Seoul, South Korea - Day Three
Today the we took another subway ride to meet my mom, cousin, aunt, and uncle at Lotte Department Store. It was 12 levels of premium shopping, we only made it to level five before Ty and Zoe lost interest but it was crazy busy. The first level was filled with different food stations with people cooking up all sorts of stuff.
Lotte Mart
We walked over from the Lotte Department Store to Lotte Mart which is more like a mall to eat at the food court. This was unlike any food court I had seen or been to. So much food! All freshly prepared and yummy! You order all your food in one location but pick up your different dishes at the different stations depending what dish you ordered.
Lotte World Amusement Park
After lunch Michael and I took the kids next door to Lotte World, an indoor amusement park. Unfortunately due to weather and some electrical maintenance most of the areas were closed. We still had a blast running around and playing.
Dinner Time
After a day of shopping and play we walked over to my cousin Oh-Sun’s apartment just a few blocks away. She lives in a neighbor hood of high rise apartment in the upscale neighbor hood of Gangham.
We decided to simply order food for delivery which is something Zoe and Ty requested and have been looking forward to. The delivery is super quick about 10-15 minutes. Once you are done with your meal the delivery people return to pick up their dishes so there is no packaging waste. Food again is freshly prepared using wholesome ingredients and tasty.
Seoul, South Korea, Day Two
Woke up early today and took our first subway ride through Seoul to meet up with my aunt at the hospital near Yonsei University.
My aunt lives in a farming town a couple hours out of Seoul, but comes to the hospital twice a month for her husband who has Alzheimer’s and heart problems. It was nice to be able to see her while she was in Seoul. We went out and ate lunch with my aunt and cousin.
Then we enjoyed a nice walk around Yonsei University and Hanyang University taking in the sites, shopping and culture.
South Korea, Day One
When we arrived we were welcomed by my cousins and my mom who had flown in from DC the week before. It was nice to see friendly faces in the crowd of people. My mom is the one in the center of the picture with her arm pointing to the right guiding us where we are supposed to go.
After we were picked up, along with all our massive amounts of luggage, we were wisked away to my uncle’s home in Jayang-dong neighborhood in Seoul where we were surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins I had not seen in decades. Before sitting down to eat we looked over pictures and talked about what I remember as a child and my life in the states. I enjoyed catching up and spending time with my family. I was given so many compliments about how well I speak Korean. That I converse as if I had never left and that I have the accent and pronunciation of a native. This makes me grateful for being required to speak Korean in our home and all those Saturday Korean classes I was forced to attend all my life. It also motivates me to learn more and realize how important it is to teach Korean to Michael, Zoe and Ty.
They had prepared a home cooked Korean traditional meal of pork belly, rice and side dishes. We spent several hours catching up and eating some amazing food. All the greens and peppers you see on the table were from my uncles rooftop garden where he grows all types of lettuce in ceramic pots. Talk about fresh!
For me it was great arriving to the country I was born and had not visited in 28 years. I immigrated to the states when I was seven and only returned once when I was twelve. Thinking about how long it has been and the family that still lives here I realize how much of my family’s life I have missed. I haven’t seen and interacted with my mom’s side of the family in decades and makes me sad and appreciate the sacrifices my mom has had to make to a life in the states. My dad has siblings in the states and I grew up seeing them all the time. My mom’s family is very close, ten times closer then my dad’s side of the family. It breaks my heart when I think about the time my mom has spent away from them. My mom is the youngest of the siblings. She has two older sisters and three older brothers, she did have a younger sister who died tragically years before I was born and it is never talked about in the family. My mom’s oldest sister is twenty years older then my mom and she was more like a mother figure to her growing up. It has been eight years since my mom saw her family and you can tell she is so excited to be with them but sad at the same time. Sad at the time that has past and the time she has spent away from them. This trip has made my mom and I both realize that it is so important to keep connected with family no matter what the distance or the cost. It has made me truly appreciate the sacrifices my parents made to leave their country, family, and friend to make a better life for me and my sister. It has made me grateful that I can make this trip and share this experience with Michael, Zoe and Ty.
South Korea, Day One
When we arrived we were welcomed by my cousins and my mom who had flown in from DC the week before. It was nice to see friendly faces in the crowd of people. My mom is the one in the center of the picture with her arm pointing to the right guiding us where we are supposed to go.
After we were picked up, along with all our massive amounts of luggage, we were wisked away to my uncle’s home in Jayang-dong neighborhood in Seoul where we were surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins I had not seen in decades. Before sitting down to eat we looked over pictures and talked about what I remember as a child and my life in the states. I enjoyed catching up and spending time with my family. I was given so many compliments about how well I speak Korean. That I converse as if I had never left and that I have the accent and pronunciation of a native. This makes me grateful for being required to speak Korean in our home and all those Saturday Korean classes I was forced to attend all my life. It also motivates me to learn more and realize how important it is to teach Korean to Michael, Zoe and Ty.
