of being homesick. The Hong's left for New York City and I didn't realize how much I would miss the girls until they were gone. I can't talk to Reagan very often since he had a disaster of a time in Hawaii. He apparently dropped his phone in the ocean and got his wallet stolen. However, with the Korean Adoptees Conference going on, I have kept myself busy by hanging out with new friends and tutoring at Junggi's college.
I still cannot believe I am here during this huge event for people like me. I have met people from all over the World. There are over 500 adoptees from Korea and 100 of them are from Denmark. Who knew, right? We have been eating like the Koreans do. First we started at a cafe, then went to a Korean BBQ. Right after that, we went and had my favorite, berry pabingsu. About ten minutes later we ate out again at another Korean restaurant. The servings are not small. The food fills every inch of the table.
I get lost everyday and walk for hours trying to find what I am looking for. It is really hard to navigate away from the subway lines unless you know Korean or have wifi. This morning, I woke up thinking to myself, breaking the toilet tank cover is the most ridiculous thing I could have done, in a foreign country. It's not like I can call anyone here in Korea to see if they have the part. Before today, I thought I might have to buy a whole toilet, in order to get the back of one. It was my goal to find a replacement tank for the house. I walked forever, so it seemed. Then finally, I found a glowing store filled with toilets. I looked online to see if I could just order the replacement. Online they wanted $100, plus $100 for shipping. I found the tank cover for $15. After I left the store I was completely lost. I ran into a market that I had no business being in. It was filled with herbs, vegetables, and spices that stretched farther then the eye can see. All I wanted to do was get home some how. I found a map in Korean and started talking to myself. I had absolutely had it. This older man walked up to me and tried to ask me in Korean where I was trying to go. I pulled out my English map on my phone to show him, but he couldn't read it. He stopped a lot of people on the street to help us find where I was trying to go. He continued to walk with me for miles. Then we stopped in front of a bus stop and I tried to mime that I would continue walking. He was not going to let me walk. He said, "an dae," meaning no, and told the bus driver to take me to the station that I needed to go to. However, it was the wrong station. I was trying to go to Sinseol-dong and I was dropped off at Sindang. I think we miscommunicated. It was very generous of the man to help like he did. I made it home, that's all that matters.
I still cannot believe I am here during this huge event for people like me. I have met people from all over the World. There are over 500 adoptees from Korea and 100 of them are from Denmark. Who knew, right? We have been eating like the Koreans do. First we started at a cafe, then went to a Korean BBQ. Right after that, we went and had my favorite, berry pabingsu. About ten minutes later we ate out again at another Korean restaurant. The servings are not small. The food fills every inch of the table.
I get lost everyday and walk for hours trying to find what I am looking for. It is really hard to navigate away from the subway lines unless you know Korean or have wifi. This morning, I woke up thinking to myself, breaking the toilet tank cover is the most ridiculous thing I could have done, in a foreign country. It's not like I can call anyone here in Korea to see if they have the part. Before today, I thought I might have to buy a whole toilet, in order to get the back of one. It was my goal to find a replacement tank for the house. I walked forever, so it seemed. Then finally, I found a glowing store filled with toilets. I looked online to see if I could just order the replacement. Online they wanted $100, plus $100 for shipping. I found the tank cover for $15. After I left the store I was completely lost. I ran into a market that I had no business being in. It was filled with herbs, vegetables, and spices that stretched farther then the eye can see. All I wanted to do was get home some how. I found a map in Korean and started talking to myself. I had absolutely had it. This older man walked up to me and tried to ask me in Korean where I was trying to go. I pulled out my English map on my phone to show him, but he couldn't read it. He stopped a lot of people on the street to help us find where I was trying to go. He continued to walk with me for miles. Then we stopped in front of a bus stop and I tried to mime that I would continue walking. He was not going to let me walk. He said, "an dae," meaning no, and told the bus driver to take me to the station that I needed to go to. However, it was the wrong station. I was trying to go to Sinseol-dong and I was dropped off at Sindang. I think we miscommunicated. It was very generous of the man to help like he did. I made it home, that's all that matters.
I know some of you might be concerned that I am not resting enough. The doctor told me to go about my daily routines. I would go absolutely crazy, if I had to rest, while being here, I would just sit and worry. On that note, I am going to Japan on Friday. I have been debating whether or not to go. Jeff, my cousin and his wife, Yori and their two sons just moved to Japan. I don't foresee myself going to Japan any other time. I have been waiting and watching online for a flight at a good price. Finally, I found some that i felt good about. I bought the tickets last night. I am trying to live on the bright side of not having kids. (Being able to travel as I please.) It might be years before I get to see my cousin and his family. I promise, I thought this one through.
I miss and love you all!!
Lost in a random market
Garlic anyone?
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| Before |
After
Mall in Ilsan
Potato tornado
One of my new favorites: kimchi jigae. I didn't think I would ever like kimchi the way I do now. It grows on you and it's really healthy to eat.
The escalators at supermarkets are flat so the shopping cart can go up and down. You can let go of the cart and it won't move. You should see the car elevators. Since Seoul is so populated the only way to expand is up or down.
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