tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57947662004083891542024-03-13T16:43:54.248+09:00The Schauer'sOn travels, love, life and Jesus...Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-16430021400230621992010-07-18T20:05:00.015+09:002010-07-18T22:46:18.911+09:00...Let the Blogging Resume...<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My friend, <a href="http://www.andsoseventybegins.blogspot.com/">Jen Dillender</a>, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Master Blogger, Photographer, Friend, Sister, Doggie Mama, etc.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, kindly reminded me not to desert my blog and that the last post had been 2 months ago (oops!). So, here goes...a simple, short, photographically-full blog about our fun and relaxing weekend.</span></span></div><div><div><div><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sometimes it's the little things in life...</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...like Saturday afternoons at my favorite coffee shop learning how to use my fancy-schmancy camera...</span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">t</span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">hat I have already had for about 2 years...</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMNu4V0PdZnlFg6gPYmnx4ZhysWcmlqC9UAIYmVTCCl49wg_Z11rtk1D9MEnCCB9_-iAOJ4P56rwUsuV_XiWbSLRQdah65YSU_H7LhFE4uD8BC6OngEyugT1JVOMrjXoga-KEeLrXN1Nb/s1600/IMG_3420.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMNu4V0PdZnlFg6gPYmnx4ZhysWcmlqC9UAIYmVTCCl49wg_Z11rtk1D9MEnCCB9_-iAOJ4P56rwUsuV_XiWbSLRQdah65YSU_H7LhFE4uD8BC6OngEyugT1JVOMrjXoga-KEeLrXN1Nb/s400/IMG_3420.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495202562205206690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...and then practicing by taking pictures of my yummy, empty drink...</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kBLizIRpIZHKZUEjEOIEhAnb844-7621pgD1cmaDKpBEK_xU-i94cXAy6UVSYKISc1yOlqVbX5j0AW-jZoq2qUKDNI0H_gGNx1Zm0WnQfcMAmpi-yGIvUiUaluKRqjEmCrmSgDnYmy3P/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kBLizIRpIZHKZUEjEOIEhAnb844-7621pgD1cmaDKpBEK_xU-i94cXAy6UVSYKISc1yOlqVbX5j0AW-jZoq2qUKDNI0H_gGNx1Zm0WnQfcMAmpi-yGIvUiUaluKRqjEmCrmSgDnYmy3P/s400/IMG_3434.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495203624630751746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...and sippin' on a lovely Sunday afternoon beer while working on the absolute hardest puzzle of my life...</span></span></i><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOl1lL2XqL2U5NFkv_Y45BUiz6UQN4D1ybvkjdY03M75VG96vp0kRHYXoEU_UQ53nRES9A_-dtgWspw3eMdj3KKyev33Lct8gBY5Sb8WTIcmXOSUspu_XwneJ2sP-KjvVA3G6BtvAmFOM/s1600/IMG_3440.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOl1lL2XqL2U5NFkv_Y45BUiz6UQN4D1ybvkjdY03M75VG96vp0kRHYXoEU_UQ53nRES9A_-dtgWspw3eMdj3KKyev33Lct8gBY5Sb8WTIcmXOSUspu_XwneJ2sP-KjvVA3G6BtvAmFOM/s400/IMG_3440.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495204493676390690" /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...and going BACK to my favorite coffee shop </span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(for the 3rd time in one weekend)</span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to spend some sweet time with the Lord...</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOh7H569Z5dMt0f-VRAoOhYrNtF8WeZkYa7HzN-rmW9d6_9mP0BWPnIQVdu651UcGXK3ClAf71Z0B0m6y_ZfQj3gsjiGzOHqSKh3WMBryODoRE-DKTSPVUHLTQyNGDxkQWG-V3f27klA3/s400/IMG_3441.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495236845237205538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...and Him sharing beautiful promises with me...</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx9XZ4PnqIJc2RhF5oprbbBVVROTDkQgrjYbLyJGld6ijlwr_W8Fw7k5-AhrkVUGYwn3ii5uOGE7u0WLylhyWX_lWRrqqAZNG9lcsxraJPRcrRf0uPGBbW73x8BRDl5DMG0WvGAakE0nH/s1600/IMG_3445.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx9XZ4PnqIJc2RhF5oprbbBVVROTDkQgrjYbLyJGld6ijlwr_W8Fw7k5-AhrkVUGYwn3ii5uOGE7u0WLylhyWX_lWRrqqAZNG9lcsxraJPRcrRf0uPGBbW73x8BRDl5DMG0WvGAakE0nH/s400/IMG_3445.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495236853576877394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...and then taking funny pictures of </span><a href="http://www.brittwill.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bwill</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...<br /></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOh7H569Z5dMt0f-VRAoOhYrNtF8WeZkYa7HzN-rmW9d6_9mP0BWPnIQVdu651UcGXK3ClAf71Z0B0m6y_ZfQj3gsjiGzOHqSKh3WMBryODoRE-DKTSPVUHLTQyNGDxkQWG-V3f27klA3/s1600/IMG_3441.JPG"></a></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOh7H569Z5dMt0f-VRAoOhYrNtF8WeZkYa7HzN-rmW9d6_9mP0BWPnIQVdu651UcGXK3ClAf71Z0B0m6y_ZfQj3gsjiGzOHqSKh3WMBryODoRE-DKTSPVUHLTQyNGDxkQWG-V3f27klA3/s1600/IMG_3441.JPG"></a></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOh7H569Z5dMt0f-VRAoOhYrNtF8WeZkYa7HzN-rmW9d6_9mP0BWPnIQVdu651UcGXK3ClAf71Z0B0m6y_ZfQj3gsjiGzOHqSKh3WMBryODoRE-DKTSPVUHLTQyNGDxkQWG-V3f27klA3/s1600/IMG_3441.JPG"></a></span></span></i><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwdvFiQFRhJRsticPo1QEeop2Bw5QZGtk5e4zWkTqDv3yj2HobrjNjcSycgMquQHlOuUHhpf6E0Htygxsr2ww31CbD7dujNwBQ3lUbCqYQ6MkWZ0zeJjjpWG6OtZ1EkQQ46MGCYJjAlSM/s1600/IMG_3466.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwdvFiQFRhJRsticPo1QEeop2Bw5QZGtk5e4zWkTqDv3yj2HobrjNjcSycgMquQHlOuUHhpf6E0Htygxsr2ww31CbD7dujNwBQ3lUbCqYQ6MkWZ0zeJjjpWG6OtZ1EkQQ46MGCYJjAlSM/s400/IMG_3466.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495236871467263442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...and then stalking Korean babies ...</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_23ZZ6ueHTKpOdh4xZayP3QrC0hBMfDCoPbGy6GBNJ6C4jP0C0yG2R6zzYjvanjXLSuoX3ymeVKPwNRoXk06gjOe8dg4ByPuBWbG6zGWbPM_03wxMWKRFQLP2r7sR8_axe8DqQrSsFle/s1600/IMG_3453.JPG"></a></span></span></i></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_23ZZ6ueHTKpOdh4xZayP3QrC0hBMfDCoPbGy6GBNJ6C4jP0C0yG2R6zzYjvanjXLSuoX3ymeVKPwNRoXk06gjOe8dg4ByPuBWbG6zGWbPM_03wxMWKRFQLP2r7sR8_axe8DqQrSsFle/s1600/IMG_3453.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_23ZZ6ueHTKpOdh4xZayP3QrC0hBMfDCoPbGy6GBNJ6C4jP0C0yG2R6zzYjvanjXLSuoX3ymeVKPwNRoXk06gjOe8dg4ByPuBWbG6zGWbPM_03wxMWKRFQLP2r7sR8_axe8DqQrSsFle/s400/IMG_3453.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495236862710724130" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />...and having yummy 'minced chicken lettuce wraps' with your hubs for a Sunday din din...</span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UxBaMLj3MF11NHZMPmrtWRLjslYhl-BaI37S1gfcojhm_l903XbRVFS-3-W3dGIqW5EedQNxESdWzPg_aAwKyHJrq5OsaB76Xr8MfOkEKzqiq9ra2ra6fjRkpXoF6Y1pHky2ls9r17Y7/s400/IMG_3475.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495238845699218034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx9XZ4PnqIJc2RhF5oprbbBVVROTDkQgrjYbLyJGld6ijlwr_W8Fw7k5-AhrkVUGYwn3ii5uOGE7u0WLylhyWX_lWRrqqAZNG9lcsxraJPRcrRf0uPGBbW73x8BRDl5DMG0WvGAakE0nH/s1600/IMG_3445.JPG"></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thank you, Jesus, for the daily blessings in my life. Open my blind eyes to be able to see them minute by minute and give YOU the thanks and praise!<br /></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-65964187454109036542010-05-17T21:15:00.005+09:002010-05-17T23:27:26.248+09:00"On earth as it is in Heaven!"Well, here we go. This is Austin writing this blog entry and to be honest I am a bit nervous. Lauren is definitely the blogger in our family, and I am sure that much editing will be done by my wife before this is posted.<br /><br />A couple of months ago Lauren blogged about a dinner we had with the Shin family. The father is a pastor of a church in our city, and they have 4 kids. They are an amazing family that we truly enjoyed being around. Seeing the way that they were in love with Jesus and how they have raised their kids was a great encouragement. A few weeks back we ran into them at E-Mart (the korean version of Wal-Mart). Mr. Shin (Paul) was kind enough to ask Lauren and me to come to his church one Sunday and give our testimonies, so this past weekend we got the opportunity.<br /><br />When we arrived we were seated on stage behind Paul as he was introducing us. Lauren was the first to give her testimony and Paul's wife Esther translated for the congregation. I followed Lauren with my testimony as another woman named Rejoice translated for me. Throughout our testimonies we were hearing "Hallelujah" and "Amen." The string of events that followed left us with tears in our eyes. Paul had us stand in front of the whole congregation as they sang a blessing song over us... with arms outstretched toward us and voices lifted to the Lord. When they had finished Paul asked them to come down to the front to say hello. Little did we know that everybody in the church would line up and come to greet us.....from 10 year old kids to 80 year old men and women. They embraced us and would say things such as "God bless you" or "sarang hamnida" which means "I love you." We were overwhelmed by the love of Christ being displayed in these people. We had only seen/met a handful of them and they treated us as if they had known us their whole lives. Christians for hundreds and thousands of years have called each other brothers and sisters, but as long as I have been a Christian I don't believe I have felt that connection as much as I did in this moment. These were people that could not speak the same language as us but showed us a love that was undoubtably from our Lord. After we had embraced the WHOLE congregation Pastor Paul asked them to pray out loud for us for 30 seconds. As we bowed our heads they prayed for us. Speaking in Korean, we could not understand them at all, but we felt the Holy Spirit moving in that room like we have never felt before. I felt the Holy Spirit envelop us! When they had finished we sat down to listen to Pastor Paul give a quick sermon. At the end of the sermon Paul approached us with a envelope full of money. We were both shocked and did not know what to do. For a group of people who didn't know us and had heard us speak for only 10 minutes, to give us money was unthinkable. The generosity shown by these people blew us away. They did not consider their money theirs but the Lords...a lesson that I believe we all need to learn. As I thought about it, I don't think I would have given money to a couple that I had only met once and heard talk for 10 minutes. I could not believe their generous hearts. We could not accept the money and felt led to give it back to the church to use for missionaries. We have more than enough and sadly probably wouldn't have spent it in a way that would help further the Kingdom. We left that afternoon speechless about what we experienced.<br /><br />As we stood in front of the congregation and they prayed for us, blessed us and embraced us my mind could only think about Heaven. What we experienced was a glimpse of what I believe Heaven is going to look like.....a love that runs that deep and a faith that is that genuine. As we thought some more about it we realized that there is a freshness in the Korean church that is lacking in the American church. Don't get me wrong, Lauren and I both have a deep love for the church, but we just got a feeling that this is how it is supposed to be. These people have a deep faith and trust in the Lord. They believe in His mighty power and what He can do. Their love for our Lord and their brothers and sisters was incredible. These are followers of Christ, not just so-called Christians. They walk the walk and it is evident. They have a passion that can't go unnoticed. They believe in God's promises and take Him at His word. They believe any and every thing is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. <br /><br />I think that the big difference between the Korean church and the American church is that they take God and what He says much more serious then we do. As it says in the book of James, "don't be merely hearers of the word but doers of the word." This is what lacks in the American church.....a true commitment. I say this with a convicted heart, because I feel that all too often I fall into the "hearer of the word" category. Living a committed life to our Lord is not easy, as we see all throughout the Bible, but to these people Jesus is worth it.....and He should be for us too!<br /><br />We truly believe that on Sunday we saw a glimpse of what church is intended to look like. Yeah, I am sure they have their faults and struggle with things that all churches do, but what I saw was a group of people that were truly after the heart of God! These were Spirit filled, Heavenly minded, Gospel lovin' people!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-18671952873733490902010-04-24T23:50:00.003+09:002010-04-25T00:03:36.680+09:00What a wife thinks about when her husband leaves herSo Austin has been on a men's retreat this weekend for our <a href="http://iccpusan.typepad.com/">church</a> here in Busan and I have pathetically missed him more than I imagined. I guess since this is really the first time that we have been away from one another for a few days since being married it was particularly hard. So as I've gone through my days, I have realized all the little and wonderful things that he does every day that I really love:<br /><br />10. He sets the alarm AND gets up to turn it off in the morning<br /><br />9. He looks both ways for us and then tells me when it is safe to cross the street <br /><br />8. He pays for everything<br /><br />7. He cooks breakfast<br /><br />6. He starts the coffee<br /><br />5. He tells me to hurry up so that we are semi on-time to things<br /><br />4. He turns the lights off at night<br /><br />3. He motivates me to bathe and look semi-attractive<br /><br />2. He locks the doors and checks the windows<br /><br />1. He makes me laugh and smile a lot<br /><br /><br />Thank you to my amazing hubs that does so many little things that I appreciate every day. I love you.<br /><br />Now everyone who was wanting to puke through that post, you can do so now.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-4195226367072222232010-04-15T18:06:00.003+09:002010-04-15T18:56:17.502+09:00Meet the Mold...YuckOur apartment in Korea has not only been inhabited by the 2 of us, but also gross, hairy, white, black, green and all sorts of disgusting variations of mold, for the past 8 months. <br /><br />Why has this not been taken care of yet, you ask? <br />Well, we contacted our landlord and he sent his wife to solve the problem....Korea solution to mold: wallpaper over it! Taaaa Daaaa...because that is for sure the smartest way to handle this multiplying, sickifying and creepy creature that grows on our walls. <br /><br />Sooo, after Austin and I both got sick a few weeks ago and have still not fully gotten over it, I decided to take matters into my own hands and have researched the best ways to kill mold. Some say bleach. Some say call the experts. But some also say all-natural, supermarket-shelved vinegar works just as good. Supposedly vinegar kills 82% of mold, which is up there with the stat for hiring an expert (Mold seems to be that awful evil that will never die).<br /><br /> I ventured up into our little loft (the mold's home) to tackle it this afternoon and all I could think about are those cleaning product commercials with the living mold people, with their own faces and determination to live. I sprayed 2 full spray bottles worth of vinegar and then remembered to snap a "before" shot because I am determined that before going to bed tonight our walls will look much different!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8M-X87EU9VGwfKHvFaeYGjkm0aqifgu6kHM25vkjJRmetwP304QFABjYnly5TbAcnrNAemZPnomIrqpWxIgGMeIKc2sAdXPN3qFFszkkwOXuvN9GgbTV13xi84Wc4vRBKUAKR2GJLh6U/s1600/IMG_2913.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8M-X87EU9VGwfKHvFaeYGjkm0aqifgu6kHM25vkjJRmetwP304QFABjYnly5TbAcnrNAemZPnomIrqpWxIgGMeIKc2sAdXPN3qFFszkkwOXuvN9GgbTV13xi84Wc4vRBKUAKR2GJLh6U/s400/IMG_2913.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460300146933037954" /></a><br />Austin being the fabulous hubs that he is (wearing my ear warmer around his head!!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRjuKfp2SZp826gmzFDPNXuPvTzjD8u7gKNbWOuinnKxAHb7hotp36T5vT705OOeqphIPvNW21ILVQWiDqL9FEG4KMdsoXqQ3D1DkAKOJvngWcFZ5oxS-8pOGhs8PgIdExj-DllRM88zb/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRjuKfp2SZp826gmzFDPNXuPvTzjD8u7gKNbWOuinnKxAHb7hotp36T5vT705OOeqphIPvNW21ILVQWiDqL9FEG4KMdsoXqQ3D1DkAKOJvngWcFZ5oxS-8pOGhs8PgIdExj-DllRM88zb/s400/IMG_2911.