Let's just say that having a "typical" birthday celebration is not quite the easiest thing to do in new place, let alone a new country. The cake itself was an interesting endeavor. After having exhausted our options at the local "french" bakeries, Mitchell and I came across some pound cake rectangles (the only description I can come up with) at a local market. My plan was to buy icing and food coloring and attempt to turn these three cakes into one giant lego (because legos are Mitchell's obsession). I think my plan would have worked wonderfully (at least in my head, it did) had it not been for the commissary being closed on Monday......no commissary, no cake decorating! A quick trip to LotteMart proved does not have food coloring, as far as I can tell, but they do have some very interesting snacks in the form of corn dogs covered in French Fries. Anyway, back to the story......I had to improvise. I did find some vanilla frosting at the shoppette and one box of toy story legos on clearance at the PX. Combine that with a few jolly ranchers and WaaaaLaaaaaa (I've never tried to spell that before)......we have what is probably the ugliest lego cake to date. But hey, Mitchell loved it anyway.
French Fried Corn Dogs
When the big day rolled around on Tuesday, Mitchell could hardly stand it. Dave and I had blown up balloons and put them all over his floor and hung birthday streamers from his doorway. I had even printed pictures of lego yoda and obi wan wishing him happy birthday and put them on the walls, along with notes everywhere. I really wanted this day to be extra special since we were not going to be having his usual party with lots of friends. He was able to Skype with Papa, Granddaddy Jerry, Nana, Uncle Gary, Aunt Donnie, Aunt Barbara, and even Roscoe and Joansie. Meanwhile, it started to SNOW (it did melt by the afternoon, but it sure was fun to watch)! It was snowing the largest flakes I had ever seen. So at 7:30 in the morning, the kids jumped in their warmest coats (which isn't much since our heavy jackets got lost in the mail) and ran down to the playground to play on the snow covered slide. 10 minutes later they were hanging their wet clothes up to dry! After what was probably the longest wait in the history of man, according to Mitchell, he got to open his presents and I headed off to get the chicken! Yes, chicken! Mitchell fell in love with the chicken wings that we had last week at KyoChon and had requested them for his birthday dinner. At first we tried to call for take out, but no one spoke English and I headed out to catch a cab. Guess what..... NO CABS! I ended up walking down to New City in the cold to get my son chicken wings! Imagine me jumping up and down trying to point to the sign so I communicate what I wanted to order. I did manage to catch a cab home, arriving 45 minutes after I left and just in time to eat and get the cake out for our guests. Mitchell's new friends Raymond and Thomas, along with their parents and younger brother, came over to help up eat cake and ice cream. They were so nice. They bought Mitchell a gift and haven't even known him for a whole month, yet. Dave and I really enjoyed the adult company and we all ended up sitting around and talking for a couple of hours while the kiddos played.
Birthday Breakfast!
Skyping with Uncle Gary
Skyping with Granddaddy, Papa, and Mrs. Jan
in Dave's shirt, taken one every year since he was born
Birthday Supper
Friends for Cake & Ice Cream
Thomas, Raymond, and the "Birthday Boy"
Yep, riding a stool on the escalator!
On Thursday, I became an official Korean Driver. If you have ever driven in Korea, you know that to be a very frightening statement. I went and took my driver's test, which consisted of 45 multiple choice questions, a vision screening and a very odd driving test. The driving test did not take place in actual car, mind you! It took place at a machine that stepped out of the 1950s that was army green with a small green light next to a red one and two pedals on the floor. I had to hold the gas pedal down and when the red light came on I had to hit the brake. The Korean man administering the test was controlling the little light and he kept saying "Are you ready? Are you ready? Go!" and then he hit the button. I only had to hit the brakes one time and I passed the test! He said, "Very good, very good." When they gave me my license, they reminded me to drive safe and if I get in an accident I need to call my husband.
