Week of Aug 24

Wed. the 26th I went shopping with Colleen. We went to Insadong and I bought another brush for my display. While we were there Ina called and said she would go with us to Namdaemun. We ate at Spaghetteria, it was ok.

Thurs. I met Ina and Colleen at Naebong where they live and we taxied to Namdaemun. Found the embroidered boxes I wanted as a souvenior. Ended up getting them, they are making them and will deliver Sept. 4. Can't wait until they get here. We ate at the OKitchen in Itaewon. Was a fun day. Mike and I went to the gym when he got home.

Friday - went to Oakwood's ladies coffee. Afterwards 5 of us went to Garak market. We bought fresh veggies and fruit. It is definitely and interesting place to go. Some of the things you have to buy large quanities, since they sell to the restaurants here. Amiee and Meeta are buying fish at the market there. Most of them are alive until you buy. We got a little wet from the fish flopping around in the low water they were in. You have to be willing to walk in the smelly water there.

Sunday - we had a picnic by the river. There were about 14 from Oakwood who went. We left at 3pm. Had food, some of the guys played soccer and visited. Had a good time and got to know some of the spouses. Garrick and Alan are playing football.

Week of Aug 17, 2008

Sunday morning we got up early and met the Rantas at Butterfinger Pancake. Attached are a few of the menu items. The Koreans tell it like it is. It was delicious. After breakfast we all came back to Oakwood and played Sequence and watched the Olympics. We saw Phelps win his 8th medal. Then it was time for lunch. We ate at On the Border. It was good too. Then went shopping. Mike got the cords he needs for hocking the ipod up to the tv so we can watch tv shows and movies on the tv. The Rantas have rented movies and said it was good.



The menu items didn't transfer from the phone so here they are:



Morning After

Big Fat Jay's Special

The Big Fat Special



The Koreans say it like it is.





Monday was gym day and shopping. Swam in the morning and then got ready for grocery shopping. Got good snacks on the whole, but did get a few cookies at costco. Forgot my peaches in the van, and when they first called me said I got my fruit, then realized I also bought peaches. So had to call back and tell them the peaches were mine. When Mike got home we went to the gym and he hit golf balls and then treadmill. I did the treadmill and bike and a few of the machines. Then for dinner we went to Pho Hoa (a Vietnamese noodle restaurant) Afterwards I wanted a flaked ice dessert, so we went and had one at Paris Baguette. Not as good as the ones at Paris Croissant. The ones tonight had marshmallows in it.



Tuesday - my ear was bothering me, so went to the clinic at Mike's work. Found out I had an outer ear infection. The dr told me to be sure and rest, with infection I should be tired. Definitely listened to that and came home and napped til Mike got home. Of course on the way home I stopped at Paris Croissant and had a flaked ice dessert and I ate it all by myself. Mike also sent an email on favorite Korean restaurant http://kr.youtube.com/rekordronny It is really scary and not for those with quesy stomachs. Unfortunately it has backfired, his Korean coworkers that he sent the link to want to take us to the restaurant. They enjoy it and say it is really good. Since I was to take it easy, we went out to dinner at Trombola (an Italian restaurant) It was good and we enjoyed it. I even ate the mushroom soup, which was ok. I went to bed early, missing the Olympic coverage.



Wed.- I slept in and watched the Olympics. Did go shopping and found shoes for our weekend rafting trip. I had left my water shoes at home and we need them for rafting. Thought I would have to by men's shoes, but they had crocs in big sizes - went up to size 10 for women. So I am set for rafting. We ate at Oakwood's new refurbished restaurant. It was good, but the mushroom soup wasn't as good as Trombola.



Thurs. - Liza, Colleen, and Ina came to Oakwood to eat lunch. We went to On the Border. Had a good lunch and visit. Caught up on what has been happening with everyone. Afterwards we went to Starbucks for coffee. I had water. Cooking dinner tonight. We will have pork ribs and veggies. Mike went to exercise while I cooked dinner.

Friday - We went out to dinner and I had a lazy day of resting.

