Rock Climbing

Zane starting his climb with some help from Jim.

                                        

Where does one start when talking about rock climbing. I have wanted to try climbing for awhile now and well today we got the chance.  Zane has climb a rock wall at the indoor play area and enjoyed his time.  Today all of us went climbing and I think we might be looking at a new family hobby! We were very blessed to have friends introduce us to this activity and share their gear with us- down to a harness for Zane! We have, let me say Jim, has already checked out prices on-line.  Zane had some problems climbing as his arms and legs are long enough to reach all of the hand holds. Jim climbed up about 4 times and a couple of those where after he got dropped by me, his wife who was on belay and gave up skin as well. He said falling and I had the rope locked- next thing I know he was falling and I was grabbing the rope- of course using the hand that wasn't wearing the glove. Our friends, Randy and Danielle where there to help and Jim didn't crash but did have a "fast" landing! He got right back up and went climbing again. Lessons learned: don't grab rope with non-gloved hand-yes there are blisters- and make sure if you weigh less then the climber you find a way to tie yourself down!  I did climb once and made it almost to the top. I didn't look down, wouldn't have been good and would have climbed again if I hadn't given up my skin! We will go back and continue this new found adventure!

Liz starting to climb.

 
Jim climbing.

Meyongdeok Crab Festival- 13 March 2011

So it has taken me two weeks to get this blog up and entered but hey I am now sharing the festival with you. We went to a crab festival two weeks ago and had a great time. We will probably go again next year but not on the bus! The bus ride took about 2 hours and we had 4 bus loads of people going. When we got to Myeonkdeok we had a buffet style lunch with the mayor and the food was great! We did think that that there would be crab on the buffet but nope, just normal Korean goodies! After lunch we went across the street to the festival area and got to watch a talent show. There were some from our group who went up on stage and danced then participated in the talent show.  There were lots of booths around: face painting, soap making, soju tasting, mask making and lot of places to get crabs. Zane did get his face painted and smeared it just shortly after. We got a tour of the maritime museum and then got to fish for crabs. We did catch 4 crabs but didn't buy any extra to bring home and cook. We didn't get to cook our crabs the night we brought them home as we didn't have a steamer for just 4 crabs. We didn't feel like firing up the turkey fryer. We did cook them the next night and the first two weren't so good, not sure if they went bad or the cook didn't know what she was doing. It was my first time cooking them after all. We did get one out of the four to eat and I was the only one to eat the crab. Jim doesn't like picking them apart and I didn't want to take any chances with Zane getting sick if the crab was bad! After living in Baltimore for so many years I was missing crabs and excited to have these. One of these days I will get back to B-more for a bushel of crabs with friends! Here are just a few of the pictures, hop enjoy enjoy them!- So I will try to post pictures later, right now the network drive isn't cooperating!

Where has the past year gone?

So as of yesterday, Korean time, 11 March, we have been in Waegwan a year! We got to Korea 4 March 2010 and spent 7 days in Seoul while Jim in-processed and received a lot of information about the do's and don'ts while in Korea. Zane and I hung out at the hotel with our new friends the Williams while the guys worked. The Williams are here as well but in the town next door. I can remember going out to the area around the base in Seoul, Itaweon and seeing how everything had changed from being here a little more than 10 years earlier. Zane even buckled himself into his stroller that day as he was afraid of all the new faces and I am sure was adjusting. So much has been asked of our little man in the past year with picking up and moving to a new country, not knowing anyone or the language. He has risen to the occasion and doing wonderfully! He does understand Korean and we are hoping that he will start speaking it as well. Of course he believes it is only for the Koreans to speak not him. Even the idea that he and mommy can share a language that daddy doesn't know got a smile but he still won't speak to me.

We haven't ventured out as much as I would like in regards to seeing the country but are starting to do a little more sightseeing. I know that if the tours that exist today were around 10 years ago I would have seen a lot more of the country! Now that the hubby is comfortable with his job we are starting to get out more often. I can't wait to see what else we do but tomorrow we are heading out to a Crab Festival and I will blog and share pictures!