Boy, was it a busy weekend! Friday began with school, as usual, laundry, a trip to the library, and a quick stop at the PX to grab a few last minute things for Darci's birthday. We went to pick Dave up from work and headed out for something to eat. Tonight was Italian! We ate at an Italian restaurant called Eat'aly. It seems very odd going to a place like that in Korea, but the food was delicious! I took lots of pictures, of course! Dave and the kids think I'm crazy because I am snapping pictures all of the time, but I just remind them that they will thank me one day for the memories. The pics from the restaurant are below. Dave had lasagna. Darci had buttered noodles. I ate spaghetti, shrimp, and mushrooms in a cream sauce, but Mitchell was the adventurous one. He actually ate a gorgonzola and mozzarella pizza with walnuts and honey! Everything and I mean Everything was wonderful! The oddest thing was the traditional bread was brought out with sweet pickles, a ramekin of olive oil/balsamic vinegar, and a small packet of strawberry jelly. Each of us ate a little of each other's and had wonderful family dinner, especially when Darci announced in a not-so-discreet voice that she was going to change her underwear when we got home! (just for clarification: she had spilled water in her lap and her underwear was wet)
picture of menu
bread, pickles, strawberry jam, olive oil
sharpies...
Dave made this one
Our Egg Collection
WOW!! Saturday came in a flash. We woke the kids up and told them over breakfast that we were headed to Seoul for the weekend. This was the first time in my life that that I ever threw stuff into a backpack and left. I am a planner and this went against every fiber of my being. With backpacks in hand, we walked to the train station and started our trip. The train left Dongducheon at about 9:40 am. After many, many stops we arrived at the zoo at about 11:00. The trip was not bad UNTIL we got to Seoul Station, in which, we found ourselves packed into the subway like sardines. The picture of Darci smushed up against some strange man's back says it ALL! I have never been to NYC and ridden the subway. For those of you out there who have, is it this crowded on the subway? As we were waiting for a transfer, I also noticed an odd glass case filled with bags. Upon further inspection, I realized it was a case full of gas masks for people trapped in the subway during an attack.
walking to Jihaeng station
look at us... waiting for the train
handsome man
view from train
so stylish
handsome boy
passing the time
GAS MASKS!
Sardines, anyone?
It was such a relief to finally get off the subway at Seoul Grand Park. After exiting the subway, you realize you are way outside of the main city and the only thing around you are mountains and the park. The zoo and an amusement park are there. I believe there are other things there, as well. Just walking out of the subway, we were met with lots and lots of vendors. Here we snacked on chicken on a stick, potatoes on a stick, sugared doughnuts, and bugs. Dave tried the bugs! We also found KFC, where we had lunch. It is NOT the same finger lickin good!
chicken on a stick
potatoes on a stick
Bugs Bugs Bugs
Hallelujah or so I thought!
grilled squid... we did NOT try this!
After all of the standing we had been doing on the subway, the 1.7 km walk to the main entrance of the zoo would have been INSANE, so we decided to take the sky lift to the entrance. It was cold, but so much fun! We saw so many interesting and wonderful things. A few of the pictures are below. We only saw a portion of what the zoo had to offer because of its size. Some of the best moments included a greenhouse, a mask exhibit, a crocodile slide where the kids went in through the butt, a snack of steak flavored cheetos, and the baby animal nursery. After making the 1.8km (over 1 mile) hike uphill to the back of the zoo, we were spent and decided to take the other sky lift back down. We will have to go back another time to see the other half of the zoo.
whooaa!
creepy
Darci's favorite
how you spell giraffe in Hangul
some fish found in Korea
into the butt we go
enjoying the stroll
steak flavored cheetos....there are no words!
the soap dispenser in the bathroom
Lion cubs
Tiger cub born May 2011
We saw the lions....from the air!
let's go to the hotel
The trip back to the hotel was long. Along the way, I took these......
DELICIOUS... warm custard filled miniature cakes
in traffic
a new car dealership
prosthetics on display
After some much needed sleep, we headed out for LotteWorld. It is evident that the creators of this theme park spent A LOT of time at a certain theme park in Orlando. You will see what I mean! The complex consists of a HUGE underground Mall, a skating rink, an indoor theme park, and an outdoor theme park! We even found a few favorites from back in the good ole U.S.A.
3D Art
the hot air balloon ride
parade dancers
parade dancer
parade dancers
Darci and her mask
their snow white has WHITE hair
Yes! Peanut Buttered Roast Squid
not Jelly Bellies but Weeny Beenies
a motorized unicycle... I think!
I have a ton of pictures. I am beat, so I will leave you with that. I hope it makes sense to you and there aren't too many spelling mistakes! I need to rest. Next weeks blog.... Darci's birthday and the palace!
Annyonghi geyseyo!
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