Overheard: Caillou's a Dud

While playing computer games this afternoon (pbskids.org, check it out) after Frankie had advanced a level the computer Caillou said "Good job!  Now let's try something more challenging so you don't get bored."

"Ugh!" Frankie groaned, "Why does he keep saying that?"

"Because he knows he's boring." Asher replied.

서울보광초등학교

Jensie's new playground.  It doesn't look like much, but there were a few games of soccer, dodgeball, jump rope, tag, and tug-of-war going on when I snapped this pic.  I like it.  In a city as cramped and crowded as Seoul some open space to run and laugh is exactly what every kid needs.

We pulled Jensie out of the American school on post and enrolled her in a local Korean public school.  She was not happy, not one bit.  We knew she wouldn't be, but we did it anyway. Why?  Because it's good for her and mother knows best.  That, and an angel did not appear in my bedroom to stop me the morning I went to transfer her.

Here's the thing, I believe in prayers and I like to think God answers them.  For months we've been talking about, thinking about, and praying about where our children should attend school while we're here. Usually I think that if an idea keeps coming back to you it's because it's a good one.  But along with the idea came a lot of anxiety which made me think maybe it was exactly what we weren't supposed to do.

I couldn't decide whether I was worried because it was a terrible idea, or because good things can be hard and my decision was going to seriously stress poor Jensie to the max. On my way out the door I actually knelt down and said a prayer that went something like this:

Dear Lord, I am sorry if these anxious feelings have been a sign from you.  I'm too dense to read them clearly.  I'm about to do something big, Lord, so if you want to stop me, could you send a sign a little more obvious?  Like have a big booming voice yell "STOP" right now?  Thanks.

I've never asked for a favor like that so I sat around to give the angels a few minutes.  Since you already know Jensie's in Korean school I guess you know what happened next. Hint: nothing. Maybe God just doesn't work that way, but whatevs.  What's done is done.

Jensie started yesterday--so far so good.  When I picked her up and asked her how her day was she said "Fine!" and then, remembering she'd promised to hate it, added "I mean, terrible."

Here are a few lucky things:

She already has lots of friends.  They stare at each other and say "annyeong" a lot.

Kids are allowed to fold origami at their desks while the teacher is talking.  I think that is a brilliant way to keep little hands busy during quiet time.  Weeks ago, when this transfer was just a nervous thought in the back of my mind, Jensie got an urge to learn origami and has practiced for hours an hours.  She knew how to fold dogs and her friends knew how to fold baskets and they traded their shapes and now they're even better stare-at-each-other-because-we-don't-speak-the-same-languate-but-there's-always-origami friends!  Isn't that great? Maybe that is my sign.

School is only four hours long and ends right after lunch.  Korean kids go to Hogwans, private lessons/tutoring/sports, for a few hours every afternoon.  Jensie will go to Korean lessons but right now the teacher is on vacation so she gets a couple of weeks of half-days.

Here are some unlucky things:

Jensie hates kimchi and has a hard time with those slick Korean chopsticks (Chinese chopsticks are no problemo).  Kids aren't allowed to bring lunches from home though--Koreans are big on uniformity, so she will have to suck it up and either learn to like kimchi or just eat lots and lots of rice. Not to mention, learn to use the darn chopsticks.  We picked some up at the dollar store today so she can practice.

Koreans go to school on Saturdays.

No American holidays means she can kiss Christmas vacation goodbye!

When I walked Jensie to her class yesterday she was brushing away tears as we stepped through the door.  I gave her a hug and told her to be brave.  I promised her two things:

1- It is going to be hard
2- You are going to live through it

Isn't that just the way it always goes?  Nate says she'll appreciate it when she's 25.  I think it's gonna be a lot sooner than that.  And those icky apprehensive feelings?  Gone, I tell you. Vanished.  Asher and Frankie are soon to follow suit.

Three cheers for making good scary choices.

Hip hip hurray!

Hip hip hurray!

Hip hip HURRAY!

PS. I can read the title of this post!

Nat's Around

and I love this picture

Halloween Spirits and a Little Christmas Cheer

We bought a Christmas tree a few days ago because we heard once they're in stock here they sell out quick.  The kids asked if we could set it up right away, but I said no.  And then since I couldn't think of any real reason not to, I changed my mind and said yes.  They did all the decorating themselves, it doesn't even have lights yet.  When Natalie came home from school she was like "You do know it's October right?"  I wanted to take a picture of everyone in their Halloween costumes and Jensie suggested they pose in front of the Christmas tree.  Of course.  It kind of cracks me up, so I made a Halloween "Christmas" card.  Get it?  Get it?

Yongin Forest

We had our first successful camping trip over Columbus Day weekend.  As in, all three kids slept through the night.  Whoo!  We'll be spending many many more weekends there.  Another first?  We brought home bags full of fresh fallen chestnuts and roasted them for FHE.  Just like the olden days. 

Well, two out of three ain't bad.

Asher hit a tree with his face.

She doesn't want her picture taken, but she sooooooo wants her picture taken.

Cool mountain morning,  Candyland hike

Nothing beats my camping bangs.  

Planting a "Lollipop Tree" 

First Day of Kindergarten (Sept. 6)

Sonny off to school each day is truly bitter-sweet.  He loves it.  I miss him.

A Picture Emily's Never Seen Before

Gyeongbokgung Palace

 

 

(and getting a little lost on the way home.)