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460300142646195282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrm5ttbMb0UN4dW2tqLwncpyHU3oeTH6G1gsu5pAUkF9osPk8lb1nU4YXbOUIXU6K-4GWhJPWhMwBEPm4xlxSm3W6ietn4awEKZ5rmn6UzaXk_Z8OUepb9sdjmiY57QK_10G3UZ-JlIq0/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrm5ttbMb0UN4dW2tqLwncpyHU3oeTH6G1gsu5pAUkF9osPk8lb1nU4YXbOUIXU6K-4GWhJPWhMwBEPm4xlxSm3W6ietn4awEKZ5rmn6UzaXk_Z8OUepb9sdjmiY57QK_10G3UZ-JlIq0/s400/IMG_2912.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460300134765112402" /></a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-33527511468418338512010-04-06T21:36:00.003+09:002010-04-06T22:18:45.078+09:00One, Two, Three...Pee!It has been absolutely FOREVER since I have last blogged. Most days in my free time I stalk other people's blogs (mainly <a href="http://andsoseventybegins.blogspot.com/">Jen Dillender</a>, <a href="http://yellowsongbird.blogspot.com/">Kim Davis</a> and <a href="http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/">Katie Davis</a>) and then after reading their witty and super awesome blogging abilities I feel defeated and decide to not blog myself. C'est la vie, today's a new day!<br /><br />I felt the need to share with the blogging world the hilariousness of Koreans' potty habits...and I do not mean to categorize all Koreans in this post (just the ones who I, myself, have witnessed having very amusing pees). <br /><br />Story one (I'll start with the least funny): Austin and I live in a developing area of Yangsan City where on a typical day there are workers around our apartment building other "villas (pronounced 'beellas')," or 4-ish story apartment buildings. In the Fall, especially, it was a normal day to look out of our window and see a worker relieving himself right on the side of the road. I know, I know...men "get" to pee outside...it's just a right that they have...BUT my question is why not choose a more discrete location than on the side of a busy road and right underneath the windows of innocent foreigners. I just don't get it. <br /><br />Story two: The other day Austin and I were going on with our usual coffee date at Dunkin' Donuts, which I might add is on one of the busiest roads in our part of the city smack dab on the corner of a well-traveled intersection. As I'm sipping my coffee I look out the floor-to-ceiling window next to me and see a Grandma ('adjuma') with her 2 grandkids, one being a little boy about the age of 4. As I am watching them thinking how cute the kids are, I see the grandma reach down around the waist area of the boy, tug "something" out of his pants and proceed to hold his teeny weeny for him while he straight up pees into a flower bed. Reasons why this is sooo not okay and totally hilarious at the same time:<br />A. It is a super busy intersection, with rows of cars stopped right next to them for a red light.<br />B. Dunkin' Donuts is enclosed with large glass windows...so after my outburst of laughter the entire store was watching the poor child pee.<br />C. I don't care how old the little boy is, he can hold his OWN penis. <br />D. The poor tree that was trying to grow and make the street pretty is now drinking urine. <br /><br />Story three: On my walk home from school each day I pass by a large field where adjumas (old Korean women) farm and grow crops. Most days there are several groups of adjumas working together to produce anything from flowers to green onions. This field is also on a fairly well-traveled road and these particular adjumas were right next to the street. Yesterday as I was walking home from school and passing this familiar field I looked to my right just in time to see an adjuma fiddle with the string of her <a href="http://boxofjalapenos.blogspot.com/2008/04/adjuma-alert.html">floral colored adjuma airplane pants </a> and yank them down, giving me a shiny, white FULL MOON. I was startled enough just to see her butt, but she then turns toward me (with her pants around her ankles) and moves closer to the street to select the proper pee spot. She then proceeds to squat down right next to me and pee...yano, because that's normal. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt...she had probably been farming all day, was tired and didn't want to walk to the nearby restroom. BUT, benefit or no benefit..... <br /><br />Not a day goes by that we don't pinch ourselves and realize, "Oh! We're in a foreign country!" Sadly, most of the time it is not us doing it but instead hiliarious Korean-isms such as these that make us know that we are no longer in the U.S. of A. Heck, we have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Indecency2.jpg">laws</a> against this!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-30970747515336801412010-03-05T11:51:00.005+09:002010-03-05T14:11:17.627+09:00The ShinsSo last night Austin and I were invited by the Shin family to eat dinner at their home and meet their family. Their precious little boy, John, is a first grader at my school. (this March was all 1st graders' first time to come to school in their lives...March = new school year...first grade = first real grade level) On Tuesday, the first day of the school year, John's Dad approached me and asked if I was the foreign English teacher at this school. After saying yes and introducing myself he called his wife and said into the phone, "I found her! I found her! Come meet her!" I felt like royalty or something because of how excited he was to have 'found' me!! <br /><br />Come to find out, the members of the Shin family are world travelers: their eldest daughter currently studies in the Philippines in an international school, their next oldest, Romy, will be leaving soon to begin high school at an international school in China, the mom and the two little ones will soon be moving to TEXAS for her to attend Seminary and the Dad has traveled ALL around the World to preach the gospel of Jesus. John's first language to learn was English, then Korean, and the 9th grader (Romy) speaks Korean, English, Tagalog and Chinese. Both of the parents spoke English SO stinkin' well and the little baby, Angelica (1 1/2), didn't have to talk because she won me over with her cuteness. Those of you Americans reading this might not think that their traveling is THAT big of a deal, but for us ex-pats in Korea we have learned how little Koreans travel (or have much desire to ever leave Korea). For example: I told my co-teacher about the Shins today and his response was, "Are they Korean by birth? [yes.] ...then why do they travel to other countries? Why don't they stay in Korea?" Austin and I have been shocked by how ridiculous it sounds to Koreans to travel, see the World and move to other countries for periods of time. So, being World travelers was my first obsession with the Shins! <br /><br />After arriving at their house it was so apparant that this generous family truly lives out the Bible. The Dad, Paul, is the pastor at a nearby church in Yangsan and he loves and leads his family so well. He is also a photographer and has this huge super nice camera. Austin and I were pretty much in a constant photo shoot while we were there! The Mom (Esther) loved, supported, served and cared for her husband and family with such gentleness and made it apparent that taking care of her family brings her huge joy. By watching the way that this Korean married couple (who as a culture typically don't show affection in public)showed affection toward one another and were on the same page in thought and conversation, I knew that their source and foundation was Christ. I have met many Christian families in my time, but something was different about this one: the love of Christ and family closeness just kept on overflowing and pouring itself into their home. Romy, at probably the age of 15, tenderly held his baby sister and whispered prayers into her ear quietly enough to where most couldn't hear (only those who eavesdrop like me!). John proudly displayed his crayoned pictures of angels surrounding Jesus in Heaven and continuously looked at his Dad like he is his biggest hero! They talked about Jesus like a brand-new hyped up Christian boasts about the grace that he has recently found and, sadly, like we all should. They live each day asking God how they can best serve him that particular day...and last night God answered by saying to bless us Schauers and demonstrate the love that a Godly family is designed to have! Praise God. <br /><br />After eating a yummy dinner of bulgogi (Korean sauteed meat), salad with fruit, spaghetti, chicken soup (yum!), and rice Esther brought out a cake with one candle in the middle. She lit the candle and said, "John, don't blow it out this time! This candle is for the newly married couple who are learning to become ONE." I could've cried right then and there, I was so touched. At that point, I knew I was in love with the Shins (especially Mama Esther)!!! <br /><br />Austin and I got home and, literally, did not stop talking about this sweet family for probably 30 minutes: <br />"...Oh, and what about when they said that..."<br />"Oh, did you see the way that Romy did..."<br />"...I want that baby!"<br /><br />I kept on praying "God, thank you. God, thank you. God, thank you." Thank you, God, for being SO good. Thank you for showing two broken sinners like us what it can look like to live for the Lord and raise a family that praises Jesus! Thank you that you send your servants to bless others like us! God, thank you! God, thank you!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-64675225202520124182010-03-04T11:46:00.002+09:002010-03-04T11:58:44.329+09:00I'm in love with you, Dave Ramsey...well, not really...but kinda...So now I step up onto my soapbox and demand that every single one of you that is currently reading this silly blog should stop reading this silly blog and go and buy Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover book. Or any book of his, I'm sure. I think he should bring me onto his staff and pay me because of how many people that I am going to tell to read his book. <br /><br />What is it, you ask? A book about life and money and how to combine the two so that you don't end up spending your life stressed about money. <br /><br />Why get it, you ask? Because it is so stinkin' practical but something that our crazy, obsessive culture doesn't teach us. Don't have debt. Ever, except for a house. Live within or below your means. Save. Give. Invest. Simple! He, obviously, goes into much more detail in a very elementary way to make us non-finance majors understand what he is talkin' about.<br /><br />I think the reason why I am so obsessed with the book and Dave Ramsey right now is that while Austin and I were in premarital counseling, once we got married and recently when thinking about what we will do when we get home I am the typical woman who worries. I have been failing at putting my trust in the Lord that He IS going to provide for us and that He WILL take care of our needs. Instead, I have been convincing myself that living in a shack is worth it if we get to do ministry. Although I should not and will not put my trust and hope in good 'ol Dave before Jesus, I now have learned that as long as we are smart with our money that God gives to us and blesses us with (unlike about 98% of the Americans who have numerous debts out the wazzoo) that we will be able to live, save and give very generously. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside to know that, God-willing, if we follow his plans listed in the book that I will be able one day to stay at home with our little kiddos and not have to wonder how a day care is doing at raising my kids for me. <br /><br />That's my rant. That's my soapbox. But seriously, GO GET IT. You will fall in love too. I think Austin thinks I'm crazy right now because most conversations I start begin with, "...So Dave said..." No shame, though. No shame. Go get it. Seriously.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-41870632990270032262010-02-23T22:22:00.002+09:002010-02-23T22:35:59.052+09:00Humph.Jesus teaches us a lot. Everyday. But recently I feel like I have been learning more than ever that Jesus calls us to be honest, even when it is really, really, really hard. I think that God probably gives the gift of realness, honesty and possibly boldness to certain people but I don't think that he ONLY calls those people to realness, honesty and possibly boldness. We, as Christians, have bought into the idea of "feel-good" love, where we are honest to those nearest to us only until the point of comfort. We will be real up to the point to where it kinda is a laughing, semi-sarcastic honesty with others (c'mon, tell me you know EXACTLY what I am talkin' about!). You know, the kind when you make a joke about how dumb it is for an alcoholic to go into a bar, hoping that that alcoholic you are talking to will get the hint. I think when we confine ourselves only to feel-good honesty with our brothers and sister in Christ, though, we are disobeying God's truth and instead serving ourselves. <br /><br />Let me break it down: If we consistently choose to produce a fake, surface-level relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, I don't think it is for them. No, if we were looking out for their own good we would know for certain that God's truth always trumps. Instead, we choose to overlook others turning their backs on God just so that we don't have to put our own self-seeking, people-pleasing reputation on the line. <br /><br />God, forgive me for ever being untruthful with my sisters and brothers just so that I look better. It's not about me, but you.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-59274204746407593512010-02-19T22:11:00.003+09:002010-02-19T22:41:02.435+09:00FaveuarySo the month of February (Faveuary) always make me extremely happy. As a little girl, I liked the whole idea of seeing what the Groundhog did on Groundhog Day, I get way too excited about the frilly red and pinkness of Valentine's Day, my Birthday falls 2 days after Valentine's Day and then the month is over rather quickly (being as though it got jipped with days) and then warm (hopefully) weather greets you in March.<br /><br />This FAVEUARY has got to be the best, though, with having the first week off of work, celebrating a relaxing first Valentine's Day with my handsome hubby (which, I might add also fell on the same day as Lunar New Year...Korea's biggest holiday of the year), also celebrating a fun first Birthday with my handsome hubby, Brittany Mai Williams coming to join us in Koreanland and THEN having another week off of school for the last week...whoop! <br /><br />Pictures of fun times...and more to come. duh. For my bday we ate dinner at the awesomely HUGE seafood buffet in the famous Jalachi Seafood Market in Busan where all of the fresh seafood is hauled in each day off of the fishing boats. We stuffed ourselves to where I didn't even want to walk...bleh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizECQAWVPsUHnWD11H3KwXce1n0xvxD7v2msWfmF3n-bEEfpCbyGYO8GZ34N0GVLCYVtaYchSEvsDMsvf7o93RgI8eFbGNMe8vhDhSDxgFXmN55NyO0r3YKtmPU-ccUn1g_dYoiS0AK1zg/s1600-h/IMG_2608.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizECQAWVPsUHnWD11H3KwXce1n0xvxD7v2msWfmF3n-bEEfpCbyGYO8GZ34N0GVLCYVtaYchSEvsDMsvf7o93RgI8eFbGNMe8vhDhSDxgFXmN55NyO0r3YKtmPU-ccUn1g_dYoiS0AK1zg/s400/IMG_2608.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439945119100197666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlC6DAt4Nmv0uOCSuivHiLfFX1XhFVk7tjkTzS4M6M0b4IcOvHrRoYo-ZDj0XpSolgsvB7xJBiLBISmJqtFsYDnZfD08_uS3L8HZKczzHmsOwxEYD4sgiyxrWr5v0pfLPOsOAipRySJ8C6/s1600-h/IMG_2605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlC6DAt4Nmv0uOCSuivHiLfFX1XhFVk7tjkTzS4M6M0b4IcOvHrRoYo-ZDj0XpSolgsvB7xJBiLBISmJqtFsYDnZfD08_uS3L8HZKczzHmsOwxEYD4sgiyxrWr5v0pfLPOsOAipRySJ8C6/s400/IMG_2605.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439945111869021490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFV6Xor1fFRY8dr9pLtdP3tnvtSV92Q2ebGL12jjGY-QBSJ4nw2H1pwZ1Ij4HBX4dI7Sg4Qcop3dbU5x_tUGiyhBXSGFuLZ7GmQqHsB3E3khdK5cfro5ktbY69Yplz11QrkXHCdX3apqNz/s1600-h/IMG_2603.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFV6Xor1fFRY8dr9pLtdP3tnvtSV92Q2ebGL12jjGY-QBSJ4nw2H1pwZ1Ij4HBX4dI7Sg4Qcop3dbU5x_tUGiyhBXSGFuLZ7GmQqHsB3E3khdK5cfro5ktbY69Yplz11QrkXHCdX3apqNz/s400/IMG_2603.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439945103870043362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOHKZIbdrdGdOUKUQtEFlt24KLjzukgn_B4xSsxzT6w2XJ4atKqf6Mw4tam2nZzVZdSpaubvuZIurGGtz17dEEzuC91q3D2Zt2C30FmtNy5w6V2aFdHkSzLkM76QoT_XX8sOKxH58Z3gB/s1600-h/IMG_2602.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOHKZIbdrdGdOUKUQtEFlt24KLjzukgn_B4xSsxzT6w2XJ4atKqf6Mw4tam2nZzVZdSpaubvuZIurGGtz17dEEzuC91q3D2Zt2C30FmtNy5w6V2aFdHkSzLkM76QoT_XX8sOKxH58Z3gB/s400/IMG_2602.