2015 In Review: Part 1

We are now in our third month of 2016, but I still think it is an ok idea to review 2015. It was a crazy year for me. With some pictures, let us look back at 2015. This will be a very picture heavy post, enjoy!

It  started out with multiple attempts to get my visa at the Korean Embassy

Then on Febuary 21, 2015, I left for Spouth Korea on a 15 hour plane ride.

I saw the sun seting for hours because we were chasing it in the plane as we flew.

From there I took an hour long taxi to Yonsei University

The smog was very bad that day.

I tried sweet potato pizza for the first time.

After getting lost, I finally found my university.

I explored traditional homes.

I took awkward pictures by beautiful landmarks.

I learned what a mega city meant.

I went to a skyscraper cafe!

Experienced art

I walked down foriegn ally ways.

Danced in puublic.

I played soccer with people from over 9 different countries!

Met some celebrities, kinda.

I released my inner nerd!

I found bridges both personaly and litteraly. 

Cherry Blossoms!

I visited cool temples, and touch the pacific ocean for the first time.

Enjoyed new heights on the Nam-sang Tower. 

I enjoyed a fantastic school festival that lasted a week.

I met a nice budist monk.

I made a dream come true......

and it was beautiful!

I climbed another tall tower!

Took classes at a forign institute!

I went island hopping.

I also found ruins of an ancient korean naval defense fortress.

I climbed a volcano.

I went to a theme park just outside of Seol. 

This was........

....... another dream come true!

I also forged to start off my final year at college.

To be continued..........................

The More You Know

Hey friends! I hope that last post was not too heavy. As I am writing this, I am preparing
for my last(hopefully) doctors appointment about my ear. I am still deaf in my right ear, but the pain is gone! That is awesome. Anyway, I wanted to talk about stuff.

That makes sense............

I mean, I want to talk about the stuff we call familiar. For example: I like ginger ale(Canada Dry), and I like my wide open areas. What do these things have in common? Well, they are not here. We become so familiar with "stuff" that we don't realize how familiar they are until they are gone. Back home in Chesterfield, VA, you would notice a great deal of wide open areas of woods, farms, and plenty of decent shopping outlets. I like that. I am familiar with that. Even in Norfolk, VA it is not too hard to find these places(You don't get more wide open than the Atlantic, just saying.) Here in Seoul, I have not seen this at all. Is it bad? No, it is just different. Therefore, the "stuff" i was used to is now gone. Well, not all of it, but you get my point.

What point?.....................

I will confess, I miss that wide open area. I miss my mom's mashed potatoes and her spiced apples. I miss the swing set across from my home in Norfolk. I miss, I miss, and I will keep missing things. Constantly doing this is not only useless, but it can be unhealthy. Many a people in this world dislike change greatly. I was like this up to my senior year of high school. This is when I first learned that change is very important. I took a little trip to Europe. Italy, France, and Greece to be exact. That trip changed everything.

What changed?.................

I learned for the first time that the U.S. was not the world. My view of this whole world thing changed radically. I saw a place that was not my America. It was different, but oh how it was beautiful. This inspired me to go and live radically different. I gained a global perspective. That the actions of our lives do in fact have an impact. I tell my friends that I want to change this world. I hope it is through love and peace. Right now, this seems to be a naive idea. It is a hope that many no longer think is possible. I have a much different opinion. I believe this can still happen. It will be hard work, but it is something worth fighting for. I want to change this world through serving and loving others. I want to see hearts changed.

Me at the hospital

Why is this important?......

This is my hope, but the way I came to it is first my faith then understanding others' view points. It so much easier to love others if you know how. If you learn what is familiar to other people, then you can serve and love more effectively. I understand that sometimes it is much more difficult, but it is a place o start. So, yah! The more you know.

The Moment Finally Came

       When we as humans go through a major change, we don't fully realize the situation until a few days after arrival. Well this realization finally hit me, but before I go through that, allow me to catch you up. I am doing well. They tell me it will start warming up any day now, but that has yet to be seen. Classes are great, and the proffs are not half bad either. I found a church family and an international campus ministry! That is pretty cool. I walk quite a bit, and this is not a flat campus as ODU is. Hills are everywhere! you cannot escape them. I guess it will help my efforts for getting in shape. Thank you for all the prayers and support. I think I finally got over jet lag. It was very hard this time. I still get very confused on how to read signs, but I am now learning proper Korean! Well that is a QUICK update but I really wanted to get to the main topic I wanted to talk about.

