tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85454306820521672502024-03-05T23:38:20.549+09:00A Curiously Specific Source of English News in KoreaRebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-50173523830541996412010-10-30T20:49:00.002+09:002010-10-30T21:06:58.346+09:00Quiet Alexander and a ViewAlexander is three months old today. To honor his longevity and stoic adorableness, we put together this video about our perception of his baby-personality:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwcKCxknRvgujSzlrWLLrHyDa7cht_8PEBqmXKXL87LjAi2zm_7iMpUKJnZowMBa1YK02VsVysAs9ss-8d7bQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Also, we tried to take a panorama photo from our balcony today. We were hoping to catch some of the fall scenery, but the weather was hazy.<br /><br /><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dQ4AtFutSiqP8U7U9Qi_LA?feat=embedwebsite" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4SQmpBGz7gk/TMwFsbTCOoI/AAAAAAAAEMA/bBP1EChAxnY/s144/balcony%20panorama.jpg" width="144" height="42" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ourpravdaphoto/Fall2010?feat=embedwebsite">Fall 2010</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-8846224240723861952010-08-14T11:40:00.003+09:002010-08-14T12:16:21.995+09:00Alexander the AmericanOur week began with a trip to a local photo shop to have Alexander's passport photo taken. There, the couple-proprietors expressed, through lots of famous arm-crossed negative Korean hand-gestures and also through some lengthy Korean sentences about clothes, and stripes and colors and such - that his off-white union suit was inappropriate to the passport photo process, and that we needed to come back with Alexander in darker clothes.<br /><br />The next day we returned, with Alexander in a brown cardigan (the only dark thing he owns). The woman of the couple then took him and began trying to bounce him into awakeness, while the man of the couple stomped and clicked in front of him with a big camera. Alexander, indifferent to all of it, flopped around and slept. Thaddeus then tried holding him, and the photographer caught one picture of Alexander with his eyes somewhat sort of open, and so these pictures were printed.<br /><br />Upon arriving home, we read the e-mail that the US Embassy had just sent us, warning that Korean passport photos are a different size than US photos...So we returned to the photo shop and got the right pictures.<br /><br />Then, we went to Seoul for two days and Alexander slept.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvEa5VKR7f6SG5fIYpouZTaZYCzLnfbtQySW0zG5suFAvWKpqgKcMpYztCeWQ3exGJB0cnKhirEQWPTlK5_I9qZUhM8G5Kr_jYRcXvUTSwGNxNo2HHrUmqUma_hijwX_v9Z1F0csnV2Vg/s1600/100_7628.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvEa5VKR7f6SG5fIYpouZTaZYCzLnfbtQySW0zG5suFAvWKpqgKcMpYztCeWQ3exGJB0cnKhirEQWPTlK5_I9qZUhM8G5Kr_jYRcXvUTSwGNxNo2HHrUmqUma_hijwX_v9Z1F0csnV2Vg/s400/100_7628.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505097926855614530" border="0" /></a> We arrived at the Embassy early (it looks like a mid-American library built in 1965...if you picture such a building surrounded by fifteen-foot walls, barbed wire, and too many Korean guards) and completed all the steps to receive Alexander's Certificate of Birth Abroad, Passport, Social Security card, and Entitlement to Resent and Dehumanize Any Human Being who Doesn't Happen to Have these Items card (he's planning to save this and use it when we return to America and he moves to Arizona...).<br /><br />While waiting at the Embassy, Malachi requested that we go to a Coffee Shop and then to a bookstore and then out for ice-cream, which is pretty much an accurate description of what we did with the rest of our time. Malachi also had a night-terror about some kind of cracker famine, and that kept him up for a few hours one night, but - other than that - it was a largely uneventful and also perfectly productive trip.Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-22769346718258608552010-04-23T18:08:00.003+09:002010-04-23T20:40:51.093+09:00Phone ConversationsThaddeus has begun calling in the afternoon before he comes home, and Malachi looks forward to the ritual of reviewing his day, working on his phone etiquette, and sometimes astounding us with his memory and talkativeness. Today he was not talkative, but the usual formula was still roughly followed. Thaddeus is asking things like "Did you go outside today?" "What did you see?" "What did you eat?" (this one usually dominates the discussion) and sometimes other overly-personal toilet-related questions that needn't be repeated, but which are natural conversation topics between father and son at this stage...<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxFJpUp5b0KJcf70sGdr8lMmOHIKGNQ_QPxM95E9mnY2lShv8iYlCF3rjq3CaaL106-27OetO0QS0DNpSdkrA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-43191194456844592692010-04-20T20:31:00.008+09:002010-04-20T22:11:17.756+09:00One Year AnniversaryOne year ago today, we arrived in Korea.<br /><br />We celebrated by wondering who shut off our water all afternoon, and why, and whether the announcer guy was talking about that or whether he was doing a poetry reading, and by ordering non-Korean pizza from Dominos, and (for me) by going out shopping this evening and feeling moderately satisfied in my ability to communicate (in Korean) to the cashier that I needed a bag, that yes, I'm pregnant and the baby is a male-child, that I 'forgot' my point card, and that I understand there will be dire consequences if I do not bring my point card this weekend.<br /><br />In other words, for us, it was a classically Korean day. The sakura trees have bloomed, which we don't remember from last year (it's been a late Spring this year - so maybe we never saw them last year?) and Thaddeus took some pretty pictures of them on his way to school:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBcdfOL8dHLrXJw_rN9-oXukcZIr7Ewi_X0fRBXNOhZ45yNf210Ivyd2bwoM_QuB6nGR-1cWflxYzVSfAfaQpQ3HKI7Dsuwonrn_rUfaYyvl3c99fd_Ywo1BdIQsVUkPOSfMslTnhXqAg/s1600/100_6849.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBcdfOL8dHLrXJw_rN9-oXukcZIr7Ewi_X0fRBXNOhZ45yNf210Ivyd2bwoM_QuB6nGR-1cWflxYzVSfAfaQpQ3HKI7Dsuwonrn_rUfaYyvl3c99fd_Ywo1BdIQsVUkPOSfMslTnhXqAg/s400/100_6849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462184799040682546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKlP4wpKRLMRzyt1vQXQSdy2Dx6jMhuOHg184bvBttvjJoI3Z9Hqzyjk_t7SSazyfEMPK7DzzuafM8-Oq0PUYOibm2h-Qat_5EYM5cPn9Gx7bYIyXxTBBy-qFH9VCyZ7Wu3velGX3hUJj/s1600/100_6857.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKlP4wpKRLMRzyt1vQXQSdy2Dx6jMhuOHg184bvBttvjJoI3Z9Hqzyjk_t7SSazyfEMPK7DzzuafM8-Oq0PUYOibm2h-Qat_5EYM5cPn9Gx7bYIyXxTBBy-qFH9VCyZ7Wu3velGX3hUJj/s400/100_6857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462185177211994594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxZ09mONAZTnZzgelqoL0Wohrt1varEKhCHCd8f-NSKvP8MDTvl0MGGKnwP8SYFfzqlU6u30H6k7c_Nfdd7qf7zb-fXHyspDzPwsjwVIQPHXe3DdT7EwCJKC2AUMCsCeK2WU5u56QEMmI/s1600/sakura.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxZ09mONAZTnZzgelqoL0Wohrt1varEKhCHCd8f-NSKvP8MDTvl0MGGKnwP8SYFfzqlU6u30H6k7c_Nfdd7qf7zb-fXHyspDzPwsjwVIQPHXe3DdT7EwCJKC2AUMCsCeK2WU5u56QEMmI/s400/sakura.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462205749283296738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAaUqhov-j9yG5fyZiYR9Acx49FboFd66OrwhHsfMOTfirJXMJxz5wI2YTU_2FuU_SPx2tAzeeJJPUdZ1HjLoG2M_s0-gLdokjNiyZzVx5P3XfFeNHudtLOyf1o0PtwDnjFkz5fdzyX5v/s1600/100_6858.JPG"><br /></a>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-74829078732811934502010-03-26T08:26:00.019+09:002010-03-26T20:55:23.904+09:00It's a......!On Wednesday, Thaddeus' school gave him a half-day off to accompany Malachi and I on our second prenatal visit with our Nurse-Midwife. We took a regional bus this time instead of the usual combination of university buses+14 Seoul subway stops, and it was a wise choice. Regional buses are posh (and comparatively private) after riding city buses all the time - and Malachi napped - so it was an enjoyable journey.<br /><br />When a bus approaches a terminal here, a palpable panic overtakes the passengers. People begin gathering their items, swaying back and forth, up and down aisles, fortressing themselves in front of the door, and casting anxious glances at our intended destination. If we were paratroopers dropping into occupied-France the aura would make sense, but as it is - the bus just stops, and everyone claws their way out within 2 seconds of one another, and then...the bus waits, for about 5 more minutes, with its doors open, before receiving its new load of passengers. So we watch the spectacle from our seat, and leisurely exit last. It's kind of our thing. Getting on a bus is different; that really is a rat-race. So maybe it's habitual.<br /><br />We arrived in Ansan an hour earlier than our appointment. The weather was mild and the side-walks in Ansan are spacious and accommodating and mostly free of motorbikes and semi-trucks, so we let Malachi meander his way to the clinic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLdiDkKAZfN-GyiqZWeNPe_xEL2IX9mZE7iUFU83RaRmq5-OyH8CqbsNFD6KCUBHVQuOqnDgClPnkCK4wZG0KoT8fcAAO2yV_ZrDczqIjpg4YreT3CTyYb4zofJxdJIlq3j2DLZfCfGca/s1600/100_6716.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLdiDkKAZfN-GyiqZWeNPe_xEL2IX9mZE7iUFU83RaRmq5-OyH8CqbsNFD6KCUBHVQuOqnDgClPnkCK4wZG0KoT8fcAAO2yV_ZrDczqIjpg4YreT3CTyYb4zofJxdJIlq3j2DLZfCfGca/s400/100_6716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452720799327650050" border="0" /></a>A group of women gave him a sucker, through a cute little girl proxy. He treasured it, and also the discovery that he has pockets in his sweater made expressly for carrying gifted candy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyZFuT6qOrbiifKnHERrHF1Cf9OosVDG_EfXt_DFZIW4KA7LbbcdERRVcTL1oNMIhbKUp0vk1ZzY7w7kDUHUK3qW_OKFy6T-XCdcSLTUVS_2_tW3hAOw837GUZKzhuHzls2SA4wHG-TjU/s1600/100_6724.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyZFuT6qOrbiifKnHERrHF1Cf9OosVDG_EfXt_DFZIW4KA7LbbcdERRVcTL1oNMIhbKUp0vk1ZzY7w7kDUHUK3qW_OKFy6T-XCdcSLTUVS_2_tW3hAOw837GUZKzhuHzls2SA4wHG-TjU/s400/100_6724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452720326184721938" border="0" /></a>He didn't want to pose; he kept squatting and turning away from the camera.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGXA6zyXy2U4vlzvbkFQkZdQXayGEX063Y3P9xRbFqsoAHSRjssVP1ShAtdHqVdEAhfUO3TdpXHuuU351Qwvh1x4W28vSeQn_r-QQntsWuEqYR4mXI3qHXJ6ahBJbP2hQOMUnfh1ffRaL/s1600/100_6726.