Restless Peregrine: April 2005

April 28, 2005, Changwon

Writing on the temple wall, LiJiang, China August 2004

A dragon guards the entrance to an old Lama Island fishing village, Hong Kong, August 2004

Happy Anniversary!!

A beautiful bouquet of congratulatory lilies, and a smiley text message on my cell phone ushered in the start of year 2 in Korea this morning. Better than a birthday, today marks the anniversary of a turning point in my life - the day I chose to leave Canada and my familiar life to begin again in this place that was then entirely unknown. It was the start of a reclamation of sorts, of a love affair with myself and with Asia that I hope will never end.

My journal notes from my first night in Korea read "...when I discovered that my apartment, which is roughly the size of a postage stamp, has no outside windows, I wanted to cry. But now that things are unpacked, put away, I begin to see the possibilities, how perfect it can be..."

Now, in another city (one in which a pure sense of joy of presence pervades nearly every single day), I am home. It's hard to believe that I have been here for 2 years - it feels like so much longer!! Trips to China, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Laos, seasons of fruit and garden vegetables, learning the ropes of university life (from the front of the room!), watching MoShui grow, being sick and finding health...so much living in a space that seems too small to contain it all.

Except of course that it's not contained, which is the point of this message - to share the flood of abundance spilling over from these last 2 years, and give you a taste of it.

So today is "I love Korea!" day, one of many! Where the menu is all things rice and kimchi, and the entertainments are work, walking in the mountains, and sharing with friends (wherever they may be). Wander through the images of life in Korea and enjoy. It's going to be a wonderful day! That it's just one of so many more is what makes life here so exceptional!!