"Korea Dreambus" Pilgrimage and Documentary Film

Incredible though it seems, it's been a month and a half since I returned from Korea. Until now, I've actively avoided writing on this blog or engaging in a serious perusal of the media I captured on the pilgrimage for three reasons:   1. I had quite a sit-rep presented to me when I got home, requiring me to sort out my housing in a hurry. It has all been settled now; I am getting a new housemate as of Jan. 1st. God be praised! 2. The backlog of catch up work and future planning for my teaching job was staring me down, and since this is the first time I've taught these three theology classes, there is heavy prep that requires intense intellectual focus and time. I also had to get my head back in the game for my writing job, which felt easier and more natural since I've been doing that job for over a year.  3. I just wasn't ready.  Let me unpack that third statement a bit. Lotte Department Store, Ulsan, S. Korea When I first got back, the jet lag was more than just a...

School has started, so I have a lot of work to do between now and my departure for Korea: seating charts, assignments, and lesson plans for my subs. I have to say--it was wonderful to be back in the classroom. I didn't realize how much I missed it. I feel very at home at Chesterton Academy of Rochester. Meantime, however, I'm working to get my stories filed for the paper ahead of the normal deadlines so that my editor can read them, and I can make any necessary revisions before I leave. Today I filed the longer of the two stories I'm working on, so that felt good. Souvenirs from my visit in 2007 including my old Tmoney card I've been compiling my list of nitty gritty to do before the pilgrimage trip. Things like making sure I know where to get my Tmoney card - although I think I'll be getting a Korea Tour Card which provides the transpo function of a Tmoney card plus discounts to various sites. I have to do a little more research there. Also have to get an Esim for ...

Two weeks from today, I'll be on my way to Korea. I just met a co-worker (one of the generous donors  for this pilgrimage film) in the hallway a few minutes ago. He asked me what my current thoughts of hope and anxiety were leading up to the trip. I replied that everything is hopeful, actually, and I don't really carry any anxiety. I guess I hadn't thought about it until he asked.  Erie Canal, Fairport, NY In these two weeks before my departure, the school year is starting, which means my three classes of high school theology will be a prime focus for me, including devising three weeks of lesson plans for my subs while I'm away. I also have early deadlines for my newspaper job since I'll be gone for production week. And I will be submitting my application to the GVCA for a grant to help make the film. It's a lot, to be honest.  But you know what? I'm not anxious. I feel grounded, capable, focused, and above all, hopeful.  This is a new experience for me. Fo...

In the last couple of days, I have been able to connect with a Korean seminarian who will help me visit the pilgrimage sites in Seoul, and the sister of a Korean-American friend of mine here who will meet me in Seoul. It's coming together! It's starting to feel real. After booking my hotel in Ulsan, I realized the reality I'm about to encounter. What a gift from God!  This morning in Adoration, I spent some time refining and writing out my personal prayer intentions. I'll be going to Adoration as much as I can between now and then for everything I have going on - the pilgrimage trip, my short film Souled , and my new teaching job. I continue to pray to the Blessed Mother for protection, assistance and inspiration. She sure never lets me down!

I've finally locked in the piece of my itinerary that was giving me the most trouble:  finding a place to stay in the Seosan/Dangjin area where the shrines in Haemi and Solmoe are located.  This morning I booked two nights at a traditional Korean house (hanok) in Seosan called Gyeamgotaek . I booked on Expedia and got a discount ( 아싸!) . I'll just have to work out how to get around that area; I suspect it will be a combination of taxi (very cheap in Korea) and bus (also very cheap). I'm happy to present an overview of my itinerary with a map to help you visualize where these places are. Note that I haven't marked every single place I'll be going; these are the general areas where I'll be traveling and staying. Please note that so far I've been able to book everything on Expedia. I may have to use other apps once I get to Korea, but for now, I'm extremely grateful this is working! 9/17 - 9/18:  Flying into Incheon  9/18 - 9/23:   Seoul and environs (Myeo...

Two months from today, I'll be boarding a plane at Rochester International Airport bound for Detroit, then on to Incheon. Since Korea is 13 hours ahead of EDT, I'll be arriving on Sept. 18, at 5:20 p.m.  My flight to Detroit has changed twice since I purchased the ticket in May, but only for a slightly longer layover. "More time in duty free shopping," my friend and supporter Binh texted me. Binh has contributed to my fundraiser, and he has graciously offered to bring me to and from the airport -- even though my return flight lands in Rochester at midnight! Thank you, Binh! How to travel well  I haven't flown in several years, but I remember my personal routine and pointers for traveling well. Yes, there's a right and a wrong way! Stretch :  I like the window seat for short flights, but for the international flight, it'll be aisle seat. I know I need to get up every hour or so and stretch my legs, and I'll have a little more stretch room with the aisle...

Someone recently asked me what exactly a pilgrimage is and what it isn't. This is an excellent thing to consider.  The English word “pilgrim" is derived from the Latin  peregrinum,  which conveys the idea of wandering over a distance, but not aimlessly or without intention. Pilgrimage is practiced by many religions, and for those who don't believe in a religious tradition, a pilgrimage could be a way to reconnect with history or one's own past. In any context, it can provoke an inner journey.  Myself, I make a twice-yearly pilgrimage to my favorite beach in Massachusetts; it has special significance in my past and always provides me with solace, no matter the season or tides. From a Catholic perspective, the primary purpose of pilgrimage is to honor God by devoting a time for going outside the purely mundane and connecting with the Eternal in places that are regarded as holy.  Pilgrimage can be experienced as a communal or a solitary adventure, but even a solita...

This is an excellent question!  The title is a holdover from the earlier plan to make a film about EFL teachers in Korea, and I've decided to keep the title for a few reasons: It's catchy and curious from  https://www.theseoulguide.com/seoul-bus/ When I go to Korea (especially that first year), I ride the bus everywhere. The public transpo is extremely reliable there. The bus as metaphor for my life: stops along the way, people getting on and off the bus, the destination and the ride are both important, and I am not in the driver's seat! Physical perspective riding a bus: raised above things around me, outside flashing by quickly Being outside the culture and dominant language can often feel like being in a dream, where you don't really know exactly what's going on and sometimes culture shock experiences seem surreal After I returned home from that first year in Korea, I often did dream about being there, only the dreams were confused and hazy. This created the effe...