Nanta and a scary taxi ride!

The show Nanta (which means cookin') is a huge hit in Korea! So as a treat for Kari we took in the show on Saturday night. Knives and other kitchen utensiles are transformed into musical instruments by the performers. It has a comedic element as well as the chefs must create a wonderful wedding feast "by six o'clock". Food flies, dishes are thrown, and people are in rolling on the floor in hysterics watching the hi-jinx of these chefs. Kari was not really excited to go, but once in there she agreed it was fantastic.Scenes fromNanta

Kari in front of the Nanta sign in the
Jung dong theatre.

On the taxi ride there, our driver was getting very upset because he had to keep finding alternative routes because of the demonstrations against the American Beef deal President Lee has made. I found myself quite nervous being an American. It's the first time I ever felt that way. And, that has not been the case the whole trip. The Korean people are so friendly and welcoming and were definitely that way this trip. But they are upset with their president and the riots are out of control. Last night the police estimated there were 50,000 demonstrators.

This picture is taken from cnn.com/asia.
It is the streets of Seoul last night as we were on our way to
Nanta. Very daunting, indeed!

Then we hailed a taxi back from Nanta (the theatre was just to the side of all these demonstrations). It took a while to get one to stop--and the one that did drove like a maniac. At one point I grabbed Kari's hand as we rounded a corner in the midst of traffic. Several people on the trip who have been to New York City say it is not as congested as Seoul! So imagine that...now some lunatic taxi driver doing seventy miles an hour in the city! It was terrible. He wanted out of that area so badly.

Before we went to Nanta, we went to the Korean War Memorial Museum. The architecture was beautiful. Typically American, I thought it was going to be only about the Korean Conflict of the 1950's. But this was a museum about all the wars that Korea has been involved in. (Duh!) It was a moving and sad place to visit.

These are statues outside the Korean
war museum. These depicted
the war between North and South Korea.

Well, this will be my last post in Korea. I might post once more when we get home. For all you Faith people--I spoke with Michele VB today on skype. I am old enough to still be awed that I can talk with someone while I am in South Korea and she is in Georgia. Right now Kari is talking with Stephen for her last time. Kari and I are blessed to have Mike in our lives making all these "geeky" things possible!

The Beginning of the End....

On Wednesday we went to a local school in the morning. It was interesting to see the differences and the similarities. The biggest difference is that school was still in session. No summer break here! And the kids go for a half day on Saturday. Most of our kids were thankful for the school system they belong to!
During the school visit neither Becca or Pat could attend so I was next in line for doing the speeches and giving the gifts. I received the most incredible bouquet of flowers I have ever seen. The saying in among the staff is, "If you meet someone for more than 12 minutes...you need to present them with a gift!" So I gave the principal a gift and he gave me the flowers!

Peg giving the principal his gift. Note the bowing and giving the gift with two hands. It would be offensive to give the give with my left hand, so to make sure it's done properly I always give with both hands!!

My absolutely gorgeous bouquet.

Later that night, many of the families went out to host family dinners. This is where you get a peak at life inside a Korean home. We opted out of that and had Domino's Pizza! The box was so nicely packaged we just had to share a pic!

Yep, the pizza came with a side dish of pickles!

On Thursday I took a group of people on the subway to Insa dong...my absolute favorite place in all of Seoul. It is an arts and crafts place with many beautiful shops and galleries. I just go nuts there! That took up a lot of the day and then it was time for the final dinner. The kids looked so sharp that we took lots and lots of pictures!

Kari and Maren

The "guys" of June Ties 2008

Kari and Eric Land--such a neat young man.

Kari and Amy--another Ties Staff.
She is a social worker adopted from Chile'.

Kari and Grant--another buddy
Kari and Jillian--one of the sweetest girls I
have ever met!

Kari and "the girls"

Good-byes are so hard. I am so thankful for "facebook" where these kids can connect. They have already started a Ties 2008 group! What a cool way to stay close and in contact. It's been a really fun mother-daughter trip, but it was really good for Kari to meet some new friends as well. As a mom it was fun to watch her...she was friendly to all, made good friends, yet didn't want to leave me alone too much. What a great kid!

Babies and fishies and puppies!!

These are pictures of Kari and Maren.
Maren is from Minnesota and is here with her
uncle and cousin. Kari and Maren have
hit it off really well. She is such a sweet young lady.

Tuesday was a very packed day with lots going on. We took off from the hotel by 9:00am and went to the Sun Ae Won orphanage. This orphanage is like an extended foster care as these children have not been relinquished for adoption the children were so adorable. Mr. Kim and his family run this orphanage and they do such a great job. All of the children are sociable and engaged. Sadly this means they really, really cry hard as the group leaves after an hour of playtime and cuddling. Our older boys had the hardest time leaving--their soft side really showed as they slowly left the orphanage with tears in their eyes as we could all hear the weeping children.
We needed to remind ourselves of the giggles and cuddles that will keep those children engaged. A child that won't cuddle and play has already "checked out" emotionally.

This little girl was sitting all by herself when Kari walked in the
room. She was feeling pretty sad. Kari held out her arms and
the loving began! Both of them were hooked!

A much happier little girl!

I fell in love with this little sweetie. She held her arms up
to me and snuggled in. Her grip on my arms was so tight, even while
she slept the grip was there. It was such a special and difficult time.

Then it was off to the fish market and the international market. The fish market is incredible, tho' a bit gross a times! The pictures just don't do it justice.

These pictures say it all!

Then we went to the international market where Kari spotted puppies. From then on out it was an assault like you won't believe! "Let's take a puppy home!" "Once we get it home, I KNOW Dad won't mind!" "Can we PLEASE find out how much they cost?" They were adorable and I had to keep reminding myself that in two months Kari goes to school and I start classes. Who would take care of the little thing? Mike, be proud--I held firm!! I wanted one as much as Kari.

It was hard to resist these little guys!

Monday was a free day in Busan. Kari had requested a visit to the Holt office here to see if there was any chance we could get more information. The visit, while pleasant, was a bust. We were hoping to find out if her family here ever came to visit—to see her file. But they didn’t have that information. All of that kind of info is sent back to Seoul and we had already been through those files. We did find out that she had a foster mother in this city also. But Kari only stayed with her for about 25 days.

Kari between Mr. Hwang the director of Holt Services in Busan
and Mrs. Oom, our bus guide who came along and translated.
Mr. Hwang was such a kind and humble man.

It was hard for her to be in the city of her birth and not be able to meet her birth mom. Knowing her birth mother was in the city but was unreachable was terribly frustrating and we both ended up in tears many times. Here’s where the truth of adoption being built on grief came full force. No matter how selfless and brave a birthmother is, it is a rejection to the adoptee. Many adoptees have shared that feeling with me and I am slowly beginning to see their point of view. While I always think of adoption as a miracle (and it is for our family) it starts from a sad situation.

What do you do when you have a hard day?

Call your boyfriend! Kari called Stephen to let off

a little steam that day.

How would an adoptee be able to process all this without the comfort of Jesus Christ? I keep thinking of the verse from Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you…”. Only knowing that a being so much bigger and wiser has plans for each of us, to me that is the only way this all makes sense.

So, it was a difficult day. Yet, as a mom, it was one of the best days as well. We just hung out together and talked for hours about all kinds of things. I am so blessed with such a mature and wonderful daughter. I wish that I could take all of her hurts away but I am thankful she allows me to hurt with her.

Busan has such a different look and feel than Seoul. While it is twice the size, it has half the population. It is a popular vacation spot and honeymoon destination. It is a port city, thus it's mainstay is the seafood. These pictures are from in front of our hotel.