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 346px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGXA6zyXy2U4vlzvbkFQkZdQXayGEX063Y3P9xRbFqsoAHSRjssVP1ShAtdHqVdEAhfUO3TdpXHuuU351Qwvh1x4W28vSeQn_r-QQntsWuEqYR4mXI3qHXJ6ahBJbP2hQOMUnfh1ffRaL/s400/100_6726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452719455837616450" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />He's observing a black-and-white and slightly blue bird that we've noticed here often lately. The ladies across the way interpret his interest to be in them, however, and are calling to him and clicking at him.<br /><br />Our appointment went well. During the sonogram, we were able to see the baby's heartbeat, hand-waving skills, and even eye-ball rolling (?). The picture quality and the midwife's explanations were all so clear that Malachi was able to understand and stay interested, which was gratifying. And, we were able to learn the baby's gender! See Malachi's video at the end of the post.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-QvujfrS8MS8ToIcr3HGgEPhxOzdTaHWQPWcYdz0lHJc_GfS-8Kk4ARHTUmhC3m_dRBqwAzvMhpK5UCS0pTHCLFLP1D_u7O6cOqiahnXriEPB2PR-PrnJqaXVGXnEHO-GTeUyxx8BTM6/s1600/100_6732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-QvujfrS8MS8ToIcr3HGgEPhxOzdTaHWQPWcYdz0lHJc_GfS-8Kk4ARHTUmhC3m_dRBqwAzvMhpK5UCS0pTHCLFLP1D_u7O6cOqiahnXriEPB2PR-PrnJqaXVGXnEHO-GTeUyxx8BTM6/s400/100_6732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452718989649162914" border="0" /></a>After our appointment, we went to Starbucks to re-stock our coffee supply and ruin our appetites for dinner with rich desserts.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0niV9zdrWnxEYhsEn6qdGMTm3dT9w07hT1znlACLHB4c1oJoKoBGv_mUMLsib9S7Q1ji73SeNply9EiTGyqxN5BQb5ESGP_uD2BGMApVte8hOeUJUDC_etlT-9nMH1fYPAyGmFZXA1j0/s1600/100_6738.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 393px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0niV9zdrWnxEYhsEn6qdGMTm3dT9w07hT1znlACLHB4c1oJoKoBGv_mUMLsib9S7Q1ji73SeNply9EiTGyqxN5BQb5ESGP_uD2BGMApVte8hOeUJUDC_etlT-9nMH1fYPAyGmFZXA1j0/s400/100_6738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452718184992954866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMoPagMM7e89qm9rfhl-CIfjXYxQmswBigzEzb-Rj977wASLPHxVw_6tP9e-E_GM6dPYdRVnGfBJLA7d5hWKZs7Jl4pHV-Cc_Ky1uax-gJI12RAarMdQldy6B2Yb4nIKnc64_QINN3NhJ/s1600/100_6737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMoPagMM7e89qm9rfhl-CIfjXYxQmswBigzEzb-Rj977wASLPHxVw_6tP9e-E_GM6dPYdRVnGfBJLA7d5hWKZs7Jl4pHV-Cc_Ky1uax-gJI12RAarMdQldy6B2Yb4nIKnc64_QINN3NhJ/s400/100_6737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452718427901530946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEssoLn7UUrU1ElGmW_xzskB63gX1qAlW89jl9Svz5b_3CNcPMaMn6ceBxsEPgsyMBlNNFUEknZQjeqhjrnUcyv_aiLCKv4y80XLiJ_S7ZQeES5LesOz0OXE7S2nOpaOTI6utWw6I_UaZV/s1600/100_6739.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEssoLn7UUrU1ElGmW_xzskB63gX1qAlW89jl9Svz5b_3CNcPMaMn6ceBxsEPgsyMBlNNFUEknZQjeqhjrnUcyv_aiLCKv4y80XLiJ_S7ZQeES5LesOz0OXE7S2nOpaOTI6utWw6I_UaZV/s400/100_6739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452717268081048402" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g9lpzjIcUC7GTU_b9tNRNqrhkQhQHh9KnMTP24Xjc0tgXAqCNoS4IvUM_Zf3s97nVtecUCJFSjT3-mPUriniZZuzydyEdiENXoEMjbPqjHhQvU1GA-agpVLVM0-Tn8jmQHhn2Yf0XCvN/s1600/100_6741.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g9lpzjIcUC7GTU_b9tNRNqrhkQhQHh9KnMTP24Xjc0tgXAqCNoS4IvUM_Zf3s97nVtecUCJFSjT3-mPUriniZZuzydyEdiENXoEMjbPqjHhQvU1GA-agpVLVM0-Tn8jmQHhn2Yf0XCvN/s400/100_6741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452716958412685890" border="0" /></a>This was definitely the most peaceful foray we have made into Seoul, and an overall pleasant day. On the way home we modified our original choice of baby names, as reflected at the end of the video.<br /></div><br /></div><center><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwxky-JGw7xMlU9n6nNVC0NZ6ks4JNQvDcV79bDtGEovDv5euWvRkomfxTero8NtTtTxbuVBaqWYuAdgUxHTQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></center>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-82541250187311544462010-03-17T15:28:00.005+09:002010-03-17T16:00:27.474+09:00Malachi can MooI'll preface this, first, with the assertion I know Thaddeus always secretly hopes I will make when I attempt something in photoshop... So, the initial 'Mr. Malachi Can Moo Can You?' graphic was not created by him. It was me. It's supposed to be cheesy, and yes, it's also the best I can do.<br /><br />Secondly, Grandmas - notice that you get an unaccountable shout-out after he makes the "Splat!" 'sound' of lightning...<br /><br />And lastly, notice how he wants to begin knocking long before the 'knock-knock' sound, and how he has to physically restrain his knocking hand with his other hand until he is finally able to unleash the knock? It's one of his more endearing quirks, so far, I think. Enjoy.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyfuSK7vRU9Kj913uemmo3jc2jvnocoODLjnqfMqujLOvwQD23cqdQKMZxEy30DobWDfVHOPBmHG-dTyzW2xg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-80667377275113932292010-02-13T18:07:00.010+09:002010-02-13T18:23:13.230+09:00Internet Shopping<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVl2CTkbKgZly2305DN9LLb4SGxRAihqSn8KtK4DmjMZlMCG0HhgmwyIHxzaI0j30Qc_5HhGGYFCzDr8QR8GLVDDcu_etFMU6iN6EjasdukH86rOq367yn8VQJkJP6wbLO7_t69ltOo92/s1600-h/100_6496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVl2CTkbKgZly2305DN9LLb4SGxRAihqSn8KtK4DmjMZlMCG0HhgmwyIHxzaI0j30Qc_5HhGGYFCzDr8QR8GLVDDcu_etFMU6iN6EjasdukH86rOq367yn8VQJkJP6wbLO7_t69ltOo92/s400/100_6496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437652870303061538" border="0" /></a>For the first eight months of our lives in Korea, our shopping world was exceptionally limited. We would go out, together or individually, with a back pack and a bag, walk to the supermarket or a take a bus to a larger store, and stock up on things that didn't poke our spines too badly.<br /><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And we still do, for most things. But for specialty, oversized, formerly unfindable items, we have discovered internet shopping. G-market has an English page, and has recently removed the systemic prejudice of not accepting the numeric pattern of alien registration numbers in order to purchase from the site.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We cleverly manipulated English name brands into their Hangulized equivalent, and found real laundry detergent (I maintain that the Korean brands are mostly sand and pink shards of sparkly glass) and whole wheat flour, and rye flour, and water in mass quantities so we don't have to lug it home everyday, and I think we could also start our own dentist clinic, or even a full surgery hospital with the selection and precision of medical supplies available in the 'first aid' section...</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, we thought, this is perfect. And Thaddeus still thinks it's perfect; the country of Korea is geographically tiny, so when we order something, it arrives the same or the next day. He comes home from school to find a shiny new clothes rack with crisp, clean, non-parchment type clothing and forty-eight bottles of water, so of course it's perfect.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But - an interesting tradition also surrounds the delivery of the products we order. Each product, no matter how small, is delivered separately (because they're from different vendors; G-market is just a storefront) and each deliveryman must call prior to delivery, in order to verify the address, make sure the person is home, and perhaps also chat about the local ginseng crop. I don't really know the meat of our conversations, but I do know that I dread Delivery Days. It means I will be on the phone, between four and fifteen separate times with deliverymen who possess varying levels of anger management and English skills.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Each time the phone rings, I feel that perhaps I should say "yeboseyo?" because - well, propriety or something - I know I'm in Korea, I know this is the way Koreans begin phone conversations,<span style=""> </span>and some part of me feels like it's the proper thing to do. But a stronger, more practical part of me knows that this will elicit a conviction in the person on the other side of the line that I speak Korean - no matter how many times I clearly state that I do not, and that I cannot understand them - so perhaps it's just mean and pointless to say "yeboseyo"... This is the running commentary in my mind as I answer the phone, every time, and every time I say, hesitantly, "Uh-hello?" And a hurried, male voice responds "YEBOSEYO? YEBOSEYO? YEBOSEYO?" and<span style=""> </span>I let there be a slight pause, to ensure that the yeboseyos are done and then I say "Um - I'm sorry - hello?" And then they begin telling me something - animatedly, sometimes upset, and I respond in Korean "I don't understand. I don't speak Korean."And they say "Ohhhhh, uh..." merely a half-second of troubleshooting results in another long tirade, in Korean. I wait for it to finish, and then say "Um, I don't speak Korean." And they say "You don't speak Korean?" And I say "Yes, yes, I don't speak Korean." And they say "Korean...." and then lots of other things I don't understand. Sometimes, the person will then say "Uh, Englisheee?" And I say, "yes, yes, I do speak English." "Me NOOOOO speakee Englisheee" And I give them the integrity of their statement, though, I must admit, I kind of resent that they never give me the truth of mine. I will sometimes try to apologetically empathize by sharing again that "I don't speak Korean" but usually there's just a long awkward pause in which I wonder how I can express to them that I know it's Delivery Day, and that they just want to make sure I'm me and that I'm home.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some people, I am able to understand, want my address, but others are deeply distressed when I offer to give it to them, and seem to want some other number - once resulting in me communicating that I would be home at "13" (1pm) when really I was just repeating the first two numbers of our address. When the man wisely responded "In due time...in due time..." and hung up, I was left wondering why the address had been cut off, and why he made the cryptic prediction, until I finally unraveled that he meant he would be there "on time" and that my numbers had communicated time rather than location...<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Malachi's attitude about the experience is more enlightened than my own self-absorbed embarrassment. He loves delivery days – being visited by so many different people who say interesting sounding things to him and leave him boxes and bottles to play with. <span style=""> </span>Sixty-four bottles this time. And that’s the note to end on, after all.