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439945093950492914" /></a><br /><br />Aside from the really fun times so far this semester...i.e. our big vaca, not working too much, holidays, celebrations, etc...I feel like Austin and I are both at that really difficult spot where we are only 1/2 way through our year here but really itching to move onto the next thing- whatever that may be. We are so eager to figure out what we are going to do for careers, where we are going to live, to be back with Ellie, for me to actually change my name (!), and to just start the next season of being in ONE place for an extended period of time and having a solid community of Christ followers around us to love on and grow in fellowship with. Just re-reading that last sentence is music to my ears and brings joy and excitement to the depths of my soul. BUT, God has us here for another 6 months for a reason. Why, God? I'm not sure right now, but He is. I am so incredibly confident that years down the road we are going to be able to go, "Aha! This is the fruit that came from being in Korea." At this point I can say that we have each grown as individuals hugely. We have learned more about what we do and don't desire in life, what brings us joy and some of the spiritual gifts that our gracious God has given to us. As a couple we have also grown leaps and bounds. Korea has allowed tons of free time to develop meaningful conversation, to do marriage studies, listen to sermons, read books and on and on. God has matured our marriage already in beautiful ways and has sooo much more to do! Lastly, we have each been taught so much about the Lord, been convicted of Sin in our life and been challenged to live each day absolutely for Christ. We are encouraged to be "doers of the Word , and not hearers only..." and to develop the spirit of discipline that creates a more godly life. God has been good. So good. Please pray that the Schauer's over here remain in the present and allow ourselves to continually be shaped by Jesus during our remaining time here. Pray that we are open to what else He has to teach us and that our hearts are in Korealand, rather than in what God has in store for us next. <br /><br />Also, we would L.O.V.E. to hear from each of you, what is going on in your life and how we can be praying for you. <br /><br />To the Texans out there, give the Lone Star State a big hug for us!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-1344660825901139832010-02-14T21:35:00.005+09:002010-02-14T21:52:11.061+09:00OH TEXAS, SWEET TEXAS......You are priceless because:<br /><br />- you don't eat kimchi<br />- you DO eat Mexican food!<br />- you have nice, friendly people that enjoy smiling<br />- you house my friends and family at the moment<br />- you have craft stores<br />- you have Cheddar's spinach dip<br />- you (hopefully) have jobs waiting for us<br />- you have my dog that I dearly miss<br />- you have houses with ovens in them where I could try new recipes<br />- you have open green space<br />- you have a car for me to drive<br />- you have coffee shops that don't look at you weird when you ask for milk with your coffee<br />- you have country music<br />- you have Rudy's breakfast tacos (more for my hubs)<br />- you speak English<br />- you are BIG<br />- you accept diversity very well<br />- you have sweet tea (also more for my hubs than me)<br />- you have Texas A&M<br />- you are....wonderful.<br /><br /><br />In conclusion, when just asking Austin what he loves most about Texas he said:<br />"Ahhh...I just can't put it into words. Something about waking up in Texas just feels good. I think it's just that [Texans] are badasses."<br /><br />Enough said.<br /><br />P.S. If you couldn't tell, this was my way of venting...!<br /><br />The Schauer's miss you, Texas!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-48052743462278864852010-02-05T14:46:00.012+09:002010-02-05T16:50:47.870+09:00Vietnam and ThailandIt's been about a week since Austin and I got back to Korea from our outstanding 2 weeks in Vietnam and Thailand...now I get to tell you all about them :)<br /><br />Our first day of travel started early in the morning with Austin and I taking the KTX (Bullet train) north from Busan to Seoul. We arrived into Seoul and then took a bus straight to Incheon Airport. Realization #1 of the trip: Austin and I are fully capable of entertaining ourselves for hours in an airport! Like, hours. We love the Seoul airport and will go hang out there any day. <br /><br />Flight later that afternoon from Seoul-Taipei-Bangkok. Realization #2: Thai Airways MIGHT be the best airline in the world. We were shown to our seats, sat down and received warm hand towels, hot tea, 2 meals on a 6-ish hour flight, free movies, music, games and TV (you could even make your OWN playlist from their extensive list of music) and FREE alcohol. We also could hang out on a Thai Airways flight any day of the week. Yes, please. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEYOXLJxIE3NUSw_J-cHzRJxNul_RwR7CQDYbhzvZJRf34Lj65SmLaS6IvHCWqeuL2v9O0PmbxqYwQuf_iPn4zCnk5TkvawUQv6LODBouC92sYZgXAkgdleXUgN9hjkUJRi4VpTNzFilG/s1600-h/IMG_1953.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEYOXLJxIE3NUSw_J-cHzRJxNul_RwR7CQDYbhzvZJRf34Lj65SmLaS6IvHCWqeuL2v9O0PmbxqYwQuf_iPn4zCnk5TkvawUQv6LODBouC92sYZgXAkgdleXUgN9hjkUJRi4VpTNzFilG/s400/IMG_1953.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434648080362790482" /></a><br />Our awesome tv's on the flight<br /><br />We arrived into Bangkok late and crashed in a cheap-o hotel and awoke the next morning around 4 to travel back to the airport to meet the parents! Our first sight of my parents was right by check-in and Mer cried and cried and cried....it was beautiful! <br /><br />VIETNAM:<br />The 4 of us arrived into Hanoi, Vietnam (the capital, but not the largest city in Vietnam...which is the former Saigon and present Ho Chi Minh city in the south) in the late morning and boarded the hotel van for our most hilarious ride of the trip. Our first experience of Vietnamese driving was insane. Just close your eyes and imagine this scene: You're on a highway, no lanes, 18-wheelers, vans, buses, cars, motorbikes, more motorbikes, even more motorbikes, bicycles...all swerving in and out of one another, honking horns every other second just to let the person in front of you know that you are there...it was CRAZY, and that is an understatement. We thought Korean driving was pretty crazy due to their lack of attention to driving rules, but in Vietnam there aren't even any rules. To our amazement, though, there were very few wrecks. No one gets angry when cut off. The insanity just seems to flow and to work perfectly. Imagine that, America. <br /><br />Our hotel was wonderful, situated on the exterior of the "Old Quarter" of Hanoi and complete with a comfy bed, bathtub, spacious room and super friendly staff...We loved it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-sOr8iPvAfXlYXxVe_Bur1KY6cRp1D0R7GY_i-tgRSAY4-9DWNCDvpS0NB-RKhde6eQIaeC272F3oDSnvbSQSluBXbLPud9wXMdZaxFZjNb8awvnAv1Jw82X5_daEx_wBkMLr0ykNJVw/s1600-h/IMG_1961.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-sOr8iPvAfXlYXxVe_Bur1KY6cRp1D0R7GY_i-tgRSAY4-9DWNCDvpS0NB-RKhde6eQIaeC272F3oDSnvbSQSluBXbLPud9wXMdZaxFZjNb8awvnAv1Jw82X5_daEx_wBkMLr0ykNJVw/s400/IMG_1961.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434649393657477602" /></a><br />in our hotel, the Hanoi Old Quarter Hotel, with Yen...our newest best friend!<br /><br />Then, we ventured out into the city for the next few days. Hanoi is a mix of old French architecture, poverty, way-too-delicious of food, wonderful touristy shops to buy worthwhile souvenirs from and warm friendly people that always greet you with a shy smile. We really loved Hanoi and the famous lake, Hoan Kiem Lake, that sits in the center of the Old Quarter. The lake is a picture-perfect hazy dreamland, complete with Asian willow trees, a pagoda in the middle and awesome Vietnamese elderly working out to TaeBo-type recorded tracks! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPO866kCeGXdhA5wG6Am_Mal0Z93s8ljXU3pM1Nd_-FJlsUbX0PCwBYvbPZtII3ZJCeX7TSHu5aCJM0THGjuaKFdciu_JCR9ky0FjU_7RzoCi2-g9UTXcmGBgiB4CPKgWXMauUow8pozPj/s1600-h/IMG_1988.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPO866kCeGXdhA5wG6Am_Mal0Z93s8ljXU3pM1Nd_-FJlsUbX0PCwBYvbPZtII3ZJCeX7TSHu5aCJM0THGjuaKFdciu_JCR9ky0FjU_7RzoCi2-g9UTXcmGBgiB4CPKgWXMauUow8pozPj/s400/IMG_1988.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434650514467932562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzJnNXfXSBATt2kfqABZIyZb6Omy2sMQpbaNtrL642-8ennUL1JCb1n5zTl6N7Oz_w3ReQPwlAu9x3vXwrQgBZy4QW2SLI4GF4HSOP33S4tkqupkHdeODNHhfPsVUY3rZKS2ENfNp4yma/s1600-h/IMG_1984.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzJnNXfXSBATt2kfqABZIyZb6Omy2sMQpbaNtrL642-8ennUL1JCb1n5zTl6N7Oz_w3ReQPwlAu9x3vXwrQgBZy4QW2SLI4GF4HSOP33S4tkqupkHdeODNHhfPsVUY3rZKS2ENfNp4yma/s400/IMG_1984.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434650505734589474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg077ot0lxaQjzh3idm2oKGTKoEm9BdV8xqpMhrFdORGcgpAHTa6m76LjS_sRMIVLGfXSaWU13upd8_bdEj-Kpdb0C7cn20QGSI8lHRDwRmDys3qvGdKHDgt05Wxy-EZJ8iwRpWuuMhKXpZ/s1600-h/IMG_1974.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg077ot0lxaQjzh3idm2oKGTKoEm9BdV8xqpMhrFdORGcgpAHTa6m76LjS_sRMIVLGfXSaWU13upd8_bdEj-Kpdb0C7cn20QGSI8lHRDwRmDys3qvGdKHDgt05Wxy-EZJ8iwRpWuuMhKXpZ/s400/IMG_1974.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434650493722580898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjooCyHoH0uX0mTQtHYSsOEiRdy_3Ra44GEftb7ha0ItwM2p-4Uc0ctTMc9hFBXqQqvWqcmgF1ldkrP2NHIv9yXwnwpoFhYom1vC7cQDcHbL98xhyXOXfhGt2gCndPru6XG0Is29S1uMMO/s1600-h/IMG_1971.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjooCyHoH0uX0mTQtHYSsOEiRdy_3Ra44GEftb7ha0ItwM2p-4Uc0ctTMc9hFBXqQqvWqcmgF1ldkrP2NHIv9yXwnwpoFhYom1vC7cQDcHbL98xhyXOXfhGt2gCndPru6XG0Is29S1uMMO/s400/IMG_1971.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434650479189445330" /></a><br /><br />On our 3'rd day in Hanoi, we awoke to the early morning bus to cart us 3 hours East of the city to the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Halong Bay. We had arranged a 2-day, 1-night boat to take us around Halong Bay. All of the boats in Halong Bay are called "junk" boats and I might be ignorant as to why they are called this, but they are beautiful! With all the 100's of boats swimming the Bay you would think that it would distract from the natural beauty of the area, but because of the natural wooden decor of each junk boat it just...works. On our boat, we were the only 4 Americans there! We met Vietnamese, Canadians, Dutch, Australian, Kiwi's, British and probably more that I am forgetting. We traveled on the junk boat for awhile deep into the Bay and then took a smaller commuter boat onto one of the "islands" that boasts a humongous cave. After touring the cave we went kayaking through that part of the Bay and even saw red-butt monkeys!! When asking what kind of monkeys they were, our tour guide said, "I don't know...normal monkeys?" Realization #3: Sometimes the sites that you see in pictures actually that pretty, if not prettier, in person!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41RRSQKeZF_6zqQRlW8cn_XM49sFwAhuDQJnjKC0OdVAC06ZNjIbGZBokshDWsolAuB6tTzACvgKU32-wmjWD0vkW3IQWjfiNH4CmWzoolMPyINMsZWAf90PpxfKcqnsSK7soIdJSpg5W/s1600-h/IMG_2085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41RRSQKeZF_6zqQRlW8cn_XM49sFwAhuDQJnjKC0OdVAC06ZNjIbGZBokshDWsolAuB6tTzACvgKU32-wmjWD0vkW3IQWjfiNH4CmWzoolMPyINMsZWAf90PpxfKcqnsSK7soIdJSpg5W/s400/IMG_2085.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434655107814932562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3dybE6k3AY6Y3GtjE-n4Amim5VYhuoDkL8NlYqN0Z15Z8vmSxRIY3R1I6AxBoynK1JBZbhwNFoIpe7OcMUltjecGZyqJANYCRuHvQLd25-GasTaEv9hr12M8iMMhooPPBffsOHSviCpl/s1600-h/IMG_2081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3dybE6k3AY6Y3GtjE-n4Amim5VYhuoDkL8NlYqN0Z15Z8vmSxRIY3R1I6AxBoynK1JBZbhwNFoIpe7OcMUltjecGZyqJANYCRuHvQLd25-GasTaEv9hr12M8iMMhooPPBffsOHSviCpl/s400/IMG_2081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434655096109393746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5Y6KQEwEK-uI2PyKgmswuERwiPhh84FPAlKg4PB5nJ5wDereMbtq2VTr-KqM9UFH5wgq9BmjPzN7LFD1-rhXyPJ688OVNtSTY8cscgNV76MWC0RrUqxiBcrdd7NV75zPSXadeaMIS2BL/s1600-h/IMG_2067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5Y6KQEwEK-uI2PyKgmswuERwiPhh84FPAlKg4PB5nJ5wDereMbtq2VTr-KqM9UFH5wgq9BmjPzN7LFD1-rhXyPJ688OVNtSTY8cscgNV76MWC0RrUqxiBcrdd7NV75zPSXadeaMIS2BL/s400/IMG_2067.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434655093418852434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3S4qIXe57-N5N6eZuXIRQWpEtVF9_ljrDE-2z9pJznburltRRJoYUbNIld-_4rZNYxxE0A2xN1lrLZzidsbW2NBiUOSLCwnzjc1Q5wFuUprihGgK62D9VrTxz2S8drVcQ-vJdso8DXcY/s1600-h/IMG_2059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3S4qIXe57-N5N6eZuXIRQWpEtVF9_ljrDE-2z9pJznburltRRJoYUbNIld-_4rZNYxxE0A2xN1lrLZzidsbW2NBiUOSLCwnzjc1Q5wFuUprihGgK62D9VrTxz2S8drVcQ-vJdso8DXcY/s400/IMG_2059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434655084873881106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmFI7vIApmy7iwxrKktqbxEtz1aFtMtM_Xeve1M7W-jtkx1cY2YgEB_nONk6_fj3Kv5j5JEWNSU9n4XmDNeBYgvrm5YLDuMbNPk4blrXSf5L8FBDWHutjbbaWV7J_peRKd8l2TZ9jlFzH/s1600-h/IMG_2052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmFI7vIApmy7iwxrKktqbxEtz1aFtMtM_Xeve1M7W-jtkx1cY2YgEB_nONk6_fj3Kv5j5JEWNSU9n4XmDNeBYgvrm5YLDuMbNPk4blrXSf5L8FBDWHutjbbaWV7J_peRKd8l2TZ9jlFzH/s400/IMG_2052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434655076498422626" /></a><br /><br />THAILAND: <br />After 4-ish wonderful and full days in Hanoi, the 4 of us boarded our trusted Air Asia flight for Chiang Mai, Thailand. When people say that they fell in love with a city while traveling, this perfectly describes our feelings of Chiang Mai. My first impression of Thailand and the city of Chiang Mai really surprised me. I expected to see more of the poverty that was so visible in Vietnam, but this country was much wealthier and very, very clean. My dad constantly made comments about how clean the streets were! Back to Chiang Mai: this city was full of tourists, expats and Thais, alike, roaming the streets for yummy Thai food, (man, I would trade Kimchi any day and everyday of the week for some awesome Pad Thai) cute cafes, golden temples and GREAT people-watching! The Vietnamese people smiled a lot, but the Thai people grinned. They were so friendly the whole time we were there. After reading more about the culture, I found that it mostly is a mask to hide their worn out, saddened lives that are taken advantage of by the Thai government. Unfortunately, from the exterior to a ignorant tourist, they seemed like the happiest people in the World. In Chiang Mai we spent a whole day hanging out with lions, tigers and elephants (oh my!) and seeing them do all their fun tricks. We also spent both nights at a great night market that had so many beautiful hand-made Thai souvenirs for dirt cheap. All in all, we LOVED Chiang Mai and flirted with the idea of relocating there after Yangsan! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPR5dfepvVznxYHTmdaT8neHfSXmTAYhD_ItGZm3KhNNywwwY4lQg_f0zQaxBf1a3IyvcEM2j7kX_omAAvnAhc7DNbpWErcaPFKbmckkh7NzWnL75a00pOg8U2HXEQC7_PziYLYmrSTPuw/s1600-h/IMG_2155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPR5dfepvVznxYHTmdaT8neHfSXmTAYhD_ItGZm3KhNNywwwY4lQg_f0zQaxBf1a3IyvcEM2j7kX_omAAvnAhc7DNbpWErcaPFKbmckkh7NzWnL75a00pOg8U2HXEQC7_PziYLYmrSTPuw/s400/IMG_2155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434656363288881634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94V2FPVBOD5J4lQs4A8ui1oOcG3bLJ_KRgBmVZejPLpeIyAkyug8UC9RU3oDEgVgA2FmHytkwp9YIyDhyphenhyphen0Ea5W12b887bCbZh5ZumfSfKLS1EEqF_Gg-zWeD07cdx8P6jBeP2-YqV4WVM/s1600-h/IMG_2141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94V2FPVBOD5J4lQs4A8ui1oOcG3bLJ_KRgBmVZejPLpeIyAkyug8UC9RU3oDEgVgA2FmHytkwp9YIyDhyphenhyphen0Ea5W12b887bCbZh5ZumfSfKLS1EEqF_Gg-zWeD07cdx8P6jBeP2-YqV4WVM/s400/IMG_2141.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434656357844388802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9cp_moVbh279IbwReX7P10yJ0OKxInWXxkiguTLpg152NQO58HuZKVj7wrtuO4v-KLiaHvOYkJYvfsM-6_saitFgDEgFN1rcsN2k8U_oAPMkmEFg48iYSF-plKY_-JQ7KabzsIlx1l2z/s1600-h/IMG_2125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9cp_moVbh279IbwReX7P10yJ0OKxInWXxkiguTLpg152NQO58HuZKVj7wrtuO4v-KLiaHvOYkJYvfsM-6_saitFgDEgFN1rcsN2k8U_oAPMkmEFg48iYSF-plKY_-JQ7KabzsIlx1l2z/s400/IMG_2125.