Series from the Hwasil, a Room of Flowers and Magic
By Julia Wargo, a second year ETA in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do I Darker, lighter, darker. These are the only words I hear for hours at a time, and I repeat them over and over again to myself. There’s something deeply meditative about that repetition, and about ink wash painting. Ink: solid midnight, ground out of a stick […]
When What Tethers Me Is Gone
By Natalie Kim, a first year ETA in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do “너의 외할머니가 살아 계셨다면 아마도 너희들이 한국말 잘 할 수 있도록 너희들 한테 한국말 가르치셨을거야.” If your wei-halmeoni were still alive, she would have made sure that her grandchildren spoke Korean. When my mother’s aunt said this, I could feel a pang of emotions. These […]
Please Forgive Me
By Teddy Ajluni, a first year ETA in Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do When I first arrived, it was too early to think about leaving. Everything was so new and exciting. You were all so welcoming to me. I was almost surprised at how few problems there were, especially for elementary schoolers like you. Sure, you could get […]