friday food tour

After our meeting with Evan we returned to our hotel to FaceTime,e mail family and update the blog. I became pretty antsy, way too much nervous energy (or profound lack of sleep, either way you get the picture). I had this great idea that in order for us get a better understanding of Korean food and culture we needed to do 4 hour night dining tour. The website promised it would glorious. So until it started we should go walk around and explore that part of the city, figure out the subway and such. The energy lasted just long enough to get to the other side of the city and walk a bit. Then we found a park and rested our eyes. Yep that was us snoozing in a park pretending to be doing something with our phones. It wasn't the good sleep you feel refreshed from but a nauseating jerk awake as soon as you start to drift over and over again sleep. Eventually it was time to meet for the tour.

it was really great, We met up with another couple from Rochester we had met earlier this morning and another brother sister team from Sydney, Aus. We explored different parts of the distric we were in, 4 different restaurants and in each the food was spicy, really spicy. I couldn't really tell you what we ate for the most part wish we could have menus so I could have written it down but these weren't really "menu" type dining establishments. We started out with a outdoor Korean BBQ, basically we were sitting around an oil drum with hot coals inside and a grill on top, with all the sides to make it complete. I dont remember the cut of the pork but it was delish! Then we visited a tiny ancient Korean home they had converted (love all the exposed wiring everywhere) where we had a super spicy bean sprout soup, tofu, and the kicker - chicken feet. I tried but just could get myself to swallow. I felt like we were on "survivor" or that other show I can't think of the name.Dan said I would have choked to death once I had bitten into the cartridge. I couldn't get past the skin that was still on although covered in chili sauce. Then some kind of chili covered root. Looked like a soggy sweet potato fry, let me assure you it was not!

The third restaurant was more of a typical dining establishment we ate two different preparations of Toppoki (sp) it is a mixture of all kinds of good stuff (like bean sprouts, dumplings . . .)plusthese very addictive rice cake noddle thing. One dish was chili/hot the other sweet. Love love love the sweet!!! On the our long walk to the final stop we went to a street vendor where Dan had the pleasure of trying silkworm larve, at this point I was so shocked that this was my husband I could hardly work the camera! Dan isn't the most adventurous eater!! The final stop was actually in a large alleyway in the industrial part of town (as best I can describe it). It was so strange, I wish I could get the photos uploaded because I can't even describe it. It was 10pm and packed for what seemed like a good mile. Lots of separate stalls or booths many selling the same things. Some just sides so seafood, so special (greasy) pancakes, veggies, and BBQ. We ended up with the pancake. Which is probably good since my stomach was already rolling! At each stop there was a different kind or beer or wine but my stomach had enough to deal with so I opted out. I feel like I'm getting old, I used to love hot spicy food!! I kind of lost track of how much pepto I took! Needless to say by the time we caught the subway and got to the hotel we both passed out. We were so tired!

Oh and the funniest part of the day, in the subway station on the way home someone actually asked me for directions. And after I lifted my jaw off the floor I proceeded to give her the correct directions!! Now she wasn't Korean (nor American) and looked pretty lost but it made me feel good that after such a day I didn't look on the outside as scarey tired or emotionally overwhelmed as I was felling on the inside, I looked helpful!

A couple pictures!

