Saturday, June 27, 2009

Last day in Korea "Farewell Ceremony" - June 27, 2009



Hi Christine and Derek,

Waiting here in front of the gate of our flight AC064 to Toronto via Vancouver. We will have to bring our luggage through Customs in Vancouver like you said.
We said our goodbyes at the farewell ceremony where we received some goodbye gifts. It was an emotional goodbye.
Rev. Soh will stay in Korea, as well as Rosa Park. The Black family went to Japan and the Muther's left yesterday back to TO. We have to board soon and I will try to phone or e-mail in Vancouver if time alows.

I love you and see you soon at airport in Toronto. BYEEEEE!!!!!!!!




Rev. Soh, KCCA President, and home-stay father, Mr. Shin


Thumbs up to Dad volunteeering to be first parent to speak


More gifts... From sponsor co. CEO "Andy"

Home-stay daughter (above) & home-stay family (below)






Willem & Alex well taken care of by Mrs. Kim, and traditional "cheek pinching" of kids!




Big hug with Luka Rearranging Megan's hairdo

Friday, June 26, 2009

Day 12 - Free Day: Namdeamun Market & time with home-stay Shin family - June 26, 2009

Hi Guys,

Our sleeps on normal beds (with mattresses) have been very good.

The mother of the home-stay family (who has been so good to us) came to pick us up at 11am this morning. Alex didn't feel like going out this morning - I guess travel is catching up with him. But after some play with the other kids he was okay. It was a hot and muggy day today. We took a taxi over to Namdeamun Market to try to shop for souvenirs and gifts to bring back home. Alex wanted to be carried on my neck the whole time, but I did manage to do some shopping from my list. However, I couldn't keep Alex out in this heat, and in this busy place that was not fun to him very long. We stayed there maybe 2 hours. (Sorry, couldn't buy another hanbok.)

After Namdeamun Market, we went to the Shin family's neighbourhood where Alex got a beautiful, Korean style haircut (also got a bleeding nose there as well). We also had lunch in one of the local restaurants eating rice rolls like the ones we made at our last Lunar New Year party.

Now Alex is chilling out at the "Shin's" and watching some TV, and getting more spoiled by Mrs. Kim (married women here keep their maiden name). I'm planning to take them out for dinner like I did yesterday as well, but I'm also trying to make it not too late since it is going to be a long trip back home.

Tomorrow is the farewell ceremony, together with the sponsor and home-stay families. Then we will have a short lunch and off to the airport we go. Korea will be missed by Alex and I, but it will be nice to see Derek and Mama again. We miss you guys a lot and wish you could have experienced this with us.

Love from both of us and see you Saturday.
Alex and Willem
XOXOXOXOXOXO

Thursday, June 25, 2009

DAY 9 - Je-Ju Island - June 23, 2009

DAY 10 & 11 - Leaving Jeju Island, The Blue House, and In-Sa dong area - June 24 & 25, 2009

Landed in Seoul on Wednesday evening and made our way to Centenial Memorial Church Hotel. Thursday morning, we went to visit the Blue House (The Presidential Residence). After we went to lunch with the Korean Canadian Culture Exchange Association, then to quaint Insadong area to do some shopping (antiques, galleries, restaurants, tea houses).

We met up with home-stay family for a bit who showed us around more. It was a hot day (around the 30C). They bought Alex a tradition loose Korean outfit, and a friendship ring with the names of their kids engraved on it and sais that they will always remenber Alex! I took them out for dinner because they have been so good to us. I have told them that our house will always be open to them.

We also met up with Derek (father of a family living in Seoul for 6 months) and got (and payed close to 40000 won cash for) Tony's pendant with Dad in hangul on it. Will have to find a bank now to cash more money. I will try to do my best to get a hanbok for Julie, but still have to work on my shopping list for the first time and given only so much time on this very buys trip (plus need time to pack with all the extras Alex has received!).

I have to sign off quickly. Love, Alex and Willem

ADDENDUM:
Alex, Mrs. Kim (home-stay mother), and I went to the same "Old Teahouse" that we had been in back in 2004 - Alex liked it! (Note from Mom: This teahouse had live birds flying through the woodsy decorated room and a pedestal, birdbath-like fish bowl with goldfish in it in the bathroom - also the first toilet I encountered with all the buttons that had me worried as to how I was going to use it until I saw a regular flush handle!;)

The dinner we had consisted of some style of thick BBQ bacon (Note from Mom: Just what you need!;)




Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Derek spoke to Papa & Alex for first time - Mr. & Master Congeniality

In our goodnight time, and Papa and Alex's good morning time, Derek had an animated conversation about the time difference with - Are you eating breakfast now? (always thinking about food!;). It was very cute to hear Derek talk so excitedly on the phone. He has does some maturing himself while his brother and Daddy have been away...

