Almost Home

Only two weeks after receiving our TMO shipment, Lorri committed us to entertain all the local folks who have helped us out in various ways since we arrived.  What does that mean?  It means completely decorating and clearing out all the rooms (except the master bedroom which, as always, is nothing more than storage).  For those of you who have fallen victim to a Lorri sponsored dessert, you know what comes next...cheesecake and over the top delicacies.

Wonder where Lorri would rather be?

Restraining Owen until the guests arrive...

Jacob doing some "joint" training with his bud Stephen.

The first thing you see when you walk in our apartment.

The adult half of the living room.  The other half is all toys and such.

And Even More Pictures!!!

I just thought this was a cute picture.  I was on our balcony watching them walk to the playground.  Anna Grace dressed herself.  I know it's hard to see.  Maybe one day we'll get a camera with a decent zoom.

Anna Grace is magic.  I think Kevin turned his head to tell me something and in a matter of seconds she had the helmet on and was on the bike.  She's hard corps.

Ethan decided to express his patriotism on Memorial Day by wearing a flight suit.  He wore this to the BX when we went shopping.  He paid close attention to detail.  He had on his brown shoes (not shown) because they looked like Kevin's flight boots.  He wore the government issue sunglasses Kevin gave him, too.

The breakfast of champions.  And Maverick.

(all of these cereals have less than 10g of sugar)

(that may be why Ethan's face looks like that)

Just some recent pictures

Anna Grace gets her piggies painted by daddy

Owen helps make brownies

Jacob & Ethan reading (Ethan is in the playroom, Jacob in the living room)

Owen's engineering marvel

Anna Grace contemplates (her shirt is on backwards)

More 4-9

Just more pictures from the 4-9 market.  The one of Anna Grace is actually the meal I made with the mushrooms.  She devoured then entire meal.  It was a recipe called "Jerk Tilapia with Creamy Grits topped with Mushroom Scallion Sauce and a side of grilled spicy carrots & broccoli"  I guess that whole notion that kids are more likely to eat new foods if they help in the preparation is true.  To the market every week!!

The 4-9 Market

I decided it was time to go off base solo.  There is only so much you can do on a weekday without it getting boring.  So I packed up the babies in the double jogger and headed out.  The directions I was given was to go over a bridge..."it's just over the bridge, not far". Perhaps not in a car...but in a double jogger, it is quite a feat.  Mind you the bridge is arched, therefore creating a HILL.  Good times pushing the jogger.  Anyway, we made it over the bridge and I got a little nervous-- merely because I was in uncharted territory.  And I didn't see any Americans.  And everything I learned at the language course I took went in one ear and out the other.  But I pressed forward.  I saw umbrellas lining the street, so I gathered I was heading in the right direction.  When I got closer to the umbrellas, a Korean lady wrinkled her nose at me as I struggled to navigate the jogger on the narrow sidewalk without running into the vendors.  She motioned for me to get on the road, suggesting it would be easier.  I contemplated this for a few seconds while she continued on ahead of me and decided that I'd rather deal with an angry vendor than push my precious cargo in the crazy Korean traffic.  And I did just that.  Right about this time, the babies started getting fussy, so they had their lunch at 10:45.  I was actually searching for mushrooms.  I found some early in the market for ₩2000, and I bought them only because I couldn't understand what the ladies were saying.  Fresh meat :)  I really didn't need all that I got.  I am still trying to find uses for them.  We saw garlic like we had never seen before (see picture).  I also purchased dried kiwi (₩5,000=about $4.00) .  I wanted something new to bring home, but not so far out that no one would touch it.  The market went further down the alley, but I thought the babies were on the brink of losing their patience, so we headed back.  I took a different route home, which is a monumental step, as many of you know how easily I get lost in my own hometown.  But it turned out to be a good decision.  Along the way, we saw a man selling octopus on the sidewalk (see picture).  I also found a man selling plants for super cheap...I got two plants for ₩5,000 (about $4.00). 

A good time overall.  More pictures on the next post.

Pyeongtaek University, Day Three, Korean Village, Part II

Farmer's cottage

Traditional kitchen.  More on this another time.

Friendly natives.

