Paiging Dr. Kim

Yesterday we almost had a flat Bradley. We heard a loud crash and one loud scream. Running into the room, we discovered Brad on the floor completely underneath the dresser. It fell over on him. Keith quickly lifted it off and we pulled Brad out from under it. We checked him all out and the only damage were a couple of bruises on his face.



This kid knows how to get our hearts pumping. The thing is... he's done this before! In Idaho we had everything bolted to the wall because he tried climbing up it last year. I even told Keith the first day we got here that the dresser needed to be anchored to the wall. He already tried but the walls are concrete. Wouldn't you know a week later, it's like he read our minds. So please, as a public service reminder for those with little ones - anchor all your furniture to the walls! And if you think your kids know better, just remember mine who have escaped serious bodily injury twice now.

On a positive note, we did find out our new neighbor is a medical doctor with her own clinic down the road. It's like God knew right where to put us! He name is Dr. Kim and in the elevator she said the only damage done (to Brad) were his tears. I think I like her!

Attached is the injury I sustained as I lifted the shelves off him faster than Wonder Woman. It looks MUCH worse than what's shown... just in case anyone cares about me ;-)

Krazy Korea II

Today we went to the Orange Factory Outlet. I saw it from the side of the road and told Keith I wanted to go to the O Range outlet mall. Yes. I. Did.

I don't know how to Be Act, but it's apparent that not everyone can think at the O Range outlet mall.




These people are serious about their McDonald's. A 24 hour two story McD's. I doubt we venture into one of these during our time here. (we avoid this place as much as possible - Keith vomits just thinking of eating there)



But for those who can't live without it - McDonald's delivers

BTDT

Saturday we ventured out and ate authentic Korean food. This was a well known and recommended place. I was looking forward to trying it out!



This is a picture of what our table looked like when they brought the food. There was a bowl full of lettuce, rice, and all the smaller bowls were the "fixings." You could make lettuce wraps or use the rice to make a rice bowl using the red chili paste as seasoning.

This is the "beef" they grilled at your table. It didn't taste like cow beef, but Keith says it was the marinade. Interesting.

Here is the after picture of our meal. Gee.. not much has changed from the before picture. That's because it was NASTY. I love Chinese food. I love Japanese food. I don't see myself ever even liking Korean food. All the "fixings" were fermented bean sprouts, fermented cabbage, corn in what tasted like frosting, noodles I couldn't even bring myself to try because of their smell alone, some thinly sliced green things that Brad promptly spit out.

Here are my boys after paying the tab and deciding to grab some ice cream instead. Korean food: Been There - Done That.

Not the Stinky Kids

Here's the boys taking a bath. Their clothes might stink, but I try my best to keep the bugs off them. I am so impressed with the bathrooms in this apartment. It's all tile everywhere with a drain in the floor under the sink (you can barely see it just right of the stool) Let's say.... IF a kid... or two, are prone to making a mess and "accidentally" get water outside of the tub - NO WORRIES, it goes right down the drain! And the tubs are really deep. If I were a bath person I guess that would be a plus, but only showers for me. And... we have been able to lower the shower head for the boys and we're teaching them to shower on their own! Could it be possible? A day when I say "get ready for bed" and they shower and brush their teeth all on their own?

One day I will miss it.

Hello Kitty Krazy

I was told Brad's hair would be popular. I was warned the people here will want to touch him. I've seen them stare. I've witnessed all the grabbing and waving.

Today, a girl picked him up and carried him off - right in front of me!

We were at the park tonight and I was standing right under the playground equipment. These older girls were squealing and pointing like he was a rock star. It caused so much attention a lady who was bilingual came over to tell me what they were saying. They finally got up and were on the playground equipment trying to chase them and corner the boys. I felt so bad for them ten feet above my head. They tried their best English asking for their name. I told Brad to say "hello" in Korean and he did. They went CRAZY with delight. The girl who picked him up was a teenager. It turns out she was carrying him over to show her friends. She didn't mean any harm, but my heart dropped!

I am going to have to learn some polite Korean for please don't try to kidnap my youngest child. Cole was cute trying to protect him. He got between them and Brad and kept saying "no, no, no" The girls were excited he was talking to them.

Interesting night. I guess I will have to become the rude American. So far several people have come to the door, but I refuse to answer when Keith's not home. I know they hear us and they stay at the door for at least 3 minutes... just ringing (actually there's a camera at the door, so I can see them and it plays a cute little chime song. All of the electronics play a cute song. A pretty chime when the dishes are done, a happy song when the wash is finished. So much nicer then those awful buzzers back in the States. "BUZZ YOUR CLOTHES ARE DRY") I think it's so you will want to open the door and be pleasant to the strange man standing there. Sorry Charlie.

So far we know how to say hello/goodbye: Ahn-nyong ha-say-yo!
We know the name of our apartments : Pus-co
And we know what the elevator says when it gets to our floor: Sham Shing Mada

That's about it. I keep asking Keith over and over how to say please and thank you, but I keep forgetting. I took 4 years of Spanish lessons to tackle that small feat. We'll see how much I can learn in 11 months. Now, I'm off to tuck in my boys and deadbolt my door. Crazy Rude American.

The Stinky Family

Today I tried to tackle the laundry. Keith showed me how to operate the new washer/dryer in our apartment. It's pretty complicated. The dryer takes all day - not kidding. It took us all day to finish ONE load. A friend here told me that she just takes hers to the laundry mat on base once a week. Sounds simple enough. I loaded up the van with clothes and kids and left. What a horrible idea.

I got three loads started and took the boys outside to run around while we waited. However, people smoke like it's going out of style over here. And, I suddenly remembered I was allergic to cigarette smoke. My nose became a faucet, and was was sneezing so often I couldn't yell at the boys for nearly running in the hole the construction crew was digging. We headed inside and then I got a stomach ache. I proceeded to use the restroom, only to find out as I was leaving, it was the men's. The boys were fighting, Brad fell off the chair and hit his head on the floor, they cried for everything in the vending machines, there was no a/c, and the changer wouldn't take my perfectly straight five dollar bill. To think of doing this every week makes me want to cry. There has to be another way. Until I figure it out, we will be known as the stinky family wearing the same dirty clothes for weeks straight.




Day two of laundry at the Mat on base. This time I enlisted help. He put Brad to sleep and made sure I stayed out of the men's room. Thanks honey! Please notice the sweat on Cole's head and on Keith's shirt. I'm not kidding when I say it was HOT in there!

Mama Llama at Shoparama

What a crazy world we live in. This is where we went on Sunday. A six level Costco. Really, 4 levels were parking so they didn't have too much more than the average store in America. We did find out the hard way they only accept a Samsung card (which we didn't have). After about 3 hours there we left with new tires, vitamins, a bathmat, gummy bears, and steering wheel cover. And you thought only in America.




I was very tempted by this little beauty. A Korean Dyson!! It was so small. And expensive. The DC22 Animal.

Our next stop to visit:

Keith says it's like six Super Wal-Marts all under one roof. I know I should be exploring the country and taking advantage of the history that surrounds us, but I find this fascinating. I'll get to the learning stuff later. Oh, I did get a new Puma bag (real, sorry Keith) and a new Bvlgari watch (fake). It was such an experience getting the watch. We had to tell her a "friend" sent us. She pulled them out from behind her refrigerator and kept an eye out for The Law. It was very rushed and hush hush. I'll let you know if my arm turns green next month. Then I'll be taking orders ;-)