One Whole Month

This week we seem to be settling into a routine and getting more comfortable with our new home. Our latest obsession is scrabble every night before bed. We also found a great restaurant close to home that is cheap. Just our style.  There is never a dull moment when your day is filled with kids, especially Korean ones that frequently don't know what you are saying. Last weekend was good. Friday was super fun..Brendan and I went on a double date with Jenn (our co-teacher) and a young lad. We went for delicious samgyeopsal and to a couple bars afterwards. The rest of the weekend was spent cleaning the apartment (it surely needed it),grocery shopping...which is always an adventure, and watching movies. The hardest part for me when shopping is the lack of breakfast cereals to choose from at OK Call Mart. At home there is a whole aisle devoted to cereals, here I pick from about 5 or 6. Big bummer. Also, skim milk is super hard to come by. Boo.

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of 2 packages, one from Grandma Jackie and Papa Norb, and the other from my Momma. CAN NOT WAIT to get them and also a special thanks again to Nonna and Nonno for our Brita filter..much needed!

As our time of stay lengthens in Korea, we learn more and more each day. Below are some interesting things you may not know about this lovely land.

• Children in Korea do not take care of their teeth. Our kids brush their teeth everyday after lunch, but they are brushing with sugar paste. Literally. Parents are not concerned because baby teeth fall out. Many of my kids have silver fillings and discolored unhealthy teeth. Yum.
• We do not have a garbage day here. I may have mentioned this in one of my other posts. Basically, we have plastic shopping bags for a garbage and when they get full, we walk downstairs and put them on the street. There are garbage piles and junk yards everywhere in the neighborhoods. 
• Korea is huge about respecting elders. Whenever you see an older person it is considered rude if you do not smile or bow or show some nice gesture. When old ladies get on the bus and there are no seats, someone's ass is getting up..quick. And if no one gets up, she will get someone up. 
• Many Koreans, especially the younger generations are obsessed with looking white. A common stereotype is that everyone from America has blonde hair and blue eyes. There are commercials all over TV about creams to make your face whiter, many of them with bleach to lighten the skin. Perms..or "permas" here are huge because Korean hair is so straight. 
• A common superstition among Koreans is "fan death." Meaning, they honestly believe if you go to sleep with the door closed and a fan on you will die because the oxygen will be sucked out of the room. Yep. 

Oh I almost forgot... on the fun news front we have a few trips up our sleeves. The Lunar New Year is a nationally celebrated holiday here, which starts February 2. So we have Wednesday, Thursday AND Friday off that week. SCORE. A big trip like Japan is not in our budget yet, as we have yet to be paid (we get paid each month here, not every 2 weeks) so we are planning a trip within Korea to Busan. Busan is about a 2 hour bus ride from Pohang. Temple By The Sea is a big deal there, as well as many great mountains, parks and attractions. The last week of July we have an entire week off so we are planning a trip to Thailand (Phi Phi Island to be exact) and possibly Cambodia. We also have sprinklings of 3 day weekends here and there, and in one of those we plan on visiting Japan. Can't wait!

Tomorrow marks one month in Korea!! Can't wait to see what the rest hold! We'd also like to make a couple extra special shout outs to 2 of our cousins taking big steps within the next two weeks. Jaclyn- We wish you so much joy and strength upon the delivery and arrival of baby Olivia. I am so happy for you and Michael and I can't wait to see her. Jessica- We hope you have the most magical best day of your life. I know you will be such a gorgeous bride and we wish we could be there.
We love you both and are thinking of you. 

Below are some pictures from the week

Sally is stoked about this picture.

(Hansu) They were supposed to draw what they looked like when they were babies...

Smile...that's his name :)

In front of their arts and crafts work

Silly

Ria and Kaylen..I did not have photos of them before. Ria is a sweetie and Kaylen is...well..not (looks can be deceiving) They only come to school 2 days a week for one hour and they are learning the alphabet. It's hilarious to interact with kids that seriously have no clue what you are saying.

Recent artwork

Hell yes letter V