From the Land of Kimchi

The Osan Chicken Man!

Christina — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:12:32 +0000

Oh yes, here he is in all his glory! I haven’t seen a travel blog yet on Osan that doesn’t have a pic of the them with the chicken man, so

here is mine:

Chicken man hard at work grilling our chicken on a stick!

Mark with the Chicken Man!

Mark trusted me to hold his chicken on a stick...shouldn't trust a chicken eater!

Yum, Yum, Yum, salmonella be cursed!

Pretty girl and other pics.

Christina — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:01:11 +0000

This little girl was just so beautiful all dolled up in her traditional

Korean wear. Funny thing is after I took her picture, her mother

wanted Austin’s pic. Told you we are tourist attractions ourselves!

I was taking pictures of unsuspecting diners but got an ugly look when I tried to take closer, so this was the best “cafeteria” pic.

Mark at the entrance to one of the courtyards.

Beautiful woodwork under one of the pavillions.

What is wrong with this country?

Christina — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:57:21 +0000

OK, so this is just wrong on so many levels. I don’t even know what is in it and I know that it is wrong and to stay far away from it. My guess is of course that it is wrapped in seaweed. I think I see cheese, rice, lettuce, and maybe some type of hambuger that may be raw. Honestly, the flavor combinations I see here are mind boggling! Gross….nuf said.

Just when you thought second hand smoke was bad!

Christina — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:07:17 +0000

Today we were going to take a nap and head to the playground but I was awakened by the intercom system warnings. Seems it was a Yellow Dust warning. Well, I have no idea what that is, so I had to find out. First, a picture so you get an idea:

That's not the sweet smell of roses headed your way!

Seems the dust originates in northern China and Mongolia and the high winds then pick it up and carry it over Korea to Japan. Well, along the way it picks up a nasty mixture of industrial particles like metal dust, yes, metal dust, pollutants such as sulfur, as well as viruses, bacteria, fungi, pesticides, antibiotics, asbestos, herbicides, plastic ingredients, and combustion products. Interesting note from the Korean Times: It takes 1.5 million dollars, 6000 gallons of water, and 6 hours to clean one jumbo jet at the airport after one of these storms.

So, in a nutshell, thanks China for polluting your neighbor.

I know, I know, I shouldn't have.

Interesting photo

Christina — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 08:25:21 +0000

Took an interesting photo on the way to Osan. Maybe it is a little insensitive to post, but I am not a sensitive person, so here it is. Seems they bury people sitting up. Kind of creepy to imagine a little person just sitting there, staring at me while I took this picture. Creepy..

Hello Jim Bob, how's it hangin!

Austin playground trip!

Christina — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 08:19:27 +0000

Here are some pics of Austin and Daddy at the playground near base housing. We go as often as we can as he just loves it.

Daddy and his little bubble boy

Somebody found a choo choo!

Daddy and AustinHurry, hurry, let's go play!

Playing dead like possums!

Update to recent post

Christina — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:03:05 +0000

OK, noodle bowl was most assuredly NOT beef flavor. Mental note: Do not try things just because I think I know what is in it. Floating, rehydrated jelly fish is NOT a flavor I am used to.

Yet another random post

Christina — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:00:17 +0000

Good morning, Good night, choose your greeting, from the little country next to that big one. Glad you had fun in Florida. Funny you should mention Austin and his milk as I have not been able to get him to drink any since we landed. The milk here is milk, but it is processed in a weird way to make it last three times as long, so it has a little different taste. Austin is officially boycotting milk. I can’t blame him really, I don’t like it either. Reminds me of another issue I have…….

Starbucks…yes, a real one right here on base. I was so excited! Anyone who knows me knows I adore Starbucks and the high price that comes with it. So, I went in and ordered the usual, Iced Latte with whip cream. What I got was most assuredly NOT an Iced Latte with whip cream! I can’t begin to describe the foul taste that this drink had. I have no idea what kind of milk they use there, I think it may be soy or goat, not sure. Anyways, gross, gross. So, I figure, next time around I will just order iced coffee and add half and half to it right? Ok, did it, same result. Cream is not cream, milk is not milk, what is wrong with these people!??? I am emailing Starbucks and asking “whasssuppp?”.

Well, today will be mostly uneventful. Mark has to work, so Austin and I are going to the playground and the library later. I was planning on a pit stop at Starbucks but we all know that is out of the question now. We have to stay away from the main gates as there are protests scheduled for today. I don’t think the Koreans realize that none of the soldiers really want to be here anyway. Seems most of the country wants us to vacate their land. I guess us protecting them from complete anihilation from the North just hasn’t dawned on them quite yet. The protests are usually peaceful but have gotten violent in the past, so they advise us just to stay far away. Not a problem for me since it is like a 45 minute walk to get there, and that would be to strenuous anyway.

Yesterday we went to Lotte Mart, the big Korean version of Wally World. We almost died on the way there….again. It was an interesting shopping trip. Every single aisle in the store has a Korean woman working in it, to answer any questions and to try and get you to buy something. They don’t talk to us though, I think they figure we are confused enough. I bought some drinkable yogurt thingies that looked good, lots of candy of course…always safe with candy. I got some noodle package things with a picture of what I think is beef on the front.

Beef , Chicken, mystery flavor??

