Spring Break is for Geocaching!

  As a family we have been geocaching several times.  It's a great way to get in some family time, get in a hike and have some fun finding stuff at the same time.  It's a lot like treasure hunting.  Someone hides a small container logging in the coordinates on a website.  We log into the website getting the coordinates and usually a hint or two and set off looking. If you find the container you log in that you found it and hide it again.  You are supposed to be inconspicuous so nobody else knows what you are doing.  Otherwise people will find the containers and not know what to do with them (which is called muggled in the geocaching world).  Once back home you log into the website again and make comments about what you did and didn't find.

  We decided to bring all our "stuff" with us to Korea just in case they geocache here.  Turns out they do!  Galen loaded up the handheld Garmin with coordinates and we were off.  We decided to introduce the Metz family to geocaching knowing full well they would love it! 

  Galen found 4 relatively close spots in Jukjeon not too far from where we live.  We parked at a lot nearby and headed off!

Setting off from the parking lot.

  The first one was a micro (meaning really small container) hidden within a piece of metal sculpture but hadn't been found for quite a while.  We decided it was worth a try.  Galen patiently showed the boys how to use the handheld device.  Heather tried to use her iPhone but it wasn't accurate enough.  Setting up our usual guidelines of only looking for about 10-15 minutes (otherwise you could get too bogged down on one site) I started the timer as we arrived at the destination point.  The boys tore into it!  There was not a rock that went unturned or a blade of grass untouched.  As the timer went off we proceeded to the next one.  Although disappointing we quickly pointed out that it wasn't the "finding" that was the object.  It was the hiking, spending time together and looking that was the point.  "Finding" is the icing on the cake.

Quick lesson with the Garmin.

  The second one was along a rock face next to the sidewalk.  There was a "hint" for this one that said it was between two rocks.  Up the kids went along the rocks.  I said a quick prayer hoping no snakes were out and then started the timer again.  Alas as the timer went off we found nothing again.  With all the landscaping they do here we figured a landscaping crew probably muggled it during the winter.

  The third one was a bit farther away so everyone had fun taking turns with the Garmin.  It was also uphill... my favorite!!  At the top of the hill, at the mouth of the stream, before I could even get the timer started,  we had success at long last!  We found it!  I pretended to take pictures while we logged in.  Unsure about whether we should press our luck or just end on a high note, the kids voted to keep going.  After all it was hazy but still a beautiful day. 

The searching continues.

First success!

  The fourth one was well over a half mile away and since we were right next to the car we decided to drive to it.  Thank goodness we did since it was at a rest stop along the highway.  We had to do only one U-turn but we managed to find the right rest stop!  Starting the timer the kids go at it.  The hint stated it was at the top of the rock near a survey marker.  As if the kids needed any incentive to climb to the top!  Once the marker was found the small container was found immediately!  Yeah!  Our first micro here in Korea!  More pictures were taken while we logged in.

Found the rest stop.

Searching at the top of the rock.

The survey marker and the micro-cache.

The crew logging in our second find and first micro!

 With that, our geocaching day was complete.  Fifty percent isn't bad and a good time was had by all.  The Metz are hooked!  We leave for Busan tomorrow and Galen already has 12 more coordinates uploaded and ready to go.

The crew, complete with Heather our driver!

I could spend my life in a Korean Sauna.

  Our Korean Teacher,  Ms. Diane,  decided it was time for us to experience some real Korean culture.  You would think this would mean a trip to a palace from the Up-de-ump dynasty or the Fortress from the way back hundred's but no.  We end up going to a regular, extremely common Korean Sauna also known as a Jjim Jil Bang.  It was fantastic!  Everyone was there, from whole family units with small children, to teenagers out on dates.  It was an amazing social scene.

  Here are the details:

  You walk in and remove your shoes like most places here in Korea.  You put them in a locker. You remove the key and head towards the counter.  Stepping up to the counter you pay an admittance fee (for this place it was 7,000 wan per person or about $6).  For the price of admission you received special clothing and a locker.  The clothing was a cotton t-shirt and drawstring shorts.  Everyone was color coded.  Pink for women, blue for men, green for younger kids and white for those under 8.  From the counter the genders split to the changing rooms.  We changed and joined up on the other side.

  Once on the other side, we were in one large room with smaller rooms off the sides.  There was a complete restaurant, juice bar and massage room.  There were several smaller rooms to watch different channels of TV/movies as well as numerous sleeping rooms.

  The saunas were very interesting.  There was the warm room at 40C the hot room at 60C and then the very hot room at over 80C.  There was also a room completely covered in Amethyst crystals that was warm and soothing.  A pebble room was next with hot jade pebbles.  There was even a forest room that looked like a Korean log cabin and smelled like, well, a forest.  The ice room was cold but also covered with ice like your freezer before you defrost it.  The kids had the most fun in this room and of course the pebble room.  I preferred the 60C hot room where I think I finally thawed out from winter!

All of us in the Amethyst Room.

  The big room was a complete social scene.  People were lounging everywhere playing games, watching TV the whole thing!  Massage chairs lined the walls along as well as comfy chairs with foot massagers.  The entire place was designed for social interactions with relaxation in mind.

Judging by the look on my face, I think I am warm and relaxed!

  Once your time was complete in the big room, genders separated and went back to the locker room.  Here you could take a plunge in a cold pool or lounge in a wet sauna.  Showers and sprayers were everywhere.  Full body massages and all kinds of facials were available too.  Since it was late we elected to just rinse off and head home.  Yes, it was almost 11:00pm when we left but since the place is open 24 hours there were some people just arriving.

