Public Art

As you can tell, I enjoyed this public bench in Seoul

North Korea

Last Saturday, Rie and I took a tour to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) - the border between North and South Korea. The tour started at 11 am at a bit hotel downtown. We drove about thirty minutes north and stopped for lunch. Along the way, the tour guide pointed out the big cement overpasses on the highway. If North Korean tanks ever start rolling down the South Korean highways, they can blow up the overpasses and block the roads.

After lunch, we drove a bit more and could see North Korea off to the left, across a big river. We stopped at a bridge about 2 miles from the border. That is as far as South Koreans are allowed to go. They had a wall where you could leave messages, a museum, and an amusement park.

Then, we went up to Camp Bonifas, right on the edge of the DMZ. We watched a slide show about the history of the border. In the middle of the border is the Joint Security Area (JSA). It is a small place with a few buildings where North and South Korean forces could formerly mingle without shooting each other. One day in 1976, some Americans went out to chop down a tree that was blocking their view. Some North Korean soldiers took offense, grabbed the axe, and killed two American Soldiers. This became known as the Axe Murder Incident. Today, each side sticks to their own portion - except in the meeting building.

The highlight of the tour was the chance to go into the blue meeting room that sits right on the border - half in the South and half in the North. Before we went near the border, our guide told us to be very careful. No sudden movements. No eye contact with North Korean guards. No raising your arms. No pointing. No loud talking. No taking souvenirs from the room. Stay in our group. These warnings may have been new for most of the the tour group, but I actually received the exact same warnings on another tour 14 years ago in Africa. On that occasion, I was hiking up the side of a volcano to spend some time with the mountain gorillas.

In the picture below, Rie and I are standing on the North Korean side of the meeting room. The guard beside us is their to make sure nobody heads for the door behind him. It leads to the North side. The South Korean guards are picked for their above-average height and they wear sun glasses to prevent "Eye Fighting" with their northern counter-parts.


In the second picture, you can see the North Korean border HQ in the background. On the left, you can see the blue meeting room we went into.


No tour would be complete without a visit to the gift shop. We had a chance to buy North Korean money, wine, and other products. They also sold bits of barbed wire from the border. We were thirsty and bought some regular OJ.

All in all, it was definitely a worthwhile visit to a very unique place.

Dinner with friends

Many years ago, Rie was a twenty-year old first-year teacher. Her very first Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) was Kevin from America. After their year of teaching together on Rie's home island, Kevin moved to Finland and became a professor. Rie and Kevin found each other on Facebook recently and Kevin came to Seoul last week. We met Kevin, his Finnish co-worker, and his Korean friend for dinner and drinks on Sunday night. It was a fun group of people and we stayed out way too late (for me).



I think I have now met 5 of Rie's 14 former ALTs - in Japan, Korea, and New York.

NANTA

Last Friday night we went to see a wonderful Korean show called NANTA. NANTA is a show about what goes on in a restaurant kitchen as they prepare a banquet. The show involves lots of percussion and hi-jinks, with almost no words.

I paid the extra $7 each for the VIP seats. We sat right up front and had a great view. We were close enough to get hit by thrown bits of salt, onion, cucumber, cabbage, carrot, water, and plastic balls.

Unfortunately, we were so close, that when it came time for audience participation, we were dragged up on stage. Rie had to help make dumplings and I had to stack the finished plates at the front of the stage. It involved lots of running around, but I still had time to chat with one of the actors. We got to keep our chef hats and also got key chains for our participation.

NANTA is very popular, has travelled to 22 countries and even spent some time on Broadway. Most of the audience was Japanese tour groups, so I got to practice some Japanese during the portion of the show where we greet our neighbors.

Rie and I had a great time and even got our souvenir hats signed by the cast afterwards.

A quick trip to South Korea

We have been enjoying all of the international food that the nation's capital has to offer here in Korea. We eat most of our meals in the Itaewon area of foreigners. Our hotel is pretty much only Americans and I only see Americans at the class I am taking every day. When we visit tourist sites, we see mostly Japanese people. So, it feels pretty much like not being in Korea these days.

Rie has had a hankering for Japanese food for a few days now. Two visits to a California Sushi place did not satisfy her cravings. Today, we went to a small Korean place for some Udon soup, but it was not that great.

Ever since my first visit to a Korean restaurant back in college, I have enjoyed the fact that Korean restaurant workers are not shy about making sure you enjoy their food the right way. If you are using chopsticks to eat the rice, they will take the chopsticks away from you and put the spoon in your hand

I ordered pork and potato soup for dinner tonight. I correctly removed the big bone of pork from the spicy hot soup and put it in the small dish. Then, I used my chopsticks to scrape the meat off the bone. Then I used the spoon to eat the meat. Apparently, I was incorrect.

