Bye Bye Seoul!!

Annnnddddd were offff. Going to meet the babies at the airport and come on back to Ohio.
Here are some pics from our final day of exploring. Seoul is great! Cant wait to take our kids back one day. Cant believe the time is finally here that Elena is coming home. It has been a very long roller coaster ride!!!
xoxoxo See you in the U.S.!!!

Observations

 So, since Seoul is a million miles away from the Buckeye State things are a little different here...
1. The subways are cleaner than my house.
2. Some doors don't have handles...you just push a button and magically they slide open.
3. People carry umbrellas to block the sun.
4. Their toilets are more advanced than the Ipad. (correction: SOME toilets. Others are sort of a hole in the ground - proof seen below)

5. Koreans love to throw up the peace sign whenever there is a photo op (See exhibit A below)

6. Most men don't hold doors open for women nor do they let them go first.
7. Everybody dresses better than me. Seoul people are fashionistas!
8. A public garbage can sighting is equivalent to a bigfoot or chupacabra sighting...they're rare....magically there is not much litter.
9. Snail cream is the secret to youth in these parts.

10. Some bathroom require you take off your shoes and instead wear croc like creatures on your feet.

And finally....I have been bowing at people for a week and I am wondering how long that is going to take to get out of the habit. 

Today I Met my Mama - by Elena In Hee

Well, today I met my Mama....And to be honest, I was a little scared. I love my Omma so much that I only wanted her to hold me. Mama tried to hold me a couple times but I cried because I wanted my Omma back. Then, Mama started to give me some snacks and I sort of liked that and thought that maybe she was ok. THEN, she pulled out her cell phone and let me play with it. I REALLY liked that. I even took the opportunity to put the phone to Mama's ear so she can say "Hello In Hee!!" After a little while I warmed up and I gave up some smiles, clapped my hands, scooted around the table and showed mama how I like to cruise and I even did a little bit of my disco dance.

I'm pretty sure that Mama thinks I am the most beautiful little baby in the whole wide world. I won't disagree with that. I am going to be so sad when I leave my Omma. I am probably going to have a hard time adjusting to my new family. But soon enough I will love them just as much as they love me.

Although I was the center of attention today, Mama also got to meet another very special person. She was able to meet my brother's foster mother. Mrs. Song remembers my brother being very tall. She liked looking at all his pictures... especially the ones of he and David. She seemed so surprised and happy that Jack and David were still buddies.

Well Wednesday is the day that we leave for the United States. Me and Mama will have some good bonding time since we will be traveling for about 18 hours.

See you and on the other side of the world!!!

Mama's first time seeing me

Maybe just a quick little snuggle...

A little unsure of my new Mama...Where is Omma!#!

Passing out smiles.

My Omma, My Mama, Me (the beauty queen) and Jack's Omma - Mrs. Song

Mama and Jack's Mrs. Song 

Today Was Great, Tomorrow Will Be Better.

T-I-R-E-D. Busy Day. Shopped in Itaewon (Shout out to Lisa for giving us the down low on the amazing pottery store......went there TWICE today). and went to Korean War Museum/Memorial which was fabulous and had lots of very neat stuff. Now I need to get some beauty rest because tomorrow is all about one particular little beauty.  I get to meet my Elena in just 19 hours and right now thats all I'm thinking about.

Lucky Me

Today I feel so lucky that I was able to meet one of the most amazing Korean foster families. I've heard so many wonderful things about this family from my other friends that have adopted children living in their home. And as expected, they were just as amazing as I had imagined.

My travel buddy Becky is adopting a beautiful little boy that lives with the Choi family. The Choi's were so kind to invite us to their home to celebrate Joseph Sung Min's birthday. They had the traditional doljabee ceremony. Sung Min picked the money which means...according to foster mom "Big Money!!" in his future. Then we ate a huge Korean dinner. Kyung Sook wins the award for the best bulgogi ever!

Little Big Joe Sung Min

Big Money!

Happy Joe

Seaweed soup, rice, bulgogi, sardines, fish cakes, kimchi and rice cakes

And after the feast Mr. Choi was nice enough to pile us in his car and drive us to the Dongdaemun Market. For my fellow friends that have been to Seoul...We must have missed the big Dongdaemun indoor building....and all the shops outside were closing up. What's up with that?!? I thought Dongdaemun was open until 5 a.m.  

Regardless, as a bonus we were able to see the very cool Cheonggyecheon Stream.