  All in all it was an amazing experience.  I was so relaxed on the ride home I almost fell asleep. Since Jason missed out (he was in Osan getting the oil changed in the car and didn't make it back in time) we will HAVE to make another trip to show him....  Wahoo!

Some plunges must be taken with both feet.

  We took the plunge today.  We totally jumped off the "driving a car in Korea" cliff with both feet and bought a used car.  A very used car.   I had finally had enough of trying to find a cab driver that would get me to the school from the apartment.  Jason and I also felt that we were not seeing enough of the countryside only traveling by public transportation.  So using some contacts from friends we did it!  We bought a 1996 Hyundai Sonata III with 137,000 kms.

  We began our plunge with Kristen driving us to Osan last Tuesday, March 1st.  Just outside the Osan AFB main gate we found the Volvo dealership and met Mr. Tony and Mr. Lee.  We explained our circumstances and got his opinion on the car.  Mainly we needed the car to be reliable but also affordable.  If we get sent home in the next 100 days, what could he sell fast.  If circumstances change, as they frequently do here in Korea, will it last longer.  We went with Tony's recommendation  of the Sonata.  They sell here quickly and are considered the most reliable car in Korea.  Both Korean and Military people like the car.  We were sold.  We put a deposit down to hold the car and went home to run the numbers.

  After about 3 days of deliberating.  We decided to go ahead and take the plunge!

  We started the day with Heather driving us to Osan.  We navigated to the Volvo dealership once again.  Met up with the insurance person to sort out insurance.  In Korea, you can't even register the car without the insurance first.  This took about 30-45 minutes.  Back to the dealership we went and then we found Mr. Lee.  He drove us to the Registration office where someone was already waiting in line for us.  We submitted our paperwork and were on our way.

  We even found our way back to Bundang in one shot!  Filled up with gas (at about $2 per liter or $8 per gallon) along the way.  At the apartment we registered the car and signed up for a parking spot.   Galen wanted her new goalie gloves for practice, so up to the school we went.  Straight up to the school.  No walking to the subway station to find a cab.  No trying to finagle a ride with anyone.  Just hopped in the car and drove to the school!  At the school, I registered the car and put the sticker in the window.  I'm all set.  Jason is even picking up Galen from soccer practice tonight!  I am looking up how to get to Hwaseong Fortress for an outing this weekend!  I think the whole country just opened up for us with this one little change.

  By the way, we named our little car on the way back from Osan.  We kept saying the car wasn't perfect, and it was pretty old, but for the price it was a perfectly nice car (PNC).   Hence the name Pink.  Don't worry, it's not the color pink, it's taupe.  Which does have a pink under-tone in the sun.   (Just in case you were picturing Jason driving around Korea in a hot pink Sonata.)

Week in Review

  Wow!  What a couple of weeks!  It all started last week.  Last Tuesday I got to meet Linda Sue Park.  I sat in on her lecture to high school students.  She gave several writing tips, and although I don't consider myself a writer per se, I'm hoping her writing tips will improve this blog.  She was amazing.

  Soccer has officially started and all the forms are signed.  The finger is completely healed and she is cleared for all activity including goalkeeping.  All this makes the teen-ager in the family extremely happy and excited for the upcoming season.

  Last Tuesday we investigated buying a car.  The price is good and the deal should go through we just have to see what insurance will be like.  Watch out Korea you will have a blonde driver on the road soon! (Hopefully)

  Parent/teacher conferences came and went and both kids seem to be doing quite well in school.  Nobody is acting up and grades are in the A to low B range! 

  Finally, on Friday I started a traditional Korean Embroidery class.  The project is a bit bigger than I expected but it is a repeating stitch I will hopefully master quickly.  I will post a picture when it is recognizable as something.  It's different since it is silk thread on silk fabric.  To my recollection I haven't done this combination before.  I have stitched with silk thread but usually I use linen or cotton fabric.   The teacher is very nice and very patient which is a good combination when learning something new!

Every Now and Then.

  Every now and then it comes in handy having an Electrical Engineer in the house.  Say for example when light bulbs need to be changed, plugs replaced, the toaster malfunctions, stuff like that. 

  Then you have the occasion when the teenager accidentally includes her iPod in with the soccer laundry.  Realizing what "that noise"  in the laundry machine is with cries of sheer panic, we all came running.  The location of the iPod was indeed in the middle of the machine.... ear phones and all.  Luckily it let me pause the wash and dig out the now thoroughly clean piece of technology.  You could  see the water behind the screen along with some bubbles from the detergent.

  Laundry replaced and the machine continuing its cleaning process, now much quieter than moments before, we begin to assess the damage.  I'll admit it didn't look very promising.  Jason jumped on the internet to see what could be done, mainly how to get it apart so it could dry.  I began the process of calming the hysterical teen now facing life without an iPod.

  Within the hour Jason had the iPod in several pieces, drying on my kitchen counter top.  [Yes, I'm sorry I didn't get a picture and now he refuses to take it apart again to stage the shot.  Readers will just have to visualize an iPod in several pieces, all the tiny screws lined up, on my counter.]

  Fast forward two very long hours in a teen-without-an-iPods life and it is back together.  It initially has trouble holding a charge but in the end it works.  A crack is discovered in the LCD from the machine tumbling it took.  The screen also has a crack at the bottom from the taking-apart-process which prevents it from being unlocked and fully functioning.  All in all those parts can be ordered and replaced eventually and the iPod will be mostly good as new.  Whew!  Dad the hero!  One much relieved teen.

  The good news is we have an extra Nano she can borrow until the replacement parts arrive.... or her birthday present gets here. [We had actually decided to get her a newer one with more memory weeks ago and its on order.]