Spoke with travelling Mom to Leevi, Janet, as well. Had already heard that Mom to Liam voted Willem as Mr. Congeniality and "very helful" (I had a rebuttal for latter point!;), but now heard that Alex was also known as little Master Congeniality himself! Of course, Mom is not surprised as Alex has always enjoyed people so much. Was asking Willem about his shopping and hanbok prucahse and he started explaining how he already had 2 hanboks, when only needed to buy one, and that was because home-stay mother bought them and that Willem was being teased about her having a thing for him... That's when I got Janet on the phone to clarify;). Apparently the home-stay mother can't do enough for my men and wants to see them again before they return - poor Willem may go into withdrawal when he returns and is faced with a honey-do list instead!;). Yes, "very helpful" Willem left me with outdoor water not turned on yet, no pump for pool as he forgot it in the U.S. during his last visit to friends, his new company van is already condemmable for the kids to ride in by Mom's point of view... Mom deserves a vacation now too after all the trip preparations and holding the ship on her own (hired a grass mower!).

After lots of "I love you's" and "I miss you" from all, we ended the call counting 4 more sleeps for us,a nd 3 more for them.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

DAY 8 - Hyundai Automobile Industry & Travel to Jeju Island - June 22, 2009

Our day started with a tour of the Hyundai Automobile Industry (Willem - give more detail later please). Later, we would on our way to Jeju Island (UNESCO heritage site)

Flight to Jeju island was fine and short with a little turbulence. Boarded a bus to our condo. We arrived at the condo at about 9:30 pm.at a beautiful resort hotel. The room is nice, but nothing like a 3-star hotel in North America . We still sleep on the floor but I was able to gather 3 floor mattresses! This now feels very comfy vs. the marble bed we had in the previous condo! Next day the touring will start at 9 am "sharp" and breakfast will be in our room for the 2 other rooms.

First, we went to a gorgeous waterfall where a river falls into the ocean (still a little ways away, but probably already salt). It is also a protected habitat for the giant molted eel. We took several pictures at the waterfall and reaaly enjoyed the site. At the entrance of the waterfall were restaurants and souvenir shops. We ate a fabulous lunch at one of the restaurants - some meat, fish, kimchi dishes, and leaves for wrapping.

Our next stop was a Korean folklore museum. In Jeju island, the old houses are made of lava rock and thatched roofs. The had a maze there that the kids really enjoyed and they had performances as well.

Our last stop was an extinct volcano - the one you know from the Korean calendar. The approach to the mountain was breathtaking!. Then we had to hike a half hour to the top and Alex was the first one there of course, sweating his head off. Just beautiful to be up so high and see all around you , and the circle inside of the extinct volcano was amazing, but hard to capture on camera. Guess who the first one down was? Yes, Alex. He had a ball.

After the climb, we went further down to the shore where there were "dive women" (something Jeju is known for) that were cleaning their catch to order. Andy Park, the CEO who travels with us (the drill sergeant) ordered octopus and a variety of other fish like sea cucumber and anemones. Except for the octopus, you eat everything raw. We ate raw fish and drank Korean wine on the rocks by the sea while the kids played on the rocks, along with some adults that were scared of the raw fish! The kids were collecting smooth glass pieces.

For dinner that night, we had black pig in one of those traditional buildings built from lava rock and thatched roofs. Alex bit in a piece of hot pepper and ate it! Oh boy... He didn’t like that and I am sure that regular spicy food will taste mild to him now!

Back at the hotel at 9 pm, we all went to the beautiful yellow sand beach which was walking distance. Alex played in the waves and was covered from head-to-toe with sand. He had a lot of fun playing with his new friends. We lit up some simple fireworks and the kids had some sparklers.

Tomorrow we are going back to Seoul in the late afternoon and Andy Park has given us some private time in the morning. However, we need to be packed and downstairs by 12 pm for some more touring.

Hope that all is well there on your side of the ocean and I will try to catch up with e-mail later because I have to go to bed now.






More current pic added to Happy Father's Day + this pic

I just have to add this pic to Alex's blog (hope I am not breaking any copyrights... After all, it is of my son and my possible future daughter-in-law!;). This pic appears on Rosa's blog (appearing with Alex). She apparently calls Alex her lil' hubby and Alex replied when asked why he wouldn't marry her, that "it wouldn't be fair to the other girls"!;). Big thanks to Rosa for being so good to him! Mom, Christine