Korean Drivers License

I have to take a drivers test here in Korea before I can get permission to drive here. So I had to track down a drivers manual in English (not as easy as you would think), and then study, take 3 different kinds of info with me down to the testing office and take the test. When I got down there, they had a pretest for you to take with 5 questions on it. They told me that if I missed even one question on the pretest, that I couldn't even take the actual test, and that I needed to watch out for question #5. So I started out quite nervous to say the least. For any of you coming over, make sure you know what the regs are for insurance (hint, hint). So I asked a question of one of the Korean gentlemen in the office and he helped me figure out the answer. I would have had no trouble answering any of the questions, except that I was under the impression that it had trick questions on it. So I was able to take the test and I passed!!!! Yeah!!! I finally have permission to drive! My dh is going to be away for a few days and now I can at least get groceries home without lugging them on the train or having to pay almost $5 for a taxi ride home.

I am a little nervous to be driving with the Korean people. It seems like most of the driving laws are "optional" and I haven't seen the police enforce any driving laws around here... they are usually out to either direct traffic or to respond to a call of some kind. I think I have only seen one person pulled over, and with the way they drive around here, there should be a car pulled over all day, every day on every block. I have been in taxis where they run red lights and other taxis where we sit at a light and watch people pass us on both sides to run the red light for the whole duration of the red light! It is crazy! I am brave enough to drive here locally in my area, it is more of a small town, but I am not brave enough to try to leave the area. For one, I can't read the signs and two, I would have no idea how to get to the place I wanted to go! The streets aren't marked here like they are in the states, so I don't know how anyone finds anything here. For now, wish me luck!

My first real Korean restaurant

Today, the Nature Girl and I went out to lunch with a sweet Korean lady named Ray. We met at the train station one day about 3 weeks ago. She was the first Korean girl my age that spoke with me. Her English is fair (my Korean was nonexistent at that time) and we had a chance to talk for a little while that day. I offered to pay for lunch if she would like to take me to an authentic Korean restaurant. Up until now, our schedules have just never worked out. So today was the first chance I have had to see her since we met. We went to a “famous” Korean restaurant in New City near the train station. Ray ordered for us and we had dakgalbi and naengmuen. The dakgalbi consisted of chicken, sweet potatoes, rice cakes and was VERY hot and spicy… it burned my mouth and made me gulp water…. I felt much better when I saw Ray “suffering” from the spices, too. :) We had a good time. The naengmuen is a cold dish with rice noodles, pears, hard-boiled egg and cucumber. It was very good and was not spicy. There were some dishes on the side that I sampled, but did not catch the names of all of them. The meal was a real treat, and by the end of it, my tastebuds had gone into shock from all of the spices and I could eat the spicy chicken with no trouble. Ray and I made plans to get together again soon. She is a great gal and I am so glad we met!


Stopped for a quick photo shoot before lunch


A neat heart sculpture


The "famous" Korean restaurant


Dakgalbi


Naengmuen

So tired

The Nature Girl and I hung out and she helped me around the house today while her sister was at camp. She helped me "fold" laundry, practiced touching her nose and rode her bike around the playground. Then she went with me to post to pick up the Artist from camp. I would not have called it a exhausting day, but my little one must have thought so... she fell asleep... at the dinner table... without eating! Poor thing! LOL!


Helping with the laundry


I can touch my nose


Sleeping is more important than eating


That can't be comfortable

Locks of Love

I am so proud of my little baby girl. She wanted to give her hair to Locks of Love. Her hair has been growing for about 3 years. Both her and I have been wanting to cut her hair for awhile... at least since Dec. My mom wanted me to wait until after my brother's wedding in June so her hair would still be long. And, of course, she did look sweet with a french braid crown. So today we finally had the opportunity to cut her hair. We cut about 12 inches off. She looks adorable! I love the look on her! Great job, baby!