Not only has the past year been a growing experience but it has given us 2 years together under the same roof which has been amazing! Can't believe that in almost 7 years of marriage this is the longest time we have been together under the same roof! We have learned lots of lessons as well in regards to do's and don'ts.  I know that we probably wouldn't have rented an apartment that has nothing underneath but a parking lot, no heat to share. We have seen children in cars without car seats and mom's get behind the well with babies in a carrier on their chest! We get told by the older generation that our children aren't dressed warm enough and lots of candy is given, well attempted, to children who aren't behaving. Zane has been offered lots of candy for this as well as just being cute! He doesn't like when the Korean's come up to him and touch him or tell him how cute he is. We are working on trying to get him to understand that yelling at them isn't the answer but to say no nicely or please don't touch me.

We still have 2 years left in this country and I am sure much more to learn. God has been amazing this past year and blessed us so much, with so many different blessings in so many ways! I know that He will continue to do so as well. The past year has gone by quickly and I am sure that the next 2 will as well.  You are all more than welcome to come and visit us in our little home. Mind you we don't have a grass yard but a parking lot to play on, but that is okay as we have parks to walk to, a river front to walk along, and lots of interesting places to visit and see!  I can say that I don't really miss Wal-mart or Target but the opportunity to run to a 24 hour store if I need something, wait I think that is what www.amazon.com is for! I miss an American size oven but have learned to live with what I do have! I know my mind is all over the place and I wanted to try to have this all make sense but that just isn't going to happen tonight.

We love and miss our friends and family in the states. Our door is always open and you are always welcome!

From the Land of the Morning Calm,

Love,
Jim, Liz, Zane and Maya

Eyes & Dogs

I was going to publish this post earlier this week but wanted to wait until I had pictures to post and share to go with the blog. So this past week Zane and I had eyes exams and on the same day Maya got spayed.  It was easier taking care of Zane with huge dilated pupils than it was Maya. Maya is now fine and thinks she is super dog, must be the meds and is running and jumping all over the place!  So back to the eye exams. We decided that Zane needed to have his eyes checked as he would sit on the couch and squint at the tv and tell us he couldn't see, so we made appointments. Then I get a message from his school that we might want to take him to the eye doctor. Anyway the eye doctor was great with Zane. Zane had a very hard time waiting for his turn and loved playing with all of the expensive equipment! He loved moving the chair in the exam room to laying down and then sitting up.  The eye doctor did dilate his eyes and let me know that it could take up to 3 days for the dilation to return to normal and it did. Zane got to wear his sunglasses to school and at anytime while outside so he wouldn't cause damage to his eyes. He loved it and so did his classmates! Yesterday, Friday 11 March, his eyes were normal again so we went down to pick out his glasses. Zane tried on many pairs for his size and decided he like the powder blue pair the best! Daddy on the other hand really wanted to Zane to get the ones that were a black eye frame with red arms. Daddy lost in the end! Zane loves his new glasses and does well wearing them for reading and playing his hand held video game. He did have to have a lesson about not putting the glasses down on the lenses and how to put them away. He will take them to school on Monday and wear them for class. We shall see how it goes as I am sure it will go over well with everyone as Zane looks so adorable in his new glasses!

Zane in his new glasses.

See if they make a difference and he says that they do!

Parks & Bikes

So over the past week the weather has been warming up and the sun shinning. We have been spending a lot of time outside and try to go for a daily bike ride. I am not sure who looks more forward to going, Maya, Zane or myself!  I know that Maya, our puppy, loves to be outside and will inform us she needs to go out just so she can play and not really have business to take care of! Zane loves to bike as he loves to race with his friends and I love being able to walk and run after Zane on his bike. In order to keep up with him you are either race walking or running! He can really get moving on his bike!  Last weekend Zane was the recipient of a new-used bike. He had been riding a 12 inch but has grown so much that his knees are almost hitting the handle bars. While at the PX during the holidays he hopped on a 16 inch and another lady saw him. She approached me and said when he was ready for a bigger bike she had one to give to us. She didn't want to throw it away. We were amazed at her kindness and generosity! It always amazes me when that happens! Zane now has a new bike and someone else will be getting Zane's old bike!

