Do you know the song that has the line "baby it's cold outside"?? Well it's brutal here. Here are the actual highs and lows for Seoul since we arrived:
Tuesday November 13th High 56 Low 41 precipitation .01 inch
Wednesday November 14th High 57 Low 47 precipitation N/A
Thursday November 15th High 52 Low 43 precipitation N/A
Friday November 16th High 48 Low 35 precipitation .08 inch
Saturday November 17th High 49 Low 35 precipitation N/A
Sunday November 18th High 33 Low to be determined precipitation to be determined winds gusts of 18 mph as of 11 am
The temperature at 11 am was 30 degrees F. Using Weather Channel/NOAA's wind chill calculator this means that it felt like it was 18 degrees F.
We thought Troy was cold...this puts Troy's cold winters to shame. (Troy is where Jeff went to college for those of you reading don't know).
Of course the day we're leaving they are predicting high of 38 degrees and chance of snow.
Well tomorrow we see the two Dr. Kims and have lunch with them. We are also meeting up with Tae Hee tomorrow as well. If I'm not too busy tomorrow night, I'll let you all know how to the meeting goes. I just hope that we aren't venturing with her outside...brrrrr.
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Sights of Seoul in November
Annyong Haseyo!!
When we arrived here in Seoul, it was in the mid 50s with very little wind during the day. Now we're in the low to mid 40s with wind. Let me tell you it's cold out there. I'm so glad to have brought my winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves.
It's amazing what Koreans are wearing in this type of weather. I'm seeing mini skirts with knee highs and shoes with a thin coat. I'm seeing men with business suits on and no coat over the top of it. I even saw one woman with shorts and a tee-shirt on!! Jeff and I are wondering how can they venture outside with no coats on?? They are definitely daring!!! However we are also seeing folks in winter coats just like us as well.
It hasn't snowed here yet but it feels like it will soon. There are still green leaves on some of the trees. We've seen beautiful yellow and red leaves as well.
When you step into one of the open air type market places it's amazing. The hustle and bustle of the shop keepers and buyers. We've seen plenty of places to buy veggies and fruits along with several butchers, and fish markets as well. There are things for sale in the food part of these markets that we can't even identify. Some of them alive still but most are dead. You might see somebody taking live seafood and eating it raw.
We found kids running through the markets and laughing. They were playing various games. We found some people who wanted to try out their English on us as well. The most we get from them is the occasion 'hi' or 'hello'. We found that to be true mainly with the younger crowd (under 30 years old).
Like any major city, there's the general hustle and bustle to get from Point A to Point B. If you're not careful you'll get hit by the many scooters and motorcycles in the city that don't have the need to obey the traffic laws like nearly everyone else driving. People will honk their horns to get through an intersection even though the light is red. We saw police driving around with their lights on all over the city.
We've walked on many streets in the city. Not once did I feel like we weren't safe at all. We've walked down Wedding street (where you can get your wedding gown, tux, and get your hair done for your wedding) and we've walked down Furniture street (as the name suggests you can get furniture at the multitude of stores here).
It's been hazy here nearly every day. It's only rained once while we were out and that was yesterday. And I think we've seen the sun twice for a little while since we've been here. Some of the people here (old and young alike) wear masks. Seoul is a polluted city (hence the haze we have here).
Oh I should mentioned some of the differences in food here. Chicken sandwich here isn't like getting a chicken sandwich in the US. Here it includes the skin on the thin piece of chicken that they serve you. Also when you order up a lemonade it is either served hot when you order it up with no ice or served carbonated (which may sound weird to most but it isn't that bad and it doesn't taste like Slice, 7Up, or Sprite...it's better than those).
That's about it for now.
Annyong!!!
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
When we arrived here in Seoul, it was in the mid 50s with very little wind during the day. Now we're in the low to mid 40s with wind. Let me tell you it's cold out there. I'm so glad to have brought my winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves.
It's amazing what Koreans are wearing in this type of weather. I'm seeing mini skirts with knee highs and shoes with a thin coat. I'm seeing men with business suits on and no coat over the top of it. I even saw one woman with shorts and a tee-shirt on!! Jeff and I are wondering how can they venture outside with no coats on?? They are definitely daring!!! However we are also seeing folks in winter coats just like us as well.
It hasn't snowed here yet but it feels like it will soon. There are still green leaves on some of the trees. We've seen beautiful yellow and red leaves as well.
When you step into one of the open air type market places it's amazing. The hustle and bustle of the shop keepers and buyers. We've seen plenty of places to buy veggies and fruits along with several butchers, and fish markets as well. There are things for sale in the food part of these markets that we can't even identify. Some of them alive still but most are dead. You might see somebody taking live seafood and eating it raw.
We found kids running through the markets and laughing. They were playing various games. We found some people who wanted to try out their English on us as well. The most we get from them is the occasion 'hi' or 'hello'. We found that to be true mainly with the younger crowd (under 30 years old).
