Seven Weeks

[bertine]

I just realized that I am going to Korea in seven weeks!!

• I guess we are staying with Sun and her family. I am not sure how I feel about this because I don't like bothering people but Serinia tells me they won't take no for an answer. Plus Serinia is going a week before me so she will tell me if it is weird or not.


• We are bringing a bunch of stuff from here for hostess gifts or whatever you call them. So far we have nutgoodie bars and wild rice on the list. Any other suggestions?


• We are giving Sun and Jonghyeon spices from Penzey's for a gift but since they are coming back to Minneapolis at the end of June we aren't bringing them all over there. We are thinking about bringing just a few over to give and then giving them the rest when they get back here.


• I found a dress. I just need to take it in at the waist and get a shrug or something.


• I checked a book out about Korea at the library last night. I have no idea what I want to see other than the DMZ and where Serinia was stationed. I am not too worried about it because Serinia lived there and I guess Sun has a list of places she wants to show us.

Comments

[joeylemur.livejournal.com]

The dress is VERY cute.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[inkedmama.livejournal.com]

that dress is adorable! i love love love it!

7 weeks from now will be exciting for both of us! you head to korea & sunny's arrival will be imminent! ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!

[bertine.livejournal.com]

It is going to be weird. I was thinking at your shower that it is likely you will have your baby when I am in Korea and out of touch with the internet.

Can you believe it is so close?!!

[inkedmama.livejournal.com]

yes and no - i'm ready for her to be here. i'm getting to the point where i'm getting tired of being pregnant & i just want to meet my baby. on the other hand, i can't believe in only 5 weeks my docs would let her arrive!

maybe she'll cooperate and get here before you leave! :)

[bertine.livejournal.com]

I am so excited to see her. I love babies.

[ntiva.livejournal.com]

Cute dress.

I LOVE Penzey's. Love. Like seriously love. Yeah, you get the point. :) I've always wanted to buy one of those crates for someone for their wedding, but never have had the chance yet.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

I love Penzey's too. I actually tend to give that spice crate or the "spicy wedding" pretty often. It is a good gift that I don't have to think about.

[emkachan.livejournal.com]

That is dress is so you (very cute). What's a shrug?

When I am going somewhere, I usually end up getting people a book with pictures of Minnesota (loons, etc.) or a Minnesota tea towel or a snow globe.

Spices are awesome.

Korea sounds awesome. When I went to Chile, I picked out three places that sounded cool in the guidebook and we saw two of those (the other one we didn't have time to see). The rest of the time, Gabriel picked out the places we went.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

Something to go over my shoulders. I am not sure of the weather there but here it might be chilly.

That is what I was thinking. Food, candy and knickknacks.

Yay! That sounds awesome. I want to go to Chile.

[emkachan.livejournal.com]

I like the concept of shawls but I am confused by modern shawl fashion.

Chile is awesome. It's a lot like Minneapolis.

[melissa-maples.livejournal.com]

dress = yes; shoes = yes

we are staying with Sun and her family. I am not sure how I feel about this because I don't like bothering people

Ah, this is an Asian-wide thing— you're bothering them if you don't stay with them, because they'll assume you think there's something wrong or repulsive about them, which you obviously do think since you were willing to pay money to stay in a hotel in order not to have to stay with them. I know, I know, eyeroll, but that's how they see it. Like if you want to stay in a hotel, you're saying their hospitality isn't good enough for you. So just go, stay with them. Believe me, it's easier. I'm done fighting Asian families on this issue. I either have to stay with them, or if I really want a hotel room, then I can't tell anyone I'm in town, which usually isn't practical. So I just stay with them.

Anyway, the food'll be awesome. And they'll treat you so much like royalty, you'll be embarrassed. Guests are to be cherished and given the best of everything. Because if you don't give your guests the best, pretty soon no one will want to visit you, and that would be the end of the world.

It's sweet, actually. I do love living in Asia.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

The problem with the shoes is they are cheap plastic ones and kill my feet. However, I love how cute they are.

Thank you for confirming what Serinia told me. Sometimes things like this is the weirdest thing about leaving the US. I don't want to offend them at all because they are sharing such an important event with us. Plus at least my weirdness will be put up to my being American and not because I am social awkward! Ha!

I have never been to Asia, I am really looking forward to it.

[absenthine.livejournal.com]

Oh, that dress is darling! I see you wearing a stylish black garden party hat with it, with your hair pinned back into some cute up-do.

[absenthine.livejournal.com]

I think you should also watch some Margaret Cho DVDs to get some Korean culture. She has a lot of funny material about her Korean mother... ;-)

[phaedie.livejournal.com]

Am excited for you and loving the dress, looks like one of those dresses that you can twirl in and the skirt will go weeee.

[theophania-79.livejournal.com]

that dress is hot, and is great for your figure. the folks on "what not to wear" would say BRAVO!

[orangebeaver.livejournal.com]

(Cough) Korea expert. The palaces are good. Temples. Yeah!

[bertine.livejournal.com]

I know! I was hoping you would offer.

So, were should I visit? We will be in Seoul and I'll be there for two weeks but I am guessing the wedding will take up half a week. Otherwise I have just started to read up on Korea.

[orangebeaver.livejournal.com]

Well! I would say see all the palaces in Seoul, but especially Kyongbok Palace. The National Museum is good, too. Maybe go hiking in Pukhan-san National Park, which is basically just on the outskirts of Seoul. I suggest going on a weekday, to avoid the crowds. There are some really great temples there, (a famous one, too, but I can't remember the name). You'll miss Buddha's birthday I think, but maybe not. I'm not sure when it is this year.

The DMZ and the infiltration tunnels is a must. There are lots of tours.

You could take a train down south to Kyongju. They call that an outdoor museum. Lots of tombs and great hiking things. There's a hike up a mountain that leads to a cave called the Sokkuram Grotto, which has giant Buddha in it. I'd also go to Haein Temple, near Daegu. Breathtaking scenery. You can go to Daegu on the fast train in a short time from New Seoul Station. Or, you could go to Sorak-san National Park in Kangwon province, which has really nice mountain scenery.

In Seoul, Insa-dong is really nice and Chogye Temple is in that area. There are nice shops selling lots of souvenirs and antiques and tea shops to try things. It's very close to Kwanghwamun. Unfortunately, Namdaemun, the old gate, burned down in February. It's all surrounded by high walls, but Namdaeumun Market is o.k., and has lots of clothes and stuff for sale.

[hutman.livejournal.com]

You really should go to the DMZ it's a very interesting trip, plus technically you get to enter the North. Theres a microphone wire across the table in the hut that counts as the border!