Seoul Day 3

Sorry this post is so late!  This is one BUSY girl we've gotten our hands on!  But she is wonderful and we can't wait for everyone to meet her. 

Yesterday, May 31st was our Gotcha Day.  We didn't actually get to get her until 3:00 in the afternoon so we started the day with a trip to Lotte Department Store.  It's ginormous!!  I think they sell everything!  The bottom floor is sort of like a Fresh Market and then as you go up the next 10 floors you come across every top brand of clothing, jewlery, and accessories.  The top two floors are restaraunts and coffee shops.  It was definitely an experience- I think I've been less intimidated in Phipps Plaza in Atlanta or any department store in NYC.  Great people watching and a good way to kill some time. 

We came back to our room and started a list of questions for Eliza Grace's foster mom and finished wrapping our gifts for the Holt staff and her foster family.  Before we knew it, it was time to go down and get a cab to Holt.

We made the drive over and got there about 20 minutes early.  We walked in and the first face that smiled at me was Eliza Grace!!  She smiled and I said hey to her then her foster mom realized who we were and brought her over to us.  We gave her the bunny we had bought her for her birthday and played for a minute until DJ our social worker came out and took us to a private meeting room. 

Eliza Grace was very enamored with her FM's phone and was watching "the bear song" on it.  Phil quickly pulled it up on his phone (in English) and she then took his phone.  Next we moved on to puffs and I think she was sold- we weren't too bad after all. 

We asked her FM all of our questions and we exchanged gifts.  She gave us a photo album of EG's first year that we absolutely treasure.  When we get home and can scan some of the pictures, I'll post them.  She also gave us the hanbok that EG wore at her first birthday party.  She selected a computer mouse from her Tol table- so she'll be a computer wiz!  She also gave us season 3 of Pororo in ENGLISH!!!  This is a very popular Korean cartoon that is really hard to find in English.  And a Pororo stuffed animal.

While we were meeting her Appa (foster father) called her.  She sat and talked to him on the phone- I have a super cute video of that- I'll probably have to share that when we get home as well.

So here are the pictures from our meeting:

As you can see she conked out on the ride home.  She probably slept a good hour or more when we got back to the hotel.  Then we got to meet the real Eliza Grace!!

She has one mode- ON.  We ran around the room, then we ran around the hall, then we moved the party to the lobby.  We went up and down stairs and the escalator.  I was pouring sweat, so I decided we'd give the pool a try.  Silly me- the pool is for running laps around!

 After that we came back to the room for a bath and bedtime.  Her foster mom told us that she loves her bath and that she goes to bed about 11. 

We were worn out so we started a little bit sooner than that, but she was definitely not ready!  She roamed in and out of the bathroom looking for Appa, she jumped all over the bed, and just generally did anything she could to stay UP.  We walked the hall for a little while and came back.  She played for a little bit and then I think she started to get it.  She was staying with us.  She got her shoes (new Target Robees that we brought- she LOVES them) and pointed to the door.  She wanted out.  So she cried a little and then I put her in the carrier and walked around the hall some more until she fell asleep.  She woke up when we got back and was furious.  We laid down on the floor together and she cried some more.  She then climbed on top of me and fell asleep.  And that's where she stayed most of the night.  On my chest on the floor.  Eventually I was able to roll her off and cover her up with her favorite blanket (one that we sent for her birthday!).  She woke a few times in the night, but went right back to sleep.  She slept until about 8 this morning.  She woke up and saw Phil and started crying.  She ran to me, cuddled for a second, then looked back at Phil with a big grin and started playing peek-a-boo with him. 

She is just really doing great.  Better than we could have every expected.  We're exhausted from chasing her, but thrilled that she is so happy with us. 

Alright- I've way over done my computer time- excuse any typos, I don't have time to proof! :)

Seoul Day 2

So, on day two we decided to brave the subway and make our way to the town of Bucheon where we believe Eliza Grace was born.  Our goal was to find the hospital where she was delivered and see this "little" town where she began her life.

Question:  How many Koreans does it take to get Phil & Maggie going in the right direction on the subway?
Answer: Apparently there aren't enough in Seoul!!

The man pictured above with Phil is Lim.  He is a 76 year evangelist who spends his days on the subway spreading the good news and inviting people to his church.  Today his mission was to get us to our destination.  He ran all over the subway asking what lines we should take to get to Bucheon.  In the picture on the top right everyone you see is arguing over the best way for us to get there.  Not two seconds before they were all huddled around the map pointing in different directions- kind of like Sunday at home...

Lim was not convinced that we understood him so he got on the subway with us and made sure we got to the train station and onto the right train.  He then decided "what the heck" and got on the train with us!  He said he goes wherever people are.  He taught us how to buy our tickets and that when you get where you're going you deposit the card back into a machine and "catch the money" (you get a refund if you don't use the entire fair).  He repeated no less than 15 times "you understand me, card in, and catch the money!"  always cupping his hands so that we'd understand to get our money back.

Thank you, Lim.  You'd be so proud to know that we made it back in one piece and got on the right subway back to Seoul! (It was going the wrong direction, but I digress)

So we exit the train station in Bucheon to see this-

Our Baby Girl's quaint little town.  It was a little overwhelming at first, but we got going towards the hospital and soon things began to look a little more small town (think any major US metropolis smaller than NYC).