Like any major city, there's the general hustle and bustle to get from Point A to Point B. If you're not careful you'll get hit by the many scooters and motorcycles in the city that don't have the need to obey the traffic laws like nearly everyone else driving. People will honk their horns to get through an intersection even though the light is red. We saw police driving around with their lights on all over the city.
We've walked on many streets in the city. Not once did I feel like we weren't safe at all. We've walked down Wedding street (where you can get your wedding gown, tux, and get your hair done for your wedding) and we've walked down Furniture street (as the name suggests you can get furniture at the multitude of stores here).
It's been hazy here nearly every day. It's only rained once while we were out and that was yesterday. And I think we've seen the sun twice for a little while since we've been here. Some of the people here (old and young alike) wear masks. Seoul is a polluted city (hence the haze we have here).
Oh I should mentioned some of the differences in food here. Chicken sandwich here isn't like getting a chicken sandwich in the US. Here it includes the skin on the thin piece of chicken that they serve you. Also when you order up a lemonade it is either served hot when you order it up with no ice or served carbonated (which may sound weird to most but it isn't that bad and it doesn't taste like Slice, 7Up, or Sprite...it's better than those).
That's about it for now.
Annyong!!!
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
Yesterday's Outing
Annyong Haseyo!!
We went out to the birthplace of our children. I'm not saying much about it or posting pictures here. It's my children's information. It's their story. I will say this...it was very emotional just being there.
We went to Lotte afterward as well. Remind me never to eat at Lotteria again. It's like a McDonald's or a Burger King kind of place. YUCK!!! I guess I'm too used to American food. I ordered a chicken sandwich and what I got was unedible. So I ended up sharing Jeff's chicken filets and they were spicy...too much for me.
Lotte is a hotel, supermarket, mall, indoor amusement park, cinema, bowling alley, ice skating rink, and department store all wrapped up into one building. We just went into the mall portion of it looking for a doll for Katie. We found a baby carrier that is perfect for her since she likes to carry her dolls on her in her shirt of all places.
After that we went to Myeong-dong Catholic Cathedral. While I hoped to get inside to take pictures of it, there was a wedding going on and we couldn't go in. I did take some pictures outside though of the grounds.
We are heading out to the Palace of Shining Happiness today and we're also heading to Jogyesa Buddhist temple. I'm not sure what else we'll end up squeezing into our schedule...perhaps a shopping trip to Namdaemun market???
Annyong!!
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
We went out to the birthplace of our children. I'm not saying much about it or posting pictures here. It's my children's information. It's their story. I will say this...it was very emotional just being there.
We went to Lotte afterward as well. Remind me never to eat at Lotteria again. It's like a McDonald's or a Burger King kind of place. YUCK!!! I guess I'm too used to American food. I ordered a chicken sandwich and what I got was unedible. So I ended up sharing Jeff's chicken filets and they were spicy...too much for me.
Lotte is a hotel, supermarket, mall, indoor amusement park, cinema, bowling alley, ice skating rink, and department store all wrapped up into one building. We just went into the mall portion of it looking for a doll for Katie. We found a baby carrier that is perfect for her since she likes to carry her dolls on her in her shirt of all places.
After that we went to Myeong-dong Catholic Cathedral. While I hoped to get inside to take pictures of it, there was a wedding going on and we couldn't go in. I did take some pictures outside though of the grounds.
We are heading out to the Palace of Shining Happiness today and we're also heading to Jogyesa Buddhist temple. I'm not sure what else we'll end up squeezing into our schedule...perhaps a shopping trip to Namdaemun market???
Annyong!!
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
Friday, November 16, 2007
Today's outings
We were invited by another couple who arrived here at the Guest House last night from Australia to come to their first meeting with their son and take photos and video. We did so gladly.
After that we went to Itaewon and got a bunch of things for the kids. Shhh don't tell them but here's what we got them:
~ we got each a name chop (a name stamp with their Korean name in the hangul)
~ Tae Hee got a jewelry box as well as Korean mask set, a norigae, and a Korean doll
~ Ryan got a norigae with a big Korean drum on it, and special video but we're not saying what it is because it will ruin the surprise
~ Katie got her cookies but we are still looking for a doll for her...we hope to find one that she'll like
I didn't pick up anything for ourselves since just being here and experiencing everything is absolutely priceless.
Oh dear brother if you're reading this I found something for you. I hope you'll like it.
Mom, sorry no necklaces like you wanted. We tried.
We hope to visit our children's birthplace this weekend and take some photos of that area before we have our meetings on Monday. And on Tuesday we're leaving. Seems like such a short time that we have been here. Gosh there are so many things I want to do here...National Museum of Korea, see Seoul Tower, go to Namdaemun market, see the DMZ (no I haven't done that due to all of the other emotions I have been having here and how much time you need to devout to it), and so much more.
With everything here in Seoul, you can spend a lifetime here and not see everything there is to see here. Angie, if you're reading this I think you would love it here.
Annyong!!
