Friday, August 19th

So much time flew by during the week before I could sort it out.

I was working out on my testing. IN the morning I got up to do 2,000 cuts with the gumdo sword. I kept my shirt off as the morning heat was perspiring every pore of my body.

Starting and stopping as my body was exausted in the process. My breathing labored and my body itched from bug bites. I was feeling uncertain as to whether I could do it. 15 minutes later my body twitched and my legs.

My knees bent and my butt out are part of the gumdo pose and I fought the urge to lift my knees up.

I had been doing gumdo for weeks but this week I got the challenge to do 2,000. On Monday, I did 1,000. On Wednesday I did 1,400. And today I was going to do 2,000.

My pose was something of a concern as Heejern might not like the current pose I was doing which was quite higher than a gumdo pose.

I stopped. I pushed my legs down and went again.

"Endure," was the voice in my head.

"Endure."

I had been listening to my breathing. Between it and the chickens and buys making their noises it was the only sound around.

The sun was rising it was beautiful.

100 then 200 then 300 cuts. I felt moments of happiness and then moments of darkness.

Heejern's voice which has been a comfort and positive voice sounded weak. I had many more to go and I felt tired. Distracting thoughts filled my heand and negative feelings.

I was not going to lose this challenge however so I continued.

When I got to 1,000 I told myself, "Okay, now I'm halfway finished. Only half to go."

My thoughts got more positive as I felt more hope.

I finished. I felt great.

I came into the house. JuHee had finished breakfast.

We set about our daily tasks.

It was really hot today so after some hours we broke for lunch and we finished work for the day.

I was really tired so I caught up on things.

I finished doing what I was doing than I was sitting down for meditation when JuHee came in and suggested we do meditation.

"I was just about to."

We sat down for meditation. Five minute later I fell asleep. I woke up some time later.

Yang came over.

"Greg."

I came outside.

"We cut the pipe."

"We need 3.5 cm between the top?" Yang asked about details I gave him before.

I

He left and came back. I will take you to a friend. Tell him what to do and he will help you.

"Okay," I said.

I followed him. We took the equipment in the truck. We got to the neighbor with the dogs and chickens. Tools and equipment and garbage were around. Bird droppings on the pavement. Rusty cages lined the backyard. A stone building was connected to one side of the containers. The house preceding the backyard was clean and tidy when we entered.

Yang called for the man. The man came out. Yang asked him to help me. Soon I understood how the man was going to help. He had a blowtorch which could cut the hold and the do the piping for the rocket stove.

It was easy to explain what to do but hard for him to implement. He had problems cutting so he could fit two pipes together. The 3d nature of the cutting was hard for him to imagine.

Two hours later and a help from another friend and he was finished.

I got back and Yang told me he found a top to cut. We traced a circle and I cut with a metal grinder. Three attempts and I hadn't cut perfectly. We drew a circle as if it would fit on top according to the lid of the container we were using, but then I needed it to fit inside so I had to then cut it a cm inside.

Friends of Yang's were coming over. The man with the dog cages drove his truck. Yang Ju a mechanic who owns one of the fields we grow our food on. The man with the dog cages came over. He was yelling and concerned. All I could do was say it's okay in Korean. I guessed he was concerned I would hurt myself.

Yang came over. He looked at the metal he gave me to use for the top of the stove. The top would rest on the insulation of soil below it and the flames come out of the center. A grate would me on top for the flame.

"Do you think that metal is too weak?"

"I think it will be fine, because if it breaks you can cut a new piece easily."

"Yes."

"Time to finish."

Yang walked to another task.

I walked to JuHee, "What can I do?"

"It's okay I'm finished."

Yang yelled, "Greg, I need your help."

I came to him.

"Get the coal."

I saw smoke rising from another place. I came over to see wood being burned. in a hallowed out gas container. The pine resin and smoke was all over. The man were fanning the fire with pine branches. Yang JU had taken charge.

I did different things for Yang. Mostly, I stood around. I helped set the table outside.

We sat down eventually. Pork belly and beef steaks were grilled by Yang Ju. Banchan from around the table was had. I found out later that this was my goodbye party. It hadn't really hit me still.

"The man over there (gesturing to the end of the table) came from Seoul to be a farmer too, like you."

"Does he work on one of these farms?"

"He works anywhere? That's the way it works here.

He was really stressed in Seoul so he came here."

I understand his story. I find life in the northern part to be really stressful. The energy is different. There are many difficulties and negative distractions. It will be my most difficult job returning back from the experience.

Some time passed.

"I need to interview you tomorrow I said to Yang. I have done some clips today about different subjects."

"JuHee film him making the fertilizer."

The three of us laughed.

I stood up and squated.

"Is that the right angle?" I said.

And everybody laughed more.

Friends went home.

Yang left first.

"When will you come tomorrow?"

"11."


Some more people stayed and kept refilling my glass with beer.

JuHee told me one of the men found me to be the gentlest man he ever met. That was nice.

Then everybody had to leave.We said goodbye

I did the cleaning.  Saturday would be my last full day on the ranch. Things needed to be finished. My rocket stove and some rules I agreed to right up for the farm.

But now I had to sleep. I drank a lot of beer with everybody so I laid down and went to sleep.