I am still waiting to hear back from Korea about my visa. I am hoping maybe sometime tonight to hear back from them that they got my reservation number. Then all that is left to do is send everything to the Korean Consulate here and get the visa on my passport and then work on booking a plane ticket. When I get the reservation number I should have a tentative date of departure I am hoping.

In the mean time I thought I would offer an update about what is going on here in Missouri and with a couple of notes on two books I have read or in the process of reading.

The first book, Snow by Maxenee Fermine is a very short book only 100 pages that is fairly easy to read. It is about a young man named Yuko in Japan whose passion is snow and writing haikus about snow and it's beauty. He ends up going to a great Master in all of Japan named Soseki, to perfect his art. Well, Soseki is a famous painter and Yuki goes to learn how to add color to his art. When he writes about snow it is just white, almost nothingness. Yuki learns though that snow is a common powerful thread between him and Soseki that is beautiful. I personally think this book is a beautiful story almost written like a long poem, but others of you might find this book to not be so great as I do.

So, I started volunteering at the Salvation Army here in Springfield on Monday or Tuesday for about an hour a day during the kids homework time. Yes, I am working with kids in the after school program mainly fourth and fifth graders do their homework. I like it alright, it is only an hour though and I don't get paid but I feel like it is important nonetheless and not just for experience. Yesterday I helped a girl do her math homework, a smart girl from what I can tell, but she acted like a cat the whole time. My parents don't seem to happy with me at this point for volunteering there for an hour a day Monday through Friday until I leave. It is a good twenty or twenty-five minutes away from my house, so I understand that a little bit. Plus, I think there is a stigma in my family about the Salvation Army and that side of town that they don't want to be associated with. I don't really care and if they think the bad side of Springfield is rough, well I got some news for them that I have been in way worse. They know this, but it is not like I can get a job for two maybe three weeks before I leave that I want to do. My mom thinks I must be rich if I can drive that far and volunteer without getting paid. She is weird sometimes, my parents are like you have money do whatever you want, its your business. But at the same time they want to know everything about what is going on. . . ay parents! At this point, I can't live without them, but really can't live with them much longer either! haha

I went to see my grandma yesterday too at my great aunts house because that is where she is staying now, which is by the Salvation Army. She is not doing to well these days. She looked very weak laying on the couch just skin and bones and a scarf covering her bald head. She seemed to try to be sleeping or sleeping a lot of the time while I ended up talking to my aunt. Her mind does not seem to be all there either anymore, she cannot remember much or doesn't talk to well. It was a bit hard to see her, I will go over there at least a couple of more times I am sure before I leave for Korea. I guess she is staying at my aunt's house now since she was in the hospital this last weekend. Her blood cells are way down and she can't take any more radiation unless those go up. She fell down into the mirror at her house not too long ago which did not help the situation. Please pray for my grandma. . . and my family. My dad tends to get distant almost in situations like this. He talks to my grandma (his mom) but he really won't go and see her because he is so scared of death it seems like and is afraid to appear weak or sad. Anyway. . . too much information.

The second book that I am reading right now and have been reading for a while is The Two Koreas. It is the history of the two Koreas from the Korean War till the present time or 2000 maybe when the book was written. It is a very detailed book, very interesting and informing. There is so much that I have never known, it is fascinating. I am very impressed with this book and how much I am learning!

That is about it for now, till next time.