Mary Rager Summers
acting-president
acting-president
age
country that you're from favourite sport favourite Furey event what date or what event did you start volunteering for Jeju Furey? reason you joined Jeju Furey's executive team general thoughts on Jeju/Korea quote/motto recommendations for newbies to Korea/Jeju lesson(s) learned from living here what you like about Jeju Furey / what you don't favourite Jeju Furey memory event you'd most like to see in the future event you'd most like to not see in the future years lived in Korea, and years lived in Jeju final thought |
27 (September 22nd, 1986)
USA Soccer BVBs It must have been the beach clean-up before BVB 7 (May 2012). But I really started getting involved with the BVB8 (October 2012) planning. It started with Sara, the previous acting president. She was a good friend and I wanted to help her out as much as possible. It just snowballed from there I came to Jeju to stay for a year, in a month after moving here I decided to make it two years. I'm currently on my fourth year and it will take a lot to make me leave. So I guess you would say it's one of the best places I've ever been! "Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." - Mother Theresa (a smile sure does go a long way) get involved in as much as you can as soon as you can. There's more to the island/Korea than the bars. You'll make so many more awesome memories doing stuff around the island like Jeju Furey, helping Captain Clean, going to game nights, whatever. That's where true friendships and memories are made. Being an expat is a constant challenge - but living here, as an expat, really shows you how much you're able to accomplish It brings the whole community of Jeju together. Not just the expats. Not just the Koreans. Not just the athletes. Not just the artists. Jeju Furey is literally open to everyone and through all the diversity, everyone can find a perfect niche. What I don't like - that it doesn't have an event for every weekend! (Even though that would make my life even crazier!) Winning the BVB8 Tournament - hands down. My team was amazing. I became such great friends with them, and most of them were leaving the island after that tournament. Sharing in that feeling with them will forever be one of my favorite memories. ----- after 13 months as acting president and upon departure from Jeju----- I was humbled by the entire experience of the 'adoption' of the Hamdeok family - from the search to the initial interview, to the visit where we told them they were our new family and watching the mother's eyes fill with tears as she accepted the first gift to my final hug with the mother as she wished me well on my travels home. That family, especially the mother's strength and gratitude, will forever live on in my heart. A 5K race. It's in the works. It will happen Not see an event? Are you crazy - I want them all to happen!? All three magical years I've lived in Korea have been on Jeju I have grown to love Jeju Furey so much - every day it gives me the best feelings. Whether it's getting a huge donation from someone I never expected, having people come to my aid when I'm struggling to get a task done, seeing all the good the events bring to the community and to our families, or giving the much appreciated monetary gifts to the Jeju families - Jeju Furey has blessed me in many ways and for that, for the community, for the cause, I am truly grateful. -----after 13 months as acting president and upon departure from Jeju----- Thank you, to Daniel Nabben for giving me this opportunity; to my husband Tom for making it possible for me to fill the role of acting president; to the community for trusting and supporting me through all the ups, downs, and sideways; and to everyone ever involved. I cannot wait to see what Furey grows to be in the next five years! |