Pororo to the rescue

Eastern Social Welfare Society

So we ended up too restless this morning so we decided to walk on over and try to kill time on the way. (just in case we ended up lost again!) we were sitting outside the agency at a cafe when up walked Mrs. Choi and Evan!! She came over right away and pushed him towards us repeating omma (mom) and appa (dad) and pointing towards both of us. We were caught totally off guard I didn't have my camera or translator! Thankfully another couple we had just introduced ourselves to caught it on film. To say Evan was hesitant is an understatement but there were no tears, so praise the Lord for that small victory! The matchbox cars were good but he wasn't interested in the snacks we brought. But Mrs Choi kept referring to his favorite thing which is Pororo (Korean cartoon). So I pulled out the iPad that I have a ton of Pororo downloaded. Jackpot! I think if he can associate us with Pororo we are good I explained and gave Mrs Choi the framed photo of Hudson holding two photos, one of Hudson and Mrs Choi and one of Evan and Mrs Choi. She balled. She was so happy. You could tell she loved and adored Hudson and missed him greatly and the fact that these boys are now cousins was so moving. She hugged in me and cried. It was incredible. I cry all the time when I think about it but I was told Mrs Choi is not an emotional woman. We learned he likes bananas,fish, eggs, yogurt, cows milk but doesn't like apples or grapes. He is a social butterfly and likes to go to the beautyshop with Mrs Choi and get his hair done. Not mention he likes to get his nails done too. He had on some red nail polish on today. I think Mrs Choi's granddaughter likes to play with him. She also gave us a stack of photos of his first two years and his birthday hanbok!! We meet him again Tuesday and take him home on Wednesday! Until then we work hard to learn as much as possible about his culture. I cannot seem to get blogger to upload my photos for now, so you'll have to check back!

We're here!

Overwhelmed in the only word to describe our thoughts and feelings. It is 4 am Seoul time. Which isn't too bad since I usually don't sleep past 230am at home anyway. (thanks to 10 years of night shifts) After we arrived in Chicago it became more real when we hurried to the Korean Air gate and at the first glimpse of the big blue bird that would deliver us to our son I got something between giddy and terrified! While we waited to board our social worker called for a last minute advice/ encouragement. It was God's timing. I had been rehashing all these different things I had heard recent adoptive parents say on the many forums I stalk. There just seems to be conflicting advice but she was great and really made me feel like we were prepared. It will be one of the biggest challenges of our life but we will make this transition and this trip is just the beginning.

prior to take off!

Here is my plug for Koreans Air!! Loved it. Beautiful and friendly and fairly roomy, food was wonderful and lots of bathrooms so no long waits! I ordered the Korean Bibimbap and dan the beef dish for the first meal. Both were excellent! Tons of entertainment available. Don't let me give you the impression we actually slept more than an hour because we didn't.

Keep in mind at this point it is about 3am back home and I've been up for 24 hours We found our way to the right bus in order to cheaply make our way into Seoul. Dan fell asleep I was too nervous we would miss our stop. 45 minutes later we were let off at a subway station so far so good. I pull out my hand drawn map of where the hotel is located. Because when I looked it up online it looked really easy and I couldn't get it to print. You can probably guess where this going. We trekked up and down busy steeply inclined streets for about an hour. I was sure right off the bat I knew the general location but couldn't see it. After about an hour we stopped a taxi that had a "translator" sticker in the window hoping he could give us a ride because we give up. He actually refused us and waved us on, I don't remember the last time I was begging someone to take money from me and they refuse. We decided to turn the next street (the original spot I thought the hotel had to be) and wouldn't you know it, it is tucked in behind another hotel in dark alleyway. Did I mention we are each hauling a large checked bag and large carry on and backpacks. Once we arrived in the room, both a sweaty mess, we needed an inservice by our hotel clerk how to turn on lights, ac, toilet. Everything is remote controlled! In our tiny room we have two desktop computers with desk and office table with another two chairs, a 50 plus inch tv, the bathroom is actually probably the same size as the rest of the room. It is a little awkwardly laid out and wondering how it will work when We bring Evan here the night before we travel home.

In a few hours we will once again attempt to navigate the streets this time to the adoption agency to meet our son. Again another hand drawn map (at least it isn't my poor attempt) it claims to be just a mile or so, so we will see. I've packed up our care packages for the agency and for my niece who is also here in Seoul waiting for her turn to come home. I've packed snacks and matchbox cars for Evan in hopes i can bribe him towards us. Gifts for Mrs. Choi, however I still need to write a letter to this incredible woman that has loved my son. I have thought about it for 18 months and still cannot put it into words. It still seems so unreal. I'm sitting in bed on my iPad and Dan is lying here watching killer animals on animal planet in Korean. Before that he watched a Korean cooking show-- anyone else think this is weird for us??

