Beach Babes Festival

We've had a busy week! Sometimes I feel bad that B has to go to work while E and I just play all day. We have had several nice sunny days at the beach with friends. E is becoming quite the fish...not too afraid of the water, tries to walk as far as she can before getting water in her mouth, doesn't mind the waves splashing on her face, etc. It probably helps that it has been so hot and the water is a perfect temperature!

This morning we got up early to head around the island to the Geoje Marine Festival. The festival is several days with lots of different activities. Today they had a Sand Volleyball Competition and Aerobics...aka gymnastics/dance. It was super fun for me to watch a little volleyball. E and her friend loved watching the sparkling uniforms dance and maybe do a little dancing themselves. They were quite the celebrities with all the dancers...but that is usually the case with these two blond hair/blue eyed girls. All I'm going to say is we had a few laughs at the music, dance and uniforms.

Across the Big Bridge

This past weekend we headed to the big city...Busan. The main reason for our trip was to hit up Costco. I went to Costco when we first got here with a friend but this was our first time to navigate by ourselves. I whipped out my Korean language skills (thanks to the missionaries who are teaching us...and of course Google Translate) and figured out how to work the Korean GPS on my phone. Worked like a charm! I'm not sure how we would ever get around without that. Busan is much, much larger than our little towns on the island. I'm glad we ended up living where we are!

To get to Busan we cross a new bridge from the island to the mainland. Part of the bridge goes under water to allow ships to cross. Pretty amazing. Amazing enough that it costs about $10 to cross the bridge each way. That being said, for the money it takes to get there and back we wanted to enjoy more of Busan than just Costco.

We heard the aquarium was nice so we went to check it out. It was great. E loved looking at all the fish, penguins, sharks, turtles, etc. They had a great glass tunnel you could go through and watch the fish swim overhead. Made for a great morning adventure.

The aquarium is located on Haeundae Beach which is Busan's famous beach. It was hilarious because you couldn't even see the sand with all the umbrella's set up. Korean's don't like the sun on their skin. They try to be a pale as possible. That is why they swim in the ocean fully clothed and walk around in full body coverage. Totally opposite of us American's! While we were standing there looking at the beach a guy asked if we needed an umbrella...yes, we're tourists. How could they tell?

At Costco we are a freak show. Korean's go to Costco as a normal grocery store and buy 3 or 4 things. When we go we overfill an entire cart. But we have to...we are stocking up for several months. It is great to watch the Koreans faces as they walk past our cart...they are truly appalled at how much stuff we have. We got a great laugh at that. Then the poor cashier has to deal with ringing us up...and did I mention they only take cash? So we spend somewhere in the ballpark of $700 (US) and Korean bills are mainly $10 (or lower) with a few $50 as the largest bill (the $50 is much harder to find). It's great carrying a wad of cash then trying to count it out. Despite all the hassle it sure is nice to walk in there...I feel so at home!

Keeping It Real

Well, we've gotten into the swing of things here and just living our very exciting but fairly normal life. Here is a little of what we've been up to.

We started a small container garden on our rooftop. We still have several things to get planted but here are a few. We love watching things come up quickly and can't wait for the rewards! (Broccoli, Lettuce, Cucumber, Mint, Rosemary).

E and I have stayed busy with our playgroup. Most activities are either indoors or in water as it is getting very hot and humid. We recently went to the Geoje Sea Spa which has a "funny park" (as they called it) at the roof. It was several pools with water slides. E couldn't get enough of going down the slides with mom. We didn't take our camera up but it was great. I love this photo of E and her friend in the locker room...oh 2 year old's! Notice the swim caps...everyone must wear one in any pool in Korea. Strange.

E recently got her first black eye while falling into the corner of the coffee table. We put a bag of frozen peas on her eye to help with the swelling...once E saw the peas she wanted to eat them and got over the fall as quick as that!

Church is...well...let's just say not quite the same when you don't understand the language. We are in a small branch of about 25 attending each week. We meet on the 3rd floor of a small building that consists of 3 rooms, a small kitchen and an office. We make the 3rd husband/wife family in the branch (one of the other families is also American). There are several single members or members without an active or member spouse. There are very few children. We meet for 2 hours. First is our Sacrament meeting followed by a combined Sunday School. We have 2-3 young women so they usually do a class together. Primary is hit or miss depending on who is attending that Sunday. There is a baby (probably about a year old) that E runs around with but no nursery. The missionaries translate for us so we get the translated version of the meeting. The members are very nice and patient with the translation and such. Ben was called to be the Elder's Quorum President (they haven't had one for years) so we'll see what he can do!

E has become quite the painter. Fortunately she isn't as expressive as her friend (see photo below) but you know I love seeing the craftiness come out already. The coolest part about the painting experience below was the colored water in the bath afterward!

I can't believe we are planning a 2nd birthday already. We have been in Korea for over 2 months now and I've been amazed at how much growing up E has done since we've been here. We just love the little girl she is becoming. Watch out America's Next Top Model...

Where We Live: Part 4 (Fun and Friends)

Every day life in Okpo is pretty similar to life back home. There are many foreigners here so we get our taste of normal English conversation fairly often. Because most people are in the same situation here with their husband's working at the shipyard, living in a furnished apartment (that you obviously didn't pick the furnishings), trying to find the food you like, keeping your kids busy, etc. you bond very quickly. We have also kept ourselves busy with some Korean children's classes and reading at an English children's book store. Here is a taste at what keeps us busy!

Playgroup - Made up of kids from France, Ukraine, Korea and America (all English speakers). We go to the park, or the beach, or someone's apartment, or the indoor play-place.

E has also made herself a lil' sis to this cutie who she calls Consti. She is in the states for a few months so we'll miss having her around.

"Class" as E calls it. We attend a mommy & me class with music, activities, gym...similar to a Gymboree class back home. It is adorable and we love it. Of course we don't always know what the instructor is saying (being the only foreigners) but it is easy to follow along.

(Somehow E and the kid she ran into didn't end up on the floor.)

English Bookstore - A friend introduced me to this English children's bookstore. It is very cute and carries a lot of our favorites. The store does reading time once a week where kids come listen to books and dance to songs (similar to our library time back home). Because my friend (another American) went home for the summer I have become the authentic English reader each week. E love to dance and play with all the big kids...and they LOVE to touch her hair, tickle her and hold her hand. Koreans love babies...especially blonde hair/blue eyed ones!

If we aren't busy with the above we find time for arts and crafts, playing at the park or swimming in our little pool on our rooftop.

So this ends our Where We Live series. I hope I've inspired you all to come visit!

Where We Live: Part 3 (The Beautiful)

Korea is beautiful. We've been lucky to see so much of it already...with much more to come.

A walk to Neungpo Yangjam Sculpture Park.

Lighthouse on a pier near the shipyard.

Butterflies also know as "flies" to E.

The terraces rice patties.

The burial mounds along the mountainsides (some better maintained than others).

Mundong Falls on the first sunny day after a lot of rain. (Remember this post?)