The Place I Called Home This Summer

I should have taken pictures of the apartment I have been living at when I first got here in July. Thanks to my friend, Randi, for inquiring about the Hong's residence, to remind me to do so! Like I said before, most families in Seoul live in apartments due to Seoul's high population. Prices for apartments can be compared to New York City. However, it is said studio apartments can be more affordable. 

To the right and left are cupboards for more shoes. 

The tall white machine to the right is an air conditioner that talks to you. It's made from Samsung, of course! It seems like all electronics are either Samsung or LG. A lot of people who actually have a car here, drive (what seems like) Kia's or Hyundai's. Same with Okinawa. There were a lot of Toyota's and Honda's. The interesting thing was, the cars looked like the ones in the US, but have completely different names on the back. 

Every home I have been into has a porch in each room. I am not sure why. On the porch is a dehumidifier. I have never seen or used one, until I got here. 

Each kitchen has a water purifier and kimchi refrigerator. 

Most Koreans line dry their clothing. However, the Hong's were accustomed to American living, since they lived in Oregon for the past ten years. 

The Hong's are a family of musicians. Junggi sings and plays the guitar. Soo plays the cello, piano, and violin. Jenna plays the piano and violin. Yuna is just a toddler, we will see what happens! 

Jenna's bedroom. I stayed on the bottom bunk and she slept on the top! :) 

View from the back window. It's harder to find apartments with such a nice view. The park and trails behind the apartment are beautiful and peaceful. 

View from the front. 

Tennis court and soccer field. 

Yuna loves washing her hands. If she could wash them all day, I think she would. 

This morning I had Korean grapes for the first time. They are very large. You don't eat the skin because its so thick. The grapes here taste like candy. They are very sweet. 

For lunch, Soo, made japchae and she also made fresh milk bread. I am going to get the recipe from her! I hope I can make it as good as she does. 

Then we went out for my favorite dessert, berry pabingsu. Like bibimbap, you have a nice presentation and then you mix it all together. I don't know of any place in Oregon that makes this dessert. If you find a place, I will drive there! 

We took a piece of chocolate cake home from the cafe we had dessert at. 

I have been spoiled here. Soo is an amazing cook. She made vegetable lasagna and homemade rolls. MiYoung came for dinner. Junggi had to work on some of the baseball players shoulders. This was the first dinner we didn't have banchan (side dishes). Then, MiYoung, brought out some jalapeños in a bowl. So then we had our banchan. I don't think a meal is a meal without it here. 

Here is the chocolate cake from Coco Bruni and some chewy desserts that MiYoung brought back from Turkey. 

I forgot to mention Korean ages here. Most everyone here in Korea is considered to be one when they are born. Every Korean shares the same birthday, which is the Asian New Year. That is when everyone turns a year older. For legal purposes they use their actual birthdate. So many people will ask you how old you are, right away so they know how to address you. When I state my age, they will ask if it is my Korean age or legal age.

Also, I have been asked what blood type I am. I honestly didn't know until I asked at the fertility clinic. When they asked me first, what blood type I was, I told them I didn't know. They looked at me surprised that I didn't have a clue. Apparently, some Koreans believe if you are type A, you are conservative, loyal, and stubborn. Type B or B+ people are animal loving, passionate, and forgetful. AB types are rational, empathetic, and indecisive. Type O's are ambitious, athletic, and arrogant. These are of course superstitions. Some Koreans take blood types seriously. There are a lot more traits for each blood type. I just named a few positive and one negative for each one. Guess which one I am? If you guessed Type B, you were right! I am an animal lover! Here is a picture of my little furry ones, if you haven't met them already. 

They are best friends. 

One more off the topic subject is the use of stamps. Every Korean citizen has their own special stamp that is used on all official documents. I watched a lady stamp a whole binder of pages. I think you might need to have the official stamp without any copies of it. I never noticed until now, all of my adoption papers from Korea have stamps next to the the signer's name. 

This is a picture of some authors of a dissertation that was given to Junggi as a gift from one of his students. 

Yuna wanted me to share a message with you all...GO DUCKS!

This is my last night here. It is bittersweet. I am going to miss the Hong family, but am ready to get back to Oregon! I am leaving at 10:00 p.m. tomorrow night and arriving in Portland, with a two hour layover in Hawaii, at the same time  and day that I left. Even though the flight is over 16 hours! Crazy! I am not excited for the jet lag! See you soon!

Saranghae (I love you!)