Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April 19th - April 21st (Korean time)
April 19th "Go Now, You Are Forgiven"
Smiles of friendship and tears of joy have graced the beginning of our trip. Both the inbound and outbound GSE (Group Study Exchange) Teams united at the Kansas City airport to depart on the long journey to Daejeon, South Korea (about 90 miles SSE of Seoul). The inbound team closing the door on their 5-weeks in and around Missouri and the outbound team (us) just getting started. Stories and expereinces are all being shared amongst members, former members, and members-at-large... we are all discovering the vast reach Rotart has throughout the globe.
The first leg of our trip was a quick flight to Chicago and Asiana Airlines, where the flight to Incheon would take 12 hours and 45 minutes.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
So it begins...
Welcome to my first official blog (ever) and the first of many of the adventures to South Korea as a team member of the 2010 Rotary District 6080 Group Study Exchange. (yes, that all fits on a name badge). Although activities and team building began some time ago, today was the first day that I was officially introduced to other Rotarians as a member of the Group Study Exchange at the District Conference here in Springfield.
The district conference kicked off with the Pledge of Allegiance, the 4-Way Test, an introduction by incoming Rotary International President (Ray Kliningsmith), and keynote address from Whitey Herzog (2010 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee). It continues on Friday with the Public affairs conference and the opening of Rock-N-Ribs, where 9,500 lbs. of meat will be cooked, plastered with sauces and devoured by 35,000+ people over the weekend. All raising a considerable amount of money toward Children's Charities of the Ozarks.
I also had the chance to meet our GSE counterpoints whom have been visiting from South Korea for the past 4 weeks. They speak much better English than I can speak Korean, which is going to be a very interesting challenge. On Monday (April 19th) we begin the 18-hour trip to get to South Korea. We'll be flying with the South Korean GSE team, which may be an opportunity to learn more about their country and language before arriving.
Anyway, stayed tuned to upcoming posts. Although, I will be focusing primarily on a handwritten journal and sketchbook of my experience, I hope to pass along much of that along during the trip via the web.
I suppose that is all for now.
Be well.
- Matt
The district conference kicked off with the Pledge of Allegiance, the 4-Way Test, an introduction by incoming Rotary International President (Ray Kliningsmith), and keynote address from Whitey Herzog (2010 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee). It continues on Friday with the Public affairs conference and the opening of Rock-N-Ribs, where 9,500 lbs. of meat will be cooked, plastered with sauces and devoured by 35,000+ people over the weekend. All raising a considerable amount of money toward Children's Charities of the Ozarks.
I also had the chance to meet our GSE counterpoints whom have been visiting from South Korea for the past 4 weeks. They speak much better English than I can speak Korean, which is going to be a very interesting challenge. On Monday (April 19th) we begin the 18-hour trip to get to South Korea. We'll be flying with the South Korean GSE team, which may be an opportunity to learn more about their country and language before arriving.
Anyway, stayed tuned to upcoming posts. Although, I will be focusing primarily on a handwritten journal and sketchbook of my experience, I hope to pass along much of that along during the trip via the web.
I suppose that is all for now.
Be well.
- Matt
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