Sat. - We got up early to go rafting. Made it in time for the bus and left to the Handang river. It was lots of fun, but the itinerary was changed. Since it rained Friday, the river was up and no bungee jumping and we went to a few sites since rafting was postponed and instead of a two - three hour trip we had an hour trip. The river was about 2 meters higher than normal. After our trip we went to dinner with the Rantas at Tony Romas. Inhaled our food and had a good time.

Sun. - Rested after the trip and was lazy all day. I did get some laundry done. It was also Bryan's bd, so I emailed him a bd wish. Hope he had a good one.

Monday I went to lunch and met Debra at Chosun Deli. She had already eaten, but I sat with her and we visited while I ate. Mike got home and we went to the gym. After our workout I cooked dineer. We had leftovers of the pork and had bbq pork sandwiches.

Aug 8 - 16, 2008

Friday night was happy hour at Oakwood. We went down and played some pool, had sodas, and ate the snacks. Afterwards we watched the Olympics opening ceremony on the big screen in the lounge. Since it was in Korean, the staff interrupted some of it for us. Was interesting to hear things, but having no idea what they were saying.

Sat. we watched the opening ceremony on the armed forces network, so it was in english. Finally new what really was happening.

Sunday had invited the Rantas(Colleen and Tim) to go on an Oakwood outing to a show called Jump. It is a non-verbal show based on Taekwondo. It was a good show and we enjoyed it. They picked Tim out of the audience to have a part in the show. He did a wonderful job. We ate at On The Border before we went to the show. After the show the bus stopped at the Cheonggyecheon stream and saw the burial stones for an emperors mistress. The emperors son removed them and used them for a bridge. (The picture above and below shows some of the stones) Then we ate at a Korean restaurant and had ginsing chicken soup.

On Monday Mike was to take the secretaries to lunch. But one went on vacation, and the other had plans he didn't find out about until later. But he invited me to go along, so three of us (Mike, Alisha, and me) went to Pho Hoa (Vietnamese Restaurant) It was good, but way too much food. Afterwards we stopped at Paris Croissant and had something called Flaked Ice with red beans and fruit. Wasn't sure how I would like the beans (since I am not a vegetable eater), but it was great.

Tuesday was lunch to say goodbye to some at Oakwood and welcome to some others. We ate at Marco Polo a restaurant on the 52nd floor in the coex. It was great, we had a private room and had a great view. We could see the learning courses for buses and taxis. There were even some driving on the course while we watched from above.

Wed was flower decorating class. I swam before the class, for my first day of exercise for the week. We made an arrangement, and the teacher told us where to get more flowers to make another and how much each bunch should cost - anywhere from 1 - 2.50 US dollars. We will see if I make another or not. I think the teacher has gotten use to us westerners. We do are own thing and don't follow directions very well. She usually tells me I didn't do it right - it is bad, but this time she said fine. But she did say it was european design, so probably more leaway in doing it. Oriental is very exact I have found out.

Thursday Mike went fishing with his work group after lunch and got home after midnight. So he had a long day. They had sushi on the boat for a snack and cooked the rest of the catch when they got back to shore for dinner. Had fish head and their insides made into a soup. Not sure anyone ate that. Mike didn't, at least he said he didn't. I spent the day with Colleen and we went shopping and then played Sequence until Tim came home. I was lucky and beat her. We played two games with Tim and Colleen won one and Tim the other. After that we went to Tony Romas and had their ribs. They were delicious.

Friday was Korean Independence Day. So no work for Mike. But he got a call from Paul who is his boss and works for Borealis. (Mike is working for Borouge the other partner in the joint venture). He wanted to take us to dinner. I suggested Marco Polo since he hasn't seen much of Korea. It was lovely and they had fire works on the water which we watched during our meal. We got back from dinner around 11 pm. We watched some Olympics on the AFN (armed forces network) then went to bed.

Sat. I got up for the hotel's Korean class, only to find out it was canceled. But they didn't tell me. So we went to the gym and swam. Mike walked and kicked in the pool, while I swam. Then for a treat we went to Paris Croissant and split a flaked ice with just fruit, no red beans. Was really good. I cooked dinner and we watched the Olympics. We see a lot of other sports that you don't see much of in the states. I have seen archery, table tennis, judo, weight lifting, badminton and anything else the Koreans are playing in. It is interesting because I recognize words like smash and swish. You can tell when they are excited, but most of the time have no clue why.

