News from Amy

Hey folks. So I'll be adding to Joe's blog too as pertains to what Naomi and I are up to, or what we're up to as a family. Joe and Naomi just went out to play catch in the park after a long day riding the train to the Grace and Peace Mennonite Church.

I noticed that Joe mentioned in one sentence that we arrived. Indeed we've now been here one week. Naomi and I spent the first part of the week being tired and irritable, but still venturing out to the park, the mega-mart down the street, the coffee shop etc. (I was surprised and pleased to learn that people drink as much coffee here as in Seattle.) Anyang, where we live, is a city populated by high-rise apartment buildings and lots and lots and lots of people in a small area. Many of the people who live in the buildings around us, at least, are also families with small children. There are play areas everywhere, and a large beautiful park only blocks away with fountains, walking paths and a wonderful playground. Naomi seems to have no trouble getting right in there and playing in the sand with other children, in spite of the language barrier. And hanging out in the park while she plays has given me one or two opportunities to talk with other moms.

Naomi is very popular. People love children in Korea, and even more so a cute little blond girl. When we're on the train, especially, people will touch her hair, pat her cheek, ask her age, play peekaboo. Naomi is not that interested in interacting with adults, but will readily approach other children to play or say 'anyeonghasayo' (hell0).

This is good, because next week she's starting preschool. Joe's very helpful co-worker called around to find preschools and daycares that are close to us and we visited two on Friday. We were won over by a small preschool where the translator for our visit was a third-grader (her English was awesome!) and where Naomi immediately found dolls and toys to play with. We both like the idea of her having play-mates and being immersed in Korean (maybe she'll be able to be my translator) and I like the idea of having time every day to work on Korean myself, run errands, work on my sabbatical project and (hopefully) spend some time at the Korea Anabaptist Center.

Today at church both Joe and I were warmly invited to come visit KAC, and I'm very much looking forward to doing so. In fact, I may have my first quilting project, as my friend Jae, who is the director of their peace institute, invited me to make a KAC quilted banner. I'm thinking it might be an appropriate contribution of North American Anabaptist/Mennonite culture to this place.

I've been trying to remember to carry my camera everywhere...hasn't happened yet at all. I'll try to do better, (although I'm not eager to look like a tourist) so watch for pictures. I'll also be blogging at pastoramy.blogspot.com.