The woman running the restaurant reached into my soup with her bare hands and removed all of the bony chunks of meat and put them in the small dish and explained something to me in Korean. A few minutes later, she returned and picked up a bone, broke it in half, and (using gestures) showed me that the proper way to eat the meat was to pick it up and clean the bone with my teeth. And, just to drive home her point, she also brought me a wet wipe and opened it for me.

I thought I was doing okay with the rice, but she took the spoon out of my hand and broke up the sticky rice into appropriately sized pieces for my enjoyment. That was after I stopped her from dumping all of the rice into the spicy soup

All in all, it was a great trip to Korea and I am looking forward to returning on Friday.

Language: A bat and two balls

Avram doesn't use bad words to other people. He teaches me slang when I ask the meaning, but he doesn't use them even though he likes Hip Hop music very much. He uses good English for me.

I usually teach him polite Japanese. But men or boys usually use informal expressions, so people think Avram speaks very nice Japanese or they sometimes think he sounds gay.

One difficult part about learning Japanese is counting. We have many kinds of collective nouns or countable nouns. First example, we say "pon" for long and skinny things such as carrots, pencils, and trees. We say 1 pon carrot, 2 pon carrots, and 3 bon carrots...(sometimes the word changes.). Second example is "toe" for big alive animals such as elephants, lions, and whales. We say 1 toe elephant, 2 toe elephants, and 3 toe elephants... . Third example is "ko" for small things such as a small rock, an eraser, and a ball.

The other day I realized we also use "toe" for butterflies. (Actually I sometimes can't remember some Japanese.) "Toe" is usually for big alive animals, but for such small insects butterflies. I don't know why. I told it to Avram. Then he said, "1 toe of Chocho(butterfly), but 1 pon of Chinchin(penis). That doesn't sound right. It should be 1 toe of Chinchin(penis). You should say one toe of bat and two ko of balls."

Remember "toe" is for big alive animals. I have nothing to say about it, but has anyone ever seen 1 "toe" of bat?

American parents and Japanese parents

My Korean friends speak English pretty well, but they use big words from textbooks or dictionaries. I guess they studied English hard when they were students. I was not a good student, so I sometimes don't know the words they use. I don't like studying. I usually learn English from people's conversations, so I use easy words and more common phrases.

Avram says reading is the best way to learn new words. It's true and I know that. I used to say that to my students, but I don't like to do that.

Fortunately as you know I have a lot of free time in my life now, so I sometimes read books these days, finally.

Now I'm reading a Japanese book written by a psychologist. I like books psychologists write. They are interesting. I also like non-fiction stories, history, geography, and science fiction, but NO ROMANCE books and movies. That's enough in my life:)

The title of the book is "Minds whose people can't be adults." It says you can understand other people and accept many situations if you used to do whatever you want or you need in each age. When those type of people turned adults or parents, they let their children do what they want to do because they understand the thoughts and feelings. They know kids sometimes need to do those things. They are kind and considerate with their children.

While people who have never been satisfied with what they're doing can't forgive easy going people or their children who don't behave well. They used to be good children. They used to listen to parents or teachers well even though they didn't want to do that. They didn't do what they wanted to do, so they think they don't need to go out of their way. They like people who go straight to work, but can't forgive people who don't work well.

The psychologist compares between Japanese parents and American parents. He says American children say their families are important for them even though more parents divorce in the U.S., but Japanese children don't say so. It's because American parents let their children do what they want to do more than Japanese ones do because they know it's fun and important for the age. But Japanese parents don't know it because they have done what they must do since they were children. They don't know how to have fun, so they can't let their children enjoy themselves either.

I think it's true. We have tight schedules for studying or club activities since we are children, so we don't have time for ourselves. Many people don't know how to enjoy their vacations. We just use the time to rest in weekends. Japanese parents have done what they must do since they were children, so they make their children do the same because they believe it's important that the children do those things. When those children never can feel satisfied, they lose passions, happiness, and hopes for the future.

I guess Avram and I could take each good way of raising children from the U.S. and Japan.


I like to read these kind of books because I can learn many things. I know reading is very good for me, but I have an allergy to reading. As soon as I start to read, I fall asleep.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

Husband and Wife

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 in Seoul, Korea

Rie : Do you think I'm pregnant?
Avram : Yes? Why?
R : Because my pants are getting smaller. I have been tired and sleepy these days. I eat a lot.
A :It's normal. You are tired and sleepy all day everyday. You usually eat more than I do, don't you? What did you eat for breakfast this morning?
R : Only a few pieces of KitKat, a cup of hot milk, and two cup of orange juice for breakfast and my morning snacks.
A : See? Kitkat for breakfast. Do you think it's good for you?

Okay, okay. You're the winner. I guess he has no wonder I'm not pregnant.

Avram : I should sleep more, otherwise I will get sick in this weekend.
Rie : We go to bed before 9:30.
A : Yes, so? It's after 9:00p.m..