       Last weekend I went with some new friends to a place called Sinchon. Here is where people go to eat great food and just have fun with friends. It was fantastic! I enjoyed some good food, and we went to a Korean styled karaoke! It six of us in this room singing badly but with no shame. I have not had this much fun in awhile. In that moment, time seemed to slow down. While the others were singing away, I came to an interesting realization. "Holy crap! I am in South Korea!" This was the thought that occurred to me. You could say, "Ryen, you have been there for 2 weeks now." You would be correct, but that does not really mean anything. What matters is that I am now understanding just how incredible my situation is. I am going to university in South Korea! It was a moment in wich a much needed reality check was presented.

       This was good for me to experience. I understand that this would normally come much earlier, but this time was different for a reason I could not pin point. Then it hit me. I was just going to school. It did not feel very different because I was in the mindset of going to school. It was just another semester for me. It sounds dumb, but it is actually a routine i have gotten into. Every fall and spring I get ready for more school. However, this moment of reality helped me understand that this was way more than just a simple semester. This was an adventure like no other. Finally, my mind is ready to take this on!

I know this post was short. I have another coming out soon. I has just taken some time to work on it. Thank you for reading!

Dreamers Will Dream

Ok, today I am going to address a question that has been popping up these last few months. That question  being, "Ryen, why do you do it? Why do you want to travel so much?" The only response to that is why not. If the opportunity to experience something new comes my way, I will not shy from it. This could be described as fool-hardy, reckless, risky, or even naivety. Those allegations may not

be incorrect. Many of my choices do have plenty of risk involved. I might even be naive when it comes to certain things, but one thing I won't be is ignorant. I will be filled with such knowledge and understanding that can never be achieved by sitting still in the U.S. God was a creative and innovative creator. Some who read this may not be Christian and that is ok, but hear my plea. GO AND SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD! My faith has only made this place a more wonderful creation. Through the looking glass that is the Gospel, I see hope for this world. Why would I not want to see that world up close?!

If you are thinking about being a traveler, understand one thing........... you should not go only for the site seeing aspect! Those who have traveled their fair share would agree. The main reason to go to a place should not be the place, but it should be that place's people. Without people, there can never be culture. Without the culture there would never be any of those pretty buildings and temples. Mind you, those things are fantastic to visit and see, but what is the point if you miss the people who made history history. Yes, the Great Wall is amazing, but what about those who died building it? What is their story? Where are their descendants? Was it worth the sacrifice? If all you do at these historic sites is take pictures, than you have missed the point entirely, and should not be there in the first place. So please, please do not be just another shallow tourist! Being one only makes a mockery of the places you visit. Instead, where ever it is you travel, go there with the mindset of wanting to be part of the story taking place. Trust me, if you do this, the experience you take with you will feel genuine and fulfilling. You will make true friends in other, far off lands, and you will be part of their stories wich turn into their history. I may only be a footnote in the places I have been, but the people I have met and the things I have seen is an incredible part of me. They are now parts of my stories, and will be part of my legacy.

It is my belief that we are all meant to be travelers in our own way. If that is only walking to the person 2 feet away from you, then may that be a great journey. However, if you are called to cross oceans and cultures, my friend it is indeed a noble calling. Though that calling may be great, know this truth very well. It will call you to make sacrifices of yourself and those in whom you care about. Your time is not your time. To travel is to be selfless. The truth is, if your calling is to make such large leaps of faith, then you must understand that you welcome hardship. This is just something that comes with the territory. I can unpack this all day, but I think I will leave this for another post.

In an upcoming post I will cover my various inspirations, but that will take some time to shift through if I am honest.

To travel, love, serve and to embrace this world through the Gospel is my calling. What is your's?

P.S. Share your calling down below with a hand drawn picture! Let's get creative now guys! As always I love you guys!