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
After that we went to Itaewon and got a bunch of things for the kids. Shhh don't tell them but here's what we got them:
~ we got each a name chop (a name stamp with their Korean name in the hangul)
~ Tae Hee got a jewelry box as well as Korean mask set, a norigae, and a Korean doll
~ Ryan got a norigae with a big Korean drum on it, and special video but we're not saying what it is because it will ruin the surprise
~ Katie got her cookies but we are still looking for a doll for her...we hope to find one that she'll like
I didn't pick up anything for ourselves since just being here and experiencing everything is absolutely priceless.
Oh dear brother if you're reading this I found something for you. I hope you'll like it.
Mom, sorry no necklaces like you wanted. We tried.
We hope to visit our children's birthplace this weekend and take some photos of that area before we have our meetings on Monday. And on Tuesday we're leaving. Seems like such a short time that we have been here. Gosh there are so many things I want to do here...National Museum of Korea, see Seoul Tower, go to Namdaemun market, see the DMZ (no I haven't done that due to all of the other emotions I have been having here and how much time you need to devout to it), and so much more.
With everything here in Seoul, you can spend a lifetime here and not see everything there is to see here. Angie, if you're reading this I think you would love it here.
Annyong!!
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
2nd Meeting with Tae Hee
Annyong haseyo!!!
Our 2nd meeting with Tae Hee was yesterday. She looks like her older sister but seems to have some of the personality of her older brother. We had her alone for 30 minutes and more than half of that time she cried. We took her upstairs to our room for a bit and then back downstairs for a stroller walk outside. She calmed down a bit in the stroller but still wasn't happy.
Due to the difficulty of this meeting for her, we have another meeting scheduled on Monday afternoon. We are hoping that this goes better than the first two.
Annyong
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
Our 2nd meeting with Tae Hee was yesterday. She looks like her older sister but seems to have some of the personality of her older brother. We had her alone for 30 minutes and more than half of that time she cried. We took her upstairs to our room for a bit and then back downstairs for a stroller walk outside. She calmed down a bit in the stroller but still wasn't happy.
Due to the difficulty of this meeting for her, we have another meeting scheduled on Monday afternoon. We are hoping that this goes better than the first two.
Annyong
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
Meeting with Seong Tae's & Eun Seong's Foster Mom
Annyong haseyo!!
That's the romanization of hangul for 'hello'.
Yesterday we met with Seong Tae's (Ryan) and Eun Seong's (Katie) foster mom. I won't say much about it since most of the information is private and it is the kids information. If they want to share it with all of you when they are older, they can however I will say this...I KNOW the kids were very much loved by the entire family and by others as well. I am so grateful to their foster family for taking care of both kids.
KAMSA HAMNIDA!!!!
That's the romanization of the hangul to say 'thank you' to the foster family for taking such good care of Seong Tae and Eun Seong.
WE LOVE THEM VERY MUCH!!!
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
That's the romanization of hangul for 'hello'.
Yesterday we met with Seong Tae's (Ryan) and Eun Seong's (Katie) foster mom. I won't say much about it since most of the information is private and it is the kids information. If they want to share it with all of you when they are older, they can however I will say this...I KNOW the kids were very much loved by the entire family and by others as well. I am so grateful to their foster family for taking care of both kids.
KAMSA HAMNIDA!!!!
That's the romanization of the hangul to say 'thank you' to the foster family for taking such good care of Seong Tae and Eun Seong.
WE LOVE THEM VERY MUCH!!!
Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Met with Tae Hee this Morning
We met Tae Hee this morning after finishing up the business stuff here.
Tae Hee cried alot but was happy with her foster mom who loved seeing pictures of Ryan and Katie. Tae Hee is a normally happy smiling baby. But we're new so it's not too surprising. She loves music just like her brother and sister.
The foster mom and social worker left her in the room with Jeff and I for about 15 minutes. She cried so much. I tried feeding her the bottle but Tae Hee wanted no part of it. We tried to get her involved with the mural on the wall but no luck again.
Due to her strong reaction, we (the social worker, foster mom, and us) decided on meeting again tomorrow afternoon. I didn't expect the first meeting to go smoothly. After our meeting, Tae Hee had a checkup and we got to see where the newborn babies are.
After all of our meetings we walked around Seoul and stumbled upon one of the palaces.
Well I'm exhausted so I'm heading to bed.
~Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
Tae Hee cried alot but was happy with her foster mom who loved seeing pictures of Ryan and Katie. Tae Hee is a normally happy smiling baby. But we're new so it's not too surprising. She loves music just like her brother and sister.
The foster mom and social worker left her in the room with Jeff and I for about 15 minutes. She cried so much. I tried feeding her the bottle but Tae Hee wanted no part of it. We tried to get her involved with the mural on the wall but no luck again.
Due to her strong reaction, we (the social worker, foster mom, and us) decided on meeting again tomorrow afternoon. I didn't expect the first meeting to go smoothly. After our meeting, Tae Hee had a checkup and we got to see where the newborn babies are.
After all of our meetings we walked around Seoul and stumbled upon one of the palaces.
Well I'm exhausted so I'm heading to bed.
~Jen reporting live from Seoul, South Korea
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