It is hard to imagine that I have been here in beautiful South Korea for 4 months.  I am heading home on Saturday and am spending this last week sight seeing and visiting  new places in Korea, including  Jeju Island.  
I have made so many new friends and   discoveries. The most exciting  discoveries I have made have actually been about myself.   I realize how much I depend on collaboration in the creative process of   putting together a play. I realized I have taken much for granted when  communicating with someone for whom the  National language is difficult for them to understand. I realize how much I " verbally process" explanations and need to stream line my train of thought in order to communicate  with  speed and thoroughness.  

 I have always been dependent on the kindness of strangers, and the kindness  I received through new friends in Korea has  been overwhelming.  The language barrier required that I always have a translator , but there were several time I just started speaking Korean, or at least I thought I was doing so until I saw the blank expressions. 
 However, I am amazed  by how much we are alike. There are more similarities than differences between people.   The work I did in Busan was based on getting actors to actor on the impulses and  feel their strength and understand the power of the human experience. Universal them retold  through new characters,    are what keep audiences coming to the  theatre. 
I was awestruck by the beauty of the Korean people;  Koreans are gorgeous in their hospitality and kindness as well as their  faces ( both natural and cosmetically enhanced) and their  fashion sensibilities. 

It's hard to believe that Children of Eden will open the end of next week. As we have been technically in rehearsals all semester, this is the longest period of time I have rehearsed a singular play in a very long time. 
 There is something to be said for allowing character development. I see the growth and in each rehearsal, some student finds something new.  We have time to clean and focus scenes. 
 But the length of down time between rehearsals causes  some cast members to forget notes, so there are cons as well as pros. And the  "Luxury of time"  concept is a falsehood- as we still do not have Act II completely blocked.  Because all cast members also pull double duty  as technicians and designers, we cannot rehearse during set construction, light hang and focus, and costume building.  So they are working 16 to 18 hour days to get all finished so that  everyone can be onstage for tech.
We are also slowed down by the language barrier, as every note , question and direction must be  translated. I have learned the value of an economic vocabulary and often use  hand gestures  to signify  " I got it- let's move on."
 Still I am very encouraged with the work ethic and talent pool that Dongseo has provided in these wonderful students. I am eager for them to share their hard work and this beautiful story with audiences.

 But not until we finish blocking!