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July 2009 
What inspires you most about the world?
Posted on Oct 13th, 2008
by 
michaelsits
michaelsits
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for October 13, 2008:
Eyes. Eyes are where I see hope and inspiration. Words often feel like a bridge but not the actual thing itself. Eyes tell the true story for me.
Lately i have had the opportunity to stare into the eyes of many young and beautiful children that can't communicate beyond "Hello" and "Goodbye" with me due to language barriers. It is such a powerful experience to share love, gratitude and connection through eye contact, bowing and holding hands or hugging. It really shreds away all the other stuff that often gets in the way.
Soft eyes that are not filled with propaganda and the illusion of needing more and better also have inspired me lately. The bulk of the youth here in South Korea are wholesome, even innocent in many ways. It is not as much that they are naive; it is more actual wholesome instincts that are cultivated through their families, communities, schools and culture as a whole. They would rather be hugged, smile and laugh than be cool, tough and walk around pouting ti get their way. they genuinely want to be happy and share it with others. If i was a better author, i would be able to describe it more accurately. They are trusted and respected, and honor that respect with respecting others and trusting others.
An example would be that in a city of half million that i live in, all the florists in the neighborhood leave their Most expensive plants out at night without locks and security. Kids are out till 10:00, 11:00 at night without supervision and nobody stares at them like they are bad and ready to do something wrong, and they don't. Young children below ten years old are out at night walking around, playing and running errands for their parents. Teenage girls walk home from their english, science and math academies after ten at night by themselves without fear and paranoia in their eyes. I have eaten in restaurants that the owner and only employee leave while you are eating to make a delivery without fear of being robbed or anything, they just smile on their way out and do their thing. You are respected regardless of who you are.
This all gives me hope. there is another way besides fear, power, sex and personal ambition. This gives me hope.
As a side note, not necessarily for his stance on issues or the fact that he is Black, but Obama gives me hope as well.
Peace and Hope,
michael
Access: PublicTagged with: QaR, world, hope, inspiration, encouragement, trust, respect, culture, south korea, innocence
no wonder you are so deeply at home. this is living!
Yes it is nicole!This is one of those times i wish i was a better writer to really share this the way it deserves to be shared. It is hard for me to convey the depth and reality of what i am experiencing here on a daily basis. It is so entrenched i the culture that if i tried to have a conversation with anyone here about it they would not knowing what i am talking about and would look at me funny. Similar to trying to help folks feel what white privilege is like when talking with a group of middle class white folks who have never lived in anything but suburbia. Or a man that thinks grabbing women's asses at work is not disrespectful, same kind if thing. When something is so ingrained that you don't even know it exists.
They are not perfect here and it is not utopia, there are many things that trouble me, but they still have a culture rooted in so much good stiff that it far outweighs the other challenges for me.
This is so touching Michael, I really felt a tear coming up. To imagine that it's actually safe to walk on the streets and to let children be out at night without having to fear for some dreadful thing to happen, that is such a wonderful and precious thing. That's how life's supposed to be isn't it. To just not have to worry about stuff like that seems such a tremendous freedom. Now mind me, it's not that I worry about these things all the time, it's just that you always have to be alert in some way, kind of have to look over your shoulder, to lock the doors, it's always there somewhere, eventhough you choose not to focus on it and focus on being and feeling safe and protected.
It was once more like that here too, but so long ago, before my time I guess.
Yet, like you said, people aren't perfect. And crime is as old as the world, so what about that there in South Korea? How do people look at that. Is there a great respect (or perhaps fear) for the law? Or does it have anything to do with a Buddhist non violent attitude?
And if the shadow side of people isn't expressed in crime, how does it express otherwise. People are people. What's troubling? Did you get enough insight in the mechanics of that yet?
It is so wonderful to follow your adventures there and to see how happy and comfortable and at home you feel there right now.
It ìs inspiring and hopeful to actually experience life at another pace.
I feel like i have a lot to share here and may not have the time to do so but i think media and HOW PEOPLE RESPOND TO MEDIA is a big difference here and there. Meaning that the media doesn't just focus on the news of the day being bad and horrible stuff, everything counts equally the murder and the mother who works a full-time job and takes care of the family while her husband works twelve hours at the family owned restaurant. It is like the big stuff and the little stuff get equal time and energy. I have heard from more than person that cheonan, the city i live in is known in korea for a high crime rate fro small cities, it has a bad reputation, which of course is very funny to me. Everything is relative, i grew up outside of NYC during the days of daily murders and fires.
People aren't perfect. I do not think there is a greater respect fro the law than for most other “help” professions, and yes they are considered a help profession here. It is more the family-based values that permeate throughout the culture. I did not realize before i got here just how many Christians there are here. there are more Christians than Buddhists actually. BUT just like in the west where people can choose their religions in many places, america being one of them, the main religion in most of the west and america is solely based on Christian values, no matter how many Jews, Muslims, Buddhists are present. Here, there are many traditions that are ingrained in the fabric if the culture that most folks do not know they are Buddhist traditions. An example is not wearing shoes from th eoutside world in oyur home, an ancient Buddhist tradtion that evrybody does here, apartments, hospitals and restaurants even have a lowered area when you enter to leave your shoes and put on slippers. Everybody does it not knowing it came from Buddhism. So it is possible that it is Buddhist culture at the root but i think it is also a culture that is rooted deeply in family. I never quite understood the why people made such a big deal out of asians having their family name first, before their given name. I get it now. The family and its worth so outgrow the individuals personal ideals and desires. When a twenty-something moves to another town for work, her sister moves with her for a few months to help her get settled. her sister now has a two hour commute to work but doesn't mind because she is both helping and being a part of her sisters new home. This is one small example but i think it speaks volumes to the mindset of family and its worth.