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434656341618851058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtRfg4MQNpGlYi5arOtFA8xfVF3EQO8Lmikmp0b57IfhCAB3nBUD7riDl8gZ_BQcICTWbePH-fb_5bdSYfUo_xNgR6NuK7ooSoJKYpkiutiZBmR5ZKjFTbgxw_OrsBCi0dkY40bvxu0O1/s1600-h/IMG_2122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtRfg4MQNpGlYi5arOtFA8xfVF3EQO8Lmikmp0b57IfhCAB3nBUD7riDl8gZ_BQcICTWbePH-fb_5bdSYfUo_xNgR6NuK7ooSoJKYpkiutiZBmR5ZKjFTbgxw_OrsBCi0dkY40bvxu0O1/s400/IMG_2122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434656337193207698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEVTqVy8kcn61KEcQrVXI89cV5ITT6UolFGXv3baeQKjOneB3nw7eP6zTwswlCMhohD4guzbEhg_pabxre2cTa5RFVxg7OH5oWS_gtDUy3HFeKKSBa1L3jc-LpP5zEyb2yA_wsWgvboDx/s1600-h/IMG_2118.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEVTqVy8kcn61KEcQrVXI89cV5ITT6UolFGXv3baeQKjOneB3nw7eP6zTwswlCMhohD4guzbEhg_pabxre2cTa5RFVxg7OH5oWS_gtDUy3HFeKKSBa1L3jc-LpP5zEyb2yA_wsWgvboDx/s400/IMG_2118.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434656330333425906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9N1Umdxis7RhSb_BjPHqlDuFDyL5NSfYvuNoTPZYDfGESBNdjRFsI9WrrqER1-vJT_CCYxv7Bj0x8dFrkIUkcCt_gcUaZrZWWWCEid9H9sKk0im9W2fvmiv1qvkdsfIKdav-uatX2pi59/s1600-h/IMG_2312.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9N1Umdxis7RhSb_BjPHqlDuFDyL5NSfYvuNoTPZYDfGESBNdjRFsI9WrrqER1-vJT_CCYxv7Bj0x8dFrkIUkcCt_gcUaZrZWWWCEid9H9sKk0im9W2fvmiv1qvkdsfIKdav-uatX2pi59/s400/IMG_2312.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434660631966580898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-iVzhh__zo7GiCyunvnvXeZ3U-NxRtFAnWIG28-uLDG3bvu7SjYdEardjFjGXmEIC-DC6pg8uWTqam7NUXzR3GKlk1NUw_FBr2qU9nk31Mb5JiZRJhtOG1jkXUFtYjU5rBrEB007lyrM/s1600-h/IMG_2256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-iVzhh__zo7GiCyunvnvXeZ3U-NxRtFAnWIG28-uLDG3bvu7SjYdEardjFjGXmEIC-DC6pg8uWTqam7NUXzR3GKlk1NUw_FBr2qU9nk31Mb5JiZRJhtOG1jkXUFtYjU5rBrEB007lyrM/s400/IMG_2256.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434660622540898114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrVDQ5eOD0au4OmL4pqIeFReLfzQwXFnQ4G1vjMVqNLMs9WJ7CE1Mk33if7P_vKXBBHs5L6xtlmV0xxgG3LrkNTzgs_La_drUFGtae3fPHVp689AYhOBdlq7-1H0_lJXIxbibLrUZxXgS/s1600-h/IMG_2241.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrVDQ5eOD0au4OmL4pqIeFReLfzQwXFnQ4G1vjMVqNLMs9WJ7CE1Mk33if7P_vKXBBHs5L6xtlmV0xxgG3LrkNTzgs_La_drUFGtae3fPHVp689AYhOBdlq7-1H0_lJXIxbibLrUZxXgS/s400/IMG_2241.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434660614006746002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZVNQBjNOQuCyERhuHYjxyE675XvmSik9t5WntZ6erdhSge5mFVWLnz0vrVfQogzId-dQ3EqKKdoEFk7ct3__ZxGiT0QL9JyloJnH759aOjIse0l9bMU8naSCYJipsjSR660eVOaveMxR/s1600-h/IMG_2378.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZVNQBjNOQuCyERhuHYjxyE675XvmSik9t5WntZ6erdhSge5mFVWLnz0vrVfQogzId-dQ3EqKKdoEFk7ct3__ZxGiT0QL9JyloJnH759aOjIse0l9bMU8naSCYJipsjSR660eVOaveMxR/s400/IMG_2378.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434661412171451682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_nQ7oS-w2Af5pvqDmCzi0AjhgbEa_lDCKTmMD3EWuC8mv21mhu1LHXCTO_tJBZFLPmD1XRZe-k6q0AWg0Wzy0HpVAltOkzy2CGc7MwM3m5XSwhAdoO0J9UILTv_6se5MYanLFWus1qYz/s1600-h/IMG_2367.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_nQ7oS-w2Af5pvqDmCzi0AjhgbEa_lDCKTmMD3EWuC8mv21mhu1LHXCTO_tJBZFLPmD1XRZe-k6q0AWg0Wzy0HpVAltOkzy2CGc7MwM3m5XSwhAdoO0J9UILTv_6se5MYanLFWus1qYz/s400/IMG_2367.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434661406570661490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADlCC0LUeS1r4bz85A7dYMmVAopvPnilmKMd-AV57JcIuT0SgJXy64db2YdekQKcwBYmZkC0RuFqt1WzFu0NTmnUvNWXZ07Rgzf2bdUCIdtX15jzmkU_EfaEQUDYRCNX_BW3PubRrYPQR/s1600-h/IMG_2343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADlCC0LUeS1r4bz85A7dYMmVAopvPnilmKMd-AV57JcIuT0SgJXy64db2YdekQKcwBYmZkC0RuFqt1WzFu0NTmnUvNWXZ07Rgzf2bdUCIdtX15jzmkU_EfaEQUDYRCNX_BW3PubRrYPQR/s400/IMG_2343.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434661394760256546" /></a><br /><br />Next, we ventured to the very southern peninsula of Thailand to the very famous beach destination of Phuket (pronounced 'poo-ket). My Dad surprised us 4 with a gorgeous house with its own pool and outdoor cabana in the Laguna Complex of Phuket, which meaned that we had all the access we wanted to the 5 or 6 resorts within the Laguna Complex. The first couple days were no bueno because I got sick, then Austin got sick and then my Mom got sick. It was nice having a spacious house when the sickness hit because we weren't confined to a tiny little hotel room but were able to romp around and get some space. My favorite part of the house was the outdoor bed in the backyard where I started and finished <span style="font-style:italic;"></span> The Time Traveler's Wife<span style="font-style:italic;"></span> in about 3 days! Phuket, in general, was suuuuper relaxing, suuuuper lazy and a wonderful wrap-up to our busy 2 weeks of Vaca. The beaches were gorgeous white sand beaches with turquoise blue sparkling water. It was idealistic! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzzfRHQ_KCW5NW3dKyWZhojcgIhfMKfcwupP67zgjrR7wmbH8FYusRw3Sve5k8LzCeRPqe15M1sAw-OQ6nH1Ta2Af5GoRxfamCB_M80JyXNwJXePzBH6-JHlSTjvtwQDBM6lNtrJQjbAw/s1600-h/IMG_2461.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzzfRHQ_KCW5NW3dKyWZhojcgIhfMKfcwupP67zgjrR7wmbH8FYusRw3Sve5k8LzCeRPqe15M1sAw-OQ6nH1Ta2Af5GoRxfamCB_M80JyXNwJXePzBH6-JHlSTjvtwQDBM6lNtrJQjbAw/s400/IMG_2461.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434663226512802930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjac2dmKvpaR3D3vi_pZB4yD6xQd7VQ-whU1cS7GjVm4vxRfi58cuRgT6xx6S-aD61PY00WqG2TpqzDMkyn9sU3ZXAbU-KH_VnSjhXBtWsaZw9J_9PqWZ5DuxnH4O7Ft-cMXjI7ZvdOSBsd/s1600-h/IMG_2459.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjac2dmKvpaR3D3vi_pZB4yD6xQd7VQ-whU1cS7GjVm4vxRfi58cuRgT6xx6S-aD61PY00WqG2TpqzDMkyn9sU3ZXAbU-KH_VnSjhXBtWsaZw9J_9PqWZ5DuxnH4O7Ft-cMXjI7ZvdOSBsd/s400/IMG_2459.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434663221862343026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnje3n_VHPhC566OQnyBnJ5JbgqVOCxVbqEhW5ZIzmUYPMSMzpGChqONKxOew4ZHEFJ2QO7iqfcIoUdD2tMiFZiDvC8vhPnJr_uqDt3cfyApgrUzKfYBvFQoUBw5VoLQlsFNAEsIVs2JT/s1600-h/IMG_2452.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnje3n_VHPhC566OQnyBnJ5JbgqVOCxVbqEhW5ZIzmUYPMSMzpGChqONKxOew4ZHEFJ2QO7iqfcIoUdD2tMiFZiDvC8vhPnJr_uqDt3cfyApgrUzKfYBvFQoUBw5VoLQlsFNAEsIVs2JT/s400/IMG_2452.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434663214456483090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94z0n91iagspf2u07kFWngoZ3PWiC1IPuoDbeWPERoiu4hPDGDyKbuUqeRcaW_uGLLLmGNeQYeeBCztIQMdwuoEbmCWTiVH0fo3XqO0TYh2Lm6jDCQ7RnD56FiMtdA4-iUkr57y8ZLRTO/s1600-h/IMG_2451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94z0n91iagspf2u07kFWngoZ3PWiC1IPuoDbeWPERoiu4hPDGDyKbuUqeRcaW_uGLLLmGNeQYeeBCztIQMdwuoEbmCWTiVH0fo3XqO0TYh2Lm6jDCQ7RnD56FiMtdA4-iUkr57y8ZLRTO/s400/IMG_2451.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434663206377029522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9EaLa0fTwR74ZvduVLl8PW3CqDPaKQajwDUxWu6Bm59ZCEkaVT5MczB9Lc6gr406JcDkhLco6pQOjimWuQPoWi2ph8RE7mW5NWTv_OLp0MgYEA4Ulo35RQlVqqhnCYAcXfifOf2w5v81/s1600-h/IMG_2430.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9EaLa0fTwR74ZvduVLl8PW3CqDPaKQajwDUxWu6Bm59ZCEkaVT5MczB9Lc6gr406JcDkhLco6pQOjimWuQPoWi2ph8RE7mW5NWTv_OLp0MgYEA4Ulo35RQlVqqhnCYAcXfifOf2w5v81/s400/IMG_2430.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434663197684081058" /></a><br /><br />Arriving back into Korea was a rude awakening after being in 2 super friendly and warm cultures. I don't know why the Koreans didn't get the memo about being nice...instead, there was pushing, shoving, cutting in line, making gross coughing noises...and kimchi! :)Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-86067649133576432802010-01-14T14:44:00.003+09:002010-01-14T15:21:06.204+09:00HAITII am overwhelmed with emotion right now as I actually take the time to dwell on the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti. How often do World disasters happen? Pretty often. How often do I really take time to think about them? Not very often. Because of the tender hearts of my friends Caroline Tigner and Caroline Fontenot for the already neglected and underprivileged country of Haiti, praise God that my heart is being affected by this awful tragedy. <br /><br />All I can do right now is say "Why, God? WHY?" I don't get it. I don't get why a country that is already in so much pain has to go through more, but what I am feeling even more so right now is why I have the life that I do. I don't understand why I get to sit in a coffee shop in South Korea with a $3.00ish Blueberry tea, why I look down on my finger and see a pretty diamond, why I have clothes on my back and so many more back in our apartment...and then so so so many more back at home in Houston, why I have multiple options of things to eat for each meal of the day, why I get to leave on Saturday with my husband and meet my parents for a 2-week vacation, why I have a computer to type on, why I have healthcare...I could go on and on. I. AM. SO. BLESSED. God has had great mercy on me. For some reason that I will not understand until I get to Heaven and God shares with Believers His divine plan, I have been chosen by Him to be blessed beyond belief. I have excess. I have always had excess. But how dare me take that excess like I have earned it or deserve it and not give it away. How dare me not wake up every single day and cry in thanks about what God has given me. Maybe it's because I haven't seen with my own eyes what this life could be like and I haven't met the millions of people that can't say that they know what it feels like to have excess. How dare me forget that those people exist and that God created them and loves them just like He does me... <br /><br />Friends, we are so very spoiled and have been so blessed by the Lord. What I have is not mine. What you have is not yours. I don't deserve it. You don't deserve it. Let's give thanks to God from deep deep deep in our hearts and ask that He save us from our selfish, naive, blind mind. <br /><br />"Lord, give us a heart that is not blind to the pain and suffering outside of our 'world' and a voice that cries out daily in thanks for the provision that you have given us. Break our hearts for what breaks yours. Make us cry for what makes you cry. God, make us see through your eyes. Move us toward fulfilling the commands that you have given for believers: that we give freely the resources that YOU have given to us, that we love orphans, widows and the poor. Thank you so much that you have given to us so freely and that we have excess in this life. Thank you that we have food at each meal, that we have clothes to dress our bodies, that we have a roof over our head. Thank you, thank you, thank you." <br /><br />Now let's move. Let's help. Let's give. Let's give to where it hurts us. Let's give to those in Haiti to the point that we just might have to say "no" to some luxury in our own life in order to bless others. Let's do it!!<br /><br />I am being convicted right now because it is very easy for me to hear about tragedies around the World and forget about it a minute later and never stop and thank God for His grace and pray for those hurting. But as a Christian, God desires for me to act differently. Don't let me throw my convictions on you, but do pray and see how God convicts your own heart. <br /><br /><br />Here are some websites that the Caroline's have sent to our friends that I get to pass on to you, blog readers:<br /><br />Real Hope for Haiti, the organization that Caroline and Caroline raised money for a few months ago, is taking donations on their website (https://realhopeforhaiti.org/). Scroll down to the PayPal button. The biggest needs now are funds to purchase food and supplies and prices have already doubled in the last 36 hours. There are 75 children sleeping under a tarp tonight who need to eat 3 meals a day.<br /><br />Red Cross An easy way is to text "Haiti" to 90999 to give $10 to the Red Cross. It will be on your next phone bill. <br /><br />Compassion International. For a $35 donation you can help a family receive every sort of disaster relief they might need in this first critical week. You can CLICK HERE OR you can text "disaster" to 90999 to give $10 to Compassion's disaster relief program.<br /><br />Lastly, you can purchase an awesome shirt (photo attached). 100% of the profits will go to support ministries in Haiti. You can buy them here (http://www.aaronivey.portmerch.com/stores/product.php?productid=17149&cat=0&page=1&featured)<br /><br />I know there are tons of other ways to help, I just wanted to share these with some friends and family who I thought might be interested. <br /><br /><br /><br />"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, THOUGH THE EARTH GIVE WAY AND THE MOUNTAINS FALL INTO THE HEART OF THE SEA, though its waters roar and foam and the MOUNTAINS QUAKE WITH THEIR SURGING..." Psalm 46:1-3Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-86429084250729351312010-01-03T22:37:00.011+09:002010-01-05T16:21:50.918+09:00Why hello, 2010!<div style="text-align: center;">Well, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years have come and gone...I feel like every year it is so awkward writing the new year on everything that asks for a date, but this year's date seems especially uncomfortable. Are we supposed to say "2010" every time we say the date... or just "10?" Saying "0-" seemed fairly normal after doing that for 10 years and now we have to change our whole date-saying mentality.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope that each of you reading this had a wonderful and very blessed Christmas full of great memories that you can retrieve and smile on for years to come. Christmas in Korea is interesting. The province that we live in, Gyeongsangnam-do (Gyeongsang is the name, 'nam' means south, and 'do' means province), is known for being a predominantly Buddhist area, but spotted with several Christian church of various demoninations. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, however, store after store threw up their tiny Christmas tree, holly and ornaments and changed their normal Korean music to English Christmas music. Employees at stores wore Santa hats or festive beanies of some sort and even many delivery drivers (who don't drive cars but mopeds) wore entire Santa Claus outfits. The thought that consistently puzzled me was, "Do they even know what Christmas is about?" From my experience here so far (and others might see it differently), Koreans LOVE America. If asked where in the World they would want to travel most say the US, learning English here separates you from the rest of the Korean population and makes you a prized jewel, American celebrities and culture are very talked about here and, in general, Korean see the American culture as one to mimic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Side note: There are, of course, many Koreans who do not feel this way and are angry that the US still occupies their country.</div><div>Side note #2: I often think this mentality is crazy.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the whole reason for sharing this discovery is that despite the fact of if certain Koreans are Christian, Buddhist or some other faith they seemed to view the Christmas holiday and all that comes with it as this faddish, cool and copy-worthy Western invention. They know how to immitate all of the exterior sights and sounds of Christmas that has gotten way too out of hand in the West, but do they know why we celebrate Christmas? I dare say that most of the American traits that Korea has adopted are only the skin-deep, materialistic and idolatrous things that we pursue on a daily basis. I pray that many Koreans know that the whole reason for Christmas is Jesus, not how many lights you can hang, what colors of ornaments to put on your tree or how expensive the gift is you buy. Sadly, the probable reason why it seems that Koreans see Christmas as a materialistic celebration is because that is how most Americans see it...how sad this must make Jesus.</div><div><br /></div><div>On a lighter note (phew!), I read my friend Kim Davis' New Years blog and she listed her top 10 favorite things from 2009 and I thought it was a brilliant idea...so I shall copy her. Thanks, Kim!</div><div><br /></div><div>In chronological order:</div><div><br /></div><div>#1. Living with A-mazing girls that really love Jesus and encouraged me everyday to pursue Him more and more and more. I miss this already. Pipey, you moved out in 2008 but I'm including you in this bunch for sure.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb-NzTBTyG9bktZSbcTuZdJWkN89xJbXHhxf0ybAw0uwfhtYBzhI759ZErqagQpcx4kVWgHZdV_KFoAPf34cQuEsy4QO-ocPO418C3nA-wMjfN0X84YXvEU8t14YtXxm-k1NOr4aZqfe9/s1600-h/roomies.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb-NzTBTyG9bktZSbcTuZdJWkN89xJbXHhxf0ybAw0uwfhtYBzhI759ZErqagQpcx4kVWgHZdV_KFoAPf34cQuEsy4QO-ocPO418C3nA-wMjfN0X84YXvEU8t14YtXxm-k1NOr4aZqfe9/s400/roomies.