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFBMYegkSGyGEM_U9IRpiZHoJoPpHatBLZ3CsT4vGAE-w_fUN15W_wHmKVzfNWgkBt0zhLG8TCcCaDDUjLye3gvMf8UTgBEJmjUtiHTo1i71X4OmPgOdb6HaCHus7Wg9Lqb_KEUV7XPvJ/s1600-h/100_6497.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFBMYegkSGyGEM_U9IRpiZHoJoPpHatBLZ3CsT4vGAE-w_fUN15W_wHmKVzfNWgkBt0zhLG8TCcCaDDUjLye3gvMf8UTgBEJmjUtiHTo1i71X4OmPgOdb6HaCHus7Wg9Lqb_KEUV7XPvJ/s400/100_6497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437653278979939330" border="0" /></a></p>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-32255100187841682882010-01-04T18:00:00.008+09:002010-01-06T07:38:27.672+09:00On Our Way...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_xoo14pPyCtEmdSjxo0lYde_J73khsWvuF4Lx-WGHwfxIiMKe51RBMAkpXuDVyMDQnF32AzxxEs1x5e2BOGplxauRmy15MrVMvLGWBYx09ZCC6z0fOYZyKNNhtOUAI-t8qbstu0AhYND/s1600-h/100_6321.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_xoo14pPyCtEmdSjxo0lYde_J73khsWvuF4Lx-WGHwfxIiMKe51RBMAkpXuDVyMDQnF32AzxxEs1x5e2BOGplxauRmy15MrVMvLGWBYx09ZCC6z0fOYZyKNNhtOUAI-t8qbstu0AhYND/s400/100_6321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423175146562915314" border="0" /></a><br />It's 7:30am here, and Thaddeus is out (hopefully) hailing a taxi to take us to the bus terminal, where we hope to find a bus that will take us to the airport, where, we hope, a plane awaits to take us to Japan, and from there to Chicago, and from there to Northwest Arkansas, where hopefully our car awaits us to take us home!<br /><br />We're very ready to leave; Malachi even packed his monkey. And unpacked it, and packed it, and unpacked it. And he knows he has new books he hasn't read yet, and crackers he hasn't eaten, so he's looking forward to his day.<br /><br />My strongest regret is that we are leaving just as our area of Korea is discovering the existence of real cheese. Over the last eight months, we've given over to calling the fake, floppy, watery fare here 'cheese' - but then, last week, we found real sharp cheddar, and monterey jack, and then we found a fancy pizza place that served (extra sharp) cheeses with names I couldn't pronounce (to clarify that we're not genuine cheese snobs; we just like cheese).<br /><br />And I'm concerned, given the pattern of past Western products that we've found here, that this trend will be over by the time we return, and that all the specialty cheese in our little supermarket will be out of stock because some other foreigner bought them up, like we would do if we were staying...<br /><br />But we are going to a place of cheese. That is what people say of Americans, isn't it? That we smell of cheese.<br /><br />So, a temporary farewell to Korea (isn't the scene from our balcony lovely in the Winter?), and...we'll see you soon!Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-76871667115761420862009-12-23T12:12:00.002+09:002009-12-23T12:21:42.764+09:00Pre-Christmas PostMalachi put together a glog to wish everyone a Merry Christmas:<br /><br />http://thaddeusmccleary.glogster.com/malachis-christmas/Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-85929860926301772882009-11-27T21:26:00.003+09:002009-11-27T21:38:29.258+09:00Malachi's Guide to Korean Culture<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyxbZogoS20lDHQ-oUcHOHbvRpYDg_2b7NinMBJreVs7e_jqYQ4uvMdDGsYJlYxDYg9WmkO7KDhPKBsM_dpyA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-90797447773317334992009-11-08T18:38:00.002+09:002009-11-09T13:59:35.276+09:00내가 임신 (Or, We're Expecting...)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoyeGFCSXcmsVBHnpMFwPgiKsTmVWRM8hkq5UzumVlWRPLRXrEquWeWHv1KWGw-FYhawOdZ4JhgxtjuBU-K8yWtXfuzoxiCdK5aRG3o9BW39Ehh7yG43v5yKhyCoYYZxaAC_IIFSJyy_q/s1600-h/100_6030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoyeGFCSXcmsVBHnpMFwPgiKsTmVWRM8hkq5UzumVlWRPLRXrEquWeWHv1KWGw-FYhawOdZ4JhgxtjuBU-K8yWtXfuzoxiCdK5aRG3o9BW39Ehh7yG43v5yKhyCoYYZxaAC_IIFSJyy_q/s400/100_6030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401963698489492162" border="0" /></a><br />The Korean pregnancy test was called "Happy time PLUS"...Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-20644022368887519102009-11-06T15:49:00.015+09:002009-11-06T20:21:51.388+09:00"American" LunchI've always hoped I would grow up to be a hospitable adult.<br /><br />Instead, I'm a very private one. I say instead not because the one naturally excludes the other but because my mind often uses the excuse of privacy and shyness to justify myself against the feeling that I both want to be and ought to be more generous in offering my opinions, presence, food-creations and home to others in formal acts of hospitality. My choice of husband offers no hope for constructive rehabilitation; he's not very hospitable... or even sociable most of the time... (I'm stating; not criticizing. He nodded when he read it...)<br /><br />But - people have been so hospitable to us for months here - have taken us out to eat, to tea, to see sights, invited us over to their houses, and taken us shopping and explained how to eat poisonous nuts in small enough quantities to not die ( that was valuable advice; for instance, Malachi should not eat more than one) and so, I took the plunge, and invited two of the ladies from our apartment complex to our apartment for lunch today.<br /><br />And I think we all enjoyed it. I enjoyed it, and Malachi went crazy. And I felt that I was an adequate (if starkly American) hostess. We talked about: linguistics of course (Sunny is an English teacher) and how children learn language, and feminism and the western habit of changing your last name when you marry (this they do not historically do in Korea, and they think it's an odd practice to give up your fathers name, and applauded me for keeping my father's name as well as taking my husbands - it was a conversation with lots of cheering in it, but I don't know why...)<br /><br />It went well...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSV6pnML5gh-ia4Wj6PVduV3inxVUIQwKzmrOaddXROuG57ed6X_zaa_rJCmD3X41zAUfzsu8qr898NGL6xabS3n1Zavc7-SiN3Qb3hYta0Avjty_NAr0yeg0r-khoqKfaaqXHsrXUxix/s1600-h/100_5993.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSV6pnML5gh-ia4Wj6PVduV3inxVUIQwKzmrOaddXROuG57ed6X_zaa_rJCmD3X41zAUfzsu8qr898NGL6xabS3n1Zavc7-SiN3Qb3hYta0Avjty_NAr0yeg0r-khoqKfaaqXHsrXUxix/s320/100_5993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400900522871920034" border="0" /></a>This was the older of the ladies, with her son "Min-Su." (Her, I know only as "Min-Su's mom")<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQLAPGqG_pzpjXdkDfNbSYVvkbEzsqzALOIKzzfYZhAN41jWDW4-p98huFHKhIbQDjj175leweK9dhjoXHXMZFviojDc1jBDLasTnv5_mzJw9tZMAjciiSIqyTw0CLdifdNMJBIYldAuR/s1600-h/100_5991.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQLAPGqG_pzpjXdkDfNbSYVvkbEzsqzALOIKzzfYZhAN41jWDW4-p98huFHKhIbQDjj175leweK9dhjoXHXMZFviojDc1jBDLasTnv5_mzJw9tZMAjciiSIqyTw0CLdifdNMJBIYldAuR/s320/100_5991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400898605234026818" border="0" /></a>And this is my friend Sunny's daughter "Tey-Hee" (on the left) and the other ladies' daughter (whose name I sometimes think is also Min-Su, but must be different but I can't distinguish sounds...it's an ongoing mystery, and one that i fear will get more and more frustrating)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAmb5mN-FheNqepGMI04WP9ZCyuaXCxFzIfzHwROqLzkLjz963HbRp-iYXa9J7Gm2tE-kHDjgsrPTUQprHpSUV2HmUju2pmcBpwPY_gfLXOnpQ4ocr9VEte8wpR-yr5PCq2uYVvb9BCYb/s1600-h/100_5992.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAmb5mN-FheNqepGMI04WP9ZCyuaXCxFzIfzHwROqLzkLjz963HbRp-iYXa9J7Gm2tE-kHDjgsrPTUQprHpSUV2HmUju2pmcBpwPY_gfLXOnpQ4ocr9VEte8wpR-yr5PCq2uYVvb9BCYb/s320/100_5992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400902627000250994" border="0" /></a>Tey-Hee will be 1 next month. Note her gypsy-skirt!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyEv6pmM9hHdtNJ0NAthbH4etsuzg7rSaOimPMI0Jxlg4oyAmxj2hA6PbZoMsOIjxfU-zMQPaFxxIm_7RZIGWfW-GrvaapNse6QdG2OhMNBGe9xwg7O9Gu7nstrvjO7FNLuCQhmkUYSbP/s1600-h/100_5995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyEv6pmM9hHdtNJ0NAthbH4etsuzg7rSaOimPMI0Jxlg4oyAmxj2hA6PbZoMsOIjxfU-zMQPaFxxIm_7RZIGWfW-GrvaapNse6QdG2OhMNBGe9xwg7O9Gu7nstrvjO7FNLuCQhmkUYSbP/s320/100_5995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400903297917185570" border="0" /></a><br />My friend Sunny (English name).<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvXCgmShrLEa-h0ks25UIb7V-8onr8xJVD8zkT6BNipHzMsNcWQswbdak43F4QY-QMQ4L4SliwZodF9oWOG69E7axT6OWlsqtJzbRi-whxYbnOClgHgKrGJlcbODd1JTaeONE08wh8A3F/s1600-h/100_5996.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvXCgmShrLEa-h0ks25UIb7V-8onr8xJVD8zkT6BNipHzMsNcWQswbdak43F4QY-QMQ4L4SliwZodF9oWOG69E7axT6OWlsqtJzbRi-whxYbnOClgHgKrGJlcbODd1JTaeONE08wh8A3F/s320/100_5996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400903788021721826" border="0" /></a>Malachi was overwhelmed, but elated.Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-39314753763813049172009-11-02T14:25:00.012+09:002009-11-05T23:00:38.810+09:00After Purchasing a Winter Coat for Malachi, I thought about some things...Yesterday we winterized Malachi's wardrobe.<br /><br />We folded ourselves into tiny children boutiques that are - ostensibly - where people buy children's clothes here. Most boutiques have two or three pricey, plush, often plaid outfits that are patly impractical and also whimsically androgynous. And not warm. We eventually entered a sort of outlet store, or a place that said "sale!" in English (though, there wasn't actually a sale. The key in Korea is often to merely use English; not to use English in a way that means anything in particular)<br /><br />So, I was browsing the racks of this non-sale-outlet-type place when I found some unwarm long-sleeved shirts for little girls (a range of 2yrs.-6yrs. old) featuring a playboy bunny and the words "player" in repeated patterns on the shirtfront.<br /><br />--<br />Or - different anecdote. Last week at the bus terminal I saw a normal, middle-school aged girl walking hand-in-hand with her mother, with a large Beatrix-Potteresque rabbit on her shirt, and the words "Let's do it like rabbits all day long, first I'll do you then you do me."<br /><br />Or, there's the mannequin I saw (my not so subtle way of clarifying that this is a corporately-presented ideal; not a mysterious flop), with a knee length t-shirt that announced in bold purple "I am a SLUT," with 'SLUT' in thick, elongated letters that spanned over half the shirt.