These are apartment buildings near Jess and Drew's. I was fascinated by the apartment buildings in the Korean cities...they are one apartment wide and 15-20 stories high...and there are hundreds of them grouped together all over the cities (very few single family houses).... below is a view of Songtan (a city near the Air Force Base at Osan) taken from a bridge on our way to the base...
This picture was taken from the other side of the same bridge...the white buildings in the distance are apartment buildings in Osan City...in the foreground are rice fields (brown in the winter; green in the summer)...near the fields were the only single family houses that I remember seeing...
This is the fabulous fabric store where I thought I had gone to fabric heaven...I bought stacks of precut 2 yard pieces and then...
...the man pulled out these two boxes of "scraps" and samples and said, "Free!" I fell to my knees in fabric worship..."rich American lady" scrounging free fabric scraps in Korea...but look what I made from those little scraps...
This is my friend, Delores with the tote bag I made from 2 1/2 inch squares of free fabric using a pattern in a book Jessica got for her birthday from Rachel. And speaking of Jessica's birthday (the day after I arrived...here she is at her birthday dinner a a Korean Bulgogi (sp?) House...uumm it was delicious!
...then we went home for dessert and a Happy Birthday song...
and Jess reminded me that I no longer have any children in their twenties (I'm feeling my age). The day before Valentine's Day Jess took me to Seoul to the flower market...WOW!!
This was all on the ground floor of a huge warehouse building...upstairs they sold all the supplies florists need to make beautiful arrangements...vases, baskets, ribbon, flower paper, etc.
Next we went to the Korean Folk Village (it was going to rain on the day we had planned to go, so we changed plans) the day we went was VERY cold and started to rain so we didn't stay as long as we might have...but we did get to see the outdoor performances...
These are preschool children watching the traditional dancers. The ribbons are attached to the dancers hats so they have to keep moving their heads to keep the ribbons spinning...the preschool children were almost a fascinated by Kami and her blonde hair as they were by the performers. Everywhere we went the Korean people were intrigued by Kami...Jessica noticed the LDS (Mormon) Missionaries playing...
...there were 6 of the Elders there on "P-day" (their prep day); one of the Elders was from West Jordan, UT (near where we live) and one of the Elders had been in Jess and Drew's Branch and had been transferred before AJ was born, so they had a reunion......then we went to the next arena and saw the Korean girls perform...
...next, the tight rope walker...
...and then, the equestrian show...
Here is a different group of preschoolers...notice their backpacks...each school had different backpacks with the child's name; the school name and a phone # (good idea!). At the end of the equestrian show there was a Korean man who was giving some of the older children rides around the back of the performance area...Drew asked Kami if she wanted a ride and she enthusiasticaly said, "Yes!...but...I can't stand up and I can't go upside down..." ....the man was very nice and gave her a gentle ride...
Next we walked through a traditional village and saw houses with thatched roofs and fences made of twigs and there were Korean grandmas acting as tour guides (no English)...this lady was trying to teach Kami to make a sign with her fingers
(not sure what...)...
...next, the tight rope walker......and then, the equestrian show...Here is a different group of preschoolers...notice their backpacks...each school had different backpacks with the child's name; the school name and a phone # (good idea!). At the end of the equestrian show there was a Korean man who was giving some of the older children rides around the back of the performance area...Drew asked Kami if she wanted a ride and she enthusiasticaly said, "Yes!...but...I can't stand up and I can't go upside down..." ....the man was very nice and gave her a gentle ride...Next we walked through a traditional village and saw houses with thatched roofs and fences made of twigs and there were Korean grandmas acting as tour guides (no English)...this lady was trying to teach Kami to make a sign with her fingers (not sure what...)...These are Kim Chee crocks....you see these for sale everywhere...
...these are what they cure the Kim Chee in...something like saurkraut (I tried a tiny spoonful and decided I had done my duty as a tourist...I liked it about as much as I liked poi in Hawaii).
This is one of the museums at the Folk Village...we didn't get to go to that part of the village, but I think this is a beautiful photo that Jess took for me.
...these are what they cure the Kim Chee in...something like saurkraut (I tried a tiny spoonful and decided I had done my duty as a tourist...I liked it about as much as I liked poi in Hawaii).This is one of the museums at the Folk Village...we didn't get to go to that part of the village, but I think this is a beautiful photo that Jess took for me.Last, but not least, this is the open market that is held on every day that has a 4 or a 9 in the date....you can buy eveything here...I got socks for 2000 won (about $1.80). Some vendors sit on the ground and others have the canopies...fish, vegetables and shoes are right next to each other...this market was several blocks long.
Well, that's all folks!....hope you enjoyed the tour....I was glad I went, but I wouldn't want to live there...I know Jess and Drew will be glad to get back the the USA and I will miss them VERY much until they do....
That's all folks...end of the tour.
Just so you will all know who belongs to who in the following posts, I'll list the families that were there with us: The Hashey's; Mindy, Billy, Carl, Alishia and Emily. The Crandall's; Cort and Kristen. The Crandall's; Curtis, Annie, Brooklyn, Hunter, Madison and Olivia. The Hall's; Jared, Amy (Crandall), Myalyn, Benjamin and Jackson. The Ennis's; Nancy, Josh and Vanessa. Spencer was in Kuwait. I'm not sure I posted pictures of everyone, but for those that live far away I hope this helps sort out the babies that have been born since we were last together...Enjoy...