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423142332620497218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The gals minus Candice because she wasn't there, which means...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJb491m73uO6zCqYOxBVk6dzxlCS5cybnEOj-BpRlNLrFPxhqAwagKj_YB64O7ajo5T-GjqEVIAWPESiZDVVR32kRwkFXnTkL7vi66WunH9z_I-s-doIC84yeq7_6nXmY1Z-CClWeCdlX/s400/candy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423142335146745890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">...she gets THIS.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#2. Leading a YoungLife Small Group in the Brazos Valley. My small group girls amazed me each week and loved on me and each other so very well. I pray that through our honest time of looking in to Scripture and analyzing our lives that they were able to intimately meet with Jesus. Sadly, I don't have a picture. They're too good looking to all be in one picture together. It just wouldn't be fair.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#3. Seeing many of my friends get married. Let me try to express how much I love weddings...everything about them...going to them, planning them, being in them, watching the groom watch the bride, eating good food, open bars (yep, I said it), looking at the pretty flowers, dancing all night...oh they are just great. What is even greater? Watching the friends that you love marry their loves and have the happiest day of their lives. 2009 weddings included: the Lewis' (I know, I know it was December 2008 but since it was only 11 days until the new year, I'm including it.), the Fordinal's, the Vacek's, the Dixon's, the Cotgreave's, the Jumonville's and the Todd's.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKJleudToANyjfc_8-SQKbYnj_UPz-bsWChYp15hmVi9FP93-Ji71chKLaVydLF1IOxlKiLl8K8VoC9ISoqHLq0RqVSMZPSwrqKp_k6jGEOmXYNEVjtUZ6jmMv6aEfEQf3ehAoYK-gFvE/s1600-h/rachy.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKJleudToANyjfc_8-SQKbYnj_UPz-bsWChYp15hmVi9FP93-Ji71chKLaVydLF1IOxlKiLl8K8VoC9ISoqHLq0RqVSMZPSwrqKp_k6jGEOmXYNEVjtUZ6jmMv6aEfEQf3ehAoYK-gFvE/s400/rachy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423146211558467810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The Jumonville's</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUb_2SEn8T2KZS5fZbIrhF3Y_MLfpjC_dhO4GG_Qxvee2zBNlITP7t-7uUDwo0HX1hjwMNajBRYRILkcGVbOGG8AIqB_6LK1fAZEYK0WsfuJSmxk0IeukM90rsX1EsK9_5BLbp3QxwGCK/s1600-h/fordinals.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUb_2SEn8T2KZS5fZbIrhF3Y_MLfpjC_dhO4GG_Qxvee2zBNlITP7t-7uUDwo0HX1hjwMNajBRYRILkcGVbOGG8AIqB_6LK1fAZEYK0WsfuJSmxk0IeukM90rsX1EsK9_5BLbp3QxwGCK/s400/fordinals.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423146204696707426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Caldwell girl leaders at the Fordinal wedding</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAVQcTrCQ7CNgySt_91tGzdTulpDU7IzcbX0u-SRrsLb0hiukcu6v9UPOd3aUYA3Cr2t1sXzA3cB4vZt_GViszDOAZ51EnD4Ot6AicPLKzhPH0SuwJYCwjEEFOAZk9iedvuol7S_mmiyB/s1600-h/ellyn.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAVQcTrCQ7CNgySt_91tGzdTulpDU7IzcbX0u-SRrsLb0hiukcu6v9UPOd3aUYA3Cr2t1sXzA3cB4vZt_GViszDOAZ51EnD4Ot6AicPLKzhPH0SuwJYCwjEEFOAZk9iedvuol7S_mmiyB/s400/ellyn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423146201375906898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The Dixon's</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSecJqYiECRtB92zYUCX5gEVnrHzTL_chPKGikiGQS2c6WJTJ5OacDkNrmv0RYUxMjZyEnUm_GJX4KwkUocjzQA2reBmDr4N6nEfoXPLlG1UJg2aVZJcTcHo0PKegR6HPQKMOvcb-NT3a/s1600-h/caro.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSecJqYiECRtB92zYUCX5gEVnrHzTL_chPKGikiGQS2c6WJTJ5OacDkNrmv0RYUxMjZyEnUm_GJX4KwkUocjzQA2reBmDr4N6nEfoXPLlG1UJg2aVZJcTcHo0PKegR6HPQKMOvcb-NT3a/s400/caro.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423146191858700466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Lewis'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#4. My Bridesmaid's shower and Bachelorette Party. This day/weekend brought me so much joy my cheeks hurt so much from smiling. Having my best friends and wonderful family celebrating the excitement of Austin and my upcoming wedding was more than a girl could ask for...and it produced wonderful pictures and fun memories!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzdRjn1mvtL3-eL5YwYG1jZF-awlFcSCeiM87lEIsMGuNW0QJEhhPeTNVxoZczVPtzb2YbMKxQTGwEPXHEXJIHray9Q2o6mgzzs7fLj7SwBlNFVgKY1u5mKZ6KevFE6w8hnTJki5wu7GJ/s1600-h/bach+3.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzdRjn1mvtL3-eL5YwYG1jZF-awlFcSCeiM87lEIsMGuNW0QJEhhPeTNVxoZczVPtzb2YbMKxQTGwEPXHEXJIHray9Q2o6mgzzs7fLj7SwBlNFVgKY1u5mKZ6KevFE6w8hnTJki5wu7GJ/s400/bach+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423147635571944258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">What we like to call "the girliest morning ever"</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXc9EGhajIQHwfxFkJGWEW7G8MsnstXIls_JZOZAsO-Z9elKkfw-IXo5JWqxCwo3ejhP9hLC1i_xg0lNR3JvZfyngaP-5UmoG5Q4VrA3AN0k4Mwbg0EefREXgQalYlE934A1p1RSAnLmE/s1600-h/bach+2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXc9EGhajIQHwfxFkJGWEW7G8MsnstXIls_JZOZAsO-Z9elKkfw-IXo5JWqxCwo3ejhP9hLC1i_xg0lNR3JvZfyngaP-5UmoG5Q4VrA3AN0k4Mwbg0EefREXgQalYlE934A1p1RSAnLmE/s400/bach+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423147632292498562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My bridesmaids and me</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5X1LeZZLPAQj1Mk56B-ARNZsiQfCYZjjJHawzXU_73mXch0YzmXeMdWQTy8xI6os5vn4faxeiEjiGizOjr9itDOD4e5P6oU-GN-w8jYTEbvHju810xdPLtElDSaHIlQt0KDh86PqiepFx/s1600-h/bach+1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5X1LeZZLPAQj1Mk56B-ARNZsiQfCYZjjJHawzXU_73mXch0YzmXeMdWQTy8xI6os5vn4faxeiEjiGizOjr9itDOD4e5P6oU-GN-w8jYTEbvHju810xdPLtElDSaHIlQt0KDh86PqiepFx/s400/bach+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423147624854783874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Whose a super freak?"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#5. My parents buying a wonderful condo on Lake Conroe where we all spent many great weekends by the lake and on the boat...and where Austin and I got to live for a month and a half before moving to Korea. Score. Thanks, Mom and Dad. Sadly, again, no picture.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#6. Austin graduating. Him graduating meant that we could get married...yay!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswAgQMcED7rTfz4hXZ8DvgSUs1Ml_IK2xOACXCcdQ42yvS85GL-iPyzx7cOi3qCDxart02MHBdnQniFi4aUMP1EWQerInJy1xmV9J1hFsJWO41Pc8CWLc6dQU6XKnsDL1mqJDLwMz4iu_/s400/austin+grad.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423149077487797666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#7. Marrying to the love of my life. Everything leading up to our wedding, with premarital counseling, planning the wedding, showers, etc. was just so wonderful and then our wedding day was the best day of my life so far. The exciting part is that we're only at about 6 months right now and have the rest of our lives to keep on lovin' each other. yippee.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG37ce4C_ODUdY312w1GdybGiAu2CJkRW3RG5BuKoQ8fuD_wpXkVVL5nOLaGDGK27oTFa5MOF8VQgYaeTYKZL23iu673ZttdNrlyBZgnIhKeHcP3NaCdixrjy5cGhiGEQbjiSfO2NmoHlV/s400/wedding.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423140273187726834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /><div><br /></div><div>#8. Honeymooning in Cabo san Lucas. Ahhh, I want to go back to that life. Eatin' Mexican food (best Guac everrr), sipping frozen beverages, laying by the beach/pool and not having a care in the World for 2 weeks. Yes, please.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1wUB3Y7aQDEyBPKaUwpIDbOa1zL_rvHeyiGXK1H7EnyLa8Ypz7gD3y7G-rUHTFdKzbmOda2nBEKd4PoB16nLJlfjRp4N2pWunGASXLJo-VfcdDqhqTrpcVZdbYQjjp-bLP7qcEbBAOEU/s1600-h/honeymoon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1wUB3Y7aQDEyBPKaUwpIDbOa1zL_rvHeyiGXK1H7EnyLa8Ypz7gD3y7G-rUHTFdKzbmOda2nBEKd4PoB16nLJlfjRp4N2pWunGASXLJo-VfcdDqhqTrpcVZdbYQjjp-bLP7qcEbBAOEU/s400/honeymoon.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423141148922326850" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">#9. Moving to Yangsan, South Korea! Being adventurous and moving across an Ocean has been the best thing for our marriage and has taught us so much about ourselves as individuals. Also, we have gotten to travel. By the end of our year we hope to have traveled to: Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan, Malaysia (where my sister and brother-in-law (BIL) are moving!!!) and then finally London (to see Candice, Jon and my God-mother.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaaPGASZ9KjYe5EWBQlTVkmCzU66505HFC9QndFW2jh8KTflvr-1gEUo3YT_baSzKQ617-mF2yM6dNXrSkfzYAql4LKHbRAw9xDDVmkxFXUTFJOWt9yEWw1Kn7IjBsAB3uK4Q4-XFapNA/s400/korea.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423150350462390994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#10. Learning Taekwondo. Austin and I knew that coming to Korea that we wanted to learn something new that was indigenous to Korea...so Korean Taekwondo it was. We are taking TKD with our friends in the above picture and will be taking our Green Belt test on Jan 11'th!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg76u_2xHizvkPO5EbHfwL5YJskkO7wt9l6ifvIDMllOZBNhtUoRtTQLLRXB8T8Hzli9U5d8ZpZUJYaOiR3JeJBlq5f5OQR1fvAtHFEacoAqdhGal6b_EGMgkExkr-HAFDtmfpQ7rLySj/s400/tkd.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423150948291719378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div>Well, that's all for now folks. Hope you enjoyed my top 10 from 2009. See you again next time.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-76177986244190005592009-11-29T19:40:00.003+09:002009-11-29T20:15:19.691+09:00Ko-Rea-Tae-Kwon-DO!It seems like it has been forever since we last blogged. Sorry for those that check regularly (cough cough Brittany Williams cough cough). A lot has happened in our life and we have remained fairly busy.<div><br /></div><div>First off, two other couples and us have started taking Taekwondo. Taekwondo originates in Korea and many of our students have been taking it from an early age and could for sure kick our butts. We take Taekwondo 3 times a week (as well as having Korean class 1 night a week) so our week nights remain full and active. I think that that will help our weeks fly by pretty fast! Taekwondo is awesome, but sometimes I wonder if, in fact, we are really in a boot camp. Our Taekwondo Master works us out pretty hard. The 1st 20-ish minutes of class is INTENSE stretching and there have been many times when I sit cringing waiting for Austin's body to pop loudly or just break in half. Our 2 instructors laugh often at my not-so-flexible husband and are desperately trying to make him as limber as can be....baby steps, baby steps! The next bit of class is usually hard core work outs, anything from various crunches to sprints to partner wheelbarrow! Hah, that one was fun. The last third-ish of class is actually learning the punches and kicks and practicing our loud grunts every time we strike a pose. I would say, Taekwondo makes you feel like you are ready to go kick some serious butt and take on the World. We will let you know if that happens :)</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B7ELqigoAeBH3w2jccGgTXzZBQ_49fBHHfCG9r-Q2Ae262OIimL5PeblYJ8Ay4fYOF7b-5aExj0cxp0doECDSHdIhMdsH_BNJWONafMPYHDENXrRd0qYNXtHm8lgPj_rnefgHhIheBFd/s1600/IMG_1749.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B7ELqigoAeBH3w2jccGgTXzZBQ_49fBHHfCG9r-Q2Ae262OIimL5PeblYJ8Ay4fYOF7b-5aExj0cxp0doECDSHdIhMdsH_BNJWONafMPYHDENXrRd0qYNXtHm8lgPj_rnefgHhIheBFd/s400/IMG_1749.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409482147584059346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPmBEP4O19eHXKHQixZJORslOPXHhx4LGZKAq2In9tRU4R-hFwDm7pZx3K1pXT4UDDqUhg73G6A1Y8ZFnomn8o_A6fMCANpTxljfbnqj2JaQyKBbqyKPRvPWI3z05cRS8wzmjjNrHplL1/s1600/IMG_1755.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPmBEP4O19eHXKHQixZJORslOPXHhx4LGZKAq2In9tRU4R-hFwDm7pZx3K1pXT4UDDqUhg73G6A1Y8ZFnomn8o_A6fMCANpTxljfbnqj2JaQyKBbqyKPRvPWI3z05cRS8wzmjjNrHplL1/s400/IMG_1755.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409482139569725218" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div>Thanksgiving-Korea Style was spent at the Seaman's Club, a restaurant right on the water by the port of Busan that caters to the US Navy. When we pulled up to the restaurant I was actually informed that we were technically on US territory and it kinda gave me warm fuzzies inside. We had a Thanksgiving Buffet full of turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, salad and apple and pumpkin pie! It was surprisingly really good and for sure hit the spot after 3 months of Korean food. We celebrated the fact that there was NO Kimchi at all on the buffet and would have gotten mad and protective of our holiday food if there were! We were with one Korean lady and she was like, "Where's the Kimchi? I need Kimchi!" and we all just laughed. Koreans eat Kimchi at every meal and are taught from an early age that it is one of the healthiest things that they can consume...in actuality, it's sick and tastes like sour trash. For the non-Kimchi connoisseurs, the dish is fermented cabbage or radishes seasoned with onions, garlic, horseradish, red peppers and ginger. In general, Thanksgiving was yummy and fun but it definitely made us miss home knowing that our families were celebrating it together in either New Orleans or the Schauers' South Texas deer lease. </div><div><br /></div><div>This past weekend was our friend Mara's Birthday celebration! Her Birthday was on Thanksgiving Day so her boyfriend, Drew, decided to surprise her with one of her good college friends coming in from another Korean city (Daejeon) and a bunch of people meeting at a bar to give her a quasi-surprise Birthday Party. We had a great celebration full of Long Life Bar (with its neon lights, drink coolers and sporadic techno-esque musical light show), another random bar and an end-of-the-night commencement at a Noraebang. A Noraebang is a modern must-do in Korea that entails a bunch of friends going into one room that has couches, disco balls, tambourines and a Karaoke system and singing their hearts out to whatever song they want to. The hits of last night were: Baby Got Back, Layla, Get'n Jiggy With It, Since You Been Gone, Wonderwall and many others. For some of us it was our first Noraebang experience, but we enjoyed it so much there are sure to be many others. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are looking forward to our Winter Break starting December 22nd where we will have about 5 weeks off! My parents (Lauren's) are planning on visiting at the end of January and we are going to travel to Thailand with them. </div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-13139684642033165902009-11-11T23:07:00.004+09:002009-11-11T23:21:18.154+09:00Pepero Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgFit8L7ZILOGBgmZlUWOZl6WyFGkyumVmZgeCCu4wVPcINcMeriwcTaHy8wKstKr0JVrvNraauzZFTBI2lKjdCaoa31KvK5K9Na-81LEz95OjW8FFpr2JA-Nr8vaXNV161Bjpq9IC_sN/s1600-h/IMG_1650.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgFit8L7ZILOGBgmZlUWOZl6WyFGkyumVmZgeCCu4wVPcINcMeriwcTaHy8wKstKr0JVrvNraauzZFTBI2lKjdCaoa31KvK5K9Na-81LEz95OjW8FFpr2JA-Nr8vaXNV161Bjpq9IC_sN/s400/IMG_1650.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402849510490876786" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">celebrating Pepero Day- the mature way</div></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So on the glorious day of November 11'th in Korea the natives celebrate "Pepero Day," which is a Valentines-like celebratory day. Here is the description by Wikipedia (don't we all love good 'ol Wikipedia?)</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:sans-serif, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 72px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; "><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pepero Day</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> is an observance in South Korea similar to </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day" title="Valentine's Day" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Valentine's Day</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. It is named after the Korean </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snack" title="Snack" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">snack</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Pepero and held on </span><span class="mw-formatted-date" title="11-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_11" title="November 11" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">November 11</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, since the date "11/11" resembles four sticks of Pepero.