Chuseok- Korean Thanksgiving

This weekend is Chuseok, thanksgiving for Koreans. It's great because we get American and Korean holidays off, so it was a 4 day weekend for Matt. They always get the day after the holiday off and since it's technically on Sunday, they get Monday off. He also got Friday off because everyone at the conference had an opportunity to go tour the DMZ. kids under 10 can't go, so we didn't go. We've heard traffic is ridiculous though and that we shouldn't plan to travel south at all. 

Anyway, yesterday there was a Korean ensemble who performed Korean traditional instruments at the library, so we went to that. 

Harper wants to learn to play the instrument listed above. It is like a harp and has a very rich sound. I would love for her to learn something like that. 

After the performance, we went to this park that Matt had been wanting to visit. It's formed around a little fort that was made for the Koreans to protect themselves against Japanese pirates, or something like that. We need to read more about it. There is a statue of a guy in the park who clearly had something to do with it all, but the explanation was mostly in Korean so we couldn't figure it out. 

At the end, we decided to slide down the hill on our booty's. It was a pretty steep hill and proved to be pretty fun. We will have to take something like cardboard or something like that to slide down next time. 

We have some fun videos of it but I can't upload videos until we get our household goods (computer). It was a pretty fun time though. We all went home and crashed for the afternoon after that. We headed into the city that night to go to Daiso (their version of family dollar, but better). It was a great day! 

Matt's TDY

Matt headed up to Seoul this past Monday morning for some continuing education courses. Luckily for me, it was short. It only went through Thursday. The kids and I had some fun with some friends that week. I was supposed to have a dental appointment at Happy Dental clinic in Peyongtaek, but when I got there we found out that we hadn't been registered in tricare dental yet. The kids were at a friend's house and we're doing well, so I got dinner alone. We hung out with Jen an Eisley some more that week. On Thursday, I had gotten a babysitter so that I could head up to Seoul for Matt's pacific dentac dinner. It was the "farewell" dinner for his conference. I left two hours early and was still about 40 mins late. The last 7 miles took me an hour. Too bad I couldn't just drive in the bus lane. 

Even though the dinner wasn't all that eventful, it was nice to dress up for an evening and have dinner with Matt. He looked pretty dang good I have to say! 

All the dentists from BOLC had to take a pic together of course. 

When it was over, we headed home for the kids. We got home at about 10:30. 

Today's outing

So, I knew we had to run errands today but I didn't think it would be basically all day. We had somewhat of a lazy morning and didn't get out of the house until about 10:30. I knew we had a couple of stops on post and then one off post to make. 

So, we stopped at housing to find out where I can exchange the nightstand lamp from my room which hasn't worked since we got it. I found out I'd have to wait until after lunch. So, we went to eat lunch at the PX. Then we went in to get what I needed; just a shower curtain rod. We came out with a little collectible cabbage patch cutie doll. It was on sale for $1.97. Harper has 8 of these now. Unfortunately, if you can't find them at target or shopko, they are usually really expensive. 

After we walked over to the commissary to get milk, just to get there and remember it's closed on Wednesday. Such a bummer our only on post grocery store isn't open every day. 

After everything on post, except the housing warehouse because it still wasn't the end of their lunch, I decided to get to the fabric store and buy the last bit of material I needed for the kids reading nook, as well as a zipper. Well, when I got there I found out it was cash only and I didn't have any. I ran into the same problem yesterday when I wanted to buy a comforter for Harper's bed. I tried to find an ATM but couldn't, so I went to E Mart (like Fred Meyer but bigger) in hopes that they had one or that I could get cash back. After finding a bunch of things not on my list, but needed, like diapers and such, Harper saw the animals. She decided the turtles are really cute, but she really wants a hamster. Matt said she might be able to get one if she stops having potty accidents. 

Much to my dismay, there was no ATM, and I have no idea if there was a cash back option because the machines were all in Korean and they didn't speak English at all. So, since I was still close to the fabric store, I tried to find an ATM again. After stopping to ask people twice, who didn't speak any English, someone walked me to one. HALLELUJAH! or so I thought. Yeah, the machine wouldn't take any of my cards. Not even my new card with a chip. I was so frustrated by this point. I had been messaging Matt the whole time too. I was probably about 5 mins from home, so about 20 mins from the fabric store, and Matt text me to let me know he had just remembered that there was Korean won (their money) in our console. I just busted up laughing. You've gotta be kidding me right? The kids were asleep in the car, so I turned around and went back. 

Remember that zipper and yard of fabric I needed? I got it 😊

Who doesn't need 10 yards of zipper for about $2.75?

Oh yeah, and I ended up with this too. 

Seriously, that store is dangerous! I should maybe only be allowed to go once a month, but without kids for sure. The fabric above was just at the very front. I wasn't searching but it jumped out at me. 

