Dear John

Dear Loyal Readers,

You have obviously noticed how much of a slacker I have been--it is true. I appreciate your curiosity into our lives. Unfortunately I am saying goodbye, at least for a while. If you really want to hear from us, we love letters and I promise to write back. And yes, I am still trying to get all our wedding thank-yous out but I will write you back. Okay, maybe I shouldn't promise that. I'm taking that back, sorry.

I haven't felt like blogging much lately. So much has been going on with moving and I simply don't feel settled. That's my reason and I am stinking to it. So instead of you checking the blog every once in a while and getting the same old page, you can know I am taking a hiatus for a while and I hope I spelled that correctly.

That's all for now.

Water Rafting?

Last Days of Korea: Oh ya, we went water rafting! Oh wait, maybe it was more like water floating. We basically had one somewhat exciting rapid but mostly just floated down the river for about um, 3 hours! Luckily it was absolutely beautiful! Unluckily, it wasn't all that warm that particular day. On one of the extremly rapid rapids our rafting guides had us get out and walk on the rocks next to the water. Oh ya, we're hardcore!

It's Been a While

Okay, I'm not quite sure who exactly still checks this blog but I gotta say--I want to post about the past few weeks but I almost feel like posting about them won't do them justice or rather it just seems like a huge task. Plus, I'm being super lame right now. But the thing that keeps me going is reading other people's blogs :) and, of course, comments. We appreciate the love, concern, and support from our family and friends. I guess I feel so intimitated because it's really hard to decide even where to start because we've been up to so much. I guess we'll just have to take this one step at a time...one very tiny step at a time.

We tried to fit in as much of Korea in as we could the last little bit we were there. We had to clean the apartment and get everything ready for the packers. And of course, leaving that until the last minute wasn't the smartest thing to do. So it's also been a stressful time for us. We got all packed, cleaned, the movers had taken what they were shipping and we only had our luggage to take to the hotel and we'd be sitting pretty for a few days. Of course, that day, that particular hour it decided to POUR down rain! No joke, it was as if someone decided to POUR water on us and our luggage. Fun times. At least it wasn't cold. Just wet.

I tried taking a picture of the rain but of course, it's hard to get the idea of how hard it was raining.

I Can't Decide

Where to Begin?

Don't do this at home!

Still Closed...

Closed until...

Osan Market

A couple weeks ago we went down to Osan. Osan is where one of the Air Force bases in Korea is. Going there is soooo different than Army posts. Air Force bases are totally clean and nice, and their hotel is only $28 compared to ours here that is over $75! Air Force people get it good. We stopped in at the market on the way:

Can you tell how HUGE these green onions are? They were about 2 feet long and super thick.

Fish? Anyone? Anyone? You see fish just about everywhere in Korea--even for sale in the subway.

Rick was saying this was sort-of like a deli, where you could get potato salad, pasta salad or other deli food. Except this is a Korean style deli.

Be afraid, be very afraid.

Melon of Water

Nothing like some good watermelon in the summertime. Watermelons can run about $18 at regular stores here in Korea. I got this puppy for $5 or $6 (I can't remember now) at 5 Day Market. It had it's own burlap-ish carrying contraption so I was eager to lug it home--big mistake. The walk home had to be about 2 miles, if not more and it was hot and humid that day like crazy. When I finally got home I was so proud of myself and I wanted Rick to cut open the melon and enjoy my devotion to summertime treats. It didn't happen that way, instead, I think it sat on the counter for a day or two until I tried to cut it myself (that didn't work) so I had to threaten Rick to cut it or else... Once it was cut it was oh, so delicious!

Mitchell's

It's funny to blog about this place because we've only been there twice together but we had a fun time both times and I want to remember it. The first time we went there we went for a comedy show. The comedy show we could have missed. entirely. But the food, so good and reasonably priced. We left right after we finished our slice of chocolate mousse cake, priced at $1.95! We like visiting Camp Red Cloud because it is super nice and clean and I even won an ipod shuffle right there in those very walls. The morale department put on a version of "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" and I won an ipod shuffle--go figure!

KORAIL

I cannot pass up posting about our mode of transportation throughout Korea!



Dear KORAIL Subway System,

You have been so good to us. We can get where we need to go because of you. Not only are you clean and on time but you are inexpensive too! I am so glad you visit us all the way up in Dongducheon, and even go to Soyosan Mountain where we still want to go. You are very popular and have many visitors daily. I am glad I can put my things up above on the racks and never think that they might get stolen. I also appreciate that you are so easy for sellers to walk up and down the aisle trying to sell me stuff I never knew existed. Yes, I did buy 3 pairs of sport sleeves even though I'd never worn the first pair I bought a month ago. I bought a gloucosomine patch even though I couldn't understand all the benefits associated with it. And yes, I bought the cucumber slicer. This little gadget slices cucumbers so thin you can practically see through them. It was very amusing when the salesperson put them all over their face. A few minutes later another salesperson came through slicing cucumbers but this time proceeded to put the slices on other people's faces. Oh that was a good one! I also bought fans that turn into sun hats and some regular old fans but way cheaper than in the market. Shopping while traveling on your efficient train always brightens up my day!

Oh, Korea Subway, you are too good to us. You are speedy and reliable and you keep growing!

May you always remain wonderful,

me

Rick checking out the map

A door that leads to the other cars on the train, choo-choo!

See, nice and clean

People actually care about the elderly here, these seats are set aside for them and they are red as opposed to the normal blue seats. Thing is, men have priority in Korea. Sometimes I'll see a woman give up her seat to a man even if they are about the same age, no thank you.

Symbols of Our City

Don't worry if you were worried the pigeon would get left behind all the other birds and never have a city to represent. The pigeon is, in fact, the symbolic bird of Dongducheon. We even have a couple cartoon characters to boot, which we see on the sides of buildings and on the street divider. Bet you wish the pigeon was your city's bird!