Letter 2 – 05-10-21 – from David & HyeRan Kim-Cragg, Korea

Report for October 2005

Greetings friends overseas,

This is the Kim-Cragg report for October. Leaves from the trees have begun to litter the streets here. Many are quite different in shape from those Canadians are familiar with. The red trees are also maple trees but have long-fingered leaves of the “Japanese Maple” variety. Instead of the yellow birch leaves, yellow, skirt-shaped kinko leaves are common. Nevertheless the season is very much the same in Korea as in Canada: beautiful colour, cold winds, thoughtful moments.

Partly due to the colder air and partly due to the fact that we are still experiencing the strain of adjusting to a new place, a new life style and new work, the whole Kim-Cragg clan has been struggling with runny noses and sore throats this month. The kids have kept going strong, however, and in many ways seem to be flourishing in their new environments. Hannah has been soaking in the language. She is at a fascinating stage now where she doesn’ t have many English or Korean words but knows how to intone a sentence in either language. We know when she is speaking Korean or English by the way the sound moves up and down.

Noah is enrolled in a nursery school with a focus on art. His drawings will soon cover a whole wall. Noah has met many friends and thrives in their company. Tonight he is with a physical education group learning to play soccer. HyeRan and David were reflecting that many extracurricular activities as well as the nursery and kindergarten schools are privately run and have a cost attached. We are very happy with what Noah is doing and with his teachers and activities but it was also nice in Canada where a programme was available to everyone without cost and we miss the sense of spontaneity with which kids in Canada could just pick up and play a game without instruction or supervision.

This month HyeRan gave a lecture to church educators at the big Seoul church that the family attends. She continues to teach two English classes using games to stimulate learning and create an atmosphere of fun. She also served as a translator for Bern Jagunos (Asia secretary) who had a few meetings with NCCK, KSCF, and KAWT when she had a visit to Korea.

David has been feeling quite over-extended with English classes at University and at Church, English Chapel, Bible Study, Mission English group and long commutes to church and Korean Language class. He is disappointed that he will have to drop the Korean classes until some more time opens up in his schedule. He also feels that he is missing out on his time looking after the kids and the home. Hopefully time, patience and prayer will bring a more just mix of family, study and work.