<br /><br />--<br /><br />I have a theory. Somewhere in mid-America, there is a panel of adolescent boys with uniquely unimaginative senses of sex and humor, that are asked which text they would like women in Asia to brand themselves with, without their real knowledge or consent...<br /><br />I'm not sure in which category of thought I expect these observations to belong- bewildered humor, like the grammatically crooked notebooks? Paranoia - the fear that I've become psychotically feminist or moralist by even noticing and storing up and connecting these sights?<br /><br />Or - and by bringing it into a new paragraph, I'm hinting that this is most often where I want take it - is it only possible to consider parabolically?<br /><br />For instance, perhaps fashion is an art always in a foreign language. What says "I'm self-assured and stylish and unashamed" to one person, says "I'm a slut" to someone else. But wearing it doesn't actually make the person a slut... no one <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>interprets it that way....(except men sometimes, and sometimes other women?)...<br /><br />I think what bothers me the most is that unmistakable consciousness behind it - borrowed and corporate, and, it seems, designed to undercut the very empowered confidence that women here (as everywhere) so delicately seek in fashion...and the parable extends...Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-8079150023479453712009-10-06T16:16:00.019+09:002009-10-08T15:42:25.505+09:00Story in PicturesThe night we arrived in Korea was appropriately dark, wet and confusing(despite the assurance of the beeping, blinking, finely detailed GPS display on the dash of our likely bullet proof limo-taxi).<br /><br />The driver had never been to our city. Now, this makes sense to us. Then, it felt suspicious. He did u-turns in one-lane roads lined with construction signs that said things like 'no entry either way' and 'turn this way - no - that way - because the first way is blocked', indicated all his driving intentions by the liberal use of his horn and hazard lights. He kept a running commentary of his opinions by cursing quietly at the GSP system and snapping his xytol-laced chewing gum. He paused at the gate of our apartment complex to parley (in our early interpretation of it - insult) the "guard" on duty, and then finally called Thaddeus' co-teacher to be painstakingly directed through the labyrinth parking lot of what we now estimate to be our Neosho-sized apartment complex.<br /><br />It all felt complexly strange and unadjustable. The next day, the city felt even larger as we took the "shortcut" to Thaddeus' school and saw the 'first' version of many things we've now seen in multiples of ten.<br /><br />It's different now. We realized this as we leisurely took one of about fourteen ways we know to get back from Thaddeus' school last week. We know the layout of our area, we know that our "area" is not the extent of our city, we know the mountains that contain our little area, all the buses to get away, the best places for pizza and nail-enhancing mineral water...we've come to feel that we know this place, as we have never known a place before. In part because we walk it at the pace of a 17 month old toddler, and in part because we look at things with more precision, and speak of them with more generosity than we have our previous locations.<br /><br />We wanted to share pictures of our evening walk and let your own perceptions fill in the story behind them. Our present perception is rather simple: this is where we live.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkZZedwaL4U1nhkFEH-ZA6JoyhQLeWA-CRdW7y1jDR5xFMjAINQKK7a1Q_7C6N4Mh5md08YJ-925PG1qTfXYoU6Lp88Swf2j_d1KJj8ra0gPq_k1zoCcKv6MtNZUG8R9q5Uoblb0gxsTu/s1600-h/100_5764.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkZZedwaL4U1nhkFEH-ZA6JoyhQLeWA-CRdW7y1jDR5xFMjAINQKK7a1Q_7C6N4Mh5md08YJ-925PG1qTfXYoU6Lp88Swf2j_d1KJj8ra0gPq_k1zoCcKv6MtNZUG8R9q5Uoblb0gxsTu/s320/100_5764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389665712402329298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokrpgtQwpOXwHm5eMH8u3II_SEtbh08PsDTgyKKWn6uGhADtQk7LAnrildn9i-isJ1Xrx2TzCkKtRF3STrG8taEJLt6Ik00ovCkbNbzkrhljon5IHwvCSUPDY_aGzGm0eRUkA5AOvO8mC/s1600-h/100_5765.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokrpgtQwpOXwHm5eMH8u3II_SEtbh08PsDTgyKKWn6uGhADtQk7LAnrildn9i-isJ1Xrx2TzCkKtRF3STrG8taEJLt6Ik00ovCkbNbzkrhljon5IHwvCSUPDY_aGzGm0eRUkA5AOvO8mC/s320/100_5765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389664852816809954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1Xhehyphenhyphenf5o5phceSoaE5jH3-ERMg2T9kmpdYvyL1AKzmdc5hDChd-yIfyd356piIJlq_gZ3dOPT3JsJxa87_8AAVXSZrSLyalIGQuY6lEtrmOFc8O9ikYYhVZsF2TJh8BK8aeEgy2g-rS/s1600-h/100_5767.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1Xhehyphenhyphenf5o5phceSoaE5jH3-ERMg2T9kmpdYvyL1AKzmdc5hDChd-yIfyd356piIJlq_gZ3dOPT3JsJxa87_8AAVXSZrSLyalIGQuY6lEtrmOFc8O9ikYYhVZsF2TJh8BK8aeEgy2g-rS/s320/100_5767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389664844703435058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLzSJfACgWKOtuQh8nnQdPLUofDD1lFS4qs6nzzIA8EDegjemjxO2utkvT83KL1sz4Id3OYSEP24aLTdwyACvyPSZpd8CDTxSrJpE3k0II9jkgf6jTNPA4E6pgTTzW2P_domP8DESae7D/s1600-h/100_5774.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLzSJfACgWKOtuQh8nnQdPLUofDD1lFS4qs6nzzIA8EDegjemjxO2utkvT83KL1sz4Id3OYSEP24aLTdwyACvyPSZpd8CDTxSrJpE3k0II9jkgf6jTNPA4E6pgTTzW2P_domP8DESae7D/s320/100_5774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389664120507863570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTBP2xJ4FQ6PznskHUrTX9JLuprvW1uSWSTHe_mfFD2U66tOyrNqkEva5fYawRFJm-f2_l-xAXyFsDIq7xk-lqiiWi6HmML_eePl4xo3QW7EtfYDsue4SSKVm3wfliRyi4uRXIEAEDFki/s1600-h/100_5775.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTBP2xJ4FQ6PznskHUrTX9JLuprvW1uSWSTHe_mfFD2U66tOyrNqkEva5fYawRFJm-f2_l-xAXyFsDIq7xk-lqiiWi6HmML_eePl4xo3QW7EtfYDsue4SSKVm3wfliRyi4uRXIEAEDFki/s320/100_5775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389664112624771058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArlQM7wpPhCl-vOXmP6_UnXVxCi7mF5RYCf4AkF4q_OU-RPn0UTsz6aeV6OjkuCtRXDia50PNWLL27S35IHM3dkTvDluzrBGpO38hKwaMLdePxm5r2kBqVtUbwPxvWkF3MiPzGBS9U1bg/s1600-h/100_5776.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArlQM7wpPhCl-vOXmP6_UnXVxCi7mF5RYCf4AkF4q_OU-RPn0UTsz6aeV6OjkuCtRXDia50PNWLL27S35IHM3dkTvDluzrBGpO38hKwaMLdePxm5r2kBqVtUbwPxvWkF3MiPzGBS9U1bg/s320/100_5776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389664098131743954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5WYOlwNDyZuixAOQ83jDteoURzdAOJpVGQ_WdrKXn5s4UN_z69_o3aBowZgv54jXY12fIc1vlDJbo4qM3x6OcrAI2BkLocG7xqx1KvKYUVCgpZ81dOPNYkUBaZ9-fiCIUmoZzE1Z6Yov/s1600-h/100_5778.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5WYOlwNDyZuixAOQ83jDteoURzdAOJpVGQ_WdrKXn5s4UN_z69_o3aBowZgv54jXY12fIc1vlDJbo4qM3x6OcrAI2BkLocG7xqx1KvKYUVCgpZ81dOPNYkUBaZ9-fiCIUmoZzE1Z6Yov/s320/100_5778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389664093631504578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2x-8mPJ7mQwu-Mm7syS3Vm8ydO7u8ZdgU6tqWllaDqoT4qErkWONrx76zm3EnhJZ0_KZY04kzsAE6sY9F18RTTpdcDK17smuQ_BWtZY9KpiwFVjiGvG-jebe3NkI54IUbE8Rk_LSAO8r/s1600-h/100_5782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2x-8mPJ7mQwu-Mm7syS3Vm8ydO7u8ZdgU6tqWllaDqoT4qErkWONrx76zm3EnhJZ0_KZY04kzsAE6sY9F18RTTpdcDK17smuQ_BWtZY9KpiwFVjiGvG-jebe3NkI54IUbE8Rk_LSAO8r/s320/100_5782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389664083962230610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPy_6tMo1GsA0teNJA_FMZFsB4O3spMyihV_AHiWmrRV5Hqv5wVDIF-O_9RIvUliQt5P92KNKZgCLGgAKqOP3kSDkkJfV7uIlsLaUclEFlEcgCu_ZgW9vjZcHP8OwIl1Mmav0H6Ah52JiR/s1600-h/100_5786.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPy_6tMo1GsA0teNJA_FMZFsB4O3spMyihV_AHiWmrRV5Hqv5wVDIF-O_9RIvUliQt5P92KNKZgCLGgAKqOP3kSDkkJfV7uIlsLaUclEFlEcgCu_ZgW9vjZcHP8OwIl1Mmav0H6Ah52JiR/s320/100_5786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389662129887122242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8HwXBEtfz_Mt6TDMJe5OFpQ1skbKkAIYm9nSo5z2oeSZPPQWzoRAziafBVAAuaY8_RLa3J_DIW-MVRXhjAbJNazq1FHFRoDBuwc_zTyWhzlrUxTD67W8Q7XFk__M-eRQxOkQUU9wJ2Nx/s1600-h/100_5788.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8HwXBEtfz_Mt6TDMJe5OFpQ1skbKkAIYm9nSo5z2oeSZPPQWzoRAziafBVAAuaY8_RLa3J_DIW-MVRXhjAbJNazq1FHFRoDBuwc_zTyWhzlrUxTD67W8Q7XFk__M-eRQxOkQUU9wJ2Nx/s320/100_5788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389662119401732802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXkOCEDrhOuY77TazwgtgAZahBw_SmxzXq_P37FRxmarYRGIawD6Evc1JLssFUBm0a1NWMYb1RNuN-gwrWUWgdbeQIz1vXD-gFDOMPcKqV0EysdIY_0-8ELsHaoSJPPc7Cp9Q0Kui700c/s1600-h/100_5792.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXkOCEDrhOuY77TazwgtgAZahBw_SmxzXq_P37FRxmarYRGIawD6Evc1JLssFUBm0a1NWMYb1RNuN-gwrWUWgdbeQIz1vXD-gFDOMPcKqV0EysdIY_0-8ELsHaoSJPPc7Cp9Q0Kui700c/s320/100_5792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389662112418610994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExLVrlmizbyghD_8jrphsZzkswlFWQAcUjmRlzZMX2Gf9fd0hiZNTHNVzE4WeBh3LQ506DkEdBw669m-YxHcPxAmF5SrfQzgSga_avssZuMzaL9FkJteZ9195fhOUVazT5Zd6D3uCFU5h/s1600-h/100_5793.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExLVrlmizbyghD_8jrphsZzkswlFWQAcUjmRlzZMX2Gf9fd0hiZNTHNVzE4WeBh3LQ506DkEdBw669m-YxHcPxAmF5SrfQzgSga_avssZuMzaL9FkJteZ9195fhOUVazT5Zd6D3uCFU5h/s320/100_5793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389662101187894466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfEw0JMmrqgQJC1CTO2strSTgiuh57MHqlWgrBBBfaIq2odYZClO6MsKe0WwNW4nRoqg45MpLzvo_TGp3zk7hH2iD7Ig4lx28XlWyQPpifBs3XIw9TIOLBWk-k9MQC-42DhJ6p6E8UwBW/s1600-h/100_5795.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfEw0JMmrqgQJC1CTO2strSTgiuh57MHqlWgrBBBfaIq2odYZClO6MsKe0WwNW4nRoqg45MpLzvo_TGp3zk7hH2iD7Ig4lx28XlWyQPpifBs3XIw9TIOLBWk-k9MQC-42DhJ6p6E8UwBW/s320/100_5795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389662092125498338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHzsRxhhui39bwLaSPQdXdPGp_7nkGM-eYXT5VNS8yyTO3X7h8JXOo1xlRE97hRlUXr2HfP5oCaTnRSLEbcYtLj1I0yowDNFS1mjrQ5YYwh8RaDdqpVMg31Mz10dfeWnjbfbRxAA2D5iY/s1600-h/100_5797.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHzsRxhhui39bwLaSPQdXdPGp_7nkGM-eYXT5VNS8yyTO3X7h8JXOo1xlRE97hRlUXr2HfP5oCaTnRSLEbcYtLj1I0yowDNFS1mjrQ5YYwh8RaDdqpVMg31Mz10dfeWnjbfbRxAA2D5iY/s320/100_5797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389661109676460626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0NlDsCdnGoWUVBABe1Vw0yj_caF08gB0QhlbFZX2pMqqVDgVJLUuNhyphenhyphenMsIgqLvRBsuO3YGwJVsXfcesxLqU215hHPbC8ctJcF6N7AS-hXoTII6ytiaHc9DH9S1-u94Bt91yKkVmtj6Fe/s1600-h/100_5799.