Kimchi-ed Crab Bodies

I did not have the guts to try them but Nate says they're  weird. Like spicy not-quite-rotten crab jelly.  Yum!

Bangs on a Train

 

Why Every Kid Needs an iPhone

Gather Them Close

Today we skipped school to have an adventure.

First stop beef bowls at "The Triangle Place" a favorite little restaurant just out the back gate.  Frankie's a chopsticks wiz-kid and the other two got jealous.  This morning everyone finally got it.    Yes! (School, who needs it?)

Next up was "Toy Alley" and home again to paint new paper masks, then on to Hapkido, naps in the taxi, Kebabs in Itaewon, and enough time for stories before bed.

Bonus: Found a "Magic Flower" candle tucked away in a dusty little shop.  Can't wait to see it in action at Frankie's birthday next month.

Kimchi, It's What's for Lunch.

Korean food is really a) delicious, b) healthy, c) inexpensive. We eat it everyday.

 She likes it, she likes it!

 Top row (left to right): Spinach kimchi, rice noodles, cabbage kimchi, sea weed, fish-flavored tofu.

Middle row: Bulgogi (marinated beef and peppers), fried eggs, more kimchi, something hella spicy--I think it's red pepper kimchi.

Bottom row: rice and two spicy potato soups.

 Surprise!  There's a fish in your cabbage.

Seaweed "chips" for dessert.

Blogging Can Be Fun!

I was real sick and tired of this blog.  So tired in fact that I decided to shut 'er down, just as soon as I'd bound it all up in a blog book.  Then a funny thing happened.  I was sorting through old posts to decide what should make the cut and  remembered blogging can be fun!  I think I'll keep at it.  At least a little longer.

If you're waiting for new pictures.  Stop.  I haven't taken them.  Or, I have but I've already posted them on Facebook.  Either way, you won't find them here.  Maybe we should be FB friends!

Actually, I do have one.

Super Girl has a new house

Our new house is rad.  4 beds/3 baths and the biggest kitchen in Seoul.  Ok.  It's just the biggest kitchen until you get our next door neighbor's identical kitchen. Still.

I love this place.  And by that I mean Seoul, but let's just talk about our apartment for now.  It is totally Asian--wood trim, weird light fixtures, and pink tile everywhere.  Not to mention the fanciest ugliest green couch around. More on the couch to come, I'm sure.

We got lucky enough to be on the light side of the building so things are sunny all the time--just the way I like it. The walls are white-washed cement and nearly impossible to keep clean.  The Bigler Wall of Fame is coming back full force.  I think I might go ahead and cover every square inch of this place with photos.  I'd like that.

We're right in the heart of Hannam and only minutes away from the Han.  Google it.

Nate and I have been running every morning.  So far as I can tell Koreans aren't really big on early morning exercise so usually it's just me, my man, and a great big shiny river with pink clouds on the horizon.  One morning someone was flying a red kite about a million miles high.  I was on top of the world.

I know about ten words in Korean.  Here they are (spelled phoenetically by me):
*Annyeong Haseyo- Hi there!
*Kamsamnida- Thank you
*Juseyo- Please
*Mul- Water
*Duc- Rice
*Samjang- Red bean paste
*So- Cow
*Yumso- Goat
*Ori- Duck
*Neh- Yes
*Aniyo- No
*Oma- Mama
*Appa- Daddy
*Ajima- Granny
*Erin Im Nee Da- My name is Erin

I just asked Nate "What words do we know in Korean?"

He said "....im nee da."

I said "I already put that."

He said "that's about it."

It's not going to be nearly as easy to learn Korean here as we'd hoped.  It's not that we thought Korean would be easy.  We just thought we'd be fully immersed in it.  We were wrong.  Living in military housing means that we enjoy our own mini-America.  So we will just have to work a little harder to get to know the real Seoul.  We're up for it.

Now let me tell you about how great everything else is!

Nate loves his job.  Loves it.  Isn't that the best?

Natalie is about to turn 18 and got a motorcyle for her birthday.  She can take her Korean driver's license test  in about 2 weeks but we got her bike a little early so she could practice riding in the parking lot.  Good things come to those who babysit!

Jensie's class only has 9 students.  N-I-N-E, can you believe it?  She is a third grade champ.  I'm pretty sure she is the world's best writer, with the world's worst penmanship.  Her teacher says she doesn't care about penmanship, so now, I don't care either.

Asher's Kindergarten teacher is an angel. Seriously.  God sent her to Earth just to teach my son. Their first field trip is only a few weeks away (it's not like we're counting).  They're going to a Korean sweet potato farm.  Nate signed up to chaperone so he could learn a few tricks of the trade.

Frankie is a little girl trying to learn to be a big girl.  She hates walking around this great big city.  She asks everyday if we can buy another car.  When we arrive at our destination, after thousands of tearful baby steps, she exclaims "Look!  I love walking now."  *Giggle, giggle.  She forced us to enroll her in preschool and she never complains about getting up early to make it school on time.  She goes to ballet and is very good at it.  Her teacher, a strict Korean woman, dotes on her and bought her an ice cream once just because she's beautiful.

And me?  Well you know.  Same old, same old.

Halloween

Costumes have been demanded.  The kids will be...

Jensie: Po (red TeleTubby)

Asher: Indiana Jones

Frankie: a strawberry

Woot woot!