Meet the Metz! (August 2010)

  Already a few weeks into the trip and we have met some amazing people. For the most part,  Jason meets the guys on the bus on the way to work.  They exchange numbers and we set up dinner or play dates. 
The Fojtiks, Gene and Kristen,  are actually from Dripping Springs, Texas and have two adorable younger children 4 and 2.  They have been ex-pats before in Dresden Germany  and are a great source of information about living abroad.

The Metz family are from Saratoga, California.  Steve and Heather have two boys Christopher 11 and Alex 9.  The boys hit it off with David almost immediately.  Galen has taken on the role of keeping everyone in line!

Heather and I are becoming  fast friends.  Something about being in the same boat does that.  She is showing me the ropes of grocery shopping and we are touring all the local coffee shops.  It is great having a conversation with someone else (in English).

We are planning trips together (China at the end of September and Jeju, South Korea during Thanksgiving).  It has been so nice finding "friends" here!

First Day of School! (UGH!)

Ten days into the move and school starts.  The kids are attending Korea International School which came highly recommended by everyone at Samsung.  The kids are excited but understandably  little nervous with the new surroundings and now all new people at a very different school.  They are at least riding the same bus and have each other!  There are only 1200 in the whole school K-12.  Class sizes are nice and small.  Both kids should learn a ton!
For me, I always dislike the first day of school.  I like having my kids around.  They are such a good excuse to play games and not clean house!  I'm on my own, not even the dog and cat to entertain me this time so I am disliking this "first day" even more.

Hike to School.... Taxi Home

The kids have completed registration at the International School in a nearby neighborhood.  They will both be going to the same school which will spoil me for sure.  They will even ride the same bus!  We were told by an administrator that the school was only a 15-20 minute walk from our area.  With map in hand we set out for the hike deciding to go through Bundang so we can get to know the area as well.  I packed water bottles and snacks in Jason's backpack "just for kicks" not knowing how important they would be later.

 We notice sculpture is everywhere and are amazed by the different materials that are used.  This piece (see picture right) is just outside our apartment building and uses three different types of stone; granite, marble and limestone.  It's impressive in size.  Somehow I keep the 10 year old off of it.

 We also marvel at the height of the buildings.  The urban landscape is really amazing.  The apartment buildings can be up to 50 stories high.  The shops are small and stacked on top of each other.  You have to "look up" since some of the shops can be on the 4th or 5th floor.  The signs go up the building and correspond to what floor the shop is on.  The walking slows down because we are looking around so much.  It is also dreadfully hot out! 

 We are 30 minutes into the walk and still not that close to the school although we can see it across the highway on the hillside.  It is amazing how many people are in this small space. 
  We definitely attract attention on the street.  Jason being so tall and then the three of us behind all blonds.  I knew the blond hair was rare but I didn't realize how "attention grabbing" it was. 
 The heat is only getting worse but we haven't gotten lost yet.  We still know where we are on the map!

After crossing under a major highway and coming out the other side into the garden district, we see a sign for the school.  One more right turn to go.... straight up the HILLSIDE!  We finally find it.  The school is on a beautiful campus.  We meet a few teachers and sign up for orientation.  The hike took over an hour and a half.  Needless to say we take a taxi home... which took all of 10 minutes to drive.

Feeling Brave! October 6th

I had homework from my Korean Class instructor.  I had to call a taxi and tell the driver where to take me.  Then I had to order another taxi and have it take me back to my apartment.  ALL IN KOREAN!  Somehow I managed.  I couldn't believe it!  I felt so empowered! 

I've Become A Costco Shopper

I can't believe I have become a Costco Shopper.  I don't have this kind of storage in Austin so I can't bulk shop.  Since I didn't bring the entire kitchen from Austin I also have all kinds of room for bulk goods.  It's nice to know the family can eat a 6 pound bag of pretzels in one month.  It is definitely on the crazy side of shopping.  The store itself is two stories and the parking garage is 4 stories.  Escalators and elevators take you everywhere.  The shopping cart actually has a magnet on the wheels to keep from slipping on the escalator.  I'm not sure if I will be a Costco shopper once I return to Austin but for now while I'm in Bundang I absolutely will!  Besides it's the only place where I can find pretzels in the entire area!

Our Apartment [July 30, 2010]

We have moved in!  Jason got us mostly settled before the rest of us arrived.  There is a little setting up to do but so far so good.  We are on the 19th floor of the Adena Palace Tower A.  There are three apartments per floor and only 27 floors in the building.  It is nice because we don't have any neighbors directly on the sides only on the floors above and below.  The two elevators are fast and wait times are minimal. 
The inside of the apartment is very nice.  Lots of woodwork details, nice accents and built-in storage.  In fact, I think it  has more storage than my house in Austin even though the overall space is much smaller.  It is also built for ME!  All the countertops are 34" high and I can reach every cabinet except for the very top.  All the light switches are lower too!  It will be a bit of an adjustment to an apartment from a house but I think we will make it!

Storage in living/study area

Kitchen with storage and lower countertops

David's imported Texas Room with fantastic view

We Have Arrived! [July 29, 2010]

We have finally arrived in Seoul.  It was a fifteen hour flight!  I couldn't sleep on the plane since there was so much movement and noise.  The lighting was not adequate enough for stitching so I watched the kids sleep and watched movies, seven movies to be exact.  The prize at the end of the ride would be Jason, he had gone ahead two weeks earlier to get the apartment set up and ready for us.  By the time the plane landed I was more than ready to get off.  My feet were so swollen it reminded me of being pregnant with both kids.
We make it through customs, find Jason load the luggage and start the drive to Bundang.  [see map below]  The first thing that hit me was the humidity.  This place makes Houston, TX seem arid.  It's not even 90 degrees and yet with the humidity it feels well over a hundred. I'm drenched in sweat by my third step out of the airport.
During the drive, I'm trying to look out the window and study the area but I'm so tired and my feet hurt so bad (from the swelling) that I fall asleep on Jason's shoulder.  Both kids slept on the plane so they are bringing Jason up to speed.

Bundang-gu South of Seoul is our destination!

Where Am I and How Did I Get Here?

I'm still trying to remember how that initial conversation went but somehow I managed to find myself in South Korea.  When Jason initially called with the question "would you consider moving to South Korea for a year" I thought "sure, why not?" never thinking his boss at the time would really let him go.  Sure enough the boss said he could "make that happen" if we wanted it.  The next stop was the kids.  The teenager would have to leave her friends, high school, soccer team, girl scout troop etc. for the duration... willingly (no year-long crying fits) and her cat.  The 10 year old would have to forgo his 5th grade year; safety patrol, choir, reading buddies, graduation; his own large circle of friends and most of all his dog.  Then we solved one issue after another, getting the kids into school, finding someone to watch the house and pets, finding an apartment etc.  Eventually it came down to me and what I wanted to do.  Could I leave my friends, girl scout troop that I've lead since 2005, the service unit with so many of my friends in it, my job, my fabulous car pool?  I couldn't be the one to hold the family back on such a great opportunity.  We would be so close to China, Australia, Japan not to mention seeing all the great places in South Korea.  So here we are!  Just South of Seoul in South Korea!