Golf Korea style...

Golf is very popular in Korea and these "indoor golf" driving ranges are every where in Seoul. They are two or three levels high and have targets that are about 150 yards away. (Photo 1 & 2) The range is totally covered by a green netting. and the balls are teed up automatically for you. (Photo 3) Large space heaters at each tee box keep it nice and warm even on cool winter days.

The Year of the Pig has arrived...

Lunar New Year is a big event in Korea. Everyone takes a three day holiday and goes home to visit family. Last night we were invited for New Year's dinner at the home of Susie Kim's good friends, On Yang and Hua Ja (photo1). The meal was exquisite. They cooked Shabu Shabu (vegetables and meat in a hot pot broth) right at the table. YUM !!
Today we were invited to Euisook Kim and her husband Suk Won Hong's home (photo 2). All the parents and grandparents wear traditional Korean dress. The events started with a ceremony of ancestor worship (photo 3). All the men particiapted in this service first. The #1 son representing each generation bowed to the offering sitting before a picture of the grandparents. The women bowed next. Euisook's father-in-law is the eldest in the family and held the highest honor. ( photo 4 in the bright blue). The ceremony was followed by brunch and delicious food - all prepared especially for this special holiday ( photos 5 & 6). Koreans traditionally sit on the floor. We were seated at the dining table as special guests. After the meal, the young people in the family must bow to the elders ( photos 7,8 & 9). In response, the elders all give the young people a gift of money (photo 10). We were prepared !! John passed out crisp new 1000 Won bills and Colorado quarters.

Seoul Cyber University...

This past week we went over to Seoul Cyber University, the first Christian cyber university in Korea (photos 1 & 2). Our good friend, Dr. Susie Kim, is President of the university (photos 3 & 4). The facilities are extremely modern with state of the art teleconference rooms ( photo 5). The university was founded by Bong Soo Lee (photo 6), a Christian Korean businessman. While there, I met with nursing faculty from a nursing college in Yanbian, located in north east China. We hope to visit there later in April.

Time for a "Shower"

Our good friend Sveta is having a baby in April. Some of us from church decided to give her a baby shower - a new experience for a young mom from Russia. She had never heard of a "shower" for a baby before and actually thought we were going to teach her how to give the baby a bath. What a fun time we had!. Sveta was very pleased with the baby gifts (photos 1 & 2). Last Sunday was her last day at church with us. She has been working in Seoul while her husband has been working in Pusan. They are now together again and will start their new family in Pusan. We took a picutre of Sveta and her Seoul roommate, Yana, on the way to church. Note the sun and beautiful weather in Seoul !!!

Superbowl Monday !! . . .

For us this year it was breakfast on Monday for the Superbowl. We went with our good friend Ralph to the Dragon Hill Hotel at the large Yongsan army base to watch the game on big screen TVs. It was really fun to share the experience with a large number of the US Army's finest. Wonderful men and women!! We pulled for the Bears due to our Chicago heritage, but we were not disappointed to see a great man and coach, Tony Dungy, win his first Superbowl (Photos 1 & 2).

Febuary 18 is lunar New Year's Day - we wish all of you "Xinnian Kuaile" and a very blessed new year - which by the way is the year of the "Pig. " It is also a year of "Gold." It is very seldom a golden pig year and most chinese believe that any child born in a golden pig year will be very wealthy. Expectant mothers are making reservations like crazy at the maturnity hospitals and some are already fully booked for all of the year!! This year there will be a baby boom all over asia.

Special Beijing . . .

We flew from Shanghai to Beijing and the first night we had dinner with some new friends, Sherry and John (Photo1). Sherry is a nurse also, and we talked about our mutual desire to be helpful to Chinese nurses. The second night we had dinner with some young couples who are dating or recently married(photo 2). They wanted our thoughts about marriage and relationships. Since we are "old and expereinced" and have been married longer than any of them have been alive, we offer wisdom and advice that they value.

We had lunch with some of the staff from Studio Classroom, the organizxation that John assists and encourages ( photo 3). John also did some work for his Chinese client.

A highlight while in Beijing is always going out to Langfang Children's Village ( Philip Hayden Foundation - Photos 4-11). This foster care facility treats and cares for children with special medical needs. Many require surgery to cure things like cleft lip and heart disease. Dr. Bill and Dr. Ana (photo 7) have recently joined the Langfang team. They are making a significant differnce in the lives of these children. Leah ( photo 7 on the right) is in charge of public relations. Our good friend Pearl fell in love with little Emma (photo 11), and if I were 20 years younger, I would be taking home little Rose (photo 10).

Our last night in Beijing we spent with our good friends Jessie and Rocky at the Upper Room coffee house. We had a wonderful time (Photos 12 & 13).

Beautiful Shanghai . . .

While in Shanghai, we visited Fudan University and met with Dr. Hu Yan (right), Cao Yuling (left) and Zhou Yingfeng (photo 1). Yingfeng also just completed an on-line leadership course at Regis. She was so encouraged by taking this course that she has now enrolled in a PhD program in Healhtcare Economics. Wow ! Just another example of how education does make a difference in people's lives.

We spent the rest of the day enjoying beautiful Shanghai (photos 2-5). It is truly a gorgeous city.

Hangzhou, China . . .

On January 24 we flew to Shanghai and were greeted by our good friends Daniel Xu and Liz Shen of Travel Professionals.(photo 1) They handle all our travel arrangements in China, and we highly recommend them to all of you. They brought us flowers and got us to the train station for the two hour ride to Hangzhou. I felt like a new bride with the bouquet.

In Hangzhou, I met met friend and collegaue Jun.(photo2) She teaches community health and recently completed an on-line leadership course through Regis. The Vice Dean of the Nuring School, Mei, (left in photo 3) is completing her PhD in Nursing. I sit on her disserttion committee. The Dean of the Nursing School, Sherry ( right in photo 3) has her MBA and is a real compliment and support to Mei. I spent two days teachng faculty and students about cultural care, reasearch and publication, and US learning stategies. (Photos 4 and 5) I also had and opportunity to consult with faculty on their new graduate program in nursing which will begin fall 2007. After our meetings, I went to the beautiful West Lake (photos 6 and 7) and also had the fun of meeting Milly, Jun's daughrter ( photo 8). Milly is fluent in English and has applied to college in the US for next year.