A Good Lesson on Rubbish Day

Beba SchlottmannBebalicious, Going Places, Other Writings, Uncategorized 8 Comments

On today’s adventure while chasing life in South Korea, It was a most interesting day. I cleaned house and took care of my rubbish. Now, speaking of rubbish, in Korea you must separate rubbish in four ways: plastic, paper, food waste, and everything else. You have to purchase pink colored bags for this. So, I separated my rubbish well, then walked down a hill in my neighborhood to the area for discarding the items. And luckily, every area was labeled – in Korean, of course but that’s why we have google translate.

Now, let’s talk about the food waste…in the village/neighborhood where I’m staying, you take the food waste and burry it in the backyard for compost. It seems everyone here farms, so they are very resourceful when it comes to food, planting and taking care of their property. I call the Korean people, Survivors! This culture has faced unbelievable amounts of suffering through wars, famine, occupation, the splitting of the country in two -separating thousands of families in the process, (but that’s a story for another blogpost), and they have learned to survive by making use of everything nature has to offer. It is admirable!

So, I carefully climbed down a super steep ladder in the backyard and asked my roommate/neighbor to help me dig a hole in the backyard, I then, successfully buried the food waste and gave back to the environment in the process. It was hilarious, but also gave me a “do-gooder” feeling, and strangely also of belonging in this little neighborhood.

Speaking of nature, not long ago, I was driving with my friend Yoon and noticed several fruit trees that still had fruit in them but the fruit had not been picked yet. I asked her the reason behind that and she told me that they always leave some fruit in the trees for the birds and other animals. The idea there is to give back to nature what it has blessed them with. That immediately reminded me of God’s mandate to Adam and Eve in Genesis to procreate and to subdue the earth; to take care of creation! We are not just called to share the gospel, but to live the gospel! And taking care of the land is also a way in which we can live out the gospel and look more like Jesus to those around us. Now that is definitely something to meditate on.

After all that work, I drove to a nearby shop to get some household items I needed and then found a neat little place for lunch. I had a stew with purple rice and the hottest chili’s you’ll ever eat (I like spicy but no, thank you!) and I ordered kimchi pancakes. It was all very delicious! And I’ll have you know I am adjusting to the language like a pro (google translate style).

I topped my experience with an ice vanilla latte. Get this, the latte came in a can, but somehow when she gave it to me it had ice cubes in it but it was sealed! How? I mean… 🤯 oh and the pink straw had the shape of a heart. Awww Korea, I just love you!

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      It is simple and yet so complicated. I was concerned about this very thing coming back to Korea, but thankfully, I have received good help.

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