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Memorial Service
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My last night in Korea ended with a memorial service to Jin's father. It's a traditional ceremony celebrated on the anniversary of the father's passing. It takes all day to prepare the numerous traditional foods needed for the service. The eldest male leads everyone in numerous very low respectful bows towards a table with a picture of the father who passed away on it. I've always been very honored to be invited to take part in the ceremony. They've always treated me as part of the family and I've always felt like I was.
I'll forever be grateful for the time I spent with them and the time I spent in Korea. We traveled all over Korea and Asia as a family and I always felt kindness and love from them. I'm not sure if I've ever felt that kind of family love before...I think not. It's a wonderful new feeling for me. It was hard to accept at first, but after time I let it in and enjoyed it. Only then was I able to return the same level of kindness and love.
Exercise and Hapkido helped my outside, and Jin and her family helped my inside. My Korea trip was more than just a trip far away from USA, it turned out to be a trip far away from myself. Or what I thought was myself. Now I feel like a different person...inside and out. Next I have to figure out how to live as my new self. I think that will be my next trip. A trip inside myself...
I've tried to figure out how to communicate these things to my friends when I go back to USA. In one sentence - I found peace and love. Peace and love baby...peace and love.
What I learned today about Korea: 1) Peace and love baby...peace and love.