We searched the world for you

Dear Evan Moon,

Today we hop onto a flight around the world and I am a bundle of nerves, much like a 42-week pregnant momma would be, ready to be a family together but also the future is so full of uncertainties! Your daddy and I have been waiting a very long time to meet you and bring you home, in fact more than twice as long as you have been alive! No pressure or anything but we really hope you don't completely freak out right away.

Over the years we will make you promises and pray we are able to keep them. The first promise was to pray for you and the second to do everything we can to be the parents you deserve. We named you Evan, because it means "God is Gracious" we feel so blessed to call you ours, if anyone is lucky in this situation is it your parents! You are a true miracle in our family. We also promise to incorporate your beautiful culture and celebrate your heritage in our family. We will honor your birth parents and Mrs. Choi, they will always be a part of the man you will become.

Know that those tears you see on my face are a mix of happy excited tears that you are actually real and in my arms and bittersweet tears watching you grieve and knowing the grief Mrs. Choi is now feeling. Know that you may kick and scream the entire 20-hour flight but we still love and want you.  The 20-hour flight will seem like an eternity during the actual flight but daddy and I have been waiting for this flight for almost 5 whole years! So relatively speaking 20 hours is nothing. (that is NOT a challenge!) 

We missed so many firsts in your life, but now we will get to experience a different type of firsts. We are looking forward to your first English words (hopefully not the word "No!"), your first friends (both people and puppy), trip to the pool, play with your cousins, a bike ride, oh and sleeping in your own bed just to mention a few.

We anticipate many challenges we will face as a family and at this point we are a bit nearsighted looking towards just the next few months!  

-- We know you have probably been spoiled rotten and we will need to figure out how to transition and balance your needs and wants. 

-- We know you are confused why your world just got turned upside down and we do not share the same language to communicate well with each other. We pray that with our actions we will communicate our love and dedication to you.

-- We know that you probably have never seen a dog in person and you are about to share a family with two energetic but loving big lap dogs. If you are going to use the word "No!" aim towards Mocha! You already have an ally in Tyson, he has already started chewing off the safety locks we installed on the cabinets! (specifically the cabinet with the peanut butter!) You will learn to be their pack leader!  

-- We know there are about a thousand friends and family that want nothing more to love on you at first sight and maybe you will be a social butterfly but we want to be the people that love on you and meet your needs, not because we are selfish but because we want to teach you who you can trust and we aren't going anywhere, others will have to wait.

-- We know sleep will be a challenge but we promise to be right next to you until your ready to crawl into your big boy bed. We will sleep on the floor with your just like you have for 2 years with Mrs. Choi and when you cry out for her we will comfort you.

-- We know we will have a million other challenges but first and foremost we are relying on the power of prayer and God's grace to rise above! We pray we all will find peace in His reassurance.

We have searched the world for you,

Momma and Daddy

Super Cute Booties!

So I have some new baby girl booties for sale, may be a great idea for a gift later this year when it cools down!  

I still have some of the cute infant shoes left in case you are looking for something more summer like! just check out the following link.  The infant shoes were $8 but to celebrate summer approaching I have marked them $5!  Let me know if you are interested in anything else on the link, I need to start clearing out some space for Evan's playroom!!

http://sisterhood2motherhood.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html

Only $5

X-Small (10cm): 2.5

Small (11cm): 3.5

Medium (12cm): 5

Large (13cm): 6

Zebra Bootie

Leopard Bootie

Emigration Permission Approval!!

21 Months  April 19th

Yeah!!

After 5 weeks of waiting by the telephone each morning I can now celebrate we are one step closer to bringing Evan home!  Evan's paperwork has been approved by the Korean authorities now it moves on to the US Embassy for a visa interview and approval then we wait for yet another phone call . . . Travel call!!! Then we jump on a plane!!!!

I love seeing Evan all smiles, now I have to get use to the hair cut, I already miss the curls!!