They had prepared a home cooked Korean traditional meal of pork belly, rice and side dishes. We spent several hours catching up and eating some amazing food. All the greens and peppers you see on the table were from my uncles rooftop garden where he grows all types of lettuce in ceramic pots. Talk about fresh!
For me it was great arriving to the country I was born and had not visited in 28 years. I immigrated to the states when I was seven and only returned once when I was twelve. Thinking about how long it has been and the family that still lives here I realize how much of my family’s life I have missed. I haven’t seen and interacted with my mom’s side of the family in decades and makes me sad and appreciate the sacrifices my mom has had to make to a life in the states. My dad has siblings in the states and I grew up seeing them all the time. My mom’s family is very close, ten times closer then my dad’s side of the family. It breaks my heart when I think about the time my mom has spent away from them. My mom is the youngest of the siblings. She has two older sisters and three older brothers, she did have a younger sister who died tragically years before I was born and it is never talked about in the family. My mom’s oldest sister is twenty years older then my mom and she was more like a mother figure to her growing up. It has been eight years since my mom saw her family and you can tell she is so excited to be with them but sad at the same time. Sad at the time that has past and the time she has spent away from them. This trip has made my mom and I both realize that it is so important to keep connected with family no matter what the distance or the cost. It has made me truly appreciate the sacrifices my parents made to leave their country, family, and friend to make a better life for me and my sister. It has made me grateful that I can make this trip and share this experience with Michael, Zoe and Ty.
Traveling to Seoul, South Korea
It has been eleven days since our arrival in Seoul, South Korea. I had hoped to do a daily post about our trip and the experiences we were having but there simply hasn’t been any time. We have been on a nonstop adventure since being picked up at the airport by my aunt, uncles, and cousins a week and a half ago. I hope to at least be able to catch up and post something about our trip even if it is delayed.
Our trip took over 24 hours considering the driving, waiting, and the actual air travel. The over all travel was not as bad I had been told by others. Over the years Zoe and Ty have become pros at traveling, this makes my life so much easier. They look forward to the travel time as a time to watch as many movies and play video games to their hearts desire with me not complaining or limiting their electronic usage. Overall we were prepared so it made all the difference.
We had so many large heavy bags due to all the presents we were bringing to our family from the states and our own personal things for the month long trip. It was crazy shopping and packing all the stuff but the funniest was actually taking all the bags to the airport.
Titan's Quote of the Week #1
"It’s like putting a filter on life"
My son Ty (short for Titan) has always said some witty, observent, and funny things most of his life. I sometimes I am amazed and sometimes I laugh. But I have always regretted not writing them down. Better now then never.
Today after picking him up from dance. The Colorado sun was in his eyes so I handed him my polorized Maui Jim sunglasses. He puts them on, turns to me and says “It’s like putting a filter on life.” Kids always says the most interesting things and they have the ability to look at life, objects and situations in the most unique way.
Club Sandwich
Zoe had a piano recital on Sunday in the back yard of her piano teachers home with a pot luck to follow. It was nice to sit under the sun and listen to kids playing their piano pieces. You could say it was music to my years.
For the pot luck I chose to make some club sandwich beacuse they are so yummy and always a big hit. It’s something about the extra slice of bread and the bacon I think. It is always just such a satisfying sandwich.
First, I start with pans of bacon. I make them in the oven using a cool rack over a baking sheet. This is quick and less messy then the conventional stove and frying pan approach. Bake at 400 for about 10-15 minutes. Make sure to keep an eye out because the times vary depending on your oven and thickness of the bacon.
Next I pull all the ingredients and get them prepped and ready.
Bread
Bacon
Lettuce
Tomato
Oven Roasted Turkey
Honey Ham
Provolone Cheese
Mayo
I start by toasting the slices of bread then allowing them to cool a bit on a cooling rack. I take one slice and spread on some mayo. Next I had two slices of the turkey, then two slices of ham, and one slice of the provolone cheese. Then I top it with my second slice of toast with mayo. Next I add lettuce, then tomato then bacon topping the whole thing with my final slice of toast. I like to place a toothpick in the sandwich in order to hold in place while I cut and transport it.
I made about 8 sandwiches which I cut into quarters for easy holding and eating. I filled up two large plates full of club sandwiches and they looked amazing and yummo. Unfortunately I was unable to still till the end and enjoy the pot luck but I was told the sandwiches were a big hit.