Dongdaemun

I went on a "field trip" with a bunch of ladies to one of the biggest markets in South Korea. The train ride there took about an hour and we never had to switch trains, so no confusion in getting there. The group I was with was going to buy fabric for some upcoming sewing classes. Since I shipped a bunch of fabric with my HHG, I didn't buy any. I was mostly going to look around and see what was there for future reference. Unfortunately, it was raining when we got there, so we only ventured into one mall. I met a sweet gal in the group named, Lady, from the Philippines. We wandered around with the other ladies and had lunch together. I really enjoyed the trip and I can't wait to go again with a friend and preferably... without children.


Commonly known as Dongdaemun is a prominent landmark in central Seoul, South Korea. The Korean name "Dongdaemun" means "Great East Gate," and it was so named because it was the major eastern gate in the circular wall surrounding ancient Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty, and is situated on the eastern end of Jongno ("Bell Street").


Dongdaemun Market is located near Dongdaemun of which it takes its name. It is the largest shopping center in South Korea. In total the market has 26 shopping malls situated over 10 blocks, 30,000 speciality shops, and 50,000 manufacturers. The market sells goods ranging from just about everything but notably silks, clothes, shoes and leather goods, sporting goods, plumbing and electronics, office supplies, toys and food areas specializing in Korean cuisine.


Walls of fabric everywhere


They sell it by the yard


A shop that makes Hanboks.


Hanbok is the traditional Korean dress. It is often characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines without pockets. Although the term literally means "Korean clothing", hanbok today often refers specifically to hanbok of Joseon Dynasty and is worn as semi-formal or formal wear during traditional festivals and celebrations.


A shop selling traditional Korean dress for children. They are just beautiful.

Herb Land

The Nature Girl and I were able to join the Artist on her field trip to Herb Land with Camp Adventure. The campers from our post went to the neighboring post and picked up their campers so they could go on their field trip together. It was a fun day with crafts, bubbles, plants, animals and friends. The girls made candles and a sand art picture, saw a greenhouse filled with plants, had a picnic surrounded by ladybugs and got to feed a bunch of sheep. The Nature Girl, of course, loved all the bugs and the sheep. The Artist was thrilled to have crafts and she jumped right in. The girls had a great time. I am so glad we went! I especially love the picture I caught of the Nature Girl with the sheep. It captured her perfectly!


Welcome to Herb Land


Check out these big bubbles



Craft Time







If that's not my Nature Girl, I don't know what is!

Rainy Day Fun

When I heard that Korea gets about 49 inches of rain a year, I decided that we needed raincoats and boots. I found rain boots in AZ, but I had trouble finding raincoats. While we were in NY, I finally found them. The girls were so excited about their new apparel that I had to promise them that they could play in the rain with them one day. Well, the Artist never forgets anything. So, every time it rained, she kept after me begging to go play in the rain with her new gear. Today, I finally caved. It is raining outside and my girls want to go play. What do you expect? They've grown up in AZ. So, I got the girls dressed in their new raincoats & boots and gave them their umbrellas and let them run around in the rain for a bit. The Nature Girl found a water-logged bug and kept her eye on him more than anything. The Artist just played on the playground equipment without a care in the world. I can only imagine what the Koreans who saw us must have thought of those "strange Americans" playing in the rain.


The girls can't wait to go play in their
new coats and boots in the rain


Umbrellas up







Even in the rain, she can't help but watch bugs




Wet or dry, merry-go-rounds are fun!

Camp Adventure

When we got to Korea, The Artist was having trouble getting settled. She had spent 6 weeks saying goodbye to many friends and family members. I wasn't sure how I was going to help her get through the heartache of moving and missing her friends. I checked out a magazine put out by MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation) to see what was going on in the local area and found Camp Adventure. It is nine 1-week camps with arts and crafts, games, field trips, bowling and swimming for 40 hours a week. It sounded like the perfect opportunity to help my daughter get settled. We weren't able to get her in until the 3rd week and she just loved it. It was the solution she needed to finally feel settled and at home. She had a great time with the other kids and the counselors, Mr. Monsoon and Ms. Rainbow. And she can't wait to go back again! She went to a beach in Korea this week. The family was invited to join the kids, but the Nature Girl and I didn't... wished we would have, but I needed to get some things done around the house. I'm still trying to get moved in. Maybe next time.