Korea Day Three

Mike and I decided to get out this morning and do some shopping and exploring. Seoul is a very modern city and you can definately tell they are on the cutting edge of technology here. There are approximately 10 million people that live here but the strange thing is we have never felt unsafe. You very rarely see police or ambulances and we have maybe heard one siren since we have been here. People speak much more quietly and do not yell at one another. It is a very refreshing feeling. Another thing I love is it seems like people are genuinely happier here. Most have smiles on there faces as they walk down the street and merchants are very appreciative when you shop with them. Customer service is excellent and people take their jobs seriously. The work ethic is impeccable.

There is a reason people are smaller and in good physical condition here. People walk everywhere and there are no benches to stop and rest on. Also the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables is on every corner. The servings are MUCH smaller-no super sizing here!!! They bring glasses of water-small juice glasses 3/4 filled with water to your meal and spoons and forks for desserts are literally the size of baby silverware. The women and men seem to be very dressed up here and moving at a fast pace. These women can hustle in stiletto heels and boots. The fashion is GREAT. We went to the Hyundai super store and there are about 10 stories of all different things. It is like Neiman Marcus and Hyvee rolled into one. We sampled some strange little chunks of meat and had NO IDEA what it was but it was tasty. Sometimes you just go with it.

We went to Namdaemun Market which is a traditional type of open market with aisles and rows of everything you can imagine. It was quite a sight. We had some adorable teenage girls take our picture and we were trying to ask them about a certain item I was wanting and they go so sorry but we are Japanese and just visiting!! We all laughed about this and then we took their group photo. The Korean people seem very apologetic when they can't speak English but I wonder if we would be the same if we where in their situation and couldn't speak Korean. I have learned just enough words to be dangerous HAHA!! We are having a very memorable trip and I am so glad we came. We are getting good at catching taxis and reading strange maps. This is our last night together as a family of two (three counting Winston)because tomorrow is Gotcha Day for Miles HaeWon. We will have lunch with several other adoptive families tomorrow and tour the Eastern Welfare Society. We will visit the babies home and I hope to spend some time in the nursery rocking babies. This is where they stay until they are placed in foster homes or if they have some health concerns. Please keep Miles' foster family in your thoughts and prayers as this is their last evening together and tomorrow he will leave the only "omma" he has known. We are so excited yet sad as well. So many emotions all wrapped into one moment. He will stay with us tomorrow evening in the hotel and we will leave Friday to head for home!!! We are under a typhoon warning which is a concern so we will play it all by ear. Please keep us in your prayers. We know God is good and has everything under control. Enjoy our pictures from today...Stay tuned for tomorrow!!!

Seoul!!!

This city is ginormous!!!! A few things we have noticed are even though we are in the heart of party central there is no loud screaming from college students and we have not heard one siren. I do not feel scared here and we were out last night just walking around and there were elderly folks, young children, business men and college students all out like it was the middle of the day. We ate at a KMC chicken joint last night and the employees spoke NO english. They were very kind and we managed to order some very tasty honey type of chicken. They served it with little white cubes of what tasted similar to cole slaw. It was a very tiny little place that seated maybe 15 people. It was good and they brought like a platter for us to share. Diet pop is kind of hard to find so we found a little convenience store that sold it by the liters so I was able to get some coke zero. They drink lots of tea and beer here. Also several coffee houses. The streets are very narrow and curvy. Tons of mopeds and bicycles. You definately have to pay attention where you are going. Tomorrow rather today we are going on the subway to a traditional type open market and on a bus tour. We want to continue to eat authentic type of food while we are here and step out of our comfort zone. This is how Miles HaeWon will feel when he gets home and I think it is good for everyone to step out of their comfort zone at some point. If time, we are also going on a palace tour.

Drum Roll Please!!

And now what you've all been waiting for-Introducing Mr. Miles HaeWon!!!

Pictures From the Trip Over

Made in the USA

We took gifts made in the U.S.A. to give HaeWons's social worker and foster family. I was curious what I could find and actually found more than I expected with some help from my friend Tracy also. Silly Putty/Pez dispensers/Crayola crayons/Cherry Mash Bars/Bodycology lotions and sprays just to name a few. We of course had to include some Mizzou stuff even though it was made in Honduras.

Give Me Some Heart And Seoul!!

Our journey started at 4:00 A.M. Sunday morning. Our flight left KCI at 7:00 so we wanted to be there by 5:30. My "Wonderful" sister got up at the crack of dawn to drive us from my brothers house in Platte City. Thank you sissy!! We had a layover in Atlanta and from there we had a direct flight to Seoul. It was a long flight- about 14 hours!!! I realized at the Atlanta airport we forgot BOTH of our pocket translators!! I went to the bookstore to get one and she said we are "Fresh Out" of Korean but we have Spanish and Japanese!! I said somehow I don't think that will help soooooo we are just winging it!!! Our hotel is very nice and about 10 minutes from Eastern Childrens Home. It is kind or like being in the heart of Westport. There are several universities around us and typically the action lasts until about 5:00 A.M. Korean Air was fabulous!! They gave everyone little slippers to wear and two meal and 2 snacks and several glasses of water and juice. I ate the western meal but there was a eastern meal offered as well. The flight atendants were beautiful (about 15 of them) and they all had cute little chignon hairdos and their scarves were starched and stood out like little wings. They were very hospitable. We sat next to a lovely little couple heading to Vietnam. They had another 4 HOURS after there stop in Seoul. They had not been home since 2005 and there daughter and other family lived there. I love to people watch so I was in Hog Heaven in the airports!! Stay Tuned...

We're Leaving On a Jet Plane!!!

After months of paperwork and preparation we received the call that was music to our ears, "You have Travel Clearance!" Since August 11th we have been on a bit of a roller coaster waiting for emails and this phone call. HaeWon (Miles) received emmigration permission on August 11th and his passport on August 16th and this morning he got the final clearance. Thanks to all our friends and family for ALL the prayers and many well wishes. Mike and I were both at work today and I know my co-workers were celebrating right along with me. We are so excited and have a lot of packing to do. We will be busy getting things crossed of our To Do List in the next few days. Better get the cobwebs dusted off our big ole suitcase cause Korea here we come!!!!