</span><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepero#cite_note-2" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">[</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">]</span></span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepero#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">[</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">]</span></span></a></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> The holiday is observed mostly by young people and couples, who exchange Pepero sticks, other candies, and romantic gifts. Lotte denies starting the holiday and instead states that they noticed a bump in Pepero sales around November 11th and after continued popularity they decided to then encourage the holiday with special gift boxes and other promotions.</span><sup id="cite_ref-gazette_1-1" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepero#cite_note-gazette-1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">[</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">]</span></span></a></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Some consider it to be a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallmark_Holiday" title="Hallmark Holiday" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">contrived</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> holiday and some teachers have encouraged children to exchange healthy snacks to help combat obesity.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">According to one story, Pepero Day was started in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994" title="1994" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1994</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by students at a girls' </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_school" title="Middle school" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">middle school</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busan" title="Busan" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Busan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, where they exchanged Pepero sticks as gifts to wish one another to grow "as tall and slender as a Pepero".</span><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepero#cite_note-4" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">[</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">]</span></span></a></sup></p></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, -webkit-fantasy; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; ">Austin and I were showered today with Pepero sticks from our students, but don't worry we won't eat them all at once because my co-teacher made sure to remind me, "Lauren, don't eat all of those or you will get very fat!" Thanks, Young Jin, for reminding me of that!!</span></p></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl4UXJolW_ukRMUDsY6VPHoz773rGvFVdCXzjLorxp2D3J02Ma8R3XzEMga1fVJ20oXw0leFydHbbtj3M04U1Fg2GjjClK68g4TK-xfQ9NLYB5lm-UCqtbqtt2x2Q0n6OJchaG4xiukfR/s1600-h/IMG_1652.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl4UXJolW_ukRMUDsY6VPHoz773rGvFVdCXzjLorxp2D3J02Ma8R3XzEMga1fVJ20oXw0leFydHbbtj3M04U1Fg2GjjClK68g4TK-xfQ9NLYB5lm-UCqtbqtt2x2Q0n6OJchaG4xiukfR/s400/IMG_1652.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402849502262199362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">more Pepero fun</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1ACHN2KW8irGOYVcSXVS0eJdkWKpSbmkLnnbdnhpV1CMYBE2h6anIy0P4X_P61RjqlK36KECVoXh9ZkBZwerWg4OsxQTALIYhmGbYRmJM-ZMWPQHyeJGe1HTpkIdGzVhxvxD8NfBemd1/s1600-h/IMG_1648.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1ACHN2KW8irGOYVcSXVS0eJdkWKpSbmkLnnbdnhpV1CMYBE2h6anIy0P4X_P61RjqlK36KECVoXh9ZkBZwerWg4OsxQTALIYhmGbYRmJM-ZMWPQHyeJGe1HTpkIdGzVhxvxD8NfBemd1/s400/IMG_1648.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402849499053870146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">our many Pepero presents...such a cash cow for the Lotte company that sells these yummy sticks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And just to keep you on the edge of your seat, Austin and I (as well as 4 of our other friends) begin taking Taekwondo classes this Monday!!! Woooooo. Yes, that's right. We are turning Korean. Everyone has told us that if you are in Korea, you MUST take Taekwondo so we will update more (with photographic evidence) when the time comes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Until next time, stay classy US of A</div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px; font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></p></span></div></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-23945630749963674982009-11-05T14:41:00.002+09:002009-11-05T15:16:33.995+09:00Korean QuarksToday, as well as everyday, I have been amazed by the number of extremely silly things that Koreans do (while thinking it is totally normal).<br /><br />Korean Culture = Paradox = any person, thing or situation exhibiting an apparently contradictory nature (thanks, dictionary.com).<br /><br />For your enjoyment, please read below and feel free to laugh because I chuckle under my breath daily:<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">1.</span></strong> Recently in Korea it has gotten verrry cold, verrry fast. The winter is obviously approaching, which means heavy jackets, scarves and those hand warmers (yano, those square hand-held paper things that have the self-warming rock-type things in them to keep your hands warm during the winter? On a rabbit trail, the only memory I have from those until now is from Junior Cheerleading (Ponderosa Cowgirls) competitions that always seemed to be extremely cold. With our side pony tails, fire-engine-red lipstick and navy and white uniforms, we always used those hand warmers during the long day of competition!!!) Korean schools, yet, still leave all of the windows open (with cold gusts of wind coming into the classroom) Why, you ask? My friend Haley informed me it is because they think the open windows will "let the swine flu out."<br /><br />a. This is funny because I didn't think that the flu would just let itself out like a house-guest.<br />b. The open-window perdicament means that the children and teachers are forced to keep their heavy winter jackets on during all 8 hours of school. I asked my co-teacher why the heater was not on in the school. His response: "Heaters? In school? That's crazy!"<br />c. The flu-letting-itself-out-open-windows, in my opinion, is going to make more children sick from the cold than the swine flu ever had the chance of doing.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">2.</span> After 4th period today (right before lunch) my co-teacher said, "Lauren, aren't you dizzy?" I got rather confused and then replied, "Well...no. Am I supposed to be?" For the record I think he meant 'are you dizzy?' but he then proceeded to tell me that he is very dizzy and needs nutrients in his brain. I suggested that maybe he was dehydrated since that could lead to dizziness and he rarely drinks water. He looked at me like that was the craziest idea ever and then proceeded to smack his head repeatedly with an empty water bottle and told me that he thought that that would make his head feel better.<br /><br />We then arrived into the lunch room and he noticed that today for lunch we were having a brothy vegetable noodle soup rather than the typical protein dish, rice and kimchi. He gasped, "oh no!!! I need rice in my brain to make me less dizzy!" I kinda chuckled and then said "You know what? In the US many people do not eat white rice because it is a simple carbohyrdrate and they think it will make them fat and not give then as much nutrients as a complex carb." His response? "Why, that's crazy! Rice is the most nutritous vegetable there is!!!!"<br /><br />haha. I have to laugh again as I type this.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">3.</span> Back onto the topic of the Swine Flu. (which Koreans are craaaazy obsessed with) Many Koreans (children in school, teachers, people on the street, etc.) wear face masks very similar to the ones that doctors wear while at work. Some are the typical solid blue or white, but the best ones are "designer face masks" that the children wear that have an animals face on them, usually with the ears protruding off of the face mask in a 3d fasion. They are crazy about the kids not getting swine flu and being very sanitary in all aspects of life, however, many things they do totally contradict that:<br /><br />a. My co-teacher just cleaned all of the tables and all of the classroom with a dirty towel with a bit of water on it. He excused himself to wash the towel and I asked where he washes it. He said, "in the bathroom, of course. I sprinkle some water on it!" So, now the kids will be touching and working on totally dirty and NOT sanitary tables tomorrow!<br />b. In Korean bathrooms, you are not supposed to put toilet paper down the toilet. Instead, there are waste baskets next to the toilet that you simply drop your used t.p. in. These absolutely disgusting pieces of toilet paper might not aid to contracting the Swine Flu, but it is just downright gross.<br />c. Also in the bathrooms, we have bar soap to clean our hands with. Something about everyone in the whole school sharing the same bar soap does not make my hands feel clean...and they don't believe in paper towels because it will pollute the country so the kids walk out of the bathroom and wipe their hands on their pants, their shirts or their friends. Hello nasty.<br /><br />That is all that has happened today at school, but I'm sure there will be even more before this beautiful Thursday is over!<br /><br />Until next time, take care friends and family. We miss you all dearly.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-23058374821191398412009-11-01T21:43:00.003+09:002009-11-01T22:06:02.288+09:00Namhae, Schnamhae<div style="text-align: center;">Hey friends and family, we hope each of you are doing so well and enjoying the growing excitement of Thanksgiving and Christmas in the oh-so-wonderful US culture! We are really starting to feel the sadness of being in Korea over American Thanksgiving and Christmas...that was probably ushered in with the missing of my cousin, Meredith's, wedding and my Granddaddy's 90th birthday party. Signing up to spend a year in a foreign country, however, guarantees that things will be missed back home, but plenty of new memories will be made. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Speaking of which...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Austin and I had the brilliant plan to have a relaxing, peaceful weekend in the small island town of Namhae. It is southwest from where we are now in Yangsan and is connected to the mainland by a really sweet bridge. We took a bus from Busan to Namhae on Friday night and then a taxi to Sangju beach (which is one of their top things to see on the Namhae website!). We unloaded ourselves from the taxi, took several looks around and realized that we were not on a hoppin' beach but rather in a depressing ghost town. There were several motels that we spotted, but only one with the lights on and any sign of human life in it. We were starved so tried also to find a restaurant to grab a quick dinner only to realize only one restaurant was open. Their specialty, you ask? Raw fish. yum. We talked them into giving us Ramyeon (Korean version of our cheap Ramen noodles...they are cheap here as well and pretty much bear the same stigma) and the owners showed us upstairs to their discrete motel that was actually rather nice. We enjoyed being able to lay in bed and watch tv (the only English was sports, which we were totally game for) since our apartment does not have cable set up. Our land-lord told us that we could not set up cable television unless we could promise to keep this lease for 3 years -- sorry, bucko...no TV in our apartment it is. And for what it's worth for Namhae, I'm sure you are wonderful and quite fun in the summer, oh Namhae.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Austin and I woke up the next day optimistically thinking that the experience the previous night of Ghost Town, South Korea was just an illusion and that in the morning there would be more activity. After walking around the beach and surrounding beach area and seeing appx. 10 people Austin made the executive decision to grab our things and return home. For those questioning our judgment and thinking that we are sissies, you're probably right. At the moment of depression we didn't care, though. I mean, 10 people in a whole village, really!?!? So we tucked our tail between our legs, boarded the bus back to Busan and smiled as we entered back into our gigantic city :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Saturday night Austin and I had the perfect "us" night by going to a yummy Western restaurant (Book&Beer) and shared skewers of peppers, onions, shrimp, salmon, etc. We then did what we do best: coffee shop it up and enjoy the relaxingness of sipping a latte and reading. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On a super positive note, because of our earlier-than-expected arrival back into Yangsan, we got to go with our good friends Paul, Bertha and baby Sonya to a great English-speaking church in Busan. It is called Antioch International Ministry (AIM) and has English-speaking Christians from all over the globe...America, Korea, Philippines, Africa, Japan, etc. The church also holds a Chinese and Japanese service at the same time as the English service but in a different part of the building. It was so refreshing for us to be able to worship and be in a community of believers that we can understand and fellowship with. Thank you, God, for that blessing. AIM is about an hour away from Yangsan, but way worth the travel to get to be with other believers. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's all for our at-times-dismal and sporadic but fun weekend.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For those who have not received it yet and were wanting our address here:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Austin and Lauren Schauer</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gyeongsangnam-do, Yangsan City, Mulgeum-eub, Beom-eo Li,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Namyangsan Heights Vill #404, South Korea, 626-814</div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-43844989425802657612009-10-06T16:58:00.018+09:002009-10-07T14:12:18.562+09:00Heart and Seoul<div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Facelift? Yes, I decided we needed a little spicing up to our blogging life (although Austin doesn't contribute and thinks blogging is lame???). I figured bamboo was fitting, as we are in the land of much bamboo.</span> </span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">For the Choesuk weekend, Austin and I joined two other couples (our Canadian friends, Danielle/Mike and Mara/Drew) for a fun-filled trip to the capital of South Korea and the 2nd most densely populated metropolitan area in the World, Seoul! We took the KTX train (the really fast train) to reach the entire opposite side of the country in only a mere 2.5 hours...about the distance from College Station to Austin!! It is crazy how small this country actually is, but rather exciting because that means that we can easily explore other cities during a regular weekend. </span></div><p align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">With many of the 10,000,000+ Seoulites out of the city, (for Choesuk, the families all gather together at the paternal grandparents home, no matter where in the country that might be) us 6 were able to maneuver to city with more ease than if the entire population were present. We have heard from many people that the city was totally dead when we were there, so I can only imagine how many more people and how much busier it has to be! Starting our days at about 9 am and ending close to midnight or later each night attributed to tired feet, full stomachs and happy SEOULS! </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;"></span></p><p align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">What did we do and see?</span><br /></p><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">- the famous Yongsan Electronics Market (the largest electronics market in Asia) where you can pretty much find any electronic good you could ever want. Our friend Mara was the biggest spender here, buying a zoom lens for her Nikon DSLR camera.