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0NlDsCdnGoWUVBABe1Vw0yj_caF08gB0QhlbFZX2pMqqVDgVJLUuNhyphenhyphenMsIgqLvRBsuO3YGwJVsXfcesxLqU215hHPbC8ctJcF6N7AS-hXoTII6ytiaHc9DH9S1-u94Bt91yKkVmtj6Fe/s320/100_5799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389661092229798866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIDZRPGQTnNCYNT-TPQ69SpDiHmFv7OyDtBDLqiQFMsVpW_9WJcSXlHMRWJm_Qikw5Q82LynbOC2t0-9VttCvLW0-yhjiGeugZOtDEK0H3JvGNWyZp0thVHfdWxoQmSIKmXRsELJ4HnH1/s1600-h/100_5802.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIDZRPGQTnNCYNT-TPQ69SpDiHmFv7OyDtBDLqiQFMsVpW_9WJcSXlHMRWJm_Qikw5Q82LynbOC2t0-9VttCvLW0-yhjiGeugZOtDEK0H3JvGNWyZp0thVHfdWxoQmSIKmXRsELJ4HnH1/s320/100_5802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389661086554413954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F-QTNCihXZsjZmAhmcCXhotUOUglovP63LR5kafxJpJaI3QSZ6QxeFuRHQLl3Hl8BKJWVlZSqOY2CUy0kJFnM6AshlSBVfKROqdHOxpgHJZMtnH_5e3gR-XAzjAonXDWu4tb-yBlzTyI/s1600-h/100_5806.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F-QTNCihXZsjZmAhmcCXhotUOUglovP63LR5kafxJpJaI3QSZ6QxeFuRHQLl3Hl8BKJWVlZSqOY2CUy0kJFnM6AshlSBVfKROqdHOxpgHJZMtnH_5e3gR-XAzjAonXDWu4tb-yBlzTyI/s320/100_5806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389661077764881810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RaOTwm2rEVnWZdElkbrUgdnD52ichEpyAql969jh87A5LfGnAwLPzqf-Me4DEapKf6vQwf1yW6rwmyfry4SsxqqhivGpUA46hSvxM-PUOJs-T4u209EN27WE-QCCy733iBGg7xWFjNZS/s1600-h/100_5808.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RaOTwm2rEVnWZdElkbrUgdnD52ichEpyAql969jh87A5LfGnAwLPzqf-Me4DEapKf6vQwf1yW6rwmyfry4SsxqqhivGpUA46hSvxM-PUOJs-T4u209EN27WE-QCCy733iBGg7xWFjNZS/s320/100_5808.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389660387246213330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrONMCZd4Z0fte638ZhQM9yU6OrxggURt-DXrnoqx1Y5O8qXX0eCvzSf6LjI2HwAJhBWSEwXdOVN-nAxyDmjw_LdEVnbcBR5pPhoCjBuq0-z9cEocy7NRCqO-7EqbONvIGOrqk6TvSJ0b/s1600-h/100_5809.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrONMCZd4Z0fte638ZhQM9yU6OrxggURt-DXrnoqx1Y5O8qXX0eCvzSf6LjI2HwAJhBWSEwXdOVN-nAxyDmjw_LdEVnbcBR5pPhoCjBuq0-z9cEocy7NRCqO-7EqbONvIGOrqk6TvSJ0b/s320/100_5809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389660379674470514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAenYHklR-7NRDQ639x5qOypQxTb3MCdMGf7S7ZYSob1RDZe7p10kFtv0eqMX2E6MYE3tRxeSH8vIcef8HK-F_nz5rQEouMn_Jo_dsrbTER50lK7GHA8YUnxHewQ2WwMAEDjxo0Q4tHcK/s1600-h/100_5811.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAenYHklR-7NRDQ639x5qOypQxTb3MCdMGf7S7ZYSob1RDZe7p10kFtv0eqMX2E6MYE3tRxeSH8vIcef8HK-F_nz5rQEouMn_Jo_dsrbTER50lK7GHA8YUnxHewQ2WwMAEDjxo0Q4tHcK/s320/100_5811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389660370588304450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQbY9AOulks6PPZYIfv6R0JzFXp93FV6G6oKx0CjZujNU1oEZdUIcrqsfrIRdBPDjFulzKc1RXSITLCB0yvV0pbHI20bU-wRrROXk7jWtASCeo0m-kRf9QKHR4V5UoGqMqILmYybhcXBD/s1600-h/100_5815.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQbY9AOulks6PPZYIfv6R0JzFXp93FV6G6oKx0CjZujNU1oEZdUIcrqsfrIRdBPDjFulzKc1RXSITLCB0yvV0pbHI20bU-wRrROXk7jWtASCeo0m-kRf9QKHR4V5UoGqMqILmYybhcXBD/s320/100_5815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389660361563703154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTUAIv31iorhC1nZp5nkMjPmnt5fobs-0uijWsCvmq3_p1JbbS8SLinF3oBdDA73aby3TbG-5pWngjPOuFteHMBjJVpvVyYeM1r2Yk0qTThrvrcu1-RSRa1JV4yVW5GHv5lxqC5A8p24h/s1600-h/100_5816.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTUAIv31iorhC1nZp5nkMjPmnt5fobs-0uijWsCvmq3_p1JbbS8SLinF3oBdDA73aby3TbG-5pWngjPOuFteHMBjJVpvVyYeM1r2Yk0qTThrvrcu1-RSRa1JV4yVW5GHv5lxqC5A8p24h/s320/100_5816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389660349367971138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism_d9QlL2HoLwc1kIefHIjyndmZd8iG6YIsW8oJBMdKazvvcWYr3gLZFBRXSctJjf7ls4bQsF9ujo_joYWHxyy7vLTrZ8g6Y_PUcizsKFN1VWhp0fo_bvurr56Q0jeHyhZHC9oEv6x9dG/s1600-h/100_5819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism_d9QlL2HoLwc1kIefHIjyndmZd8iG6YIsW8oJBMdKazvvcWYr3gLZFBRXSctJjf7ls4bQsF9ujo_joYWHxyy7vLTrZ8g6Y_PUcizsKFN1VWhp0fo_bvurr56Q0jeHyhZHC9oEv6x9dG/s320/100_5819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389659845894806178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksTDqS2DDuZP5kB8SqJ44XkmBTMOQD6M_FhknXvwdBhfV11d-NhI7lPrSFlodjt54yy67WmIhH0lkXPdGmg8w1FD9StGqMsy8J85X-zFTSdnIcfPrd2sM_nh2bedV5VjeHA0d2kP9_HgT/s1600-h/100_5821.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksTDqS2DDuZP5kB8SqJ44XkmBTMOQD6M_FhknXvwdBhfV11d-NhI7lPrSFlodjt54yy67WmIhH0lkXPdGmg8w1FD9StGqMsy8J85X-zFTSdnIcfPrd2sM_nh2bedV5VjeHA0d2kP9_HgT/s320/100_5821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389659832307437154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYweEymORCRbzrRlQq8netpi6KnjcUvo0Bv1NwFpCBzWX-lNB95o6kQ0zePM-E2TzEidAswJq8rhqXaMlqZr4orgbvmneJb4Kd_1BkTr9q4Nv96d8zaqINXNLnMlG6ulBFtSimpymcbaQ/s1600-h/100_5822.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYweEymORCRbzrRlQq8netpi6KnjcUvo0Bv1NwFpCBzWX-lNB95o6kQ0zePM-E2TzEidAswJq8rhqXaMlqZr4orgbvmneJb4Kd_1BkTr9q4Nv96d8zaqINXNLnMlG6ulBFtSimpymcbaQ/s320/100_5822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389659820805795010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLJ5IhbM8JN-IZg5mujbSnC_KcSRWcrFQXQywgJoxyOkZf2BLzfLk_Dif52EK_RVzcoeLN-i1nML-KkIpIq7vGTljXoBUNlPx2M3csGtrnWKfndw3J0SZ9Ka6ydmMtYB0AlhDGs6NyrEI/s1600-h/100_5823.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLJ5IhbM8JN-IZg5mujbSnC_KcSRWcrFQXQywgJoxyOkZf2BLzfLk_Dif52EK_RVzcoeLN-i1nML-KkIpIq7vGTljXoBUNlPx2M3csGtrnWKfndw3J0SZ9Ka6ydmMtYB0AlhDGs6NyrEI/s320/100_5823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389659814811945138" border="0" /></a>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-43269987989859899632009-08-09T23:23:00.002+09:002009-08-09T23:28:19.890+09:00Malachi's Cockney is Better Than Ours<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzJup251yNAQI_4XnKl4izIP0P4Xe80G1FHcJd9dfigeFMc34N_ZAuh18bumdI9irn1DLB1g3AfCKr0F2Rtdw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-47055018723535261812009-07-21T14:50:00.018+09:002009-07-28T14:08:49.056+09:00English Cafe<div style="text-align: left;">Last Saturday Thaddeus and his co-teacher hosted an "English Cafe" where students could spend their fake US dollars (earned by good performance throughout the semester) on food, beverages, notebooks, sketchbooks, candies, pencils, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoR2BXnvzOdzyTV62I4RONGxxpQcPLUkJk_DGxtnNe5tmAv5eouAKZqBSg-j5SQFAxCLVG_j9Jy47puZ3o6c6kpl6W83Ju8lTFRPFsax0vtkajRoG-y5DSH0DK3wL25n-xC4vQBTUHhttK/s320/IMG_0086.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363300546047442546" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2W2Ig2_TttUsK9T-EXMQkZ34k_KIiNocp3Ka2TOLILN-MZXEorcN1mVpfPZhpry2YyOCZEM-7emZIf4JuAkxpqaf_FgDa_IfZtSz8zA1UQg_8nR0f5lrOwmB0XJv7H4vKhUkQLFkw7It/s320/IMG_0073.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363300112626276466" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Malachi and I came to help, or to be inspiring, or inspired, or overwhelming, or overwhelmed...or cute, all depending on your perspective.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9GxM9pnKieLvvOxh2yDpKCRqmvJ5hNB3_ZwvaEIcKc1f6qSNu-UJT-aEep4VkpLJUdr9aMNWQWYm90wbKwqHkyf1t3CoMHDC-Toti7o2Z3TbEsQCDIfLoy8vl49Sln1x2IgxUnaVX33h/s320/IMG_0063.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdx9b49Cv47Uj9IXI1vze6kt_An6NTiPmv2BrbC5w-vIfaJdwjuaAfsJH7GvacObm7vSJaTrxCtO8SuJ6vUZPTF2x8pDzcG9pqfGuu7XvPxSQqZifE_l-1uxIyFfA2FDXFwbV9811gnU5/s320/IMG_0062.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>The children were proud of the money they had earned and many were hesitant to let it go. We noticed that about half of the students kept some money for keepsakes...or maybe in the hope that it's real currency....</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZ9scl8v6YTVjR4lj1uwynzXxWyFj8V_2L9Vf7W4FjLlvL2PQ-wNY1nCgmbgT5V6GVoHV6Mm7vlbyX1H8uAnqCIezftsoSqs2oUO2PfykDu_O99-MseZPmj5LnY6MhjTrMTmQuphvcl3d/s1600-h/IMG_0047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZ9scl8v6YTVjR4lj1uwynzXxWyFj8V_2L9Vf7W4FjLlvL2PQ-wNY1nCgmbgT5V6GVoHV6Mm7vlbyX1H8uAnqCIezftsoSqs2oUO2PfykDu_O99-MseZPmj5LnY6MhjTrMTmQuphvcl3d/s320/IMG_0047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360801424883091346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEC1TJOvYBc4XXQZHV-SkFyw06kcin35BakMgVf5_DwJrUY7US_OQzSzfuCnU9XoujvFLyIEhKcd9wiXr-HU5H_SIcGj8Q2XYOQDhzG9H0QoGTn3FZp2_aghWwyzasOVcJP_k84x1vP8h/s1600-h/IMG_0051.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEC1TJOvYBc4XXQZHV-SkFyw06kcin35BakMgVf5_DwJrUY7US_OQzSzfuCnU9XoujvFLyIEhKcd9wiXr-HU5H_SIcGj8Q2XYOQDhzG9H0QoGTn3FZp2_aghWwyzasOVcJP_k84x1vP8h/s320/IMG_0051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360801181115139474" border="0" /></a><br />Thaddeus and I hosted the "Stationary" (non-food) table, and, overall, I thought it was (exhaustingly) great fun.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiucx7eGzTPpK5NBIh_M-emlyc8TCPMNyO77ZegkI2dTtpotMHqG2n-dAIIeo5H5Bw9jsuicCAHV3lw7ZbhgNHC-P5_CkU_-h0dJQznIhB6tqte7O49Kfx0qennSPBGSmvXFTsJZXKyOfL/s320/IMG_0055.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSga8M8eevbc9uUwatRAgRK2lBYBAHHHH-rqjDs12gx_MfMxEhd9cnwTU5OlSWpbBMBo2nXRIveeqzHTMWrskdFF0XV48noAvFlQyNyfnqtcGVV_YfLY8jl0fnm-Kzrn19rbrxNeGsLIxk/s320/IMG_0071.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDSGlPgmPLq7TkaHimWw7_KZyROyHupino41HeEFj-FZDoiavv24qJKtkxG3UeDbsMIlT-UOOuHFcpfA4cWfApHZn0CCw1mOAXRaCDbUwn-JamxygYuwREbIqUMK2yrigOs86PW32KB59/s320/IMG_0054.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I observed that many of the students were going through the exact same range of emotions and shortcuts I encounter when first using foreign currency - for example, when in doubt use the largest denomination, or the temptation to buy something you don't want just because you understand how much it is, etc. Suckers were a popular purchase. They were $1. Easy.</div><div><br /></div>In the midst of it, Malachi discovered that he can sprint cheerily - which is different from walking - with placebo-assistance.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGEuwwlXr9pBnQzB8q_4bnG2urgNYQLkyDEZMWWD3NA2GRKoIwW3_BQPpLZ41yLjmSy8faNBc2qbap6qcgPBo0f-Zk0UnMDG24FcsdETV7c8ykpmO8Cv9hBfiXcvHPOupIj47ut-nfrjd/s320/IMG_0110.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The end. Sorry it's a bit outdated.</div>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-31338466255696733432009-07-10T22:46:00.004+09:002009-07-12T08:48:58.212+09:00Malachi's AccomplishmentsMom asked me if I had compiled a list of Malachi's vocabulary and accomplishments. So I did. It follows:<br /><br />Malachi-to-English -Dictionary:<br /><br />Assat?/! - "what's that?,"" How exciting!," "This is the same as that other thing is some fashion!"