Guess I will find out at lunchtime. Austin picked out some Korean police cars and firetrucks which he pushed the button the entire time we were in there. Evidently this is a rude thing…who would’ve known. I picked up the cutest little Korean doll for Charlotte, she is going to love it. Got back home and went to the playground and around 7 pm the jet lag hit me…hard. I fell asleep on the couch and Mark woke me and put us to bed.

So, that’s it. Another day in the life. This weekend we are heading I think into Seoul and staying on the base there. I loved Seoul last time, so I am glad to go again. Love to all!

Random post I forgot to add

Christina — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:54:15 +0000

Austin actually slept last night pretty good so that means I got to sleep which was a welcome relief. We went today to Osan Air Force base to go shopping and sightseeing outside the gates in the local Korean town. We bundled little man up where he looked like a little bobble head sticking out of a burrito end. Couldn’t let him catch cold! Actually it wasn’t too bad out with the sun shining at least. I should mention that my husband now drives like a Korean which is not a compliment! We went shopping and bought a few souveniers and some little die cast Korean cars for Austin. He thought he was pretty cool strolling around with us. Of course as usual, the Koreans found him fascinating. One woman came up and wanted to touch his hair. She kept saying “handsome boy” over and over. Whatever, don’t touch my baby! There was one thing I really wanted to get but after Mark haggling for awhile the guy just wouldn’t budge on the price so we will try again at another shop next time. You have to haggle price on everything. Kind of fun actually, the whole bartering process. Yes, I had to have something on a stick while walking around so we got chicken (or so we think) on a stick from a little old Korean man selling it out of his little stand. It was really good whatever it may have really been. Funny thing is you don’t see alot of stray cats in Korea…hmmmmm.

So, after a little shopping we went back on base and let Austin play at the indoor play area in the Food Court. We then went and met a couple that Mark knows from work for dinner at Chili’s. Mark was happy to get normal American food again. I had a really strong Margarita and am now on a cold rum and coke back at home. Feeling pretty good about life in general tonight. Mark is as I type giving little man his bath and then hopefully it will be bedtime for him. He has had quite a few eventful days. He seemed happier today especially when we are out so we will have to get out everyday and do something or he and I both will go cabin crazy.

Tomorrow we are headed to Lotte Mart which is kind of like a Korean WalMart. There is an indoor playground where he can mingle with his culturally different little people. Mark says it has a cool grocery so I am looking forward to buying and trying a few unusual food items. I will however stay far away from the dried sea life that I saw last time. Things that are dried in a clear see through package with eyes and tentacles still attached are a little beyond my adventurous reach. I tend to not like things that are looking back at me.

Poor little fellas!

Maybe it is my guilty conscience, maybe it is just because it is gross tasting, don’t know which.

Should be an interesting and fun outing.

I would have pictures from today but the camera battery went dead on the drive, so next time! Love to everyone from the land of Kimchi and really bad fashion.

Day nine…Korea gets weirder

Christina — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:25:31 +0000

Well, here we are on day nine. Seems like we have been here a month already. Things are going well. Austin is adjusting a little better especially now that we go to the playground or the gym every day now. He needs to get all his pent up energy and stress out. You know how much stress a two year old can be under! Our noses are not doing so well over here, we both keep waking up with a bloody nose every morning. Mark and I have discussed it and we figure it is because Korea is just so filthy. Oh yes, it is. Yesterday we drove over to Osan Air Base again to eat dinner and while driving, or should I say hanging on for dear life, we got a good smell of exactly what Korea is all about. The fields are now thawing here and so they are starting to lay fertilizer.

What exactly is in that mysterious liquid?? hmmmmm.

Now, I don’t know what exactly the Koreans use for fertilizer, but I have my suspicions, they are not pretty. Even Austin was getting a little uncomfortable in the back seat. I think we may invest in some duck tape for the windows and vents for when we are out and about. It really is disgusting.

On the ride home Austin got really cranky as he was too tired and I could not for the life of me locate a pacifier anywhere in the car. Mark pulls over at a gas station that appeared to be closed to find one. Now, it is dark out, not many street lights and I see this guy walking toward us. Now, I don’t know if it is a station worker or my own nightmare come true of a deranged serial killer that seeks out stranded American families with small children. I mean you never really know. So, I am yelling at Mark to get his behind into the car and lock the doors. Mark wasn’t worried but I was. I have that primal, protect your child at all costs mentality that all mothers have. Well, it really was ok, as it was the station owner just checking if we needed anything. Regardless, still freaked me out as I was planning my defensive attack in my head. Men!

Today is rainy and cold so no playground or outside activities for us. We will be headed to the Super Gym for a little one on two basketball with little man. This weekend we were going to head to Seoul but there is a huge protest on Saturday outside the base gates. Like 700-1000 people large protest, no thanks. Don’t want to go anywhere near that. They are protesting the exercises going on this week and there are some just plain Anti-American groups with them. The Korean police do a pretty good job of keeping them under control, but better safe than sorry. Again, the Koreans just don’t get it. If we were not here protecting them, they would all be dust right now.

So, I guess this weekend we will just stay in the local area and try to find a new huge department store I read about. Supposed to be ten stories high of total mega Korean shopping. My only problem is getting used to the stares. Evidently I am quite fascinating to look at, who knew I would be so popular! I guess I am sort of an oddity here, a huge American Amazon woman! Good thing is, I don’t think many people would mess with me. I would just sit on them..hehehe.

Well, love to everyone. I am going to sit with Austin and watch Finding Nemo for the third time today. Fun huh? Later