</span><br /></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">- the Korean War Memorial. We spent about 2 hours only on the outside walking around before realizing that it was too late to make it inside...that will definitely be a must-see on our next trip. Koreans are very proud of this museum and flock here often to remember Korea's history<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389714593525887170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95gg1Qy_Ln2NkqjWGKtYj0wPE8ZyMQKuf_2nnaloEusOCogPM9340ACiANt1bkUFX5__rrSjn0bbl8NKOmMlQdifPHUe3onh6SNNsTtYi9Xlof58lqzkLNuPViApmDXoM8_dGcHYBLbdL/s400/Korean+war+memorial.jpg" border="0" /></span> </div><br /><div align="center">the front of the War Memorial<br /></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389715132898866322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcodEJf-k0SxmSIbUjTqYpT3eZjanGs7U4k9lvEfh5SqPC8oYPT0lFEnrd0JgqS3RtnVCnu-bRa-gB-mAPjVCJHVuPH0fphS0gVXVZ81k5At1gSKzQxx8pkBvFdFYjLAkYWg4YTco-3dj/s400/overview.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">the many different types of planes and machinery used in the Korean War</p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389715527382073330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgba-UELXap4JR5I6yGZwTF-e1y9zx2axgu8VXcKkpSFofP1c5e9sQOWmX9aeGsuhRRUARKR2Vw1dfawFfTP747_UjntsEsNAjELEwos9yxR0wkqS1YE15q7_1N3vUgsM4WowC7D8wg2eyQ/s400/ROK+plane.jpg" border="0" /> A Republic of Korea plane </p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389715920992810514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyMv6-MduupEVljKFcg_jHe6Y3Oc-1FeIgDEMnAZUTExtogedb4MhMvV3zlCJD9YlxeIyASrOLCt6a30zoHhsaWEXhp8YaReTE9XQJvKu0OGaozQ51d4gqhXwk82dS4nnJ3Qgpvc0p9Ln/s400/mortar.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center">The type of weapon that Austin's Grandfather used in the Korean War </p><br /><p align="left"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">- Myeongdong Shopping Area...so fun and busy, busy, busy!</span></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389716244328360626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXG5y-g1W9OrNcohtljsgTvQTwEiBUwJmjilFhfdjNPq0RieMSeChf9mRUc1bmrA49IT5xN9eVKnTClSw0ecOXTkx0aB72yooyDVliy-cu_gZbgNTjm2DLeutipGbvBiRJaedLb7EvEEsd/s400/myeongdong.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389716483576668370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwFt0RUkDadgin5ikGpQyVSGbq92t68kTPeid0cqD8TeOrexLLphwBAiRh6pR0oJGRFZVEYfZ3ZnoSMYe8V7IiqoNwZurJtNsDM2x_zU51Jaf-SgWDeIWZuaW2UV3e4lAQqkpXBf6o5vO/s400/cell+phone+acc.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><br />A store strictly selling cell phone accessories! So Korean! </p><br /><p align="left"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">- Namdaemun Market, (the largest traditional market in the country) where Austin caved and finally bought his sought-after man-purse (he will kill me when he finds out I called it a man-purse over the internet for all to see!!!).</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">- Itaewon area (the "foreigners" area of Seoul due to its close proximity to the US Army Base). We ate Mexican food here, but it was not too authentic, so that made us have to go get more the next day :)</span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389717431797038578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyjQV_K7GeQDG1xxRpkUBVDTUA2IvnaSJIQl5pxGpUDjow8kTiKJyFs5mUB80MFB-mMj4R_X8miYv8i6qKDt9ao1LQCih_Y1mzkXH9uSHsvKLn1dZEGBXnfUB22c39gL1xcgZBEDX5u0u/s400/mexican.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">- Gyeongbok Palace (the largest palace in the country) was very pretty and traditional. We were smack dab in the middle of the city, but felt like we were totally removed and in a very peaceful area.</span><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389718202213673346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbib6txHTZCYie13M_MWzUUlw1FFJ-6gtLgzLWgCnIdVlKaYvdA4YUu9QJ8Gjy8BhIBhddkSoHs7lxwcsxeS_afZTk75hRbq5uhA9mZYBSdm_WbQQV1sku0FZlEkeClgFAhH3JNQoB_M5W/s400/palace.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389718485691203394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdU7Xn-snEmJHBNuDFlyMUA5U_apYMMg1XpXUnewPcbL3nb9ITC0knA9Jn9Go2ZU-4syzz3n3Sz5akAr0V4uEUHOotZxXNQa2V5mAlHbkdHnrC-ZvOm1aIP4Lc9IAH5MlGzjKluJyns8Hu/s400/ceiling.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389718778163883602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK3S9E0vOANAezsABYSn3tm7VA84bYwMHEPXbO45bxezq6t8v0FYVTmiYWhBSp9KByT791qYhU7Z-Bl4qPdU97qe9Qqt47YPsgNcTJJ42XeL2LA9WHWKcUlY9FhZZX0J_f189xqNnbwfq/s400/boy.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center">A cute little boy wearing a traditional hanbok outfit!</p><br /><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">- Insadong Market area is where we stayed AND spent much of our time. Insadong is known for its traditional pottery and handmade gifts. There are also cafes and shops lining all the streets that all have a warm, European-like atmosphere. </span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389718999070072946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8m_pshUX-0o8W2MXMxnX__wMQte2DXGrgggmqw9eJtT5Ax_pY7P-v04ufaT_kno8bgvOdPyheCVrAxqJz9QqEALN9j2UCdk7er4bdtn2fzTwoLDSjcdOy6hQYyAE-MCCFpTbv-95v72y/s400/insa.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389719192308032514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprwsP2GVzQQvzeWplpGlyMgTz0gqv62Z8UJcSfd5tiN6rrTxFORap_Qs7Zd8KyJV8pavCmhrFjkiXtkEEAJ_Id_H868mNKcGRMGTTaFr-m4IJIuCfeGSoIRdZbuP6h5Soq7tU_lWPK3il/s400/tower.jpg" border="0" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">- Sinchon area...mainly just the ON THE BORDER for steak/shrimp fajitas, guacamole and margs!!! Muy Bien :)</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389719481994814114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfERNl6kSTg0RO3hElXAKvmwxTjwAJAmPZ0rza1puJf1DyFeQlknvzWvpgr5IrXCz1BaBc0nPcnurAH_x2k1ykTBNdeYYl5id8-p8eFyDbAsa1o4lpyirhXfLZS6HJu8ipeYNj7etk3lX/s400/mex.jpg" border="0" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">- Dongdaemun Market that has some of the best clothes shopping deals in the city</span><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;"></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', -webkit-fantasy;">Overall, we covered a lot of the really interesting and exciting sites to see in Seoul, but there are sooo many more things that would be a thrill to see and do. We are excited for our next trip to the big city :)</span></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-27610819318778826572009-09-07T20:23:00.004+09:002009-09-08T23:21:29.916+09:00Our First Day of School<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">After laying out our "first day of school" outfit and our leather patent shoes last night, Austin and I survived our first days of school as Elementary School teachers and even have a few funny stories to document. But first, here is a run-down of our days:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Austin: At 9 am in the morning, Austin was the guest of honor at a school-wide assembly in the gym. He had to give an introduction speech and broadcast himself to the whole school. At 9:50 he sat in the "teachers meeting" = eating apples and drinking green tea! From then to 11:50 he sat in HIS OWN classroom on HIS OWN computer and did nothing. After the 11:50 class he had lunch consisting of: rice, some kind of soup, cold noodles, kimchi, and hard egg casserole (?). From then until 3:30 he, again, did nothing. Then, until the end of the day (at 4:40) his Korean co-teacher gave him a lesson in Hangul (the Korean language).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Lauren: At 9 am in the morning, I had to report to the "broadcasting room" and sit behind a wanna-be news anchor set to introduce myself to the whole school over the school-wide broadcasting network. From 10-1, I had 3 back-to-back classes of 5th graders where I shared my Powerpoint on my life, family and hobbies. My lunch consisted of: rice, some kind of soup, sweet and sour fish, leaves with anchovies in them and kimchi. [Note: we no longer feel bad for American Schools' Cafeteria Food] Since Koreans do not use knives and I was having a hard time cutting up my sweet and sour fish, I asked my co-teacher (Young Jin) how to cut my food. He, then, leaned across the table and started cutting all of my food for me with his chopsticks! After lunch, my co-teacher and I had two more classes followed by reading a book for an hour.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Funny things said today by our kids:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">little girl to Lauren about Austin's picture: </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">"He has a lot of hair on his face. Is he your grandpa?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">little boy to Austin:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">"Do you like your wife?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">little girls about picture of Ella: </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">[giggling among girls] </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Lauren: "What are you laughing at?" </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Little girl: "She wants to eat your dog!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Lauren: (wants to punch them in the face)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">little boys to Lauren:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">"How much do you weigh?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">little boy in the stairwell to Austin:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">"You look like OBAMA!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">little boy in the hall to Austin:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">"You look like BRAD PITT!"</span></div><br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 107px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRqycN3XocrWiZc-2FzxmQGFlp8zTJhPhGoncm1LB5VzVjO_L_HJrBlm1ABLwHi8RKi5oKAnObOP7780X5ucjUjCe086Bsx7Q3oPfqko4Nu_k0tB-GmG7co0ndZL9xOQme7ToQZz-ks2r/s400/images-3.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378694767983961474" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 93px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJaqzo2tvmsr-ozjihMN8M57hOQl7kwVq_ETHoqLFFe-KIT3vW1Ta3VZ30l1-XI-RjriyQULnS_kFje9Sc9eHvSnjD9jyX6exhi38q1fD-S5usiCAKERSSGX6kwXtQ9Hs3_Ui3H8MokPM/s400/images-1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378695059142624962" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-h8jtTeTevH6dqL2QZz_gcveYpwjYzATSIiJj8ZwOqfImljliacUAZeJGE4mzLydcTd5qzPsusCzaLyfngwSzFhWYLMaMIMAhidb8y1jGGBazo9wdX4HMXjBhsNOLCz7QysSiibtAzsw/s400/IMG_1199.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378694048590159506" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">We are now taking a vote on which one YOU think Austin looks like...please respond with a "comment"</span></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-11753084727196028052009-09-03T12:58:00.003+09:002009-09-03T13:06:42.517+09:00Our First Place!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUr4TICwouQa21wkebRMQ0rcbtQQZ8YjJf1BWCPPcWzrTQMkFJAZJ9e9F280_7vQMsW1hhuS5R_RzI7kIKznC1z96lk7tUjEYhYupxxZyYVjD417wcHtYZ8ELj72Km5rmYRhTEJKbEl50/s1600-h/IMG_1247.JPG"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUr4TICwouQa21wkebRMQ0rcbtQQZ8YjJf1BWCPPcWzrTQMkFJAZJ9e9F280_7vQMsW1hhuS5R_RzI7kIKznC1z96lk7tUjEYhYupxxZyYVjD417wcHtYZ8ELj72Km5rmYRhTEJKbEl50/s320/IMG_1247.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377086264916140530" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Our bedroom. Those back doors lead off to a porch/laundry room. During the winter you close the suction doors and summer you leave them open.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieT_LupbwGHblOndszP7fdwo9Qzdh06tCwt4QWYV7uLsFPHm4IaHuQPBj_IR-ArIy34FbE2pPWQ5h2vzYFDWoC8U-NxylFEx0rDZUByAoDNaB4b8Wx-1M8AgFVf6NXUTT204pwuU_pvdFc/s1600-h/IMG_1246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieT_LupbwGHblOndszP7fdwo9Qzdh06tCwt4QWYV7uLsFPHm4IaHuQPBj_IR-ArIy34FbE2pPWQ5h2vzYFDWoC8U-NxylFEx0rDZUByAoDNaB4b8Wx-1M8AgFVf6NXUTT204pwuU_pvdFc/s320/IMG_1246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377086260232392930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Our Kitchen! It is a great space with a stove, microwave, fridge, countertops, plenty of storage and table and chairs! Very modern looking with these bamboo-type floors!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NbcF1I6hi0w9w_YGfUopoj_dW8s6RETIjuzY_d3yWiEykAI246FlPgRSZo48foo3Lw8TAKQfjbb30MBbJQ1mIPhRhfKxuGI4zWu99pWObBJSfs6chu75ZkeeHH987Go-XK6Z8KlUjR_t/s1600-h/IMG_1245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NbcF1I6hi0w9w_YGfUopoj_dW8s6RETIjuzY_d3yWiEykAI246FlPgRSZo48foo3Lw8TAKQfjbb30MBbJQ1mIPhRhfKxuGI4zWu99pWObBJSfs6chu75ZkeeHH987Go-XK6Z8KlUjR_t/s320/IMG_1245.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377086247856276146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Our bathroom. Restrooms in Korea do not have a special area for the shower. As you can see, the shower is in the room and has not raise in the floor to retain the water. Therefore, the water from the shower goes all over the whole room...not their smartest decision.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBhGn2iZbyy3xKRal3IBT-D4zocOyBcEB6xNsL-hXCQj6XN2G1vdZa6vs4vRGGlxcN2XTK07JB0XBi9wByf1pHgq9FdDBVfUk6YR2UpVMcH4c8RZfcsYmigoz8GVkfPUitsSh5obc91oU/s1600-h/IMG_1244.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBhGn2iZbyy3xKRal3IBT-D4zocOyBcEB6xNsL-hXCQj6XN2G1vdZa6vs4vRGGlxcN2XTK07JB0XBi9wByf1pHgq9FdDBVfUk6YR2UpVMcH4c8RZfcsYmigoz8GVkfPUitsSh5obc91oU/s320/IMG_1244.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377086243071095154" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">This is what it looks like when you walk in. Stairs on the right lead up to a 3-4 ft. ceiling loft area (we are using it for storage). Straight ahead is our bedroom, with the kitchen straight ahead and to the left. Bathroom at 9 o'clock and entry way (for shoes...Koreans don't wear their shoes inside their home) at 6 o'clock behind us.</span></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-64406842410152416742009-09-01T18:36:00.006+09:002009-09-01T19:31:46.054+09:00Apartment, Hanguel and Outback!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">You were going to get a quick tour of our apartment with some picture that I took, but this computer is taking forrrrever, so that will come soon!</span><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Our adventures in Korea have continued to be new, different and very eye-opening (We Americans sure do have a way of thinking that everything </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">we</span></i></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> do is correct, even if we love to think that we are open-minded).</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">After talking to our parents on Skype yesterday morning, (yahoo!) Austin and I ventured over to a Christian church that was down the street from the little bakery we were sitting at…yes, Koreans surprisingly LOVE their baked goo</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">ds AND they don’t have any funky fish products in them, unlike most of their foods.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">This bakery’s name was ‘Paris Baguette,’ which makes me laugh really hard because about 90% of the people in our city do not even know what “Hello” means!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">There are some random shops with English names that for a second makes me excited to think that there are English speakers, then</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> when I remember the situation we are in I get very confused as to why they would name their shops with English words.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Continuing with that thought, I have yet to see one Korean with a t-shirt with Korean writing (hanguel)…yep, all English.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I want to go up to them and say, “I’m sorry, do you e</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">ven know what your shirt says?”</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">It confuses me.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Back to the church topic:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">So Austin and I mosey on down to the church (the only reason we know it is a church is because of the large cross at the top of the building- everything else in Korean) and walk</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> in only to be stared and pointed at by all of the people in there!