What could have been a wonderful weekend has turned into a weekend of grossness and of pain. Robin and I have strep throat. I didn't even know adults got that. I thought it was a shitty thing that elementary students got but apparently teachers get it as well and let me tell you, it sucks as much I remember. This past weekend was Robin's birthday (well, technically it's today) and we had planned to do number of things. I did manage to take here out for Indian food Saturday night before either of us were really that sick but soon after that, both of our muscles started aching and by the time Sunday morning came around, we felt as though we had been run over by firetrucks. Instead of singing for Mass and for the evening Lessons and Carols service, which we had been looking forward to for a couple of weeks, we laid around, not able to do much and not able to eat much. We were able to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" and most of "Howl's Moving Castle" which was some reprieve from awful burning sensation in our throats.
This morning, we both went to Yonsei Hospital's international walk-in clinic. I didn't trust going to a Korean doctor on Ganghwa. The staff there was very nice and it was neither dirty or crowded like Gimpo hospital. We were both diagnosed with strep throat. Well, 'acute tonsilitis'. We were given antibiotics and iodine mouth wash (yummy). After that, I returned Ganghwa and Samryang High School with a doctor's note in order to explain why I couldn't teach any classes today. They couldn' get the idea that my voice was completely shot and couldn't possibly talk for the duration of one 50 minute class, nevermind four. They tried telling me that if I took a nap, I would be better. They apparently have no idea what strep thoat is. I can't raise my voice over a certain level without it being excruciatingly painful. They finally relented after I mentioned that I can take a sick day provided that I have a doctor's note which I had. Those crazy Koreans. But anyway, I've been sleeping most of today, only having woken up a few minutes ago to eat some ice cream and take some antibiotics. I'm feeling a little better but not much. Hopefully, I will be right as rain tomorrow.
Dec 22, 2008
Dec 16, 2008
Sapientiatide
Tomorrow, as some of you may know, begins the 'mini' liturgical season of Sapientiatide, which is sort of a precursor to Christmastide. In the ancient Church and presently, the season celebrated the mystery of the Incarnation. However, there are only vestiges of this major liturgical cycle retained in the modern Church, namely in the the Magnificat antiphons at Vespers between the 17th and 23rd of December. However, these antiphons are better known combined as the lyrics to the beloved carol, O Come, O Come Immanuel. As we move into the final days of Advent and prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, I think its fitting to reflect upon the mystery of the Incarnation and the love of God that it so strongly demonstrates. These ancient antiphons are not only quite beautiful, they help us reflect on this very crucial reality.
Dec 17th:* O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end [of the heavens] to another, and dost mightily and sweetly order all things: come to teach us the way of prudence!
Dec 18th: O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai: come to redeem us with outstretched arm!
Dec 19th: O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom the kings shall shut their mouths, unto whom the Gentiles shall seek: come to deliver us, make no tarrying!
Dec 20th: O Key of Davd and Sceptre of the house of Israel; that openest and no man shutteth; and shuttest and no man openeth: come to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death!
Dec 21st: O Day-spring Brightness of the everlasting Light, Sun of Righteousness: come to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death!
Dec 22nd: O King of the Gentiles, yea, and Desire thereof, O Cornerstone that makest of twain [two] one: come to save man, whom Thou hast made of the dust of the earth!
Dec 23rd: O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and Salvation thereof: come to save us, O Lord our God
(from the Anglican Breviary)
Aquinas' Treatise on the Incarnation from the Summa Theologiae
Athanasius' On the Incarnation
Dec 15, 2008
Poem for Robin
Should I post this or should I not. Oh well, it has been done:
From the high vaulted ceiling of the night,
the myriad stars set within Heavens' dome,
though dimmed across the aether's bound and by
the ill weakness of our eyes now pursued,
shine for us only this night, though all Seoul,
does sleep beneath the same celestial cover.
O Lover! (And yes, you are my lover),
let me take your hand, let me hold you close.
Let me, now, in my failing French proclaim,
“Je t'aime.” And at your blushing reply,
raising your head to mine, I will kiss you,
our embrace becoming ever closer
and this, our love-fever ever hotter,
cooled only by the chill of the starry night.
