Home Sweet Home

I have safely mde it to Korea, cleaned my very dirty room and have unpacked. It is a verry nice room and I am thankful to be in this dorm. Some of the other teachers are in a different dorm and there is only one room. Mine is split into two different rooms. Here are some pictures of my new home for the next year.

My Dorm

Everyone has bicycles or motorcycles

This is the laundry room everyone shares.

My front door!

No Keys here! I have a personal code to get into my room.

The Bathroom Story
The following are pictures of my bathroom. The first night I took a bath because as you can see there is a shower head but it isn't attached to anything like they are in the States. When I stepped out of the tub I noticed water on the floor. I started looking a little more and realized the entire floor had about an inch of water on it and it was rising. It was 4am here in Korea, I had been up for over 30 hours at this point, so I started freaking out. I then realized there was a drain in the floor and all of the water was headed towards it. Come to find out most Korean showers are open and are in the corner of a bathroom so the floor is suppose to flood. Who would have every thought that.

The Entryway

My kitchen

The dining room

Computer area/bedroom

My bed that is more like a boxspring


My few decorations.

Some more decorations.

Skype: Talk to Long Distance Loved Ones for Free

I am not sure who told me about this program but it is awesome. If you download this program you can use your computer to talk with anyone in the US for free, and I mean you can call there house or cell phone. If you and a friend have the program you can talk for free as well. So if you have high speed internet and friends around the globe try this out. You can even use a web cam and see each other.

Lydia and I tried it out last night. It is awesome. I am so excited that I will eb able to talk with and see her whiel I am gone. My skype name is Georgia Lynne. Give it a try and call me sometime.

Click here to download Skype. Happy chatting!

Blessings Come in All Shapes and Sizes

Sunday night I was praying specifically that the Lord would provide a large suitcase for me. I had specific requirements as well. it has to be at least 28" upright with wheels and expandable. I also didn't want to spend over $50. I didn't care about the outside condition as long as it would make it to Korea and back. I had been searching thrift stores for 2 weeks and had come up empty. Yesterday I looked at a sight called Craig's List. I have used this site before and I have been searching for two weeks. Well, I am pleased to say the Lord answered my prayer and provided a nicer bag than I could have hoped for. Here are a few pictures I found online of my new suitcase. And He provided it for only $40! The bag is in excellent condition and has proven itself as a world traveler already. the lady I purchased it from has traveled all around the world for her job. This bag is a huge blessing and I am very thankful that the Lord provides all of our needs in His timing.

Korea Contact Information

Here is my contact information for while I am gone. I will appreciate any contact whether email, snail mail, or packages. Just as a heads up anything sent in an envelope does not need special papers for customs. If it is sent in a box it does. I will be embarking on my journey in 10 days.

Georgia Bryant
Language Education Center
Chonbuk National University
Dukjin-dong, Jeonju-si
Chollabuk-do 561-756
South Korea

email: punkin2238@gmail.com

Braedon James Larsen

Braedon James was born at 9:12 p.m. on October 11th. He weighs 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and is 19 inches long. He's perfectly healthy, and Katie is doing just fine too. Josh and Katie have some photos up on a website. Feel free to take a look. They'll be putting more up as time goes on.

Braedon James Larsen Page


If you're wondering where they got his name, Josh and Katie liked the name Braedon and James is Bob Meredith's (their former pastor in Minnesota) middle name.

Punkin Cake

I was looking at blogs of friends from Northland when I came across a cake decorating idea on Pam and Geoff Smith's blog. Here are a few pictures of my "punkin" cake. That was my grandpa's nickname for me when I was a baby.

My roommate helped with the frosting.

Friends from Colorado

Rachel, Autumn, and Jamie

Autumn

Jason and Autumn Gardner

Thomas, Rachel me, Haukin, and Zane

Thomas and Rachel

The Berkeiser Family

Haukin

Jason Larsen

Katie, Jason and baby boy Larsen

The Larsen Family (including the new little brother)

God's Creation in Colorado

I am in Colorado right now. Here are a few pictures of I have taken so far.