<br />Baby (and accompanying sign) - Malachi, exclusively. For other babies, see "Assat?"<br />Bundy - "Bunny!" Very proud of himself for this one, though he continues to work on nasalizing.<br />Bye-bye -good-bye, Leave me alone already, Korean admirers, why aren't we leaving yet? etc, along similar themes.<br />Cot - Cat. Only on rare occaions and with much prompting. strong (untraceable) british accent.<br />Dadda (and accompanying sign) - male parent, as in 'when is male parent coming home' or 'male parent would allow me to touch the television with impunity; why won't you?' or "My father has arrived!<br />Dakka - Thank you... and you're welcome.<br />Dog/dok - Canine. Or, animals in general.<br />doggididogididogidida, or gogidigogidigogidida - gibberish mocking the Korean language. Most useful when someone begins speaking Korean in earnest - Malachi responds (or interupts) resolutely with one or the other of these words.<br />Duckkkk - duck<br />EYEEEEE - Eye. Must involve stabbing someone's eye while saying it...<br />Ffffshss - Fish.<br />FFFSHKKK - Infant profanity.<br />Hi - self explanatory. But sometimes he just repeats it for no conceivable reason. It's newly acquired, so presumably that's the reason.<br />MMMM - I intend to kiss you; prepare yourself.<br />Momma - Mother, I'm lost, where are you, I'm upset, why is life so horrible, etc.<br />Nonono - usually directed at the mother, to inform her that what he is doing is unsuitable. He still engages in the behavior, but accompanies it with a firm 'nonono,' to let us know that he is aware of his misconduct. It is exasperating.<br />NOSSSsss - nose. Russian pronunciation preferred, because otherwise he thinks it's 'no.'<br />Num-num - interesting history. It began as "yummy" but has now become representative for food or drink in general - so, now it can mean "i'm hungry," "i'm thirsty" or "this is tasty"<br />OOFFF (or roof) - The bark of the dog.<br />Whersa? - where is that? Where did it go? Useful in hide-and-seek (or pookooh) games.<br /><br />Can't think of any more at the moment, but thought these would be appreciated...Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-52596297337160732372009-06-25T13:31:00.002+09:002009-06-25T14:05:18.539+09:00Immigration, Legalization, Fortification...Soon, Malachi and I hope to be legal.<br /><br />Yesterday afternoon we went to Suwon (a neighboring city) to visit the Immigration Office. We had meticulously prepared for the the appointment... we thought. Upon presenting our documents and passports and forms and certificates, the kindly gentleman behind the counter indicated that, though he did not speak any English, he wished us to understand that we had it all wrong.<br /><br />After much subdued gesticulation, he finally decided to rally his broken English skills and say "You needn't have filled out this form, you see. You are already a sojourner, and need only fill out this purple form indicating that you desire a change of status, thus enabling you to apply both for your F3 visa, and for your Alien Registration card."<br /><br />Why he is working in an immigration office and not writing modern screenplays for Henry James' novels, I do not know. But we are grateful to him, and to the generous Korean government for putting us on the fast-track to legalization, and saving us multiple visits to the Immigration office. We now only await the return of our documentation and the arrival of our Alien Registration Card (which also means, library card!).<br /><br />We were so relieved that we decided to be adventurous - and in the middle of the week noless. Suwon is a city with history dating back to the Silla dynasty, and they've preserved as public grounds massive portions of old palaces, watchposts, and, most interestingly, a long and winding fortress wall. We saw portions of it during our bus-ride, and wanted to see more.<br /><br />We were fortunate - we happened to climb the mountain on the foresty side, and were therefore both surprised and pleased when we crossed at the top to the other side, and saw the view of Suwon city, the wall, and the temple below. I like to be jarred into view of something beautiful...<br /><br />Our evening was completed by eating Curry Pizza, drinking coffee at a less-than-crowded coffee shop, and then attempting to amuse a screeching 1-year-old Malachi for the 1 1/2 hour bus ride home.<br /><br />View pictures (of all but the screeching son-son) by clicking the thumbnail on the right.Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-12761621771797059772009-06-05T16:25:00.016+09:002009-06-05T17:39:14.646+09:00A Day in the Life of Rebekah Markovna and Thaddeus Charlesovich...It occurred to us that we have not done a bland "daily life" post, which might be interesting, and at the very least will assure everyone that we neither starve nor even lack in the indulgences of our vices...<br /><br />First: we buy water almost every day, in jugs like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPOsd5IDIF5-SoqhgnyjswuwygEcbthmgxxSnCxbFok_Tx6nB4orpRGLowP4j35ZC8B_U3JP3mTZayTa24bntg0oxuy7OdQbeDsUg7ymHZJwzO-8Gxe4kowYZt9VO1fhwxZJj4EeBsNGu/s1600-h/100_5073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPOsd5IDIF5-SoqhgnyjswuwygEcbthmgxxSnCxbFok_Tx6nB4orpRGLowP4j35ZC8B_U3JP3mTZayTa24bntg0oxuy7OdQbeDsUg7ymHZJwzO-8Gxe4kowYZt9VO1fhwxZJj4EeBsNGu/s320/100_5073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343746493724273762" border="0" /></a>And almost everyday, Malachi eagerly awaits the prized 'empty-bottle' toy. We let him play with it for a day or two, and then it goes into recycling. We recycle everything, by the way, which deserves a more extensive blog-post....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq9tOEOwptGaCQhgzJ2bbCDzBRZxkC8HxrOaavriFuL2JH9KI5LkLNmlGryJ_9uFf-2K0AfCErxDTDsAFN7kH7CGNrSwL5IRKCa_SeWhB88FUKMmB9j4mzeOD9CW51ZTyt3tdsOnc0iUA/s1600-h/100_5076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq9tOEOwptGaCQhgzJ2bbCDzBRZxkC8HxrOaavriFuL2JH9KI5LkLNmlGryJ_9uFf-2K0AfCErxDTDsAFN7kH7CGNrSwL5IRKCa_SeWhB88FUKMmB9j4mzeOD9CW51ZTyt3tdsOnc0iUA/s320/100_5076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343746959164449490" border="0" /></a><br />Next: Yes, we like Korean foods. Thaddeus tries more than I do, because he eats lunch at school everyday. Traditional Korean meals are composed of many smaller portioned 'sides,' and everyone at the table shares from the central dish and places it on his/her little plate, sampling each side. Here's some examples of recent (and common) foods we have eaten:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAnp35XxjPVAsQUfsc3t_It20waBMYi02UyqA2OfwRhXdMX5Hwp4M-BjvTJ0yM1QkIPYjaDFbX7ZitA1uAjLvPm-zUInvbW1dKhkfBkq0x7t073phyphenhyphenv2Y_66jsyt4wOEiOSCStgmDgk7n/s1600-h/100_5071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAnp35XxjPVAsQUfsc3t_It20waBMYi02UyqA2OfwRhXdMX5Hwp4M-BjvTJ0yM1QkIPYjaDFbX7ZitA1uAjLvPm-zUInvbW1dKhkfBkq0x7t073phyphenhyphenv2Y_66jsyt4wOEiOSCStgmDgk7n/s320/100_5071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343742613241938370" border="0" /></a><br />Thaddeus said that in many restaurants this is more noodly and less meaty. But from the place we were eating that night, it was like very marinated (very moist, very tender) roast-beef.<br /><br />Now, the famous Kimchi:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuVNDayOBDDyrXInh21R2dtGq0baROVuOmpB3OiaWLe0BGhZnWsxe9PXrg7ZIqOZV7iNRPLC_NKLpEi5acJf9LYZ9j526CTHwLsL4lNOMkmdEM42G9rF_r-ssMRE6BZJhmpx-cA2He5la/s1600-h/100_5067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuVNDayOBDDyrXInh21R2dtGq0baROVuOmpB3OiaWLe0BGhZnWsxe9PXrg7ZIqOZV7iNRPLC_NKLpEi5acJf9LYZ9j526CTHwLsL4lNOMkmdEM42G9rF_r-ssMRE6BZJhmpx-cA2He5la/s320/100_5067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343742285390971490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdL2u9Bzv2NGb7E30M9FcHos3ljZkAhJ5Ammc9hrS1_lm-qhffw-YtYZccKOxsQGNVX5OejandPd9zYneMOp5q9kNtHQTnK5RXiCd4KhRK7UBpcDPdNXz5iSeg2vXJPAUdq3qX-YvCG7ZN/s1600-h/100_5065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdL2u9Bzv2NGb7E30M9FcHos3ljZkAhJ5Ammc9hrS1_lm-qhffw-YtYZccKOxsQGNVX5OejandPd9zYneMOp5q9kNtHQTnK5RXiCd4KhRK7UBpcDPdNXz5iSeg2vXJPAUdq3qX-YvCG7ZN/s320/100_5065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343742063391626306" border="0" /></a>Koreans eat kimchi with every meal. We don't, but we do like it - particularly the spice of it. It's fermented cabbage, but that doesn't really express much about the flavor. The taste is unique and somewhat an acquired thing, but we pretty much liked it from the start.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDsx35yQEerw80jGmFZOjD0lW2Y7T3lBLgljUP91j0XUD64MGoar8HTH5Ss36mQz_p9lAsueAM_vipvBaWP9H2JZq1-ClTL_ZWMRSCtrS3XJ8e2ERh381HCkKkkRYb33sq27m87-e7Et9/s1600-h/100_5068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDsx35yQEerw80jGmFZOjD0lW2Y7T3lBLgljUP91j0XUD64MGoar8HTH5Ss36mQz_p9lAsueAM_vipvBaWP9H2JZq1-ClTL_ZWMRSCtrS3XJ8e2ERh381HCkKkkRYb33sq27m87-e7Et9/s320/100_5068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343746020517203634" border="0" /></a>This is Malachi's opinion of kimchi.<br /><br />The last food item of which we can provide a true-life picture is Gimbap, which is a variety of vegetables and meat wrapped inside of rice and sea-weed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2-J1qqzdJSv8_cUDMFYA8FjNO9PzfRJTkCXLon03AqfxYg3rzabWvqqhC4-3YLCXbUXP33Df2hcbxGdjnUpCmiQa_6VCobbneCSm0YDzNwPAbBDF4qLd7l66v1SDpfLHP0F2QykB3bV4/s1600-h/100_5060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2-J1qqzdJSv8_cUDMFYA8FjNO9PzfRJTkCXLon03AqfxYg3rzabWvqqhC4-3YLCXbUXP33Df2hcbxGdjnUpCmiQa_6VCobbneCSm0YDzNwPAbBDF4qLd7l66v1SDpfLHP0F2QykB3bV4/s320/100_5060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343741715015810546" border="0" /></a>I think that the ingredients in our gimbap that day were: ham, cucumbers, carrots, eggs, and radishes. But any variety of vegetables would be ok. It's quite delectable, and the aftertaste serves as an excellent reminder to brush your teeth.<br /><br />Finally, beverages. With effort, nearly any beverage to which you are addicted could be found here. We don't drink pop, but we do see coke and pepsi everywhere. Juices (orange, grape, apple, and mango!) are also available, and tasty.<br /><br />Western alcohol is available and slightly less expensive than it is the U.S., but - Korean alcohol is extremely cheap. We recently tried a bottle of wine that cost 1,500 won (about $1!). Sadly, it tasted like medicine with the flu... I have high hopes for traditional Korean rasberry wine, though. It sounds good, and looks classy and is slightly more expensive - we have not tried it yet.