As we walked toward the hospital a poster caught my eye.  I did a double take and it was a Holt office.  We had no idea that there was an office in Bucheon, but this is likely where Eliza Grace's birth mom came for counceling.  We went in and went up to the sixth floor where the office is located.  I took a picture of the door of the office.  I didn't want to appear intrusive or like we were trying to find her birth mom, so we didn't go in.  What a neat surprise- I love that we're getting these little puzzle pieces for EG.  The first picture above is the hospital sign and the bottom right is the hospital.  After I took that one a security guard came and told me "no pictures" so I put the camera up.  We walked into the hospital.  It's waiting room looked about as organized as any University Hospital and we decided to leave before we were admitted.

Above are a few more shots of the town.  Phil geocaching in a park near the hospital and one of the streets.  Once you got away from the train station, the streets really were beautiful.  Tree lined with flower baskets hanging from swan shaped lamp posts.  We saw school children playing on their playgrounds and walking home from school.

We stopped for lunch at a local restaurant.  Absolutely no English spoke here.  LOL.  We finally recognized "japje" (I know it's misspelled, but we'll let it slide this time).  This was a traditional Korean place where you sit on the floor and food is cooked on your table.  I think it's supposed to be self cooked, but I think they were pretty sure we'd mess it up, so they did it for us.  It was fabulous (except that soup with the whole egg in it- that was cold and strange and even Phil didn't eat it).  But everything else was the best. Phil spilled his and they brought him a bib. That still makes me laugh!  Maybe I should keep one in my purse!

We navigated our way home and decided to take a look at Namdaemun Market.  It was absolutely insane.  We were so tired that we bought one souvenir, took one picture, and headed back to the hotel.

The picture very much does not do it justice.  We aren't even really in the market yet.  Imagine the French Market in New Orleans (but 50x bigger) during Mardis Gras and add rickshaws and motor cycles buzzing in and out.

We got to our room and freshened up a little.  I sat down and read a little while Phil showered.  I must have fallen asleep and he left me sleeping.  I woke up at about 11:00pm and now my days and nights are all goofy! He woke up 2:00am and we watched a Netflix.  Now Phil's back to sleep and I'm blogging.

At least we don't have anything important to do to day, right?  In nine hours we'll meet Eliza Grace and all our lives will be changed forever.  Stay tuned...

We Are Here, We Are Here, We Are Here...



baggage claim at Incheon Airport

And feel about as big as those Who's who first screamed "we are here" from their spec in Horton's trunk.  This place is HUGE.  And BUSY.  And it's CRAZY great!!  I'm blogging at the end of day one in Seoul for us.  We flew from Jackson to Chicago where Phil's sweet Aunt Sherry picked us up from Midway airport, took us to breakfast, then dropped us off at O'Hare for our non-stop to Seoul. 

the drop off at O'hare

checking in at Asiana in Chicago

The trip over was uneventful but very long.  The Koreans do not appreciate my LOVE of air conditioning being on about 68 in any moving vehicle and I was HOT the entire 14 hours over.  Yuck!  But, Asiana is a wonderful airline, beautiful stewardesses, fun movies, good food, water and juice coming out your ears (a must for long flights!).  We landed in Seoul, changed currency, and met our driver, Mr. Lee.  And, yes, I sang Mr. Lee for the rest of the day!  I was about ready to kiss Mr. Lee because he did like his car cold and I finally had chill bumps at the end of the hour drive to our hotel!  Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mr. Lee.

We checked into our hotel, the Westin Chosun.  It is beautiful.  They just had their grand reopening this month- what a great time to be here!  We unpacked, had a sandwich in one of the hotel restaraunts, and went to bed.  We'd been up about 26 hours at that point.

(control panel for the TOILETS in our hotel lobby- way too much!)

(We're all ready for our baby girl!)

(view out our window)
This morning we met our Holt issued tour guide , Hye Won.  She was very sweet and stayed with us most of the day.  We toured a couple of museums, Gyeonbok Palace, and Insadong Market. 

Changing of the Guards

(emperor's Cadillac- 1914)

Musical instruments

Throne Room

Korea's Blue House- like our White House

Concerned citizen in Insadong Market.  "Dogs are Friends, Not Food"!  There were several people staging a protest.

(Green Tea/Pistachio & Hello Kitty donuts from underground Krispy Kreme)


After our tour we came back to the room for a quick nap and then did a little exploring of the underground shopping areas.  We had Krispy Kreme's for dinner- I was ready for some good sugar!!  We got a few necessities at the 7-11 and discovered a couple restaraunts we want to try.  We then walked around our hotel grounds where the Temple of Heaven is located.  We also discovered that the Guiness Book of World Records has certified the Westin  as The Oldest Hotel in the Republic of Korea!  Cool, huh?

ceremonial drums

Guinness Book Plaque at our hotel

The "R" in room is right under our window.

Now it's off to bed.  Tomorrow we're going to try and find the hospital where Eliza Grace was born.

sorry the post is so all over the place layout wise- blogger's being a little weird! And spellcheck isn't working either :(

I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane