Lifestyle Differences

As expected, living in Korea provides a different lifestyle than in America. Although, the basic necessities of life like clothing, food, & shelter are still present, there are different ways in which we[Koreans & Americans] handle these situations. These unique perspectives I believe, are based on cultural influences. Since my arrival in Korea, I have had many discussions with my colleagues who are always more than willing to give me a better insight to understanding the Korean culture (Thank Guys!). As a result, I have learned quite a bit about the Korean culture (even though there is so much more to explore culturally) and often enjoy taking the opportunity to share this information with my American friends here in Seoul, who don't have the same type of exposure to the Korean world that I live. Based on their own unique experiences, they are able to share another part of the Korean cultural equation. Through such intriguing discussions on Korean culture, it has helped me to understand and appreciate the environment that we now live.

I thought it might be interesting to chronicle a few of these differences that I have found along the way. Therefore, for the next several days, I will attempt to properly examine a few of these differences. Feel free to read them, add your opinions, or ask questions via comment. Keep in mind that while some of these differences are major, others don't matter in the grand scheme of life....BUT, they are interesting just the same. I believe that in order to understand a culture, you have to understand some of the REASONS why the people behave as they do.

So sit back, read on & enjoy! This should be good...

Thanx, K

P.S. Don't forget to comment, it's nice to know that people are actually reading this stuff!

The Shot that was Heard...Around the World?

As we reflect on the anniversary of Dr. King's death, we must ask ourselves if the struggle continues today. It's been 40 years since the death of Dr. Martin Luther King...in that time, have we really made any progress? In many parts of the world, many people are still being held down by oppression. Others still fall prey to the mental chains of slavery. It's unfortunate that small mindedness (if that's really a word) continues to plague the world perpetuating stereotypes and unfair treatment to many.

Since I have been in Seoul, I have been trying to understand the people & the environment that I am in as best as I can. In an effort to stay close to the pulse of Seoul, I try to read the newspaper everyday. The content viewed in some of the articles, never ceases to amaze me. Remember, Seoul, S Korea is a major metropolitan GLOBAL city, trying to be EVERYTHING for EVERYBODY in business. Today while surfing the Internet trying to find 'something' in Korea, I came across an on-line edition of an English Daily Newspaper, The Seoul Times. Now usually, I read either the Korea Herald or The Korea Times, but news is news, right? WRONG!!!!!!!!!

I just could not believe the article that I came across...

Now don't get me wrong, I am not a militant black woman that is continuously blaming "the man" for the downtroddeness in our communities. But come on!!! Of course I read the article(3/13/08), and the gentleman did a sub-par job defending blacks. However, he did express that "even blacks want to know this answer."

Can someone tell me, WHAT BLACKS HAS HE BEEN TALKING TO? I have some black friends..., and I NEVER, NEVER heard anybody wonder out loud about our [blacks] close relationship to Apes. Perhaps this gentleman has some kind of connection to the black race that I am not privy to?

Some of you might think that I am making to much of a big deal about this BUT I am a offended that they would even run such a story. How insensitive! Even though his story is trying to give the perception that they are trying to eradicate racism, it really is adding fuel to an out of control fire, where people believe that visual differences can be justified. What happened? Did no one realize the vision that Dr. King had for America, for the world?????

But, since we are on the subject of racial injustice, what is the deal with skin bleaching here in Korea? I don't know why, but I have come across this service in quite a few of the dermatological & beauty enhancement websites & locations here in Seoul. I was talking to a person here the other day and they began to tell me how Korean women attempt to bleach their skin because being "lighter" is the preferred tone. WHAT??? You have got to be kidding me...I hope that this is a serious untruth. But when I look at the make up available at most counters, quite contrary to the US, you don't find bronzing powders to give you that sun kissed look in many places (if any).

Based on these findings I must ask, "Is it a conspiracy around the globe?" Who is the masked person who is going around leading people to believe that the fairer your skin tone the better? Now I understand that in the American black (or AA) community we have long standing reasons behind why some people believe that fairer skin complexions are superior (even though it still does not justify this ridiculous viewpoint). I did not realize it existed in other cultures as well.

For those of you that don't know, in the black community during the times of slavery, fairer skinned or bi-racial slaves were given preferential treatment and allowed to work in better conditions. They were placed in the slave masters homes instead of the back breaking labor witnessed in the fields. Making a huge difference between these "field slaves" & "house slaves" has continued to influence the mindset of many Blacks in America. As we have struggled with our identity in America, we have continued to feed this divisive mechanism subscribing to this elitist point of view.

As a fairer toned black woman, throughout my life I have had to deal with many a shrewd comment regarding my melanin-challenged skin. To me even the mere discussion of the differences in skin color is wasteful, but they continue to surface in discussions. If obviously, there are no intellectual, or true physiological differences between these self-divided groups aside from pigmentation, why does the discussion continue?

Upon closer review of the subject matter, I have also heard that the same type of divide exists around the world in places such as Brazil, Mexico & India. In these countries I have seen a rainbow of beautiful skin tones. Therefore, I must ask, when will this madness stop?

If we keep looking for reasons to justify the divide, we will never be equal or free as people on Earth. Did anyone learn from the death of Dr. Martin Luther King? or the teachings of Gandhi? When, ...if ever, will the world realize that the story of life is much bigger and can be much better if we view the world with more than the things that we see with our eyes?

Just a thought for today!

K

SeOUL Searching

Why must one travel so far away from home to feel this way? What way you ask?

Kind of invigorated...perhaps even free. I have not yet been able to put my finger on it....the actual reason escapes my grasp. But whatever it is, it is very liberating...even kind of surreal. Coming to Seoul has given me the opportunity to get my mind together. To find some solice...To put things in perspective. Now don't get me wrong, I have not ascertained the true meaning of life or anything that deep. Nor have I decided to make Seoul my new home. I am just feeling myself over here, & I like what I feel.

Self photography

(It's really Spring in Seoul!)

While at home in Detroit, I feel like I have many responsibilities, with my family, & friends. Don't get it twisted, I wouldn't take anything for these special folks that I love very much. But the situation I am currently in feels kind of liberating. Being far, far away is kind of nice. Imagine living a life where you don't have ANYONE depending on you...it's cool if only for a little while.

It may sound kind of selfish, but it is the real deal. Therefore, I just have to take a moment & thank God above for the many blessings he has bestowed upon me. 'Cause right now, I am basking in his glory!

Thank You Lord!

K

Keena in front of the Pacific Ocean

Keena at Gyeongbok Palace [Seoul, S Korea]

How I Spent Easter Sunday....

Throughout my entire life I have spent Easter Sunday the same exact way. First it starts with Sunday morning worship services, followed by lunch or dinner with the extended family. We greet each other, take pictures & exchange Easter eggs & candy. I can easily chronicle my life through the photos taken EVERY Easter Sunday. However this year, was a little bit different for me....for I attended Seoul Fashion Week events.

SEOUL FASHION WEEK

Some of you out there are not really concerned with the whole fashion scene. Clothing is a merely something you were to prevent streaking your co-workers and neighbors while you perform your daily tasks. Well, I am almost the opposite of that: I LOVE FASHION...and most of you reading this know that fashion is my THING! I love every aspect of it, designing it, wearing it, putting it together and even selling it! So to get an opportunity to attend this event was a real treat for me.

For those of you that still don't know what Seoul Fashion Week means, let me explain. In most fashion centers like NYC, LA, Milan & Paris fashion weeks are held several times a year to introduce the upcoming fashion designers collections for the upcoming seasons. Over the last month or so, designers have been showing their fall collections. These overly publicized media events are a way for designers to give a preview of their collections to the highly sought after leaders of the fashion industry (i.e. media, buyers, celebrities).

How many times in life does a regular person get to attend such a coveted event? Almost never, that is why I was sooooo excited to be there. Now don't get me wrong, I would have been excited to get in the door and view the show from the nearest exit, but on this particular adventure,...I had the HOOK UP!

Let me share...
As you know, since I arrived in Seoul, I have met so many interesting people. One such individual is Regina Walton (feel free to check out her blog too!) She is Los Angeles, CA native and expat who has lived in Seoul for the last 6 years. She is one of those sisters who just likes to take the world by storm. The UCLA alum has a law degree & just finished her Master's Degree in International Studies in Korea, all while teaching at Ewha Woman's University and writing for The Seoul Times (WOW!). So when I tell you she is a woman on the move...I mean it!

I had even checked out her blog when in America & thought it was pretty cool account of an AA women in Korea. At that time, I had no idea that we would get a chance to interact. One night after a viewing of a bi-lingual production of the Vagina Monologues & a meal at the local Tex Mex restaurant with mutual friends, we struck up an interesting conversation. We had talked sparingly throughout the evening, but when I volunteered to be the one to give Condaleeza Rice a makeover, we were tickled for the rest of the night. Speaking of fashionably challenged prompted a discussion of current fashion. Being the avid newspaper reader I am in Seoul, I started talking about the upcoming Seoul Fashion Week I had recently learned of....she then casually told me, "Oh yeah, I know, I will be covering that" WHAT?!? Fashion week!!! You have got to be kidding me!

Anywho, one thing lead to another & it lead to me chillin at the fashion shows this past weekend! I met some really interesting folks & got to get out and do what I like most, PARLAY with the people (to parlay, is a colloquial describing how to talk or engage in spirited conversations with really COOL people; derived from the french verb parler-to speak)

Keena at Seoul's Fashion Week (notice the press pass!!! I keep telling everyone...I'm famous in Korea....You just gotta luv it!)

One such interesting person is Mark. He is the founder of FEETMANSEOUL.com, an online magazine that focuses on the fashion trends that can be seen on the streets of Seoul. It's a really cool site too! Check it out! Feetmanseoul.com was the reason why I was at Fashion Week in such grand style. Mark & Regina covered the week long event, so for more info about the week long event you can check out the site. I am so grateful that they allowed me to hang out with them on that day. Currently Regina & Mark, along with a host of others are working to take this publication worldwide so stayed to tuned...they are destined for success!

Photo courtesy of FEETMANSEOUL.com (more photos at end of post)

Seoul's emerging fashion market

As discussed in many posts, South Korea is a developing country in many areas. Their growth can obviously be viewed in companies like Samsung, Hyundai & Kia. In the area of fashion, Korea is slowly emerging as a serious fashion market. A few months before arriving here in Seoul, I read a publication that claimed that Korean students are attending major design schools (i.e. Parsons, FIT etc.) in significantly increasing numbers. Quite concerned with the success of this emerging market, the government is publicly (& financially) backing the Seoul Fashion Week Event. As a result, a small showing of the who's who of Korean celebrities & politicians were present during the week long event.

Can't you see me sitting on the front row, legs crossed, quietly pointing and discussing the fashions on the runway???

To say the least, the event for me was totally a blast! During the amazing shows that I attended I even got to sit in the first & second rows with the press!! (I really have to think about my career choice in life...I have NEVER been this excited about taking care of a quality issue!) I got the opportunity to schmooze with some of the beautiful people, and met some people from around the world! I didn't take many pictures while at the shows cause I was just enthralled with my whole experience. I likened myself to country girl from the backwoods being taken to Times Square in New York City (of course I didn't let everyone else notice how excited I was, on the inside I was screaming; on the outside I was cool as a cucumber,...my mother would have been proud) While Regina & I were standing in the buffet line in the press room, we were even interviewed by Elle Korea! What a treat!

Today's Lesson:

Even though I didn't go to a formal service to worship God on that day, the Lord opened up some doors in my life & helped me to reflect and refocus. Bringing some things to my attention that I want to do & want to pursue in life. After all the Easter season reminds us of the death, burial & resurrection of Christ. In his death we now have hope... I realize as the scripture tells us, that "Christ died that we might have life, and life more abundantly" Therefore, on this Easter Holiday I was walking in some of the abundance of life that he died for.... Thank You JESUS!

This crusade to Korea is turning out to be more like a dream...I am having the time of my life.... there is so much more to tell, so stay tuned!!!!

K

More photos courtesy of feetmanseoul.com

Living in Seoul: It's Free...But It Will Cost You!

Almost as soon as my plane landed, my family members and friends began to ask me so many questions regarding Seoul & Korea. Many of them I could not answer? Was it expensive here? How much does food cost? What about gas? The questions were endless. Now, Seoul is a very large city with almost 12 million people living within its limits. As with most big cities, prices for everyday items tend to be expensive...Seoul is definitely no exception in that regard!

In order for you to understand this a lil better I have included the prices of some everyday items that you can find in the US to compare them with prices in Seoul:

How much is Gas?
This is the first question my cousin Dre asked me when he spoke to me. At the time, I really couldn't answer his question. Although I had seen several gas stations, there was no need for me to use them personally and I hadn't quite gotten my arms around the exchange rate yet and the liters to gallons conversion at one time was a bit much. So it took me a little time to even figure it out.

Currently the US is feeling the effects of an unstable economy, that is in recession (I believe that we are not headed for a recession, we are in a recession, check out the definition in the link). This has impacted us significantly at the gas pumps. According to the Bloomberg report, the average gallon of gas was currently spiking at a record of $3.26 per gallon (3/24/08)! This situation can cause tremendous grief on the pockets, especially for you high styling SUV drivers. Ouch! That hurts :(

Knowing the problems that the US is experiencing with these rising prices. I decided to take a look at the gas prices in Seoul. So, while going past a gas station recently, I took note of their gasoline prices and was quite shocked:

A gas station marquee in Seoul, Korea

For the record, gasoline in almost every other country aside from America, is typically notated in liters instead of gallons.
~A liter is equal to .26 gallons (almost 1/4 gallon)
~A US dollar is equal to about 980 Korean WON (1000 Won =$1.02)

Therefore,
~Regular unleaded gasoline costs 1,569Won/Liter
~Which translates to 6,276 Won/Gallon
~Which translates to $6.40/gallon..., and we thought it was expensive in the US!!!!!

Strawberries
During my first visit to the grocery market in Korea, I was convinced that I was going to buy so many fruits & veggies because during this adventure I was gonna lose weight buy eating healthy, ...right? Much to my dismay, I noticed that the fruit of my choosing was extremely expensive. I just could not believe that I saw a container of strawberries, not even a quarter (1/4) of a flat for 16,000 WON ($16.50 US).

I guess this is the point in the story where I tell you that in America, I live downtown Detroit. On the weekends (when I can), I go to Eastern Market, our local open air farmer's market. I really enjoy this time, because I am able to negotiate with Apple Frank our with Veggie Louie to get the best prices on the freshest products available. Usually, I can get a whole flat of strawberries for $6 USD. In my experiences, no where in America have I seen strawberries, not even out of season organic strawberries, cost so much. How people can afford to eat strawberries, regularly, I just don't know.

Ice Cream

There is a unique phenomenon that I noticed in Korea...at some point, EVERYTHING runs out! I have witnessed this at the local TGI Friday's one weekend when they ran out of hamburgers (go figure?). But most recently, I have noticed this in the grocery store too. In the US, it is very rare that items are out of stock unless there has been some type of sale or promotion. Like during the Thanksgiving holiday it is not uncommon to find that a local market has ran out of Sage, the seasoning used for dressing or "stuffing" as some of you may call it. But standard items can usually be found with regularity.

Let me tell you about one such Korean experience:

It was Saturday afternoon, and my friend & I were walking around Itaewon after having lunch. We came upon a trailer where a gentleman was selling fresh strawberries for a good price. The aroma of these strawberries was almost hypnotic. Due to high price of strawberries in the market, we decided to buy some and were determined to make strawberry shortcake later that evening. As my friend & I parted ways, we decided to meet later that evening at my apartment for dessert....right? WRONG there was one small problem.

Most of you know that Strawberry Shortcake is made up of three key elements: strawberries, shortcake (or pound cake found in the military commisary, thanks to J!) and ice cream. Since we were in Itaewon, and there is a market in my building it made sense for me to procure the ice cream when I arrived back to my apartment to prevent melting. So upon my return, I went to the market,...I got a little confused immediately because I went to the area where I normally see the ice cream & the freezer was no longer there. Huh? Maybe, I was just looking in the wrong spot...so I asked for help. To my dismay, the grocery worker told me they had RUN OUT OF ICE CREAM! What a downer,....Ice cream? Not just chocolate, or rum raisin, but all the ice cream is gone? I just don't understand.

Having a positive attitude, I figured that this shouldn't pose too much of a problem since there are several convenience stores located within the complex as well. I would just go to GS25 or 7 eleven. When I arrived, I went right over to the freezer, and grabbed a pint of vanilla. At that point, I was praying that J didn't bring anybody with him for desert or else we might run out with this lil pint of ice cream. But sometimes you have to do what you have to do. When I got to the register, and the cashier rang me up, I could have been bowled over with a feather because that lil pint of vanilla Haagen-dazs Ice cream was 8,700 Won, almost $9 US dollars...now someone is definitely trippin in Korea. I'm not a cheap person, but I just couldn't even bring myself to buy it right then! The desert would have to wait.

Hair Conditioner

Taking good care of my hair is very important to me, like many people in the world. Therefore, I don't mind spending extra money on products that will help to maintain a healthy mane. In Seoul, I have found many different brands of shampoo & conditioner. Unfortunately, they are not any of the brands that I am used to, and I have a hard time finding the right formula for my hair type. You know how there are moisturizing, or volumizing conditions to suit every need. Well, since most of the bottles are written in Korean, it has been very difficult to find what I want.

One day while walking to my apartment, I came across a beauty product store. They seemed to have everything to do with making oneself beautiful, make up, perfume, facial moisturers & masks, etc. As I looked around the store, I came across the hair products. There were bottles of all shapes and sizes, and of course none of them looked familiar. A closer look would immediately prove worth my time. I located a small (very small actually) bottle of Paul Mitchell conditioner. I was excited & began to thank Jesus for my good fortune. My diligence had finally paid off!

As I said, I am accustomed to buying nicely priced products for my hair...no problem. However, I turned over this small bottle that was the same size as the family size Aquafresh toothpaste tube, and gasped!....What the.....? At that moment, I was convinced that my hair was gonna have to just break off & my ends could split to the roots if I had to spend 66,000 Won/$67.35 US on that little bit of conditioner! What happened to government control and regulations over price heisting?

Right now if you were to Google Paul Mitchell Hair products & look for conditioner. You could find a 10 oz. bottle for approximately $10 at the Walgreens. I know that American products would be more expensive here due to the high costs of transportation. But these examples, are just a few examples of "Highway Robbery" in procuring American products in Korea. No wonder, seemingly every country in the world buys their OWN products instead of importing over-priced goods.

Just a thought: Maybe we should start marking up all the foreign products in America, forcing Americans into common sense purchasing of American-made goods.

K

I Never Run out of Things to Write....

Sorry, to all you loyal Keena's Crusade Blog readers. I have failed to update my blog in a while. It is only because I have been doing so many things here in Seoul, I have not had much time to write. So what does that mean for my blog? That means I have sooo many things to share with you my friends. It's kind of interesting cause when I first started this process of creating a blog about my adventure, I have to be honest, I was little nervous. Why? What if I ran out of things to talk about? If so, my blog would be pretty boring and no one would want to read it. But I should have known, that the gift of GAB that the Lord gave me, transcends to the written word as well.

Stay tuned for more adventures from Keena's Crusade! The tales of Seoul only get better from here!

K

How I Got Beat -- Korean Style

Greetings and Salutations to you all!

I don't know how I forgot to mention this lil interesting adventure that I had along the way in the Namdaemun market. As you know, I was pretty excited to be in the market, and as per usual was clicking away with the digital cam. There are soooo many things to see here that are so different from home. Although I can be pretty descriptive, descriptions alone will not do some of these things justice. Therefore, I continue to click away!

As previously mentioned, I was quite interested in seeing the silk worms. I found them of course after a while. But that wasn't all I found. There were lots of mobile carts throughout the market, where mainly little old Korean women were selling edible goods. One such cart, I noticed was quite different from the rest. This particular woman was selling several different types of homemade treats (at least that is what I think they were). Additionally, she was selling tea. As you know, tea seems to be the beverage of choice here in Korea & many other Asian countries. But one thing that caught my attention, was on the end of her little cart, she actually had a lil teapot serving the customers tea. It was so cute and authentic looking!!!

See the little tea pot? How authentic

Therefore, I had to do what a normal tourist would do...right? Yes, I took out my camera and begin to snap shots immediately. Click-Click-Click! After I got my shot, I continued to stand in the same spot with my friend, Ajenai, to determine our next steps. While talking, our attention was immediately drawn to the "cute lil cart" where the vendor was all of a sudden quite visibly angry & screaming. Since I am less then a novice in the Korean language, I had no clue what or who she was speaking to.....until, she walked over to us and continued to yell at the top of her lungs. Was she really yelling at me? For what? What happened in the last 60 seconds that caused such an outburst? I was befuddled, I had ABSOLUTELY no clue what was going on...well, I'll put it to you like this, even though you may not understand everything a person says in another language, BODY language is universal.....THAT LADY WAS CURSING ME OUT!!!!

I just could not believe it! Ajenai & I just looked at each other, I don't know who was more perplexed by this spectacle. So what was I to do? Should I walk away now? I hadn't done anything wrong, ..right? But that is when it happened...this little old Korean lady haled off & HIT ME!! WHAT!!! Now she was really trippin! At that point, I just was overcome with emotion...what was I supposed to do...beat down the little old lady like she had stolen something from me?

I could see it in the paper now,

My mother would surely die of embarrassment and worry!
But the facts were certain...., she had crossed the line & hit me!

So, what did I do? I did what any good christian and tourist would do who did not want to start an international incident....I laughed at the woman, YES, I mean I got really tickled! This vendor lady did not at all seem to happy with my response. It actually seemed to infuriate her even more, so I stopped laughing long enough to give her one of those looks...you know that look that your mother could give you as a child from a mile away that would cause you to straighten up. I gave her "the look" that told her "don't even think about trying that again!"

It has been a little while since that episode transpired, but I still don't understand it any more today then I did on the day that it occurred. On that day, I figured that I had performed some forbidden tourist act out of ignorance and somehow deserved to be scolded (...not hit but scolded). In an effort to get some clarity regarding the situation, I discussed it with my Korean colleagues. To my surprise, they were even more perplexed then I! At the end of the discussion, we collectively agreed that the lady was just crazy! Oh well, as it is said "It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round!"

That day taught me something about myself, and the power in a look. If someone would have provided me with a similar situation in the US, my first reaction would have been to tell this lady a few things about her improper behavior or even threaten to hit her back (I say threaten cause she was a little old lady, I do have morals). In this situation, I did not have the power of words to communicate my feelings, rather a still small look that said MORE than any words I could have mustered at the time. This "look" let the vendor lady know that I was highly displeased by her reaction. Even though I did not receive an apology from this lady, I know that she will think twice before hitting another black girl from Detroit!

Obviously, crazy is not something that is reserved for the US, there are crazies everywhere!

Until Next Time,

Take Care

K!

NAMDAEMUN --The South Gate of the City

History of Namdaemun A few weekends ago, I decided to take a little venture around the greater Seoul area. My travels led me to the Namdaemun Gate, also meaning the "GREAT SOUTH Gate" of Seoul. In Seoul, there are several gates that have historical significance as they were the main gateways into the city during the Joseon Dynasty, when the whole city was enclosed. The Namdaemun gate, officially called, Sungnyemun (숭례문 / 남대문), translates to "Gate of Exalted Ceremonies," originally controlled access to the capital city & kept out Korean Tigers (wow folks!). Referred to as the #1 National Treasure of Korea, this gate represents the oldest wooden structure in Seoul. Construction began in 1395 during the reign of King Taejo of the Joseon, and was complete a short 3 years following [1398].

Photo of Namdaemun (South Gate)

This gate is a true site to behold, very beautiful and majestic in nature. An authentic display of the traditional Korean culture.

Namdaemun illuminated at night

The GREAT FIRE While I have been in Seoul since January, there have been many important places that I have traveled. I want to make sure that I get the WHOLE Korean experience. As a result, I have learned a great deal about Korean culture and their source of pride. Unfortunately, in my schedule, I failed to visit the Namdaemun Gate early enough. Much to the whole nations dismay, on February 10th, a gentleman who the media reports only by his surname Chae, attempted to destroy the historic landmark by putting it on fire!!!!! I later found out that the reason the man claimed to start the fire is because his land got taken away from him in some type of unfair court case. This fire was his own personal protest...and to make matters worse, this man was 69 years old!

As you can imagine, the whole country was in dismay. I can remember the afternoon that it happened very clearly. That evening I returned to my apartment after a busy day at the office and decided to turn on the TV. It didn't take long for me to realize that on almost every "Korean" channel, I could see live coverage of this structure burned. . .

After watching coverage like that one above, I really had no clue what was happening. I tried CNN, but they hadn't picked up the story yet. But watching the building burn was quite surreal. I knew something MAJOR was happening,...I just didn't know what. So, after quite a while trying to figure out what was going on, I just changed the channel...

The next morning during breakfast, I was quite shock by the stories reported in the Korea Herald (English language Korean paper). Wow! I missed it! I had the perfect opportunity to see the #1 Treasure of Korea, and it had slipped from my fingers in one evening!

Namdaemun Gate after Fire

Some of you reading may not be big history buffs and find this type of discussion kind of boring. But these type of historic landmarks are really cool places to visit because there is generally, a lot of activity surrounding them! Let me tell you about a few:

The Doksugung Palace

This was a cool place just like most of the palaces around Korea. But the reality is, if you've seen one palace, you pretty much have seen them all. This may be a strange comment coming from me, cause I can truly enjoy the artistic display & differences from one palace to the next. However, it does not make for an interesting addition to my blog (at least not this one, I will show you another palace in greater detail another time).

A few steps from the Great South Gate is Doksugung Palace. Of course it once housed royalty of the Korean nation until the Japanese came to Korea and overtook it :( It is quite beautiful though, and has guards that stand watch of this historic monument. I was lucky enough to walk up just as the changing of the Guard Ceremony was taking place, please see below:

Other photos at the Doksugung Palace....

This is the entryway into the Palace

The Guards dressed in ceremonial robes for the Change of the Guard

A traditonal Korean Drum

The Namdaemun Marketplace Located in the Jung-gu area of the city, this 24 hour market can be a shoppers dream! Complete with booths, malls & arcades full of goods to meet almost all tastes and styles. Actually, it can be quite overwhelming to take in at once. During my first visit to this area, it was quite cold, so the marketplace full of people to block the spine-chilling wind was definitely a welcomed site. There are so many different places to shop in this marketplace right across from the Namdaemun Gate.

This market is considered a traditional type of Korean market and offers all types of clothing, kitchen ware, spices & traditional Korean items. Oh Really.... I had one of the most unique experiences that I have had in a long time at the Namdaemun Market. I was really excited to be there, carefully taking in all the sights, products & sales around me. Before coming to Korea, I had heard so much about the different marketplaces & how they have things that you never even dreamed (or had a nightmare) about. ANYWHO! I was on my trek...having a good ole time...laughing at some of the knock-offs (really, how many L's are in Louis Vuitton?), trying to figure out the clothing sizes (that is much more difficult than one can imagine), and much more.

Before coming to Korea, there was one conversation that I had that really kind of bugged me (no pun intended), it was a small matter of the silk worm. At first thought, when someone mentions a silk worm, I think of a nice flowing silk chemise, ...right? WRONG! In Korea, they are also considered a snack, YES I said a SNACK FOOD...that you eat! Fear factor watch out! Being the epicurean that I am (yeah right!), I was anxious to see this Korean delicacy along with other options that I had not witnessed before. Well, I finally found them in the highly esteemed Namdaedum market...

These silkworms are placed in a heating device & served warm. They have a very unique scent that I can not liken to ANYTHING I have ever smelled before.

(for your viewing pleasure) Other interesting Korean delicacies witnessed along the way...

It is said to be like a spicy pasta in sauce, of course the pasta is derived from rice and is pretty solid. I have heard that it is quite good...I just haven't mustered up the strength yet 2 taste it. I will keep you posted though. In Korean, they refer to this treat as "Sora," to us, they are small spiny turbine shells. People eat the organism on the inside like a clam.

These tasty little treats can be found in many areas of Seoul, supplied by street vendors. Different vendors make various shapes depending on their cooking device that is reminiscent of a waffle iron. Batter is poured into the hot iron, sweet red bean paste in placed in the center. Served hot out of the iron, these are good!

Hope you enjoyed today's posting...as you can tell, Korea has a LOT to offer...

K

Another One Bites the Dust....

As time goes by during my voyage, I have determined that there is one distinct difference between Seoul & home. Here, there is a revolving door of people who enter and exit your life. While at home, the people that you meet are pretty much stable, pretty much settled, setting up and maintaining their lives. The native English speakers that I have come to know, are really a bunch of nomads, wandering from place to place...trying to find their rightful place in the world. No one is here to stay, indefinitely. Their lives,.. so very different from the lifestyle that I have come to know as my own.

As it is very intriguing, I never seem to tire of the colorful stories told by my new found friends over drinks or dinner of escapades near & far. But one thing, I can't help but wonder is when this cycle stops for most. Is it perfectly acceptable to go from place to place reaching & searching for that place of Nirvana on earth? Or is it nonsensical to think of settling down with a 9-5 job in your corner of the globe, without regard that there is a whole wide world out there that is moving & changing. Should we all be so focused on concrete plans for the future (i.e. buying a house, paying off bills, etc.) that we forget to stop & smell the roses? Is one lifestyle approach better than the other? Can both approaches to life lead you to the path of knowing and fulfilling your life's purpose? Who decides? These are the questions that I find myself asking....

Speaking of which...

On last evening, I had a great time hanging out with my new compadres here in Seoul. This weekend we were bidding farewell to another sister on the brink, Annice. Annice is a AA young woman who has been living in Seoul for the last year. She has come to the end of the Korean road & is now headed home to the US....for a month. After which time she is relocating to Cairo, Egypt! I don't know about anyone reading this, but not only have I never been to Cairo, but I don't know anyone who LIVES there...well, I guess in a few weeks or so that won't be true cause Annice will be there. WOW! For some of you this may not seem to be a likely choice for your life...mine either, but this type of situation helps me to get a glimpse of the vast possibilities that exist in this world. I admire Annice's strength & drive to go after a different path. I think for far too often, I have limited myself to the options that exist in my small world...but slowly, my vantage point is changing.

Seoul Family hanging out on the town. Annice (center)

This type of discussion reminds me of my mindset during undergrad, or maybe as early as high school, when I truly felt that the world was my oyster. There was nothing that I could not achieve and/or do if I put my mind to it. Since that time, reality [or as some would say, cynicism] and time have kind of destroyed a mental link to my grandiose possibilities. I still believe that I can & will achieve great things in my life, but I am a little more realistic these days.

Sometimes while writing this blog, I feel like I am writing about some nonsensical topics. But honestly, I can see myself changing....seeing life quite differently. Now don't expect me to make some kind of announcement next week that I have decided to stay here in Korea indefinitely or that I have decided to become a missionary trying to convert communist China. However, I trust that many of my life's decisions will be impacted by the way I now see life, less limited with so many more possibilities.

Good Luck to Annice on your new voyage! We wish you the best! K

Making New Friends....

One of my new friends here in the K, part of the Seoul Family (a group of American's that hang out together in Seoul), named Sis Sha [pronounced Shaw] sent me an email telling me that Slum Village was going to be in concert here in Seoul. WHAT? Slum Village from Detroit? Somehow when you are away from home, no matter how good the place is that you are in..., you always gain a greater of appreciation of home & the things of home. So as I was saying, it was definite, I was going to that concert!

Just for some of you that might not know Slum Village, let me tell you a little about the group. Slum Village is a hip-hop group from Detroit, Michigan that came out strong on the music scene in the late 90's. Although the group would be considered to those unfamiliar with the hip-hop moment as mere rappers, they have a unique styling that has differientated them from the negatively charged hard-core rap music as portrayed in the media. Slum Village has a style that is frequently associated with the Neo-Soul movement. They have quite a HUGE underground following & have gained plenty of commercial success in the US and abroad.

Detroit's Own SLUM VILLAGE

ANYWHO! The fellas were coming to town to perform in Hongdae, Seoul. So we were quite stoaked to hear geniune hip-hop here in Asia, (they have it here but you know that music is never really as good as at it's place of origin.) Plus, I was really excited to see how the concert would be here in Korea, 'cause at that point I had not been to any of the hip-hop or urban clubs here in Seoul. I have seen how crowds react in the US to hip-hop, but what was Seoul gonna feel? After all, what did Seoul know about the fellas that grew up off 7 mile road in my home town? We would soon find out!

THE SHOW

When arriving at the venue, I was quite surprised by the eclectic mix of people present. We must be realistic here though, mostly Korean's were present for the performance. But, a few foreigner's were also present from different ethnic backgrounds i.e. African, European, Indian, etc., you know the mix I'm talking about. While the warm up act was performing true Korean rap at it's finest, the girls & I got settled (Lou, Ashley, Sha & I). Now let me admit something here:

Before I went to this concert, I was familiar with who Slum Village the group was, but a member of the group could have walked up to me at E-mart(Korea's version of K-mart or Walmart) and I would have never known who he was.

The concert began, and I have to be truthful, those fellas put on a GREAT SHOW!! The audience was absolutely loving them & it would have been difficult not to get caught up in the pure adrenaline coming from the stage & permeating in the place. The excitement was so thick it could have been cut with a knife. Guys & girls were jumping & dancing, yelling out Slum Village lyrics with enthusiasm. I was just geeked and caught up in the excitement of how the crowd was receiving the guys from my home town. It's kind of funny how despite the fact that you don't know someone (like Slum Village), if you share some type of commonality (like being from Detroit), there can be a sincere moment of pride that one feels just knowing that a person achieved something good.

Please excuse me as I digress for a moment:

For example, being an African American woman, I am soooooo excited about Obama Barack's potential to be the Democratic National parties choice for Presidential Candidate. (Don't get me wrong, I have researched all the candidates & their positions and have made my decision for a candidate based on policy & platform facts.) Despite that, there is just an overwelming amount of pride that I feel regarding his campaign. Think about it, ... in 2009, there is a REAL possibility that we could have an African American as President of the United States of America!!!!! The potential alone is truly a victory for African American's everywhere....to realize that we can achieve great things too, despite this countries long history of racial injustice. Good luck Obama, Keena's rooting for you here in Korea!

..... ok sorry for the distraction, I'll get off my podium now!

AFTER THE SHOW

While the guys were signing autographs & taking pictures, I felt that it just wouldn't be right if I left and did not show them any hometown love. Therefore, being the Ever-gregarious Keena, I walked up to one of the guys & shook his hand and told him how much I enjoyed the show. I also had to drop in there that I was from Detroit...immediately, that changed the WHOLE game! I was no longer a fan, I was a home girl! So we continued to chat, & I was then promptly introduced to the rest of the group. They turned out to be really nice guys who my friends & I ended up hanging out with the early hours of the morning. Even though T3 of the group wouldn't eat anything but rice at the Korean restaurant, we had a good time hanging out. For a brief moment I forgot I was away from home, until the next day when I got a chance to play tour guide (kinda).

The funny thing is, in my own world in Detroit, I never would have come across these guys. We exist in two totally different circles. I was surprised to find out that one of the group member lives less than a mile from my house. But never had our paths crossed, until one cold night in Seoul, Korea. I had to travel over 7000 miles from home, to meet some people who live around the corner from my house. Imagine that!

We had a fun time together those two days...I look forward to hooking up with those guys again when I make back to Detroit.

K!

______________________________________________________

Just in case some you may not have heard any of this groups hits, I have taken the liberty of adding a couple of their music videos below; ENJOY! Slum Village "Selfish" Video

Slum Village "Tainted" Video

Korean Basketball!!!!!

Seoul, Korea is not a town for the introverted. There are so many things to do! One can find just about anything in the entertainment realm that you are interested, from sports to theatre, history or diverse cuisine. Seoul comes alive at night with it's thriving nightclubs, casino's & Nori-bangs (these are Karaoke style bars) that stay open all night. Karaoke is taken very seriously here. In the mall attached to my apartment building there is a Nori-bang, where people go to practice for a night out on the town. It has approximately 8 private booths where you can go & practice your songs. Even though, I havent been to a Nori-bang yet,....I look forward to going & having a great time. 'Cause most of you know, in America...Karaoke is one of my favorite things to do (despite the fact that I can't sing).

Korean Basketball League (KBL)

The KBL as it is referred to, is the professional Basketball league of South Korea. It consists of 10 teams from across the region. Most of the players are Korean, but there tends to be this funny trend on each team, where there are two (2) American players [usually AA's] that obviously are in complete control of the team. Since arriving in (If you don't believe me check out the team rosters). Seoul, this tends to be one of my favorite past times & I have even started some of my American friends going to the games. Although KBL games are quite different than the FABULOUS NBA, it is quite amusing at times.

In this league, there is a height maximum, yep.... no one over 6 feet 8 inches allowed. Some of you reading might think that this height restriction is due to the small statured Koreans, but I have not recognized that to be accurate. Despite the shortage of fat Koreans, they tend to come in many different shapes and heights. Actually, I have seen some really tall Korean guys & girls now that I think about it....so enough with the stereotypes...Koreans are not short people as a whole.

Back to the basketball....

The Game The rules of the game tend to be the same, after all, basketball is basketball. But, I have noticed, that NO ONE, I mean NO ONE dunks the ball? I am not sure if they have rules against such individualized behavior, so I'll have to do some research.

Initially, watching the game took a little bit of adjustment for me. There are commentators yelling, the crowd is yelling something else back & it's all in Korean...therefore, I am none the wiser. Even in regards to the score, I was confused for a bit cause it is in Korean, which I find really strange since the print on the players uniforms is in English. How am I supposed to translate??? The Fans The fans are really into the game!!! In Korea, it appears to be a little more family orientated than in the US. This may be due to the sheer expense of tickets for NBA tickets. Here in Korea, you can get a ticket for only 8,000Won (approximately $8.30 US). For floor seats, you only need to spend 30,000Won compared to the nearly $2000 you spend for NBA tickets. That difference alone, allows for this sport to be more family friendly. Additionally, at these games, you are free to bring your own snacks & vendors are lined up around the stadium selling beverages, chestnuts, & their homemade treats at very economical prices. I'm not sure if I would care to munch on octupus or dried fish while watching the game, but IF I WANTED I certainly have that option.

The games are complete with scantily clad cheerleaders & their own hype man. Team chants, yelling & the wave are common place at KBL basketball games. They have even incorporated video screens around the stadium, where they show commercials & team promos during time outs.

At one particular game, I was quite excited that they were playing Salt & Pepa's "Push IT" during which time, the cheerleaders were performing. I was really feeling that song, so I got up & began dancing along...since I was one of about 5 Americans in the audience (the other four were in my party), I was an immediate magnet to the camera. As the song continued, I continued to do my dance, all while the camera showed me on the big screen & the Korean people cheered me on (my mother would be so embarassed of me...sorry, Mom!). But I was there to have a good time,..right?

The Players Below you will find video footage, where the Seoul SK Knights are being introduced:

I have been greatly entertained while watching KBL basketball on many occasions. It should go without saying that the players are not as good as they are in the NBA. Due to that fact, they seem to work harder, and I must appreciate their effort, but at the same time...I know why this is the KBL and not the NBA. In this league I have noticed many talented athletes, whose game is limited to prowess in one particular area. For example, there are many great Korean shooters. I mean some of those guys can really get the ball in the basket, 3 pointers for days...no effort...SWISH! Meanwhile, the American players can't seem to shoot really well, but they can make things happen in the post, but you have to pray that the ball makes it into the basket?!? It makes the game really unique and kind of predictable in a sense. Well, you never really know who is gonna win, cause the talent is definitely well distributed across the league.

In one particular game, the Seoul SK Knights were playing the Busan Orion. The SK Knights were being anilluated. They were down 28 points at the end of the 3rd quarter. To say that the 4th quarter was exciting, is an understatement. I liken it to the Bad New Bears coming back and winning the victory. It was unreal how the SK Knights came back and won the game....You just gotta love this game, NBA or not!

K

This upcoming weekend is the KBL All-Star game, I certainly plan to attend! I'll let you guys know how it compares!

Wedding Belles

Okay guys & girls, I have a lil announcement to make:

"MY COUSIN's getting Married" I know this lil announcement really doesn't have anything to do with my voyage to Korea. But since this blog is about my life...while I'm in Korea, this is what is going on in my world. Therefore, I must take the time to congratulate my cousin & her beau on their recent engagement!!! CONGRATULATIONS NATALIE & OMAR I recently had an opportunity to speak to the blushing bride and will retell her account of "How He Popped the Question"

"I actually had no idea he was going to propose," said Natalie Beaman, recently engaged this past weekend to her longtime boyfriend, Omar Hall. The two decided to take a little get-a-way for the weekend to the Windy City, the place where they first met over 5 years ago. It was his idea, but he left all the planning to Natalie. So the weekend started with massages and dinner on Friday evening. While returning to their hotel that evening they noticed the horse drawn carriages & the two decided that a little romantic ride would help complete their "perfect weekend" together. Therefore, after a nice dinner on Saturday night, the concierge arranged a carriage ride from the restaurant back to the hotel.

While riding down Lake Shore Drive, (off Lake Michigan) they talked about the wonderful time that they were having this particular weekend. Everything aligned to make this a very romantic moment, the beautiful Chicago city sklyine, the ambience at the restaurant, the stars, sounds & lights of the city. Omar remarked again how this had been just the "perfect weekend." As they gazed into the sky, Omar asked Natalie,

"You know what would make this weekend perfect?" She remarked, but was somehow distracted while trying to respond due to the sudden movement in the carriage. As she tried to figure out what was going on, she turned to see Omar on one knee,

"You know what would make this weekend perfect?" he asked again, "Well this would make it perfect...." as he pulled out the ring, "Would you marry me?" Natalie screamed, and as they say....the rest is history! Congratulations to the happy couple!

In True Jet Magazine fashion:

The groom-to-be is an engineer & graduate of the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!!!). The bride-to-be, is a Clark Atlanta University alum who is currently a sales mgr for Phillip Morris Industries.

Kickin it with Old Friends....

It's kind of funny how when you are at home, it can be so difficult to make the simplest things happen. Once you get in a rut, it is really hard to get out of it. Like getting together with old friends or taking the time to get to meet new friends. Many of my friends out there reading this very blog, I have been planning to 'do lunch' for many months, but somehow have been unable to make it happen. So someone tell me, WHY oh WHY have I been able to achieve some of the very things I just mentioned here in Korea?

Many of you know that for the past three years I have owned and operated a plus sized womans clothing boutique, DANNI ROCHE (until recently actually) in Detroit. In my entreprenuerial endeavors, I have had the pleasure of meeting lots of talented and up & coming people in the fashion world. One such young lady is Dahnyelle Curtis (y'all better remember her name). She has done some stuff for Danni Roche in the past & is very talented!

But let me tell you the story of how we ended up hangin out in Seoul... I was sending out a mass email to my address book telling all my friends and family to stay tuned in to my blog. I hadn't talked to Dahnyelle in about 6 months (maybe longer actually). She got my email & quickly responded letting me know that she would be in Korea for a few days on business. Currently Dahnyelle works as the head designer for Al Wissam Designs, an urban apparel brand. I quickly called her back & gave her my contact information so that we could at least do dinner when she arrived. Somehow or another, her trip got delayed & her Skype phone couldn't work cause of the broken internet connection in her hotel room. So, oh well, sometimes you can't link up with folks, right?...wrong!

As I was walking through Itaewon on one Sunday after church, quite distracted by a text message I was trying to send one of my friends back home [Dante], I thought I heard someone call my name. Now that was strange, cause no one knew me in Korea, not yet anyway! I looked up & it was Dahnyelle walking up the street. Can you imagine that? Due to our busy schedules in Detroit we had been unable to link up recently, but here in Seoul, S Korea we run into each other walking down the street....talk about coincidences!

Now this was a very welcomed visit for me 'cause I had only been here a week myself. Dahnyelle coming here gave me someone to venture out in the city with. We promptly caught up, laughed & talked, ate & shopped, and just had a good ole time! Before we knew it, it was time for her to leave Korea and head for China and India respectively.

