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.