Seoul Air Show

For the last two weeks jets have been screaming over our house, and my work. It was cool at first, for about a day, and then it just got obnoxious. Every day, at the same time, we would hear them scream by as the building shook and your heart-rate went erratic. Jets are loud. I am glad I am at an airbase with helicopters and not jets.

There was a family fun day the day of the actual air show on base so we went to that and Bee volunteered at the FRG (Family Readiness Group) booth selling goodies and as a fund-raising venue. We heard and watched the jets soar over head but sense we had been seeing them all week it was not to distracting for me.

Our view of the show was a little unique though. The main event of the airshow with all the viewers and static displays was across the airfield on the far side of the runway so the jets would more often than not do some of their turns and fly right over our heads. It was very up close and personal but it also added to the deafening roar of their engines.

It was nice to have see the show and have the Black Eagles and other jets here for a bit and see them practice but we are glad that it is all finally over and things are returning to quite here.

63 Building

ohbamma!

-not a real person-

Hunny had the day off today and I took the day off to spend it with him. We decided to finally go to 63 Building. This is a incredibly tall, golden tower that we past every Sunday on our way to church. It is called 63 Building because of its whopping 63 floors, making it the tallest building in Seoul. I knew that there was an aquarium on bottom and a restaurant on top but that was about it. We picked up out discounted tickets, because the military is awesome, and headed over to our adventure. First stop was a wax museum. I was pretty excited because I'd never been in one, and neither had Hunny. I hear they are pretty cool. Wow, was I creeped out and amazed. They really did look like real people. When we first started I passed a model I didn't see at first and both Hunny and I mistook him for real. I practically jumped and Hunny asked what he was doing just standing there. Since it was Halloween, they did a section devoted to a creepy, dark room with maruled and maimed prisoners. Didn't really help the creepy feeling. The eyes would look like they were actually staring at you, not through you. I kept expecting them to go "Boo!" and jump out at us.

 

This is a fish, not a rock.

After our fun at the wax museum, we wandered to the aquarium. It was pretty big. I don't think I have been to an aquarium before but as I say that I feel like that is something I say every time I go.

Dory's!

 It was so neat to see all the different types of fish and sea creatures. I could have spent all day in there. All of them were fascinating! There were Nemos and Dorys, Flotsams and Jetsams, and some "Squishies". There were even a lot of creatures that weren't of the aquatic nature. Snakes, lizards, and tarantula. But I think I decided that my new favorite animal, or at least very close second, is the otter! There was a play pen of them and they were adorable. Oh!! And there was this spot where you could put your fingers in a container of these fish and they would eat the dead skin off your fingers. It tickled like crazy and was so fun!! I couldn't get enough. Then there was a short show with two seals where the trainer got them to play on a playground. It was a neat and fun experience.

King of Herring. (possibly the ugliest fish ever)

We were getting pretty tired from walking around but we were able to make it all the way up to the 60th floor to see the art gallery. Well, we took the elevator so it wasn't that bad. The gallery wasn't all that grand but the view out the window was. Sixty stories up looking out all over Seoul was a pretty magnificent sight. It was something else. I have seen it coming in from a plane but the angle we were at made Seoul look so much bigger and more populated then before. The tight, compact apartment towers, numerous offices and buildings, the massive curving Han River; it was awesome to behold.

We were curious about the other floors in between the top and the bottom. We knew that most were offices but the elevator that took us to the top showed that there were a few available. We scouted out an elevator and explored the restaurants. I knew they would be more expensive because of location and reputation, but $100 for a plate? $10 just for seasonal fruit dish. But I mean hey, if you want caviar, or shark fin!... be my guest. Probably the only place you will find shark fin. I heard later it was super rare and on the black market in a few areas. Don't get me wrong though, they were some pretty nice places. One was set up almost like a hotel and you got your own room, not just your own table.

After we gawked at the menus long enough we managed to find our way through the huge building to our car. We were beat from a long day of exploring and adventuring. We had a great time and are glad we got to spend the day together. Now when we pass by every Sunday we will remember the good times.

Fall is Here!

Fall is here in Korea and it is Beautiful!

Bee and I both love the fall. But I say that about every season. Right now Autumn is my favorite season, but that will probably change when Spring gets here. It always does. Autumn is oh so colorful! I love the change in weather, the breeze, the bright yellows and oranges, the browns and reds, pumpkins and soup! It is wonderful snuggle weather. And we like to snuggle ;D  Have a beautiful day!

We love the fall~!

Volunteer Work

So, as you might have heard or if you haven't you are hearing it now: I, am volunteering at the Hospital. Where in the hospital? The Psych Ward. No worries though, all the doors are locked and I will not be interacting with any of the patients. The set up of everything is pretty humorous though. I work inside a room, inside another room, and I'm not even authorized to know the code yet to get in, or out, nor am I allowed to answer the phone. :) I will just be doing some admin work. Mostly typing up papers and updating forms. It is pretty slow right now but hopefully when I understand more of how everything works I will be able to do more. Though they don't have a computer for me so I am putting someone else out and I don't see how that is helping. :? I am the first Red Cross Volunteer to work in this department so we are all new as to how this all works.

The funny thing is how this all came about. Cause, I never wanted to work anywhere close to a hospital, let alone not get paid for it. I wanted to work at the library since I love reading and spend so much time there anyway. Unfortunately there were not only no jobs, but they were looking into downsizing. A few days later I saw a commercial for volunteering at with Red Cross and when I went to check the only spots were the slow and boring back office, or useful and somewhat more interesting hospital. So, here I am. Crazy how things work out. Even more so is that the lady I am working under/putting out of her computer is leaving soon putting her job open and all the staff want me to apply for it. I'm thinking about it but... we will see. You could let me know what you think and it might help me see options I haven't thought of.

Working with Metal

So since Hunny and I are both in the Youth Programs in our church now, we get to go to some activities together. The most recent and pretty exciting one was making tin Nativity Scenes. The young men and young women met at a Brother's house for the activity. He had most of the supplies and know how and showed us how to powder and set up the rubber molds, pour in the hot liquid metal, and then, after cooled, separate the newly formed statue from the mold. It was fun getting to walk through the whole process of making the little sheep and wise men, and a little baby Jesus and manger for him to lay in.

I was surprised at how heavy the liquid tin was as I picked up a ladle full to pour in the mold. At one point a some tin splattered onto the floor because a mold was not sealed all the way and when the liquid metal hit the floor it spattered and dried instantly creating bunches of little tin droplets; it was pretty cool. They were just swept up and dropped back in the pan to be remelted. Sometimes, especially in the sheep mold, the tin would not get into all the little canals and channels in the mold and the figure would be deformed or would be missing a leg or cane or something. Those ones would just find their way back to the hot pan of liquid tin too.

After the figurines came out of the mold the excess tin was cut off them with a grinder and the figure was then ready to be painted. I thought they looked really cool without painting them, so I am not sure if Hunny and I are going to paint our set. It was a fun activity. Unfortunately, I think more of the adult leaders were interested in it than the youth.