I do not yet know where and how the shadow expresses itself yet. alcohol is big among business men, that i can see. I will reflect on this more and add to later. There is also a great difference in gender stuff here and a large chunk of young women are even more obsessed with physical appearance then in the states.
And yes, it is inspiring and hopeful. After writing this last night, i went to bed very grateful. even though i have only been here for three months, i am pretty much in resident mode a lot of the time a forget what an opportunity i have been given. Writing this helped me remember and embrace where i am, geographically and spiritually. It is good to be alive. Glad you were touched by this and thank you for facilitating me giving it more thought.peace, michael
even more obsessed with physical appearance! yikes. but otherwise it all sounds almost idyllic. Imagine what it's like in the country, eh?
I was reflecting earlier today on my statement about being more obsessed with appearance then americans. i still think it may be true but it also may be the fact that it caught me by surprise. I did not se this fitting in with the rest of korean life and mindset, so i notice it clearly. Also, i think there are fewer women obsessed than per capita in america but those that are, really are. An example is a co-worker of mine has a mirror on her desk right next to her computer directly in front of her face!
The country thing is interesting also since korea is cities and rural with no true suburbia. It is apartments or small bungalows in the mountains.
that's very interesting, michael. no suburbs. hmm!
at least i have not seen any yet. There is also very little class distinction, folks are just folks. they all work hard, all are frugal and all dress similar. There are a couple of sections of seoul and busan that are more upscale and “western-like” but still concrete apartment buildings with 25+ floors. these neighborhoods have lots of English names and american stores and restaurants and american-style malls. It felt pretty yucky to me personally but i can fairly judgmental. That's why Baskin-Robbins has 31 flavors. Ironically, Baskin-Robbins is HUGE in Korea, they are everywhere!
That's odd! :)
By the way, I wanted to tell you a little story about the kind of cultural pride Koreans can have even when they grow up elsewhere. At my learning centre, one of my Korean families has two other Korean kids staying with them, so at one point last week all four children arrived to sit at my table, because they are now all working in the more advanced levels which I supervise more closely. Usually we discourage siblings from sitting together, so my staff automatically asked if they were going to be “ok” (i.e. not talking or arguing) at the same table. One of the girls said, “Of course, we're Korean!”
And you know, she was right. They concentrated completely on their work.
Koreans are really big on education. In a different way than americans. They actually value learning, not just as a means to future financial success. It is something that is somewhat foreign to me and catches me off guard. This is definitely true for parents, but somewhat true for the kids themselves. I have a friend who works at Kumon outside chicago and your experience echoes hers. I am not sure it is cultural pride as much as just stating a fact but i could be wrong. Many korean kids don't get the whole “Let's waste the teachers time and not learn anything”mentality popular among other cultures, especially white culture.
In her at that moment, it seemed to be both. I might be wrong but that's my take. However I didn't see it as a negative kind of pride, rather a solid sense of identity in a community with good values.
I do see this eagerness to learn amongst my Korean students, very much so. It is very, very different for most of my non-Asian students.
I didn't know you had a friend at a Kumon centre near Chicago. Is she also in charge of the centre, or a staff? I enjoy sharing experiences with my colleagues from around the world and am looking forward to being in Tokyo at the beginning of December for the 50th anniversary international conference.
Actually she is a very good friend. She a young, i think 24. She works there part-time and has for a year or two now.I may be in Kyoto in december! It will be either december or january. there is one of the oldest and most revered Reiki Masters in Kyoyto. I met with him when i was there in september and he invited me to come back when i have vacation to study with him. I think about it daily but still do not know when i can leave to visit him. One of the challenges to being an english teacher in korea on a work visa is that i don't get a voice i much regarding work and time off and things like that.
I understand what you meant now about the girls comment, it makes sense.
That's so exciting, Michael. I really hope you get to go to Kyoto to see that Reiki master. He sounds very very special.
He is very special. I have thought of him every day since we met. It usually is in either dreams, Reiki or meditations, he is right there with me. A True Teacher. Anyone can talk and demonstrate how to do something in front of a class. A Teacher is someone who Teaches while the students are sleeping, meditating and praying, or any other means of connecting with The Higher Self, in this case, Reiki. If it is meant o be for us to work together in Kyoto this year, it would be a great honor and opportunity for me.
By the way, if we are in japan at the same time, maybe we can meet in the 3-d world!
Peacemichael
Yes, he must be amazing.
It would be really great to meet you, Michael. I'll be in Japan from November 30 to December 8 - it's a packed schedule with the conference, meetings and tours but if it does work out that you are in Japan at that time, we can see if we can coordinate our schedules to meet.