HI EVERYONE!!!!!
I am Kyla and proud to be a HEARTLAND Nomad!!!
Actually I have become more and more Texan as I have been out here for a week. I have to admit that when I first heard that I would be on the Heartland team I was a bit disappointed. I couldn’t think of any places I would truly want to visit here in the middle, at least not right away. But as I thought more and more about the Heartland and the lovely states we get to visit I became more excited. I began to remember all the friends I already have dotted along the Heartland and then the joy burst forth!
So today, a week into tour it with great pleasure that I introduce myself to ya’ll and start this wonderful, newfound relationship! This is my second tour with LiNK and I plan on recording even more wonderful experiences here than before. Yup! That’s right! Round two! Back in action! I originally got involved with LiNK after a dear friend told me about an opporunity she “just knew I would be perfect for! You love to travel! You already love South Korea! Time to love the North!” I already loved the South because I had spent a year teaching English there after graduating from Seattle University in 2009. While I never imagined I would ever go to South Korea, I found myself there growing and changing and being challenged in so many ways. I even got the rare privilege to meet two North Korean refugees! Both instances came to my complete surprise.
I used to regularly hang out with my Korean American friends, learning how to play Korean cards and beating them badly at it! On one particular night instead of the two sisters coming to my apartment I went to theirs. They were having a long lost friend come and visit and invited me to join. The catch for me was of course, Korean cards. So I was quite excited to join their reunion. Upon arrival I was informed that we would wait to eat because another friend was coming and he was bringing a friend. They finally arrived and I got to meet everyone. The last person I was introduced to was Young Pyeol 영별. I then learned she was from North Korea! I was totally shocked! Through the night I heard her story of crossing into China when she was 15 with her mother and now having lived in South Korea for the past 5 years. Young Pyeol didn’t speak any English so I tried to listen carefully as she spoke Korean but I am no where near fluent and many of the details were incomprehensible to me. But that didn’t much matter to me. I just wanted to spend time with all my new friends and enjoy a night of playing Korean cards. At least we all had that in common despite our ability to communicate.
Many months later, as my year in Korea came to a close I met my second North Korean refugee. I went to my 4th grade class as usual, but had been informed that we had a new student. I was excited because the last time I got a new student she was from Canada and had become a dear friend even though she was only 9 years old. This time I arrived to class to have my students hurriedly tell me that this little girl was from North Korea! I couldn’t believe it! How did a child reach South Korea? I smiled sweetly at her and introduced myself in Korean and like I always say to all my students while making a heart with my arms above my head: “사랑해요” (sa-rang-hay-yo) or in English I love you.
When I left class my co-teacher told me a little more of this little girl’s story. Her and her mother had reached China in the winter. They were able to travel across to SE Asia and finally fly to South Korea. They had just finished Korea’s government resettlement process for North Korean and had been placed at my public school. My teacher told me that its important to treat her like everyone else and not make a big deal about her being North Korean because she would probably face enough questions from others. I agreed and just expressed regret that I only get to see her for 3 weeks.
When I got back to the US I remember Young Pyeol and this little girl. I wanted to learn more about North Korea and give my time to seeing a difference. So I became a Nomad and toured the Southeast in the Spring of 2011. I couldn’t stay away and am now excited for being a Heartland Nomad this Fall!
I can’t wait to get out there and meet you! See you soon!
