Autumn in Seoul

Beijing....

We spent the weekend in Beijing... fascinating. The oppression is so evident. The poverty of a people that want to be free lurks on every street corner. They are trapped in their current state with little opportunity to pursue their dreams. It was heartbreaking to see. We had several opportunities to spend time with people who spoke English, which allowed us a little glimpse into their culture. It is one in which often they live in fear... if one doesn't comply, they just might 'disappear'... and nobody seems to know what exactly that means.

The sights... the history... unbelievable. The architectural scale rivals that of Rome. The grandeur and gold-plated richness that oozes from the Forbidden City, the Ming Tombs, Tien'anmen Square, the Temple of Heaven... while the common people were starving. It's a stark contrast, even today, to see the wealth and power that an elect few posses while the vast majority are barely scraping by. For example, today a surgeon will be living in the dingy, bug-infested basement bunk room of the hospital... and on average everyone makes about $400 each month. We visited four factories (ones that the governemtn wanted us to see) and the working conditions were awful. We can only imagine what the factories are like that they DON'T show you.

The city is scrambling to get ready for this event where the entire world's eyes will be on Beijing. The Olympic Village is incredible. They are planting trees and flowers, erecting thousands of buildings, and have impressive architecture for the Olympic events. Within the last year, they have worked really hard to beautify their city and make it more friendly to visitors.

The Great Wall is 62,ooo miles long... now, for reference, driving from Denver to Phoenix is a mere 1,ooo miles..............

At the Silk Market, the girls you bargain with are hillarious. When you offer them a price for something, you hear "You're joking! You trying to cheat me?!! You have a kicking body! What's your 'a little more' finished price?"... they're fun.

Amazing trip. The history is fascinating, the people are friendly and a lot of fun to interact with.It makes you take a step back and realize again and again how blessed we are to live in a country in which freedom and opportunity reign.

Beijing Photos

The mod urban flat.........

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 

the W seoul... i'm moving in.

The summer is coming to a close and it has been a whirlwind looking back and seeing everything we have done! We're getting settled in, have met some great friends, and are enjoying our lives here... Here are some pics!

a sunset our our 28th story window...














there are people everywhere... even at the top of a mountain, there's a line.

my colleagues sleep at work.... not my style.... just one of the many cultural differences in the professional world here.






















newlyweds.


















happy newlyweds. we found a really great italian restaurant.

Endless Shopping...

Seriously, it's outta control! Subways stations are lined with fashion, street vendors cook all sorts of questionable items, and you can get your nails done anywhere... and I mean anywhere. Each district has its own flair of how it defines fashion, but to be sure, there is never a lack of something to purchase. This country is built on an underlying consumerism with the philosophy, 'use it for a while then buy a new one'. The idea of maintaining a building or keeping a car clean and taken care of is a novel thought here. You simply buy a new one. But I must say, the clothing and accessories here are fantastic... and inexpensive! You can get a custom tailor-made piece of clothing for a small price; all you have to do is bring in an image from a magazine of a dress, tell them your measurements and voila, you have a fantastic new find! Also, there are no copyright laws here, so you can only imagine the knockoffs...

First Impressions....

South Korea.
Seoul.

Who would have guessed we would be living here? You never really know what is beyond the next bend in the road... and here I find myself married and honestly, I couldn't ask for a better husband! It's been an adventure trying to navigate our ways through the throngs of traffic as everyone shoves their way through the city, rushing to get somewhere. They drive on the right side of the road, and walk on the left... not quite sure what went wrong with that logic, but I find myself always walking the wrong direction! The subway is clean and efficient... and sometimes smells of kimchi. You can find authentic cuisine from all over the world, and Korean food, if you know what to order, is spicy and quite good. Walking down the street in Seoul, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, a myriad of smells will both enchant and assault your nose. From flavorful blends of simmering vegetables one second to other scents that I don't yet recognize... it's been an intriguing place to discover a culture vastly different from our own. We have really enjoyed the realtors that have showed us innumerable apartments. They have been very informative about Korean culture and thought as well as charmed us with their gentle spirits and witty senses of humor. We are looking forward to having a house-warming party once we get settled in and inviting them. We have one friend, Abigail... we're our own crew of 3, wandering the places most tourists would never look to find... and any time we see a Starbucks, we... well, Abby and I get excited.

I'm not gonna lie, I can't wait until we have a place to settle in, a place to rest. It's exhausting being in a new culture and straining to understand everywhere you go, trying to figure out how things are done here... but at the same time, we have great conversations and enjoy the challenge. It makes you appreciate home and how our country (and traffic) function. I've learned much about myself and find new compassion for people so very different from myself. It's been a rad adventure thus far...

After living out of a suitcase for two months, you realize how little you really need to be happy. I find myself quite happy here, sans missing family and friends.


These pictures are just a small scattering of beauty that has caught my eye...

Hawaii

What can you say?
I mean, it's Hawaii... it was such a fun time to relax and soak up the sunshine!