Below are pictures of Red Rocks Amphitheater.

 

Visit to Rockford

Lydia and I went to visit Karyn in Rockford last weekend. We had a great time. It is the first time that Lydia has come with me and it made it a very special visit. On Saturday we went to an apple orchard. It was fun even in the rain.


Mel and Karyn

Lydia wanted to go on a wagon ride around the orchard. I really think she just wanted see the horses.

Then we went out with all of my friends there to say goodbye. Crystal was heading to France the next morning and I was saying goodbye before I left for Korea. It was a great weekend and I am really glad I got to see them all before I left.

Teen Bonfire

Last Wednesday I had the teens and some singles over to my house for a bonfire. It started off a little rocky but once it got dark they went a little crazy.

Mark wanted to see if he coudl jump over the fire without getting burned, he succeeded but his pants were a little warm!

Amber promised Mark she would let a zucchini grow rather large. She brought it to the bonfire. We decided to roast the large vegetable. Here it is in the fire. Mark also basted it with choclate syrup. It turned out rather tasty.

Mark and Kelsey decided to initiate two of the new 7th graders. She chopped the zucchini in half and then we had them it part of it. After that we played out zuchinni. if I ever get the cable to upload video to my computer I might have to post that video. It is hilarious. All in all we had a great time.

Brad and Beth's Wedding

Kurt and Grace's Wedding

I created my first Slide Show! Check it out!

34 Days and Counting

In 34 days I will be leaving on a plane headed to South Korea. I can hardly believe this is happening. I am very excited for the opportunity, a little scared, and beginning to miss everyone and I haven't even left yet.

Each time I see my sister I think, when I get back from Korea she may be a married women, and I might miss the wedding. When I hold Levi, Uri, or Christian I begin to cry because I will miss a year of their lives. While at church I soak up the Christian love and worship we have as a family, because I will not have that for a year.

I know this is what the Lord has for me and I am excited to see how He is going to grow and shape me. During our Sunday night service we put into practice New Testament Prophecy. I was encouraged to make sure I stay close to the Lord and to not forget the reason I am going to Korea. Please pray for me as I am in Korea that I will stay in the Word and I will not lose sight of my goal. If you could also pray the Lord will provide for my finances for the first month I am there. I will not be receiving a paycheck from my job in the States or my job in Korea. I have began to save and so has my sister, but please pray the Lord will provide all that is needed.

I will continue you to update everyone on all the goings on especially once I arrive. For those of you who might not have my email address and would like to keep in contact it is as follows: pukin2238@gmail.com I will welcome any correspondence from the States or abroad as I am away from my family and friends this coming year.

Chonbuk National University...Where I will be teaching in Korea.

I have had many people ask where am I going to be, what will I be doing in Korea, how did this come about? So I am going to take some time to relay the story and hopefully answer all of the questions I have received in this post.

I have been having some problems with my boss since January. It is a long story so I will not bore you. It all boils down to me being placed on a written warning for complaints against my teaching. These complaints are untrue but there is nothing that can be done about it.

In January I decided to stay and try to work through the differences. I continued to do my job to the best of my ability and received nothing but great reviews from my students and my boss. However, in July my boss decided to extend my written warning for 3 more months. The reasons for the extension were not valid so I informed her I would begin looking for a new job.

I have been thinking about going to Korea for 3 years now. When I first moved here I had a roommate who had just returned from teaching at this exact place. I began looking for jobs in the city but I was unsure what I really wanted to do now. I had dinner with Erica, my friend who had gone to Korea, and I asked her about her experience. At this point I began to pray.

I contacted the University and everything progressed from there. I will probably be leaving on October 27^th and be in Korea for 1 year. I will be teaching conversational English at many age levels. I will have an elementary school class, high school, and a college class. I believe I will be doing some other things as well.