From the high vaulted ceiling of the night,
the myriad stars set within Heavens' dome,
though dimmed across the aether's bound and by
the ill weakness of our eyes now pursued,
shine for us only this night, though all Seoul,
does sleep beneath the same celestial cover.
O Lover! (And yes, you are my lover),
let me take your hand, let me hold you close.
Let me, now, in my failing French proclaim,
“Je t'aime.” And at your blushing reply,
raising your head to mine, I will kiss you,
our embrace becoming ever closer
and this, our love-fever ever hotter,
cooled only by the chill of the starry night.
Christmastime in Ganghwa.
I'm sitting here, unshaven, listening to Christmas music, having just done some reading. I had most of today off. My students are taking their final exams. The time I was there, I just finished writing out Christmas cards. This past weekend, like every weekend, was quite wonderful. I am very much in love with Robin. I don't think that's a mystery to anyone, considering the way I speak about her. Any time I spend with her is amazing, even just sitting together reading silently. We did not really do any of that this weekend. It was actually a very busy weekend. Saturday, we went to house warming party of a Korean friend of ours. We had a wonderful dinner there. Stewed chicken, noodles and no kimchi in sight. Jennifer, whose house we were visiting, gave Robin a wonderful necklace hand made onGanghwa. It is very pretty.
After dinner, we headed back to Seoul to Robin's apartment. We watched the Passion of Joan of Arc, which is an incredibly powerful film chronicling the trial and execution of the saint, directed by a young Carl Th. Dreyer. It's not a very romantic film but it is wonderfully moving. I have seen it before but the scene where Joan is refused the Blessed Sacrament by the chief priest brought a tear to my eye once again. The black and white cinematography, focusing on the facial expressions of the actor, allows the viewer to be engaged in the emotions of the characters and ultimately to fear the suffering and the humiliation of Joan. It is a wonderful film. Robin really loved it.
The following, we went to Mass at the English Mission. The both of us got to the chapel early to rehearse for the choir. Robin has a beautiful voice and is much more musically inclined than I am. She follows all the choir jargon perfectly well while I have no idea even what parts I'm supposed to sing. I must seem so ignorant to everyone. My lack of musical training is a little emabarassing. I feel slightly uneducated in that regard. Oh, the things one does for love. But we sang one of my favourite hymns Be Thou My Vision which turns out be one of Robin's also.
After Mass, we went to lunch with a friend we met at church. His name was Chris. He's an incredibly intelligent guy, with a pretty good knowledge of Koine Greek. He definitely had his eye on Robin which definitely made me rather jealous. We ended up going to a Thai place that's in the same building as Robin's school. It was very good. It blows Korean food out the water any day.
Well, that's all for now. I'll be updating again soon
After dinner, we headed back to Seoul to Robin's apartment. We watched the Passion of Joan of Arc, which is an incredibly powerful film chronicling the trial and execution of the saint, directed by a young Carl Th. Dreyer. It's not a very romantic film but it is wonderfully moving. I have seen it before but the scene where Joan is refused the Blessed Sacrament by the chief priest brought a tear to my eye once again. The black and white cinematography, focusing on the facial expressions of the actor, allows the viewer to be engaged in the emotions of the characters and ultimately to fear the suffering and the humiliation of Joan. It is a wonderful film. Robin really loved it.
The following, we went to Mass at the English Mission. The both of us got to the chapel early to rehearse for the choir. Robin has a beautiful voice and is much more musically inclined than I am. She follows all the choir jargon perfectly well while I have no idea even what parts I'm supposed to sing. I must seem so ignorant to everyone. My lack of musical training is a little emabarassing. I feel slightly uneducated in that regard. Oh, the things one does for love. But we sang one of my favourite hymns Be Thou My Vision which turns out be one of Robin's also.
After Mass, we went to lunch with a friend we met at church. His name was Chris. He's an incredibly intelligent guy, with a pretty good knowledge of Koine Greek. He definitely had his eye on Robin which definitely made me rather jealous. We ended up going to a Thai place that's in the same building as Robin's school. It was very good. It blows Korean food out the water any day.
Well, that's all for now. I'll be updating again soon
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