</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">It was like they had never seen an American before.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">There were four little girls who were probably about 7 years old that continually ran up to us, giggled and said “helllllooooooo!” They were the cutest things ever and it made me w</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">ant to adopt a Korean baby (Austin and I decided they are some of THE cutest babies out there!)</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">We were welcomed by two women who grabbed my (Lauren’s) arm and led us into a fellowship/community area.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The assistant pastor then came and sat with us and, amazingly, spoke excellent English.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">He wanted to know everything about </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">us and was totally amazed that we had only been there three days and were interested in finding a church.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">This man (his Korean name translates to David) had been a missionary in the Philipines for 18 years and was pretty much fluent in both English and Filipino, as well as Korean.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">He to</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">ld us all about the church, told us he would love for us to attend their church and informed us that we are the only foreigners to have ever visited!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">We went upstairs for their 3 pm church service and were amazed by the hospitality.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">They had us stand up at the beginning and the congregation sang a welcoming song to us, complete with hand mo</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">tions and all!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">At one point, they waved their hands in our direction to demonstrate them sending blessings and welcomings our way.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The assistant pastor gave us ear phones for us to listen while he translated the events of the service.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">We watched a special kids’ performance and listened to the telling of one of the church missionary’s trip to Ezra, Jordan.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">It’s funny…we American</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">s don’t really think about Christians from other countries (especially Asian countries) being missionaries and going into other lands to share the gospel.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I realized how narrow-minded we can be!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Our first Korean church experience was so interesting bec</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">ause neither of us have ever felt SO welcome at any church and only ONE person could speak to us in our language.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Hmmm…</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">So today Austin and I sat down at our kitchen table and really tried hard to learn as much of the Korean language (Hanguel) as we possibly can.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">We began with learning the alphabet (hanguel characters) and then attempted to learn the words.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">It is tricky, this language, because it is a double </span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">whammy- first learning a totally new alphabet that looks nothing like ours and then having to learn new words.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">While reading Hanguel I feel like a first grader sounding out the c</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">haracters slowly.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">It taked five minutes to read one sentence and even after that, I still have no idea what it means!</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">This is what we have learned so far:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Hello: an-nyoung-ha-se-yo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Goodbye: an-nyoung-hi-kye-se-yo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Thank You: kam-sa-ham-ni-da</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I’m Sorry: choe-song-ham-ni-da</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Dog: kae</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Chicken meat: tak-ko-gi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Beef: soe-go-gi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Year: hae</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">This is my practice sheet:</span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm9NuNG7l1Qs_X4-AicU_dJFZwW3Lp1rdU-dchhtz9NfkpPmXqYNCV88sqrAfWEBRs7tzlpavLWBssXtXVxeEQrjE6mvt4b6YGr5rC7OVAzM8w2QJfJ5BRmnWoTYnXs0qOnuY0FXfHP13/s320/IMG_1259.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376440866543643666" /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lastly, today we went with our co-teachers into Busan (Pusan, either spelling) to get our Alien Registration Card (ARC).</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">You have to have one of those if you are staying in the country longer than 90 days…and to set up internet, cell phone and a bank account! The ARC card was simple to a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">pply for, but we don’t get it for 10 more days (Bummmmmer).</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Buuut, after we did that they took us to Hyundae Beach, which is the most famous beach in South Korea.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">It is on the outskirts of Busan and has tremendous views of the city, Japan Sea and mountains. We walked along a pathway and onto the beach and saw many a grandma doing sit-ups, jogging and stretching! It is amazing how active everyone is here.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Hyundae was beautiful and we are planning to go back…the real news from that trip is that we saw: OUTBACK, STARBUCKS, PIZZA HUT & BENNIGANS!!! I thought Austin was going to cry he was SO happy.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">So it looks <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">like we might be making a quick subway trip to Busan when in need of some back-home-cookin.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Busan was definitely refreshing because we saw many foreigners, most of the signs has English translation and the before-mentioned American cuisine….All I want to find now is a yummy salad bar!</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Grandpa working out (Note: his wheelchair is next to him. Don't worry, he only needs that to get around.)</span></span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXLj6PWrqLUIEbinf24fhwMJ4h-krhcvyQ57tNG1CaKYFvTuSN99I4woFWYbWucg6Fe4jbAVk3WIjH1qAk8d1l6Sufy74GtcJFwQVxGC4t7I7YeI_j0UfxL6_bcUsAnGh_YohJv39rbrF/s200/IMG_1258.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376439514661112338" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">For now, An-nyong-hi-kye-se-yo!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-7216392241083733262009-08-30T13:46:00.002+09:002009-08-30T14:02:29.358+09:00Hello, South Korea!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">What to even say about all that happened within our last three-ish days being here in South Korea..so much!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">We arrived in Seoul, but due to a delay getting off the ground in San Fran we found ourselves running (literally) around the Seoul airport trying to go through customs, grab our bags and make it on our domestic flight to Busan. After sweating from head to toe and being thoroughly tired from carrying 4-50 lb bags, we missed our flight and were stumped at how to remedy the situation with only a few people being able to speak minimal English. A morning flight and a free hotel room later, we crashed for the quick sleep before waking up the next morning to fly to Busan. We had a ten o'clock Orientation meeting in Gimhae (a nearby city) and met both mine and Austin's co-teachers who will be by our side for teaching for the next year. On our drive from that meeting into our new city where we will be living (Yangsan), my co-teacher, You Young Jin (who speaks remarkable English, praise God), told us that he is a Christian and enjoys going to church and that he has been praying for us. He was not aware that we were married or only 22 and was expecting some shady, crazy American couple, I assume. He threw his hands up in the air when we told him that we are also Christians and that being here to serve the Lord is our first priority---I thought he was going to cry he was so happy....as were we. God has surely blessed us with You and we are very excited to have a wonderful friendship with him over the next year. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"> After arriving in Yangsan, we visited both of our schools and met with the principals </span></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">and administration. The schools here are ultra-modern and really different from what </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">we are used to in the States. Everyone here highly respects their elders, which was very </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">apparent in meeting each of our principals. You can tell that they are highly respected.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">Later, we found out where we were going to live (It is AMAZING...pictures to come!) and</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">then they even took us to get brand-spanking new furniture...I mean new bed set, </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">memory foam matress, dresser and a really cute table and chairs! We were absolutely </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">shocked and tried to explain to them that we didn't need anything super nice and that</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">the cheapest furnite would do. They were NOT having that and wanted to make us feel</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">as welcome and spoiled as possible---it sure worked! We also got a basic medical </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">checkup and were pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness and efficiency of the hospital!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Yesterday, Austin and I got the chance to walk around the city of Yangsan and feel<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">out where we will be living for the next year. The city has about 250,000 people in it and </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">is definitely the size that you can wrap your arms around and feel at home. On the flip</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">side, very very very very few people here speak English and we have only seen 3 non-</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">Koreans (besides us) since we have been here. We definitely did not realize how lonely</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">it can be to not be able to easily speak to people. The language barrier is tiresome and</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">quite frusterating, but we are going to channel that into learning the language as best</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">we can (Korean study session will ensue after I am done blogging!) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In general, we are very happy to be here safely and have been blown away with the<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">way that the Lord already has his hand on us. From a great place and brand new furniture,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">wonderful hospitality and warmth from the people, You being an active believer and Austin's</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">computer being fixed solely by God (so that we can now keep in touch with home), we are</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">feeling very blessed and watched over. We know that He has us here for a sure </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">reason and are praying that He use us in whatever way He desires. We are going to </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">be praying, praying, praying and believing in advance that He will answer those prayers. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">"I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ any by the love of the Spirit, to join</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">me in my struggle by praying to God for me." Romans 15:30</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">"..On Him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, and you help us by </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">your prayers." 2 Cor. 1:10b</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;">Please be joining us in praying for our ministry and conquer of the Korean language!!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-71585730195026511882009-08-12T13:44:00.006+09:002009-08-13T12:24:48.032+09:00HGTV gives me house-fever<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">So, for our last month post-Honeymoon and pre-Korea Austin and I have been wonderfully living in my wonderful parents' wonderful condo (did I mention it is really wonderful?) It is, naturally, our first time to live together and we kinda feel like a little family with us and our little Ellie. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5DVXGnl_1aIYMKi7y1YrS5SZiWbzDhRQLfKpdWXHED4EkfBktCHcWYMueJGDJl5NwU11_BedudqPLwh3guRy2WSLQK2GRvsngHNwTgDt0DxEUb6RDmIhGUz3SIvxJvs3JcD0y7-zsjMA/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368937149144855746" /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">Here is a sample of our daily itinerary:</span><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">- Wake up around 10 am</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">- Make coffee, eat cereal and read for about an hour</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">- Go on the boat, go to the pool, do crafts, play Wii, etc.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">- Make lunch</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">- Continue to do things mentioned two posts above...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">- Make dinner</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">- Watch HGTV and laugh at how ridiculous our life currently is</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">But, what HGTV is doing to us is making us want to buy a house. We talk about what we do and don't like, talk about how we would decorate it, how dumb the people are on it, etc. I am also now a member of a MLS listings website....why? Because I have THAT much free time to look at MLS listings that we will not buy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">...Someone should remind us that to buy a house, one must have money......sad.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">"What are you doing over there?" - Austin</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">"Blogging...because I'm a blogger now." - Lauren</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">"What could you possibly be blogging about...we do nothing all day" - Austin</span></div></div></div></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794766200408389154.post-61521401706224352752009-08-06T10:28:00.000+09:002009-08-06T10:32:08.932+09:00I guess I'll give this a shot!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">So we have never blogged before, but with our big adventure to South Korea coming up in less than one month we figured we would get our act together and start this blogging schpiel. We are very excited about moving overseas in only 21 days, (wow!) but we (okay, really just me... I won't include Austin in this) am really getting nervous and scared. I guess it really has to do with just the fact that it is so unknown. We have never traveled abroad nor do we know the language of the country we are about to move to! I know when we get there it will all be awesome, though! </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Korea, get ready for us!</span></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135254476659695505noreply@blogger.com1