<br /><br />We have tried (tried is a tame word) their Soju. It's clear, nearly tasteless, like a very modest offspring of vodka, and extremely cheap.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5jKmHte240cE_tR8Ebkt3-8hZ4JM4W-QmdvU1sLfzDCVgGO8wzhirPAXaWOb02VY76WBFd0ZIzNET1ErqVltUsyDObHuYWLugDH1eJj-Flr9Vj7VqcQeceFYoXKko9EoNG8_dodb8izM/s1600-h/100_5062.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5jKmHte240cE_tR8Ebkt3-8hZ4JM4W-QmdvU1sLfzDCVgGO8wzhirPAXaWOb02VY76WBFd0ZIzNET1ErqVltUsyDObHuYWLugDH1eJj-Flr9Vj7VqcQeceFYoXKko9EoNG8_dodb8izM/s320/100_5062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343750389573590050" border="0" /></a> A bottle is around $1, and six pack is around $4.50.<br /><br />And... Coffee.<br /><br />Coffee has been the bane of our Korean existence. Entire evenings have been spent searching the town for real (not instant) coffee, and, more recently for a coffee grinder. Thaddeus' brother sent us 2lbs of whole bean Starbucks coffee (for which we are truly grateful, ZACHARIUS) but we could not find anyone to grind it for our french press.<br /><br />In a slightly larger radius than our immediate neighborhood, however, there are many options, including multiple Starbuckses. That will definitely be one of our weekend activities...Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-84191697423267234132009-05-24T20:38:00.004+09:002009-05-28T10:55:34.324+09:00How to Treat a CelebrityLast weekend was eventful, and I hope the pictures are enjoyable to view despite their photographic frailties. I'm becoming something of a reality snob (which, among all the snobberies, is probably the most meaningful and worthwhile - this is not why I adopted it, however). I see a view that moves me in ways I can't quite credit to mere grass and trees and scenery, an interaction between a mother and child on the street that signifies for me something profound about the universals of human relations, a philosophic expression on Malachi's unphilosophic face - and I think "I want a picture..." as in, I want proof that this happened, and that it is true. But then the photographic is flat - or rather, it just isn't like real life, and I find I'm becoming a reality snob.<br /><br />All this is just to say - please enjoy our pictures. The events of our weekend are not the direct subject of our blog, but hopefully the pictures tell enough of the narrative version.<br /><br />We have decided to write about our position here in society. Korean culture has long functioned within the structure of distinct and discernible classes, with specific expectations and traditions governing the behavior of each. For instance, we belong to the class of Mary Pickford and Matt Damon. In other words - in the words of the giftshop sales lady at the Folk Village - we are movie stars. We are so beautiful.<br /><br />I thought I was prepared for this because Solomon claimed that he was treated like a celebrity in China. But, he did not carry an eleven-month-old cherub on his hip that lacks any semblance of social constraint and also, apparently, wears a label on his back that reads something like "please click at me, pinch my forearm, slap my cheek and, if your strength is great enough, release me from my incompetent parents" in Hangul.<br /><br />We exaggerate, but in minor moderation. This is a composite-construction of our experience when we leave our apartment:<br /><br />We enter our elevator and greet the mother and children already inside. The children hush themselves but the mother prods them to speak to us. A brave little boy says "hello," and we say "hello" and then the mother takes off Malachi's sock and compares his skin tone to that of her daughter's. The elevator reaches the ground floor. We say "bye" to the family, but are unable to take a step out because five little boys block our exit and say "babeeee" in unison and reach up their hands to touch some part of Malachi, somewhat as if he is hem of Jesus' garment. We push through and smile and say "hi" and "bye" (sometimes not in the right order) and make it to our mailbox before realizing that the one of the boys has followed us and is tugging at us. We stop - "for baby" he says, holding out a piece of hard-candy. We thank him (we no longer try to argue with these gifts) and say bye again, and then we make it out into the fresh air.<br /><br />We walk very very quickly, but two older ladies plant themselves in front of us and laugh and clap their hands together, and we pause for them and Malachi claps his hands. It is then that I realize, they are not just clapping their hands, they are demanding that we give them Malachi. I act like I don't know this, and just keep encouraging him to clap and to wave at them. We try to walk on but a crowd has already formed in the milli-second that we paused. The ladies begin clapping harder and one of them takes ahold of Malachi and tries to peel him from me, to illustrate that this is what she means. I begin stepping away and twisting a little, back and forth, to get out modeled after a screw-driver removing a screw, and we smile and say "bye" in Korean and in English, only to meet another lady who has no desire to hold Malachi - only to look into his eyes and say "BLUEEEE", and to give him a small paper fan with an advertisement on it, which he promptly throws on the ground. So we mix thank-yous into our byes, and we get away from our apartment building.<br /><br />At the first intersection, a group of six or seven school-age girls spot us and squeel and scream and dance around us and say "cuteee" and then, when the wind knocks Malachi's hood off and he is exposed in all his blondeness, the squeels become deafening and everyone is rubbing his head and asking where we are from. Busses of people go by, and anonymous hands come out, with fingers all pointing at us.<br /><br />We cross the intersection, where an old man is waiting. This time, it is not Malachi that gets all the attention. The man reaches out and strokes Thaddeus' stubbly chin"aah, nice beard."<br /><br />We walk on, with similar attention until we get to our bus-stop. On the bus, the people closest to Malachi offer him their cell-phones and business-cards and unchewed gum as toys, and he throws each of them on the floor (or into my hand if I'm able to intercept it), and the others, not close to us, stare at us, blinking twice perhaps in ten minutes. We emerge from the bus and hear the conversations begin in our wake...<br /><br />The affects of all this can be strangely dehumanizing, I guess that is our conclusion. And to find some response that is not equally dehumanizing - that is sensitive, appropriate, personable - is a challenge we will probably never quite conquer, but one I do hope we always feel.<br /><br />So, if you see the local weatherman at a gas-station, or Dick Cheney at a gun store or anything - ignore them, give them nothing, don't point at them, don't stroke their head or compare their skin to yours. Just to commemorate us.Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-15740356612290763282009-05-06T18:20:00.000+09:002009-05-06T22:25:03.769+09:00of hikes and gloves and jesusloveRecent events have reminded me that this blog is much overdue.<br /><br />Last week I took Malachi on a slight hike. Malachi made it far more strenuous than I had expected and I was unable to pause at the top because I didn’t want to disturb the serenity of an older man meditating on a bench. So on my walk home I pretended to be a 21st century Oscar Wilde and composed an observation which, in the moment, seemed saturated with tidy truths - walking after a hike is altogether in bad taste.<br /><br />I tried to greet the eager passer-by’s with something of my usual pleasantness (I’m pleasant in Korea) but all my mind could do was gauge how far I had to go, and still to go, and still to go. And then, at the very entrance of our apartment complex awaited… the jesuslove missionaries.<br /><br />I had met one of them before, on my way to the supermarket, and she had given me a pamphlet, so I thought I knew what to expect. This time there were two ladies, one a littler older than the other. They greeted me – annyonghaseo – and I tried to greet them, allowing myself only the slightest glance in the direction of our apartments, still about twenty meters from us (ok, a sheer guess, but meters are awfully hard for me since I’ve only used miles and feet and all the other nebulous Americanisms of distance measurement).<br /><br />They held out a pamphlet and I tried to express that I already had one, and that I have even seen the church's structure, and it is big and Thank you, but I’m not in need of another pamphlet because that would be wasteful, wouldn’t it, and Jesus wouldn’t love that, right? But this did not come through. They persisted in pointing at the pamphlet and in the direction of their church and speaking Korean extremely quickly (just to join in the universal opinion that when you don’t speak a language, it seems that everyone speaking that language speaks it on speed) and so I took a different tactic: utter agreement.<br /><br />Yes, the pamphlet. Thankyou. Kamsamneeda, right? Yes, the church, Yes, thank you. Yes, me, yes, that, yes, yes. When they wanted something more lengthy I would say “Hangu-gul-nu-tum-nee-da” (I don’t speak Korean) and then I would fall back on my simple “Yes.”<br /><br />My affirmation was interpreted to be theological as well – the younger of the ladies leaned her shoulders into me and put her hands together in an attitude of prayer. I hesitantly indicated that I understood. “Pray” I said, and held my hands together as best I could. She looked up in to the sky and then opened the pamphlet, which seemed to be neatly arranged in proper numeric order – four steps to something. Salvation probably, and prayer is step two. She pointed at the pamphlet, mimed prayer and then pointed at me. I almost nodded, but then settled on “I don’t speak Korean." She got out a pen and started writing Hangul letters on it. I said "I don't understand." So she thrust her finger at each character separately and looked at me intently to see if any of them would be familiar and I alternated between saying yes and I don't understand. A mixed message, I know, but I was trying to both be polite and honest.<br /><br />Then the other lady stepped into me and pointed down. I looked at the hem of my capris and then at her. She shook her head and then pointed at her skirt and spoke Korean quickly. At this, I admit, I laughed. But she peered at me so gravely that I stopped laughing and nodded instead and said “um, I don’t speak Korean.” She pointed at my feet. I nodded, trying to indicate, yes, I expect that my bare feet in flip flops might be equally forbidden…then she reached in her purse and gave me a pair of ankle-length-pantyhose.