This is not a mission's trip but I will have an opportunity to minister to fellow Christians that I meet in Korea. I know that there will be opportunities for Bible studies as well with my students. I am unsure of the doors the Lord will open while I am there but I am looking forward to see what he is going to do.

I will be teaching at Chonbuk National University in Jeonju, Jeonbuk South Korea. I will be about 4 hours South of Seoul, Korea. Here is the website to the university if you would like to check it out: http://cbnu.edu/

I received my passport in the mail yesterday. It only took three weeks from the time I submitted the paperwork. This is an amazing turn around time because it is suppose to take 4 weeks at the least amount of time.

I also have more good news about my plane tickets. I spoke with the Embassy today and I do not need to purchase round trip tickets in order to get my visa. This is because I will be there a year and I am unable to purchase tickets that far in advance. I was online yesterday and found tickets from San Francisco to Seoul from $481. It will cost me $130 to fly from here to San Francisco. By buying the tickets separately I save about $300. The Lord is working all things together for the good.

I am very excited to see how He continues to work all of the details for my trip out. I also want everyone to know that I will really miss my sister here in Minneapolis. I got an email because I didn't mention her in my last post!! It wasn't an oversight it was a given that it is going to be extremely hard to leave her just when we have become close friends. I love you Lydia and I will miss you tons! Thank you for your continued prayers.

Korea Here I Come

I will be leaving sometime around October 27th to teach English in Korea for a year. I am super excited about this and a little nervous. I will have internet and email while I am there so you won't be able to escape!! When I leave all email, snail mail, or phone calls will be welcomed. When I get my address and phoen number I will post it on my blog.

I do have a few prayer requests. I get reimbursed $1300 for airfair, however everything I am finding is $1700. Please pray that I will find a plane ticket within the amount I am going to be reimbursed. I am also very involved at my church, please pray that God would work in the hearts of individuals in my church to take on the responsibilities I have at this time. Finally, I will be leaving a wonderful church family and Natanya's family. Please pray that the Lord will give me the grace to leave these two groups of people.

I do appreciate your prayers in this matter. I will keep you updated on breaking news.

The Young at Play

Tonight Amber and I had the kids while the adults had a Bible study and prayer. Kids are such a blast! This is Alayna she is two now I think.

These are all of the kids. I will go clockwise from 12. Savannah, Alayna, Levi, Sabrinna, and Uri.



I know Uri likes pockets but I am not sure if he was trying to hold her hand or not! She definetely didn't appreciate it whatever he was trying to do.

Sabrinna and Savannah are showing love to their little sister.

 

A Visit with the Girls

Today I went to Stephanie's new house for a visit. I had to get my twin fix. I took a ton of pictures but my camera was doing something really weird and only a few turned out. Here are reagan and Kieran at 4 months old.

Reagan is on the left and Kieran is on the right

These are the best invention ever. The girls can already feed themsleves with a little help from a boppy and the tiny wonder!

 

Teaching Abroad

I have decided and I am actively seeking to go to Korea and teach English for a year. Don't worry for all of those out there who knew me in Teaching Elementary Grammar, it would be conversational English. I have submitted all of my paperwork and I have an interview this week sometime. I am waiting to hear back the exact day. I am asking that you please pray for me this week as I have my interview and continue to seek the Lord's will in this matter.


Update on 8.8.06: I am having my phone intervew this Wednesday at 8pm. I should know by the end of the week.

Almost There

Yesterday I ran a miracle mile. I ran one mile as a warm-up lap and then I ran my second mile timed. I ran faster than I thought I could go and made it a mile in 10 minutes and 12 seconds!! I am only 12 seconds off my goal on 10 minutes. I have to give a big thank you to Charlie because he pushed me to pick up the pace.

Maybe I will try to beat that time when I run with my friend Kristi at Bob Jones this Saturday. I will be heading down there for my cousin Beth's wedding. I am pumped to see some old friends. There will be pictures after I get back hoome from vacation.