Zane riding around the park.

Boy and his dog, Maya. She would have loved to have eaten his pb&j!

This past week we have been spending a lot of time outdoors and at a local park playing with friends and having picnics. We will spend as much time outside as possible before we have to stay indoors due to rain or yellow dust.  Here are some pictures of our time at the park this past week. I know that we will be spending a lot of time at the parks and playing with our friends!

Busy days

So it has been awhile since my last blog and one of my New Year's resolutions was to blog more so all would know what we have been up to or are doing! Guess I am not the greatest at blogging! Things have been busy since the holidays. For Thanksgiving we had about 20 people in our house and yes we fried a turkey. There is no way that a turkey is going to fit in my tiny little oven! I must say that I miss having a normal size oven and two oven racks. The turkey fryers!

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 All the food!

 For Christmas my mom was here to celebrate with us and Christmas morning my dad, step-mom and brother all joined us via Skype. It was hectic but a lot of fun! I will share that on Christmas Eve my mom and I helped pass out cookies and Bible messages to the girls that work in the clubs over here. It was a great experience especially seeing as that was the only gift some of them received!  I did do a lot of baking for the holidays and even hosted a cookie exchange at our house. I will do it again next year but try to tie it into the cookies for the club girls ministry through the chapel on post!

 Our happy little family, trying too take a picture in front of the tree.

 Zane and I participated in the Children's Christmas pageant this year. Zane was the North Star and I was the Innkeeper's wife.

 

After the holidays we headed on leave to visit some friends in Washington and head down to LA for my cousin Courtney's wedding. Zane was a part of the wedding and did a wonderful job as the ring bearer.

  We are all staying busy. Zane is currently on vacation from Korean school and will be starting the new school year on 2 March. I also think that he will start going 4 days a week and if that goes well maybe go to 5 days a week.

Jim is staying busy at work and that is about all really.  Liz, me is staying busy with taking care of my boys, the dog, the house and all the wonderful chores that come with being Household 6!  I am also active with PWOC, Protestant Women of the Church and loving the fellowship and learning that has been taking place in my life. I am also looking at trying to start working on my Master's in January 2012. I have found an on-line program for Spanish, which doesn't require the GRE, so I am going to get it together and apply.

Well time for me to get going, dinner is re-heating in the oven and I know that everyone is hungry. I will try to do my best and blog more often and include pictures. I know that we are going to try and get out more and see more of Korea now that Jim has figured out his job!

Love you all and miss you!

Korean Hospitals Day 2

Well we went back to the hospital today for a follow-up appointment for Zane. We got there and the translator was with another patient so we had to wait, which was fine. The waiting room was much busier today than yesterday, must be a Saturday thing, and there were kids of all ages running around. We saw a different doctor today and she said things sound good. They gave Zane another nebulizer treatment and sent us on our way with more drugs. There were other kids in the treatment room so we had to wait. That is one of the differences between Western medicine and Korean medicine, everyone is in the same treatment room but then all the doctor's offices is where you see the doctor. She didn't even come out from behind her desk, Zane had to sit on a stool next to her desk to have his lungs listened too. We left today with a long list of drugs, which we looked up upon getting home to see what we are giving our little boy. He has a good antibiotic, a natural expectorant and a patch for his chest. We decided not to give him what they called, an anti-inflammorty, which was a steroid, and we never gave it to him. It has been an interesting experience.

These are the bags that all the medicine got sent home in along with the dosing directions in English. We though you all might enjoy seeing the packaging.

Zane is doing great and back to being himself. He was up at 7:30 this morning and has been going strong. We had to get him to lay down and rest for a bit in our room with a movie. He would much rather be outside playing but we think he needs to take it easy for another day.


Liz, Jim and Zane