Modern Religious Experience: Personal Commemoration- Reflection #7

Modern Religious Experience: Personal Commemoration- Reflection #7: "Think of an event in your life- past, present or future. You are going to create a commemorative ritual for this event. First, describe the ..."

One of the most significant events of my life so far was when I left Indonesia in July of 2009 to come to Seoul. I had never moved before and everything I knew and loved was in that country that I had called home for 15 years. Leaving it to go live a foreign land was a very difficult time in my life, but has had a huge impact on me as an individual.

We landed in Seoul on July 15th, so my commemoration would occur annually on that date, all day. When we arrived, I remember being very upset and unwilling to accept this new culture because of how much I missed my old home. That's why for my commemoration I would only eat Korean food all day. This would be a reminder to me of how even though I was hesitant at first, I ended up liking the Korean food and culture once I gave it a chance. It also reminds me that I should embrace change and new experiences.

The hardest part of coming to Seoul was not having any friends here in the beginning. I would spend hours online talking to my friends in Indonesia to try and make the distance between us feel smaller. For the commemoration of this event I would call my family in Indonesia as well as my friends, in remembrance of the nights I spent missing them terribly but knowing that they are only a phone call or 'instant message' away.
 On this day, I would read this quote that my friend showed me: 
"Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends." - Richard Bach. This quote was very relevant to my life during this time, and made me think more positively and look forward to the next time I would get to see them. I'm very blessed to be able to travel to other countries and visit my family and friends. 

Finally, every year after my graduation I would try to come back to Seoul on this day, or at least during the summer, to remind myself of how this country which was once just a foreign land to me was now another place I could call home.

The Morality of Greek Myths - Reflection #6

Cupid and Psyche is the story of a mortal maid, Psyche, whose striking beauty caused even Venus, the goddess of beauty, to be jealous. Venus then sent her son Cupid to cast an evil spell upon the girl. However, upon seeing her face Cupid ends up falling in love with Psyche, and they wed and live together in his castle. Psyche’s jealous sisters cause her to doubt her husband, whom she had never seen in person. Overcome with suspicion, Psyche sneaks into Cupid’s bedchamber to see his monstrous face, but instead finds the most irresistible of all the gods. Overwhelmed by his beauty she accidentally wakes him. Cupid is hurt by Psyche’s betrayal, and so leaves her. Psyche, brokenhearted, is left determined to earn back her husbands trust - whatever it takes. 

There are several morals imbedded in the story, but one that particularly stood out to me was the concept of trust in a relationship. When Cupid finds Psyche by his bedside, he exclaims, “Love can never dwell where there is suspicion”. Because Psyche had doubted her love for Cupid, she ended up losing everything. Trust is an essential part of a relationship, and is required in order for there to be love. Also, Psyche’s act of trying to secretly see Cupid’s face clearly breaks his rules, and she is punished by Cupid leaving her. This story reflects the idea that there are always consequences for disobedience. These examples show that love and obedience are important virtues for the Greeks, and that is what is to be taken away from the story.