Our guide, "Michelle," sharing rice wine with us

Kevin on a Korean swing.  This was a small one.

Pyeongtaek University, Day Three, Korean Village

Our group

Our guides, students at Pyeongtaek Univ

An early cash crop--I expect Lipski visitors soon.

Entrance to Korean villa

Kim-chi pots

Pyeongtaek University, Day Three, Lotte Mart

Today was our last day, and it was a busy one.  Finished watching the video on the Korean War (turns out no one really won), then drove to Lotte Mart to shop for toys to give ot some kids at an orphanage.  Lotte Mart is like an upscale Wal-Mart.  Since we were such a great group, we went to Alaska for dinner.  No moose or caribou, but Lorri ate octupus--twice.  After lunch it was off to the Korean Folk Village to see how life used to be lived in Korea.  

A long, long day--made longer when we got separated while driving back to Osan.  We were completely lost and our Hangeul skills were not what they should be, but somehow we got back on the highway (going the right direction), and finally made it back to Osan.

Woo Hoo!  Lotte Mart!!

The childcare center at Lotte Mart.  I think it was about 3,000 Won/hour (just under $3/hour)

Another satisfied customer!

You thought I was joking--we really went to Alaska!

The two octopi dishes are the ball at bottom left and the big pile of stuff bottom right.

Pyeongtaek University, Day Two

Our teacher, Mrs. Kim

Lorri interacts with the university students

Can you translate what is written here?

Hint, Isaiah 43:19

The festival

Day two was more of the same.  Watched 30 minutes of a video about the Korean War, then had a few lectures on Korean culture and traditions.  We ate lunch in the university cafeteria, then spent some time walking around a festival that was being held at the school.  In the afternoon we went back to our classrooms and spent 3 more hours learning Hangeul.

Pyeongtaek University, Day One

Lunch time!  Traditional seating--on the floor.

Some sort of pork cooking over hot coals at the table.

Lorri was delighted to be sitting on the floor!

The happy couple.

Lorri and I had our first day in a 3-day Korean Language and Culture class at Pyeongtaek University today.  It is offered to USFK (United States Forces Korea) personnel and is taught at the Pyeongtaek University campus, about 20 minutes away from Osan AB.  After dropping all the kids off at various locations this morning, we car-pooled to campus with about 24 other folks from Osan.  

Today's lesson plan included: a video about Hangeul, the Korean alphabet; a lesson on the Korean economy, a class on the history of Korean and US relations, a lunch trip to a local restaurant, and 3 hours of classroom instruction on Hangeul.  By 4:30 my head was spinning, but our Hangeul professor was very energetic and had a great sense of humor.  I think we got 2 semesters worth of Hangeul grammar in 3 hours.  

We got back to Osan around 5:15 and went to pick up all the kids--AG and Owen at the CDC, Ethan at the School Age center, and Jacob at his friend Steven's house.  After dinner I headed to the office for about an hour and a half of work.  

Tomorrow we get more language instruction, then off to the university cafeteria for lunch, and then some time at a festival at the university.

And wouldn't you know it, on top of all the fun we had, what could be better than a visit to our humble abode by a fairy princess!!

Household Shipment, Part II

Ethan and Owen's room.  Ethan is up high.

The Princess Chamber

Jacob's room.  His bed is on the way.

Master Bedroom.  Where is the bed?

The day is finally over.  Lorri went and hung out with some of her new buddies tonight, while I tried to clear a hole so that housing can remove the temp loan furniture tomorrow morning.  Oh yeah, and maintenance is coming tomorrow morning as well to fix a few small things.  And did I mention Lorri and I will be gone from 8-5 Wed-Fri this week?  A whole lot is going to get done around here this week.  A whole lot.  

At any rate, here is the general layout of the kids rooms.  Ethan and Anna Grace switched rooms, giving the princess her own room.  Ethan had been complaining about not liking being alone in his room.  He can also fall asleep with the light on.  Owen is terrified of the dark, and the light keeps Anna Grace awake.  It'll be easier to decorate this way, too.  Cars and jets is easier than cars and pink girly stuff.  Unless it is Owen, and then you just go with the pink girly stuff.

Daddy's little girl