I thought it was cool they have tons of our college teams prints. 

This time, they also has a ton more of their pre cut 2 yard fabrics. There is no way I could ever get through them. I found the prints that jumped out at me on top. 

Well, we didn't make it back to post to exchange our lamp. By the time we got home, it was already 4:30. I guess that's a good way to make the day go by when your husband is gone at dental training for the week. The kids were so amazingly good for me today too so that helped a lot. 

Lesson learned: just get cash from the ATM's on post and make sure to always have some on hand. 

UPDATE: I just sat down to try and finish my projects before giving the sewing machine I borrowed back, and I broke the only needle I have. What a day! Must be my sign that I need to go to bed early tonight. 

Picture post

I asked Matt to send me some pics from his phone for the blog so here they are:

They went to the park to play while I was at orientation

                   Breakfast time

Every time we go to the PX at Osan AFB this is where we can find Max. 

      Here are some pics from the zoo

I went to workout one day and Matt took the kids on a walk. They found a cute little park. 

           Here is one from the kid cafe 

Harper absolutely loved playing with Asia

Now just some random pics from fun times at home. 

   Random little tramp outside our house

          The kids watching a movie

      And some G rated bubble bath fun. 

There are some other cute pics but they aren't appropriate enough for Internet use. 

Kids quiet corner

I love that in our house there is a little light under the stairs. We decided to make it a little place for the kids. Since they will have a play room upstairs after we get our household goods, I don't want any of their toys downstairs. Yes, I know that's next to impossible, but I will still try. Anyway, we have a mattress topper we aren't using, and we went to the library and checked out a bunch of books, so this is the beginning of their space. 

Once I have my sewing machines I will be making curtains to cover the openings. One side will be a door. I will also be making them a big, comfy pillow to put in there instead of the mattress pad. I'll probably spend more time in there than the kids haha. But, since Harper is (as of two minutes ago) grounded from phones, iPads AND the TV she should be spending a lot more time here. I know, I may be a mean mom but she seems to lose all bladder control when any electronics are involved. Otherwise, she does alright. 

Yummy food

I Yesterday we went to lunch for the birthday of a lady in our branch (for church). So, Koreans are known for their bolgogi (beef) and kimchi (fermented veggies) and both taste so good. I'm usually not a fan of fries covered in anything, but I decided to venture out and get the "kimchi fries." They have kimchi, bolgogi, cilantro, onions and another sauce that looked like a cheese or something. I usually hate cheeses like that too, but these fries were AH-MAZ-ING! 

I had already eaten some by the time I took a pic. 

Then I ordered some kind of bolgogi rice noodle something. I honestly have no idea what it was called because I tried my friends and told the waitress I wanted that. It had egg in it too. It was so good. I am guilty and ate the whole plate. 

So far, every restaurant I've been togas been really good. Thumbs up for me. 

New curtains

It's fun moving to a me country, especially when you don't understand any of the language. We pretty much only understand the words "hi," "bye," "thank you," and "here." So, today when a guy came to measure ours and the kids bedroom for curtains, it was fun trying to communicate. There were lots of hand gestures and cell phones being used. 

We were trying to figure out a color and I think they will be a grayish possibly. When he said "color" he pointed to our bed (our temporary, terrible blanket is a grayish color) and then one of Mary's shirts that was on the floor. Disclaimer: we don't have laundry baskets yet. Anyway, so he pointed to the bed, then his shirt and then did a hand gesture for "half" on iur floor between the two objects. So, I'm not sure if he was saying the color will be halfway between those two colors, or if the color of our flooring is somehow involved. It will be quite the surprise when he comes back on Tuesday. 

            Something like this haha

We went upstairs to measure the kids room while Max was taking a nap. He was very quiet and did everything not to interrupt his sleep. 

    He looked cute so I had to take a pic. 

Anyways, when we left the room, I closed the door and the curtain guy shook his head "no" and did a "no" gesture with his hand and then opened Max's door a little bit and kept it open. I wonder if there is something within their culture, or if it was just the guy, about closing doors like that. He also showed me pics of his son and his grandson and his wife. He was very proud. 

When we left it was pretty funny because as I walked him to the door he looked at me and pointed and said "you..." Followed by a bunch of Korean. So instead he pointed to me and said "you and did an hour glass shape to signify either that I look good for having kids or that he thought I was pretty. He pointed to another house and said with a face of disgust "her ..." And then he gestured "big or fat." Then he asked what sports I play by saying "tennis? Badminton.." So I told him I workout and he said good with a thumbs up haha. 

So, it's possible to communicate haha. I still want to learn the language though. I've been trying a little every night. I recognize some of their letters and I understand how they structure their words now. It's a fun adventure.