Cinnamon Master
Over the weekend I attended The Psychology of Eating conference with my graduating class. It was an amazing experience and I truly have been changed from meeting and learning from all those in attendence. During my many wonderful conversations the topic of soda came up multiple times. I shared with a few of my fellow coaches my favorite summer drink. A drink that really gives me the feeling of drinking a carbonated soda but with great digestive and other health benefits. For me it feels like drinking a sweet cinnamon soda, if there is such a thing. I was asked to post the recipe multiple times so I decided to do just that as I sit on my porch enjoying the sun and the beautiful weather.
My Cinnamon Master is based on the Master Cleanse Lemonade with a twist. It is very refreshing and in a strange way gives me a sense that I am drinking something carbonated.
Nice Glass with Ice
1 to 2 Tbsp Grade B Maple Syrup
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Lemon, juiced
1/2 to 1 tsp Ceylon Cinnamon
2 c of Spring Water
Place all the ingredients into glass with ice. Now stir, shake and rock n roll. Then enjoy sipping it with some friends or relaxing alone.
Grade B Maple Syrup has many minerals and vitamins. It helps provide energy, has antioxidant properties which can help lower cholesterol, good for heart health, and supports your immune system. Plus it is tasty and sweet.
Apple Cider Vinegar helps decrease glucose levels, lose weight, lowers high blood pressure and cholesterol, good for your skin, helps with detox, improves digestion, improves bowels, has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties and rich in potassium.
Lemons are very alkalizing for the body and helps restore balance to the body’s pH. It is detoxifying, gets rid of parasites, fights fatigue, good for the liver, cleans your bowels, has anti-bacterial properties, and rich in Vitamin C.
Cinnamon regulates blood sugar, reduces LDL Cholesterol levels, reduces pain related to arthritis, may reduce proliferation of cancer cells, contains fiber, calcium, iron, manganese, helps with headaches and migraines, and boosts cognitive function and memory.
Try this refreshing drink and let me know how you like it. Cheers!
Charleston Grill
We arrived yesterday to Charleston, SC for my baby sister’s wedding. My inlaws decided to make the 5 hour drive and meet up with us for a long weekend from Georgia, simply because we were on this side of the country. We started off the weekend together at the Charleston Grill a few blocks from where we were staying.
The atmosphere was incredible. Beautifully designed setting, live music, and smiling helpful staff. A true perfect balance of attention to their customers without being bothersom. We were a bit underdressed from our travels (most people were in jacket and tie) and we had our two kids however it did not seem to matter.
After being seated and given our menus I was pleasantly suprised at the layout of the menu alone. The items were sectioned into different categories. I was told that the menu changes constantly depending on the season and what is available locally. There was just such amazing and unique selection of items it was hard to decide.
I ended up with the Roasted Oysters and split the Prime Beef Tenderloin with my daughter Zoe. Others in our party chose to get Roasted Cauliflower, Salt Roasted Beets,Butter Poached Lobster, Seared Flounder and Shrimp, Collection of Vegetables over Risotto.
Because Zoe and I split our dish they were able to cook our pieces just the way we like it. I like mine medium but Zoe prefers her meat rare. She says it brings out the flavor more, definately my child. I have to sa the presentation of the food was beautiful. And the dish was the best tenderloin I have ever had in my entire life! I can totally say that with 100% conviction. Our pieces melted in our mouths. There was the factor of course of the tenderloin being local but you could really tell the talent of the person who cooked the piece to perfection.
We finished off our meals with some yummy dessert and coffee.
The meal took about three hours to savior. It was truly one of the best meals I have had in my entire life. It was just the perfect combination of atmosphere, service, attention to detail, the food, and the company. If you ever get a chance to visit the beautiful city of Charleston I would highly recommend the Charlestom Grill for an elegant evening of perfection.
Charleston Jog
I got up this morning and decided to take a jog and get to see some of downtown area where we are staying. As most of you know I am not a runner. I say jog cause my pace is super slow and easy, usually 11-12 minute mile pace. I don’t run regularly because it doesn’t fit my body and I often end up injuring myself. But every once in awhile I love a good jog. It is always very meditative for me, gets my body pumped and always a great way to get to know my surrounding when I am on vacation. Charleston is beautiful and super clean. It was so quiet during my run and it really has set a great foundation for the day.
Charleston Jog
I got up this morning and decided to take a jog and get to see some of downtown area where we are staying. As most of you know I am not a runner. I say jog cause my pace is super slow and easy, usually 11-12 minute mile pace. I don’t run regularly because it doesn’t fit my body and I often end up injuring myself. But every once in awhile I love a good jog. It is always very meditative for me, gets my body pumped and always a great way to get to know my surrounding when I am on vacation. Charleston is beautiful and super clean. It was so quiet during my run and it really has set a great foundation for the day.