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVhzXxhYmno1SaVI-4mq929voZ01iHhHqQst1Z7DSbdTToiKOd_V5Dz4afMeYFJfiRvQs8AhEzlJk-JVxFsoIW6KevdMj8JDL2QQRAElK08bNmNqQLGjWlGa-gxqze3gyEn3C2FLu3EfR/s1600-h/100_4368.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVhzXxhYmno1SaVI-4mq929voZ01iHhHqQst1Z7DSbdTToiKOd_V5Dz4afMeYFJfiRvQs8AhEzlJk-JVxFsoIW6KevdMj8JDL2QQRAElK08bNmNqQLGjWlGa-gxqze3gyEn3C2FLu3EfR/s320/100_4368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332639147798202834" border="0" /></a><br />I tried to mute my laughter, but I know some semblance of merriment came through because she shook her head at me and pushed the panty-hose into my hand, pointed at my feet and then in the direction of the church. “Ah” I said “I wear these, if I come to your church. Thank you. Kamsamneeda.” And then the other lady pointed at various parts of my body and wardrobe and shook her head and pointed at Malachi and shook her head and then slapped his cheeck gently and said he is adorable.<br /><br />I decided to perform my creative leave-taking move that has successfuly freed me of many Korean crowds: I bolt (here I have long legs) and wave Malachi’s hand and pretend like he's saying “bye- bye.” Usually people think this is funny and also understand, and say ‘bye-bye’ back to him or get me to say it Korean but instead the older lady pushed against my shoulder again and hurriedly fumbled in her purse and handed me a box of something. I took it and said Thank you and smiled and said “bye” and they pointed at the church and then wagged their fingers at me and pointed at the panty-hose. I nodded and said all the same things you know I can say and then, I got away.<br /><br />I was curious as to what could be in the box, but was surprised to find that it contained a pile of plastic gloves.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs44vA4Ie70CguBD1H0GBPrQDa7pdtDYOzVDmGYE0yHM1dvepHysU90RwspdGNNY4HzVKFPIA-qaAzdHKvPm7IA11COKjCCr-_el5k7d5dSzyEOSZ4mpFC4ufva9Hm5EInt1bn9CrR8T8P/s1600-h/100_4371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs44vA4Ie70CguBD1H0GBPrQDa7pdtDYOzVDmGYE0yHM1dvepHysU90RwspdGNNY4HzVKFPIA-qaAzdHKvPm7IA11COKjCCr-_el5k7d5dSzyEOSZ4mpFC4ufva9Hm5EInt1bn9CrR8T8P/s320/100_4371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332639821662979010" border="0" /></a><br />This led to an extensive internet search to see what the religious significance of the gloves might be, but I think it's just a common household item they give out since I've also received tea and tissues during similar encounters.<br /><br />I was reminded to tell of this because just a few minutes ago someone rang our doorbell. I peeked out and saw a lady knocking on the door opposite to ours. But then she opened the person’s door! She immediately came back out and rang our doorbell. The door was not locked, so I panicked and, rather than have her open our door, I opened it and greeted her. I guess she’s our new neighbor – she pointed at her door and then, oddly enough, asked if I’m Russian. I said no, American, and she smiled and sighed and said "America, ah." She told me Malachi is adorable (so far it’s my favorite Korean word) and then….she reached in her purse and gave me, you know, the jesuslove pamphlet….Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-22443562767210449492009-04-25T18:50:00.000+09:002009-04-25T19:15:19.832+09:00Such is the Essential<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:200%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:200%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:200%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8xuhVMzopl3KtbXsyyR_QzcUiVGg4gCuoNRhb8azTe5EYD9VkBSqZchaWxawFDxhH35mw06DZHhTv5scCJEMnDv6Op3I56rgg-AHIVKGtG_xfzX0dR_0y69ylcpvYci8NLL5qlW7Y95u/s1600-h/100_4281.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8xuhVMzopl3KtbXsyyR_QzcUiVGg4gCuoNRhb8azTe5EYD9VkBSqZchaWxawFDxhH35mw06DZHhTv5scCJEMnDv6Op3I56rgg-AHIVKGtG_xfzX0dR_0y69ylcpvYci8NLL5qlW7Y95u/s320/100_4281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328566579137387954" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >My Malachi lives in a world of mysteries, and</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" > I too </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >am </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >beginning to</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >. </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Today h</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >e has </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >been </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >consid</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >ering the </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >behavior of doors connected to hinges and I have been considering the male Korean </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >v</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >oic</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >e</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" > t</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >h</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >a</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >t speaks to us at various times of the day through the peeling bronze intercom box located on the wall between our bathroom and bedroom. We have been amusing ourselves with </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >every new fresh possibility presented </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >by exploring our situations - will the voice sound calm or grave this time, </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >will the door fly to the ceiling instead of clunking against the wall?</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />I'm sure he'll find that doors sway predictably, and I will eventually ask someone and learn that the intercom is merely a weather forecast or a periodic announcement such as “will the driver of the GPS-loaded Kia please relocate to an actual parking space and avoid both sidewalks<span style=""> </span>and pedestrians in the future” or something similarly routine. The infinite unknown will be eclipsed with knowledge, and yet, I hope, a shadow of the infinite can somehow remain.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-22338926262517298042009-04-11T10:49:00.000+09:002009-04-11T11:17:28.062+09:00Further UpdatesWe transferred our things from Lawrence KS to Joplin MO last Monday and ourselves to my parents' home on Tuesday. Extricating ourselves from our apartment lease was a difficult and shady business but we feel relieved to have it completed (or rather, we hope the deed is indeed complete) and have been enjoying our hobo-habitations. Malachi is particularly fond of my parents' emotionally needy German Shepherd - his vocabulary now includes "dog" - and of the gray wires that protrude from Dad's chin.<br /><br />Thaddeus had a web-cam interview with the Korean Consulate on Wednesday. South Korea must have deemed him adequate and drug-free, because...<br /><br />We have our e-tickets and itinerary. We're flying out of Northwest Arkansas Airport on Sunday April 19th, at 11:25 am. The concreteness of receiving tickets and times has created alternating panic and excitement for me, and the steady growth of anxious excitement for Thaddeus I think.Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8545430682052167250.post-60185561323294857182009-03-07T09:48:00.000+09:002009-03-16T08:31:27.932+09:00Apartment Sale<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Two weeks ago I emerged from my 14-hour Sunday evening shift nearly a whole human being (don't feel too badly for me; I only work every other weekend). Thaddeus greeted me with this tense, quick announcement: “guess what? We’re going to Korea.”</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">(My response – a hesitant “yes, I know…” (we had been looking for jobs teaching English in Asia for nearly a full week so I really had no doubt that this was the definite direction of our future) - did not seem to meet his expectations. He interpreted my weary agreement as suspicion and began assuring me – he had found precisely what we had been looking for, and he now knew the substance of the visa process, the names (absent proper pronunciation) of most of the provinces, the average internet availability in different regions, the story of the site’s creator, and even some irrelevant details such as – in Korea, you can drink beer on the streets “like in Vegas” (apparently the wording of a FAQ on the site).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">We applied.</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Monday we spoke with the site’s creator and he advised us to seek employment for Thaddeus first and then find a position for me that is compatible with Thaddeus’ schedule after we arrive and become oriented. This makes sense to us. So we are now waiting for offers from specific schools in South Korea, and compiling our paperwork (background checks, a passport for Malachi, college transcripts, and, we’re not sure, but, we think a small sample of our bone marrow). Thanks to Thaddeus’ motivation and forethought we have completed most of our side of this process and merely await the arrival of our documentation.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7iog-_0CLQRTU_JEuaTIfKKACn87G72Jckg5XJZb4PVKX7GjljXb86jda5Uwudp86YyjinM7Q933LWU1JumhL4pmBo_8W_0MQz1UVXfkrhp63yP9_aAmtL9GGaMjAyZYHvZF-TGg5df-/s1600-h/bird.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 116px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7iog-_0CLQRTU_JEuaTIfKKACn87G72Jckg5XJZb4PVKX7GjljXb86jda5Uwudp86YyjinM7Q933LWU1JumhL4pmBo_8W_0MQz1UVXfkrhp63yP9_aAmtL9GGaMjAyZYHvZF-TGg5df-/s320/bird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313560274043048418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">While we wait, we are busying ourselves with seeking new homes for our worldly possessions. Anyone interested in a papasan chair? A birdcage that, judging from the three inch spike in the middle of it, probably ought never be used as a birdcage? Some dry decorative grass? A Suzuki Reno?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The Lawrence populace that visit craigslist have proved very eager for our items thus far – for instance, I must already rescind the offer of a papasan chair. Someone just came by and picked it up.</span></span>Rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17555313819757260989noreply@blogger.com