Orphanage and Korean Hot Springs
Saturday was full of adventure! There is a group at school called "Helping Hands" that does service at an orphanage in the village of Talgar - about 1 hour from where we live. Dr. David Kim, math and physics teacher extraordinaire, is their advisor and I volunteered to help. Originally the students were supposed to come, but then we found out that Saturday was a national holiday so all the bus drivers had the day off. However, Dr. Kim (DK) had arranged for a mission group from Korea to come that day and give free dental care, donate computers, and do activities with the kids. We still went to the orphanage, but without our students! Bummer!
We got completely lost on our way. We had downloaded this new app called Navitel, but we were using the free version to try it out. Halfway there the app quit, and wouldn't reload. We literally stopped 7 times to ask people for directions. Problem : We don't speak Russian and they don't speak English! So each time we were still confused, but were at least pointed in a general direction. I started to give up and feel defeated. I was feeling overwhelmed by my inability to communicate and was really in despair. It gave me this completely new perspective about living in a country that does not speak your native language. NEVER again will I judge anybody who does not speak English in America. I am now the person who feels as if my inability to speak another language makes me less of a person and somehow uneducated. No one should ever be made to feel that way just because they do not speak a certain language. The tables have turned, and I am learning a whole new perspective. It's a paradigm shift for me. Moving to another country where I do not speak their language is difficult. As much as I try to learn Russian, it is not coming easily. In fact, it's not really coming at all. However, each person that we stopped to talk to was SO kind. They would try their best to tell us where to go, willing to take their time to help. Some people even laughed with us (at least I think it was WITH us and not AT us). I hope I can always be as cheerful and helpful as these people were to us. After a few phone calls to DK, he realized we were never going to get there on our own. He showed up with 3 other people to rescue us and show us the way to the orphanage. YEA! THANK YOU!
As we were leaving the orphanage, DK asked my children if they knew why the other kids were living there. They responded, "Because they do not have a mom or dad." He then turned to them and said, "May you thank God that you have a mom and a dad." That message gives real perspective.
After visiting the orphanage, we went to some Korean hot springs just outside of the city. The owner is one of DK's friends. Back in the Soviet era, a hole was drilled 2300 meters deep into the earth, which is the source of these hot springs. The water is constantly flowing up from the hole. There is now a lake where it used to be dry land because of all the water that comes up. They have made some outside swimming pools that are filled with the natural water from the hot springs. You can even have your own private swimming area by filling a large tub with water from the hot spring. It was way cool!
We walked around the grounds and had a great time. There were some ducks and muskrats in the lake, as well as some beautiful lily pads. They have a hotel and restaurant there, and so a lot of the grounds consist of gardens where they grow their own fruits and vegetables. They even had a large area where they were making traditional soy sauce that ferments for about two years. It was so cool! The owner loves animals, and so there are lots of cats and dogs on the grounds that are really friendly.
We came on a good day because the kitchen was preparing a traditional Korean meal that we were lucky enough to eat! I don't know what it all was, but everything was delicious! The kids all said that they LOVED it. I am so glad that my children are adventurous eaters. They are not afraid to eat anything and have a wide palate. They don't ever complain or turn their nose up - they just happily explore new foods. It's GREAT!
We got completely lost on our way. We had downloaded this new app called Navitel, but we were using the free version to try it out. Halfway there the app quit, and wouldn't reload. We literally stopped 7 times to ask people for directions. Problem : We don't speak Russian and they don't speak English! So each time we were still confused, but were at least pointed in a general direction. I started to give up and feel defeated. I was feeling overwhelmed by my inability to communicate and was really in despair. It gave me this completely new perspective about living in a country that does not speak your native language. NEVER again will I judge anybody who does not speak English in America. I am now the person who feels as if my inability to speak another language makes me less of a person and somehow uneducated. No one should ever be made to feel that way just because they do not speak a certain language. The tables have turned, and I am learning a whole new perspective. It's a paradigm shift for me. Moving to another country where I do not speak their language is difficult. As much as I try to learn Russian, it is not coming easily. In fact, it's not really coming at all. However, each person that we stopped to talk to was SO kind. They would try their best to tell us where to go, willing to take their time to help. Some people even laughed with us (at least I think it was WITH us and not AT us). I hope I can always be as cheerful and helpful as these people were to us. After a few phone calls to DK, he realized we were never going to get there on our own. He showed up with 3 other people to rescue us and show us the way to the orphanage. YEA! THANK YOU!
The main gas station as we entered the town of Talgar where we stopped to ask directions and make phone calls. Another apple!
At the orphanage kids got to make balloon animals.
DK was doing some acupuncture tests on some of the children.
Henry kicking around a soccer ball with one of the boys that lives there.
Lora found a little dog and had to give it a little love.
Susan, DK's wife, made these yummy Korean rice balls for lunch. They were delicious!
Eating lunch with DK, Susan, and some of the Koreans who had come to give service.
As we were leaving the orphanage, DK asked my children if they knew why the other kids were living there. They responded, "Because they do not have a mom or dad." He then turned to them and said, "May you thank God that you have a mom and a dad." That message gives real perspective.
After visiting the orphanage, we went to some Korean hot springs just outside of the city. The owner is one of DK's friends. Back in the Soviet era, a hole was drilled 2300 meters deep into the earth, which is the source of these hot springs. The water is constantly flowing up from the hole. There is now a lake where it used to be dry land because of all the water that comes up. They have made some outside swimming pools that are filled with the natural water from the hot springs. You can even have your own private swimming area by filling a large tub with water from the hot spring. It was way cool!
A view of the lake, with the mountains in the background.
Swimming pool on the right is cool water. The one of the left is hot water.
Just as she jumps backward into the cold pool!
Chillin' in the hot pool.
The private pool that we filled up with water from the hot spring.
We walked around the grounds and had a great time. There were some ducks and muskrats in the lake, as well as some beautiful lily pads. They have a hotel and restaurant there, and so a lot of the grounds consist of gardens where they grow their own fruits and vegetables. They even had a large area where they were making traditional soy sauce that ferments for about two years. It was so cool! The owner loves animals, and so there are lots of cats and dogs on the grounds that are really friendly.
Beautiful lily on the lake.
The containers filled with traditional Korean soy sauce being fermented.
The hotel.
Henry playing with one of the many kittens on the grounds.
We came on a good day because the kitchen was preparing a traditional Korean meal that we were lucky enough to eat! I don't know what it all was, but everything was delicious! The kids all said that they LOVED it. I am so glad that my children are adventurous eaters. They are not afraid to eat anything and have a wide palate. They don't ever complain or turn their nose up - they just happily explore new foods. It's GREAT!
Just before dinner as they were still bringing everything out.
Our Korean meal. YUMMY.
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