Oeuvre d'Art

As Im sorting through my things I found this notepad I had when I lived in France that I use to write new vocab words in. I came upon this gem of a poem I wrote one day in my grammar class titled "Gummies"

"I shoved some gummies in my pocket and I set off for the day.

I sneak a gummy here and there.

Someone caught a glance.

They ask of one from me and I say "Stop gummy stealing from me. "

The gummies in my stomach want company so I obliged.

Oh no...gummy ache"

-November 2008

As I came upon this, I realized that I have a way with words. My friends in Fishers threw me a going away party and I didn't know how to repay them so I wrote them this poem and read it to them at our small group. I am no wordsmith but I do know my way around a rhyme dictionary. Without any further adu, here is "To My Small Group"

To my life long friends I bid thee farewell
The time spent together I think we must dwell
All the stories and hangouts that we've shared altogether
Through ups and downs through good and bad weather
summers filled with volleyball
the worst player on the team I was
you smiled and laughed and said better luck next time
A group of people that accepted my lack of coordination? It was sublime

Tubing in the summer air, hangin with the ladies w/o a care
Giving blood to our hearts content,
Looking after children who would not relent
Many road trips we underwent
many burdens we did vent
And now we welcome Brent

You've held me up and made me understand
Made me proud to say I'm with the band (*disclaimer Tuesday Life Church)
You make my week easier,

You make my memories sweeter,

You make my love for the Lord deeper, you,ve made my travels cheaper
Although living with my mom for this long was never the plan,

You've made this place anything but bland

(*now I try to do a bit from Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer)
On John, on Daniel, on Chris,on Becky
On Doug, on JerErin on Jason and Jenny
On Brent, on Grafton and sometimes the Denos
Have a merry... Life


For even though I walk in the shadow of North Korea
I will fear no disunity, I'm set!
I've got this. Don't you know I've got community?
and with this love that I must confess I will do my best to digress
Though oceans and time zones may come between us I will remember you
You've showed me to learn from Jesus, live the gospel and love in community.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity

Kristen EXOTIC?!?!

I promise I'm not trying to be inappropriate.

It just has occurred to me that in a couple of weeks I will be considered EXOTIC, a foreigner, a minority.

exotic- (adj) Originating in or characteristics of a distant foreign country

This is never a word that I would choose to describe myself, but it is a coming reality

My hopes are that Koreans don't expect foreigners to adhere to all of the local norms because it always seem like I do or say the wrong thing when I am put in a cultural situations. My research suggest that I need to remain humble in all situations because this cultural prizes modesty and second that Korean society elevates the group (family and colleagues) over the individual. Communal living: I can dig it.

Note to self: Check my pride and independence at the door.....CHECK!