Thanks Dahnyelle for helping to make my transistion here THAT much easier. It was a blast kicking it here Korea!

Stay tuned to here about my new friends.....

Never Get Sick Away from Home

Okay this is my second crack at this story. Initially, I wrote some beautiful poetic verse outlining my experience with sickness in a foreign land. In an effort to format that entry, mistakenly,....it got erased!!! Therefore, it has taken me a few days to try to retell the story. I'm positive it was much better the first time around. Enjoy!

K While preparing for my trip abroad, I made a list,...and I checked it twice. I was gonna be prepared for any situation that I faced. I made sure that my medical benefits were functional in Korea, I went to Sam's Club & bought industrial sized EVERYTHING....all to ensure when I got here to Korea that I would have all the things that I might need while I was here. Don't get it wrong, we know that Korea is not a third world country where you can't find toothpaste or chewing gum, but do you honestly think I would be without Trident's Tropical Twist for months at a time? No way! So a sister made sure she was prepared. AnyWHO! In my effort to bring useful items, I packed a full bag of medicine,....just in case. Afterall, who wants to be in another country with a headache or stomache ache & be unable to find something to take care of it? Certainly not me, so I prepared for such a time. The Main Culprits of my Sickness I'm not quite sure how I got this terrible cold. But I am certain that the root cause of this condition is either (1) My apartment or (2) Seoul, S. Korea [yep, I'm blaming the WHOLE COUNTRY] My Apartment: I think all of you know by now, that I live in this really great apartment here in Seoul. It's got a lot of great amenities, including a few restaurants, fitness center, a door man, and a toilet that takes a Ph.D to know how to operate! But really, despite all these great features, I am befuddled DAILY on how to control the temperature in my unit. I'm not sure if I'm not smart enough( that celcius/farenheit conversion can be challenging yall), or if it is broken. Everyday, I take the directions to the temperature control unit & make another vain attempt at stabilizing the temperature. Incidently, what I have managed to do is either freeze, or overheat myself to the point that my P&C completely sweated out. Since I am under the weather, it could be my own body's temperature is out of control too,...so what does that mean? It has to be Korea....

Korea

Although I have had an extraordinary time since I arrived, I must tell you that it has been freezing. Despite the fact that I grew up in Michigan, and the winters can be quite gruelling, nothing compares to this particular winter in Korea. WHY? At home, despite the low temperatures & the frigid wind chill factors, I merely run from my car to my desired destination. It's that simple. In Korea, it is very different. This town is an adventurers town,.... a walking adventure. So despite whatever arrangements that have been made, I have spent a considerable amount of time outdoors being exposed to the elements. I haven't been out in the cold this much since I was a youngster playing in the snow. So, I guess my body is in shock & my antibodies just let this cold invade my whole being!

So what does one do? Yep, you guessed it...DRUGS! As this cold has plagued my body, it has been in continuous transistion. You know how it starts with the achiness, then the sore throat, headache & post nasal drip? Just when I thought I was getting over this wreched sickness, I then began to cough uncontrollable. Great! That's all I need to do is stand out as the germ carrying, infected American. My collegues are very wonderful people, but do I expect them to listen to me bark all day?

Back to the purpose of this story, unfortunately, I forgot one elixir in my medicine bag....THE COUGH SYRUP!!!! Since I was hacking pretty bad by then, I decided to ask one of my collegues if he knew where I could procure some cough syrup. He told me that I could merely go to the basement level of the building to the pharmacy & pick up some. So, off I go....

This is pretty good time to mention that since I have been here, I experience just a slight bit of anxiety when trying to accomplish new tasks. This is mainly because of the potential language barrier, although many people here THINK they speak English, often times I am quite confused by the words that they use. Armed with this bad cough though, I knew that it could be translated into any language.

The pharmacy was open for business and to my delight, the pharmist was there and spoke moderately well.

"I have just what you need!"she tells me with enthusiasm as she pulls out this green box from under the counter. She then opens the box that contain, three seperate vials of potion(medicine). She instructs me to take this medicine 3 times a day & take the whole vial. With my simple self, I asked her the most obvious question,

"Well, if I take all 3 bottles today, what am I gonna do about tommorrow?"

"Tomorrow, you will be fine," she assures me.

Huh? Alright,...Okay, at about this time I begin to rub my eyes & scratch my neck. I was confused. Surely something had gotten lost in translation because Vicks 44D has NEVER cured me in 24 hours! As I often find myself doing in this foreign land, I pretended to understand & took the medicine to my office wondering if this potent mixture would do as the pharmacist promised. Hopefully, one of my collegues would be merciful enough to explain this medicine to me.

Upon arrival, I grabbed one of the gentlemen and asked him how I was to administer this medicine. He took one look at the bottle & said,

"Is this Chinese medicine you picked up?"

WHAT? Chinese medicine? I'm in KOREA, aren't those Korean letters on the box? I wanted to scream, but instead I just told him what the pharmacist told me. He shook his head a few times & said,

"Yeah, okay...take it like she told you."

I don't know what you are thinking right now, but his response didn't convince me to take this potion. Then, I got a great idea, I picked up one of the bottles & smelled it! What did I do that for?

WWWHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAA!

It smelled like sweat from a baboons hind parts. There was NO WAY, I mean NO WAY I was ingesting that stuff. What? Were they trying to kill me over here? Furthermore, with the recent media reports regarding Chinese manufacturing facilities, I was in no hurry to put my life on the line to prove their credibility with medicine. Oh No! First, there was the lead in the children's toys & then the poisonous toothpaste, I thought it would be better if I just took my chances with my anti-bodies & let them fight this out.

As the day marched on, and the bottle sat on my desk, I continued to stare at it & cough. It couldn't be that bad right? I mean if they are selling it in the pharmacy, right? What if it can cure my cough? Well, right about that time, I received a phone call. It was Sister Gloria from WOF Church. She was calling to check up on me since I missed the previous Sunday service (wasn't that sweet?). I told her that I had slept in because I was under the weather with a cold. At which point she tells me to get better, talks a little about the healing power of Jesus & admonishes me to stay away from the CHINESE MEDICINE! It can cause more harm than good she claimed. What? How did she know? Well, for those of you that don't really understand what I am trying to explain. I believe that she was sent by God to give me that message on that particular day. Some of you might not believe that is the case, but if you want...I can send you this elixir that still sits on my desk. I'll put my trust in the healing power of God and his ability to keep us safe over this medicine ANY DAY!