linoleum is blotched and stained beyond repair, and the cupboards, once sky blue, are now a faded, nondescript muddy color. And smack in the middle of the room, taking up at least a quarter of the floor space, stands a deep, electric blue washing machine. Add to that a rust stained gas range, a small, aluminum sink, the cord hanging from a single florescent light, and rust colored gas and water pipes snaking their lugubrious ways across the walls, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what that particular room looks like.

As I lay awake last night, I chided myself for being disgruntled, and determined that, if initiative, creativity, and resourceful energy can turn a dreary kitchen into an artistic cubby hole, then I shall try my hand at all three. As soon as I get the time, I'll set to work, and see if I can't achieve something with a little flair.

Wow. That was half a page of unexceptional, domestic humdrum. My apologies! Unfortunately, there's not much else to write of. I hit the ground running, when I landed on Korean soil, but so far the race has involved nothing more than school, domesticity and, when I get the chance, an occasional meal.

I did want to let you know, though, that I've been so blessed by the all emails that you've sent! I wish I could somehow convey how much it means to me when you send one or two sentences just to let me know that I'm in your thoughts and prayers. I usually check my email in the morning, and those notes that I receive help to set the pace for the entire day. They really make all the difference between the feelings of close camaraderie and absolute aloneness.

I pray for God's protection and guidance over you. Please continue to come before Him boldly and unceasingly on my behalf,

Elisabeth