Bloom Where You Are Planted

2020 has turned into such a bizarre, surreal time. I must admit, it’s not quite as strange here as it would be if we were still in the US. First of all, none of our basic necessities have ran out, like eggs and toilet paper. Plus our ‘normal’ lives were already tossed up and randomly rearranged last summer when we moved overseas. So now it’s sort of like staying home and canceling all social activities seems strange, but we just accepted it—sort of like this is just something that happens in Korea. The kids are distance learning, but we only had 2 days where they didn't have lessons while the teachers prepped. The bigs have actual times when they video with their teachers the whole day, so they are busy in their rooms. Eli does not have times to check in, but he has a work load that takes the entire day. He is working hard, but he needs my guidance to keep him focused and on track. That being said, although we're 'homeschooling' I do not have to be creative and come up with the lessons.

It’s a bummer we happen to be stuck at home during my favorite season. I love how the world comes alive and the grass turns green, flowers bloom, trees blossom, and everything seems bright and fresh and alive. 

We’re on our 10th week of staying home. My friend recently asked how our family dynamics have changed. You know, it hasn’t changed a whole lot. Since our move we have spent a lot more time together. We have played board games and watched family movies and been on hikes and taken vacations and stumbled upon adventures. Moving to Korea has sort of been an exercise in social distancing in itself.   Over the past 8 months we have nurtured new friendships and joined new activities, but life moves at a much slower pace here. Of course since the Rona we have cut off all of our social activities and the kids have been distance learning from home and we stay inside, so we have definitely felt a change, don’t get me wrong. But I read about corona life in the slums of New Delhi. They have to break quarantine go get water to carry back to their shack because they don’t have running water and they have to ignore social distancing when they use the shared toilet with 30 other people. That really put my whining about missing spring into perspective. 

So I have been taking pictures of the beautiful flowers when Frito, Chuey and I go on our walks. Without further ado, here are (way to many) spring flower pictures that make my heart smile.

Magnolias. Reminds me of Vivia's front porch.

This was arranged at the park next door. It stayed there for more than a week without anyone messing it up.

 These cherry blossom trees are at the public elementary right beside our school on the way to the park. When we used to have school the dogs and I would walk by here every day. We get a mixed reaction from the kids--some scared, some interested to look and some wanting to pet them. We met a boy about Daisy's age at our apartment playground the week before school started. He doesn't speak any English but we know he likes the dogs. The first day of school I was passing a group of Korean kids and a squeal of delight yelled, "CHUEYYYY!!" We have since seen him several times around school and the park and he always calls, "Chuey!" and pets the dogs.

 This little guy was just sitting there drinking nectar.

 The first budding azaleas.

Rose bushes on 'Cardiac Hill.'

I like when I find familiar things like dandelions. It makes me feel like even though I'm a long way from home, it's still a small world.

However, I have found two kinds of dandelions here. These are white and yellow like a daisy.

 There are a couple small wheat fields mixed in among the rice fields.

 I have no idea what these strange fellas are.

 The last bits of the cherry blossoms.

 As soon as the cherry blossoms are scattered all over the ground, the azaleas make their presence known. They are everywhere and such vibrant colors!

The white ones were a little slower to bloom than the red, pink and purple ones.

In general, the architecture in Korea leaves a lot to be desired. Abe's counterparts at work told him it's because the country was destroyed so many different times from war that they quit putting a lot of money and effort into rebuilding. However, the landscaping more than makes up for it! Not only is there natural beauty all around, but they put a lot of effort into the flora all around town in the parks and along the streets. Flowering pots line the streets and these tulips are planted in the median by my favorite grocery store.

New pinecones.

 No flowers, but this is the lotus pond in the park. It will be full of lotus blooms and lily pads later this summer.

 This is the super moon taken from the park.

I have read that we are all in the same storm during this corona craziness, but we're not all in the same boat. I am very thankful that my boat has been a pretty good one filled with lots of blooming flowers.