Jesus Creed

Jesus Creed

Seoul Foreign School

posted by Scot McKnight | 2:00pm Sunday August 22, 2010

IMG_2086.JPGI’m a bit late on jotting down some ideas about our wonderful trip to (flower-filled) Korea. I was invited to speak to the Faculty and Staff of Seoul Foreign School in the Sodaemun-Gu area of Seoul. It our first trip to the East and we hope it is not our last: loved it.

Steep learning curve — not only about Korea but also about international schools. We really knew very little about international education, but a one-liner is this: English-speaking folks are working all over the world and in many of those locations, especially a place like Seoul, there are full-blown international schools. SFS is one of those — K through 12, and very fine students at that. And exceptional teachers too.  Kris and I are privileged to travel all over the place but we were amazed at the travel histories of these teachers. International schools might be the haven for those with Wanderlust.
IMG_2082.JPGJohn and Alice Engstrom were our hosts. Kris took a shot of Alice and me at the table where we were eating Bibimbap at the big market in Seoul. They were not only great hosts, but they love many things we love: like Italy and Dan Taylor’s writings and grandchildren and sports. I could go on with names and I’ll avoid that, but let me give you a sample of the people teaching at SFS: a young couple who had just finished a stint teaching in Tarsus (Turkey), a middle-aged couple who had just arrived from China where they had taught three years, a couple from Wisconsin who had taught in Africa and Bolivia and now were in Seoul … Wanderlust indeed.

IMG_2075.JPGOne day was for a Jesus Creed Retreat, and since they had all read Jesus Creed, I worked up some new stuff on how the Jesus Creed meshes with education — and not just for college teaching. It was a good day, good questions, and we got to spend time with the teachers at SFS. Education is about loving students in the direction of wisdom — that was the gist of my talk.
On the second night we were there, and many of us were still under some form of jet lag, we went to a theater near the City Hall where we saw a history of folk dancing gathered around a love story. (It was all in Korean but the singing and dancing was great.) On another night we saw Nanta, and I don’t know how to describe it but it was sure fun: a kitchen and cutting boards and knives and dancers version of Stomp and Blue Man Group. Alice arranged it so I would be the one they asked to come to the stage for audience participation. (Nothing to say.)
IMG_2081.JPGWe enjoyed Seoul, too. We had tea in a really swanky part of Seoul, saw the market — wow, was that place busy. Alice was getting ready for a big event at the home, which meant getting some flowers, so Kris took a shot of the flower shop — opening picture in this post.
Now a fun story. You may know I like to play golf but you may not know that as a rule I don’t play golf when I speak in places. The inside story there is I don’t like to play without my own clubs. Well, John coaxed me into playing a really cool course in Incheon, near the airport. I played terribly but it was a one-of-a-kind experience. First, I’ve never seen so many color-coordinated outfits with bags. The Koreans are much more serious about golf than Americans (that I play with). And the whole event was a whole event: not just golf but spa and all. What a hoot. 
IMG_2109.JPGOn the last day we visited the massive Palace complex, and it went on and on and on. It is the traditional ruling class of the Korean peninsula and we were so impressed with the buildings, the painting, the order and beauty of it all … here’s a pic of Kris in the back of the complex near a pond and gazebo.


Leave a Comment ยป
Related Topics: Gospel
beliefnet
  list archives most recent most popular  
beliefnet
Previous Posts

This blog is no longer active
This blog is no longer being actively updated. Please feel free to browse the archives or: Read our most popular inspiration blog See our most popular inspirational video Take our most popular quiz

posted 3:10:39pm Aug. 31, 2010 | read full post »

Our Common Prayerbook 30 - 3
Psalm 30 thanks God (vv. 1-3, 11-12) and exhorts others to thank God (vv. 4-5). Both emerge from the concrete reality of David's own experience. Here is what that experience looks like:Step one: David was set on high and was flourishing at the hand of God's bounty (v. 7a).Step two: David became too

posted 12:15:30pm Aug. 31, 2010 | read full post »

Theology After Darwin 1 (RJS)
One of the more important and more difficult pieces of the puzzle as we feel our way forward at the interface of science and faith is the theological implications of discoveries in modern science. A comment on my post Evolution in the Key of D: Deity or Deism noted: ...this reminds me of why I get a

posted 6:01:52am Aug. 31, 2010 | read full post »

Almost Christian 4
Who does well when it comes to passing on the faith to the youth? Studies show two groups do really well: conservative Protestants and Mormons; two groups that don't do well are mainline Protestants and Roman Catholics. Kenda Dean's new book is called Almost Christian: What the Faith of Ou

posted 12:01:53am Aug. 31, 2010 | read full post »

Let's Get Neanderthal!
The Cave Man Diet, or Paleo Diet, is getting attention. (Nothing is said about Culver's at all.) The big omission, I have to admit, is that those folks were hunters -- using spears or smacking some rabbit upside the conk or grabbing a fish or two with their hands ... but that's what makes this diet

posted 2:05:48pm Aug. 30, 2010 | read full post »

Advertisement
Comments read comments(4)
post a comment
Marcus

posted August 22, 2010 at 2:55 pm


I’m glad you had a good trip, Scot. My wife’s family lives in Korea so we try to go back every couple of years to visit. Those trips are always one of the highlights of my year. Did you get to try a good variety of Korean food? It’s hard to believe how much better the Korean food is there vs. Chicago.



report abuse
 

RJS

posted August 22, 2010 at 3:57 pm


Nice. I was hoping you’d put up some pictures.



report abuse
 

Mary Ewald

posted August 28, 2010 at 8:05 pm


Hi Scott,
It was great hearing your talk on the Jesus Creed. You’re a great presenter and very funny. You made the Jesus Creed alive and real for education!
I’m glad you enjoyed your stay in the wonderland of Seoul and SFS.
Mary
P.S. I taught in Japan, Taiwan, CA, Texas, and now in Seoul. Yes, we are the clan of the Global Nomads.



report abuse
 

Alice Smith

posted September 26, 2010 at 9:05 pm


I enjoyed reading the recount of your experience in Korea. My husband and I taught at SFS for five years. What a great community! Check out my newly released children’s book which is set at Seoul Forein School. UNDER THE EYE OF THE MAGPIE is available on Amazon.com See the video traier on YouTube, too.



report abuse
 

Post a Comment

By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.

Share this story

Related Topics: Gospel
beliefnet
  list archives most recent most popular  
beliefnet

About Beliefnet

Our mission is to help people like you find, and walk, a spiritual path that will bring comfort, hope, clarity, strength, and happiness. More about Beliefnet.

Help

Media Kit

Subscribe

Legal

Copyright © Beliefnet, Inc. and/or its licensors. All rights reserved. Use of this site is subject to Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy. Constructed by Beliefnet.

Advertisement

Report as Inappropriate

You are reporting this content because it violates the Terms of Service.

All reported content is logged for investigation.