Modern Magical Time Machine | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Modern Magical Time Machine | Previous Challenge Entry
By Esther Jones
07/27/05
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I have a ticket
to a modern magical time machine
not quite as good as a transporter
flitting from spaceship to planet
in the twinkling of an eye
but better than a ship
sailing for months on end
in a tossing sea-
(I crossed the Channel once-
once was enough by boat!)

I have a ticket
to the magical land of far away
Hawaii
with volcanoes
and palm trees, many cultures
first long flight I ever took

Then to Thailand
That long flight
very long flight
an exhausted halt in Narita
and then finally
at Don Muang airport
at 11 at night
going through customs
and out the door
a blast of hot humid air
hits you in the face
definitely not Canada
Toto, we’re not
in Manitoba anymore!

Down to the guest house
drop off the suitcases
and go wandering off
down Silom
for something to eat
many food vendors in Bangkok
the Thai love to eat
so we sat down
Nancy ordered for us four
(her fourth trip)
my first taste of Thai food
phad thai
-stir fried noodles, egg, shrimp
peanuts, sugar and spicy sauce
delicious!
What’s Thai for delicious?
Got it.
Time for bed.
Sleeep.
Rise and shine
Nancy says,
Time to go sightseeing and touring
Yeah, lets go.
A quick breakfast of fresh fruit
and black rice
Now to find a bus
to the river
which bus?

We hop on
barely on board
and the bus lurches off
we hang on diligently
Off the bus
to the Grand Palace
the golden heart of Bangkok
where Buddhas and monks
sit
in gilded temples
that glitter
and flash
in the sun
The place is amazing

All too soon it’s time
for a snack
sticky rice and satay
watermelon, pineapple
and guava fruit too?
I’m going to like Thailand
I sure like the food
Finally a boat ride
on the river taxi
We wait for it to dock
and learn our counting
in Thai
useful for buying at the market
This is the beginning of
the adventure
My sister and I
and two others
soon to start teaching English
in a Christian school
The adventure begins.

I have a magical ticket
it’s called a passport
and it takes me to
many places
One year later,
I disembark in South Korea
Seoul
to teach English to the pastors
and missionaries to be
It’s still Asia
but different
Sweeping palace roofs
mountains looming everywhere
crowded highways
many cars
hot in summer
different food
different language
I learn to bow instead of wai
(hold hands just so in greeting)
lots of seaweed
and kimchi
many kinds of that pickled cabbage!
A desk in an office
full of many desks
that is the same
but a different boss
a different goal
no one here to break me in
from home
one sympathetic ear
of one who’d studied overseas
the rest were kind and generous
but we all laboured under our boss
equally hard
Subways and underground markets
workabholic lifestyle
not sabai
or relaxed
This is a different place.

I have a modern magical ticket
it takes me home
to recuperate
and wait
for another trip.
This time 8 months later
instead of cleaning houses
I’m off again
to Korea again?
Not sure why
but God wanted me to go
and so
I went.
Teaching English to children
in an academy –
school after school
these have no time to play
they just study
and study
until they fall asleep exhausted.
A tough place
no English speaking fellowship
just six months
alone
me and God

I have a modern magical ticket
but God comes too
soon fellowship returns
with newcomers
and 6 months later
I’m off to Thailand again.

My dream! My hope!
Another school
full of students
eager to learn
grades one and two
God does have a sense of humour
and here I am
waiting on Him.

Who should show up
in a prayer meeting
but a young man
with humour and spirituality
not that night
but some time after
we have lunch
and again
and again.
Is this God?
Is this the best for us?
Soon we are walking down the aisle
with orchids and roses
dressed up right
This is where we’re meant to be

I have a modern magical ticket
it has taken us to England
for a funeral
then to live
France
Korea again
and now
Canada.

I have a modern magical ticket
we’ll go back to Thailand
someday
with our daughter
in God’s time
in God’s way.

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