That is all for this week. Tomorrow we are meeting the Rantas at Butterfinger Pancake for an american breakfast and then they will come here and we will play some games.

Aug 3 - Aug 9

Slow week.

Monday went shopping with the hotel. Stopped at the flower mart on the way. Purchased some cut flowers and an orchid. Not the greatest at flower arranging, but makes the room feel a little homier. Also went to costco and got Mike a classic Ipod for his birthday. Now he can listen to music on the subway ride to and from work. It holds 80 G which I don't think he can fill, but we will see. Decided he didn't need the 160G. I also went swimming in the morning before shopping so did some exercise.

Tuesday Colleen and I went to Ipark. It is an electronic mart. Colleen had previously purchased a cover for her ipod touch that I liked, so we went to that vendor and I bought a cover for my touch and Mike's classic. We went to Itaewon to eat lunch. As we were leaving the subway we noticed all the riot police, but went in the front door to Hard Rock Cafe as the police were next to the side door. Remembered that President Bush was in Korea that day. We did go to a foreign market and bought frozen green beans. They aren't easy to find here.

Wed tried to go to the gym, but no luck. It is closed the first Wednesday of the month. I forgot, but didn't get all the way there. A fellow hotel guest told me as she was exiting the elevator that it was closed. So I just walked the coex.

Thursday I went swimming again at the gym. After rinsing off in the pool shower, found my goggles were gone. So now I have to get another pair. I was really surprised, because the Korean's rarely take things that aren't theirs. Guess some parent thought they were their childs.

Friday we went to Happy Hour at the hotel. Played several rounds of pool. With another couple played a few rounds of 9 ball. I am getting better, but have a long way to go. Afterwards we watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Was different seeing it and hearing it in Korean. The staff did interrupt some of it for us. Watched it Sat. and it made mor sense. Found out how the countries came in, by strokes since China has no alphabet. And why they kept showing the shoes. Didn't realize the athletes were making the prints on the fabric. It was really amazing though.

Well better get moving today so the cleaning staff can clean for me.

Mike's birthday

Thursday morning Colleen and I went to Sinsa and walked around. Then went to express bus terminal where I got my book for the book club meeting in Sept, a korean/english dictionary, and a book for enjoyment.

Colleen and Time were meeting us for dinner. We went to On The Border. They gave us free guacamole and sang to Mike. They didn't understand when he said he was 29. Thought they misunderstood him. I said he has been saying that for 28 years, but that went over their heads. The Ranta's treated us to dinner, which we enjoyed. Thank you both soooo much.

We went back to our apartment for dessert. The hotel gave us a green tea cake. I didn't even try it. But I had stopped at Hyundai department store and picked up 4 slices of different cakes. We tried them. They were good.

Friday I swam for an hour. Then came home and did some ironing and cleaning. When Mike got home we went to happy hour and played pool. The hotel had fried bananas, spicy chicken wings, pizza, and french fries for snacks. I won the 9 ball pool game. I won three games by hitting in the nine ball. It was mostly luck I have to admit.

Saturday I went to the hotel's Korean class. They had a new teacher, I didn't like her as much as the old one. Will have to get use to her. But she will only be teaching for 4 classes. How she writes the korean in english alphabet is different than the other teacher. It makes it harder to learn korean when it is shown in english alphabet different ways. But maybe I will pick up some more. Afterwards Mike and I went to the TechnoMart in Gangbyeon. It is like a lot of Korean marts where different vendors rent out the spaces in a department store setting. They didn't have anything we really wanted, but was interesting to see it.

We ate at Chosun deli for lunch and I cooked supper here. I do cook some.

That is all for this week. Tomorrow I will try to do some more knitting and read the book club book Eat, Pray, Love. I am a beginner knitter trying to make and afghan with specialty yarns, will see how I do. So far I have done more ripping out than knitting. Time will tell if it will turn out.

That's all for now.