Big Changes

I know I am an unfaithful blogger, so I may be writing this for myself.  But that's okay!  Just want to document some of the things going on around here and some of the thoughts rattling around in my head as we're getting ready to make a BIG move back to the U.S.  It's kind of hard to believe that we'll be flying out of Korea, probably never to return (I know, never say never), in less than a week.  Yikes!

Here's the short version of the last two years, in bullet points:  wink wink

• got assignment to Korea
• didn't want to go to Korea
• didn't matter, moved to Korea
• adjusted sssllloowwwwwlllyyyy to a foreign country
• met some great friends
• had my view of the world expanded
• found myself having fun in Korea (what?)
• visited the BX at least daily
• sometimes felt "base fever", not unlike island fever
• after about a year got over my fear of driving in Korea, helping to overcome "base fever"
• the kids learned to walk everywhere without me pushing them (Korea is not especially "stroller friendly")
• saw my friends on a daily basis (what a treat!)
• loved the "cuteness" of Korea
• bought fabric and furniture, and custom made coats
• gained a better understanding of why our military is here (I'm not a history person, I really had no idea what was going on on this side of the globe.  I guess that would make me not a current events person either!  Pathetic.)
• learned to squeeze my van into tiny places previously considered not possible
• became incredibly thankful for people around the world who learn English... since I know two Korean words (hello and thank you).  Also thankful for the universal language of the calculator - everyone understands "how much?" and the calculator does the talking from there
• formed new loyalties to companies who ship cheerfully and promptly to APO/FPO addresses, and vowed to permanently boycott those that don't.  We'll see how that goes...

I'll stop there for now since that is not exactly as brief as I intended... here's a few pictures instead...

 Taking pictures with some Korean "friends" at Everland.  Luke thinks it's cool now to hold up the peace sign for photos, like many Koreans do (i.e. the man on the right).  Just blending in to the culture!

 In Seoul - the kids were taking a rest right here and a sweet old man came up and gave each of the kids 1,000 won (roughly $1).

 Visiting an old palace, in the heart of Seoul.  Always interesting to see old things with the new built up right around it.

 Inside somewhere at the palace - maybe the throne room?

 A traditional music/dance performance at a cherry blossom festival in Seoul

 The family at the cherry blossom festival.  Thanks to Dan's cousin and family for coming to visit and getting us out to do some more sightseeing like this!

Walking around our "neighborhood" - the main drag in Songtan, the town right outside the base.