5. First Impression
④ How did I end up going to the U.S.?
I opened the door…
On the concrete floor were a few tatami mats. On top of them, an old blanket with tigers and huge flowers. An old office desk. One small heater.
'…Hmm.'
I hesitated for a few seconds, then collapsed into the nearest chair.
'I seriously misjudged this place…'
The heated floor, neat bedding, proper storage—everything I had taken for granted simply vanished. Seeing something that felt closer to indoor homelessness, I could almost feel my inner system spinning at full speed, desperately trying to figure out how to adapt. Still, I reset quickly.
'Interesting. Let’s give it a try.'
Winter 2020. The only photo of my room. Shot during the ChanQi, so I look thinner.This underground, dungeon-like space wasn’t just filled only with venerables.
There were also lay persons from Korea—people like me who had attended the short FoQi and ChanQi in Korea and then decided to come to the U.S. to cultivate. There were, of course, local Americans who had deliberately chosen to stay at the temple as well.
People often sat together in small groups in the kitchen, chatting about how they ended up here.
And that kitchen… was quite a sight.
Were the things hanging on the oven handle dishcloths or rags?
When was the last time the floor had been cleaned?
Three different teams were trying to cook at the same time—so was there even someone in charge of the kitchen? Or was there no one at all?
Questions everywhere, chaos everywhere—at least to me.
Compared to how we prepare for winter retreat in Korea, this was almost unbelievable.
I honestly wondered, With everything in this state, is this international retreat really going to start?
Meanwhile, only the Koreans—myself included—were afflicted enough to grab whatever broom they could find, start cleaning, and wash the dishcloths.
Everyone else looked strangely peaceful, which somehow felt even more strage.
Even the old, bluish fluorescent lights in the dark made everything feel more confusing and strange.
Strange or not, ready or not—the FoQi began.
The WMT kitchen has moved to the Maitreya Building, but this space still holds many of WMT’s storie.(To be continued)