Sigh. He doesn't know how many times I wake up at midnight. The first time is at 10:30. Now I think 10:30p.m. is midnight. Oh, man! Though some people say you would be becoming like a baby when you get older, then I wonder what time our bedtime would be when we were 60s, 70s, and more.

We woke up this morning.
Rie : Do you know where my blanket went? I had nothing to cover me last night.
Avram : You know it's too warm and it makes me wake up when you think it's cold and put a blanket on me, but I'm nice to not to make you wake up. That's why I keep the blanket.

You're the boss. That's why you take the room on the bed too. I just get the edge of the bed:( and my pillows and blankets are on the flower every morning. I like Japanese or Korea Futons better. Then I don't have to fall off either.

Avram : I should eat more because I have to think in the class this week.
Rie : Why? I have more exercise.
Avram : Scientists say you use a lot of energy to think or to use your brain, so it's important to take more food. You don't think, so you don't have to eat so much everyday.
R : I think what I eat for breakfast, where I should walk today, and how I can get tired to sleep. I think and think to sleep at nine!
A : Yeah, yeah, whatever.

Oh, well. Let's discuss in Japanese next time. Hehehehehe!

Itaewon

We are staying in a very nice hotel, but the best part of our stay is the neighborhood. About a mile from our hotel is a truly great International street of shops and restaurants - Itaewon. It compares very favorably to Adams-Morgan in Washington D.C. and to Gringolandia in Quito, Ecuador. There are plenty of international restaurants for Rie and me to enjoy. When we walk down the street, we hear lots of German, British, Arabic, and African languages. I am usually not a big fan of cities, but I love the food.



At the Dubai restaurant, we had baba ganoush, yoghurt, basmati rice, pita, houmous, falafal, and a horseradish falafal sauce.

Rie got some take-out food from the Latin restaurant. Empanadas, fried shrimp, and some potato balls. The woman who worked there was new and did not know where to find the take-out containers, so she gave Rie a regular plate. We returned it later in the day.

At the Moroccan place, we had tabouli and bread. I got a couscous dish with lamb and great big vegetables. Rie ordered a kind of chicken stew with chickpeas, dates, and raisins. It was spiced with cinnamon.

At the Greek restaurant, we had a salad and chicken-kebabs.

As you can see, we are making the most of our visit to Seoul - and we still have 10 more days! How great is that?

The Seoul of Asia

I have a two week class for work in Seoul. Last Saturday, we took the bullet train up to Seoul and have been having a great time in the nation's capital ever since.

Seoul has five big palaces left over from its heyday as a kingdom. The Japanese came over every few hundred years to burn them down, but the Koreans keep rebuilding them. Only one is still mostly original from the 1400's, but it is very nice.

The palace complexes are on the edge of the city and framed by some great looking mountains. I could enjoy living there.

The Koreans have a great Changing of the Guard ceremony, but nobody seems content to sit back and watch. Korean and Japanese tourists keep strolling through the ceremony and posing for pictures next to the guards.

Friday Night Dinner

Last Friday, we met two of Rie's friends and one of their husbands for dinner. As you can see from the picture, we had a lot to eat. The main dish was very delicious duck, but the table full of side dishes was also very good.

I am glad that Rie takes her duties so seriously. My job is to go to work and make money. Rie's job is to go out and make friends for us to hang out with on the weekends. She did a great job of that in Virginia, and has continued here in Korea.

In addition to meeting three Korean friends for dinner this week, we met a Malaysian couple for lunch last week. We also had an American couple from my work over for dinner last week. They brought their 3 year-old son. When Rie got tired of English, she played with little Noah.

Eye C U

I ride my bike to work everyday - rain or shine. I have lots of flashing lights, a loud air-horn, and a reflective vest. I also have a rear view mirror on my helmet. When I want to see behind me, I just tilt my head a little bit forward and to the left. Then, I close my right eye and peer into the mirror.




Looking behind me has become such a habit that now, when I am walking down the street and want to see behind me, I just tilt my head and close my eye. Unfortunately, this action does not really work to well when I am not wearing my helmet. Oh well.

Nori Bang

A week and a half ago, Rie and I ate dinner with a Korean friend. He works every-other 24-hour shift in the little guard house in front of our apartment building. He is responsible for the door to our half of the building and half of the neighboring building. He is always there to help us sort our trash. He lived in Vietnam for a number of years and has many foreign friends. We usually have a quick conversation when we leave the building or come home.

Last week, he invited us out to dinner. We had some good table-barbecued pork and lots of side dishes. After dinner, he took us to his favorite Nori-Bang. A nori-bang is a kind of hostess bar/karaoke room.

We sat at a table in the middle of the bar. Along the walls were 15 numbered sections. Each had a bar with four stools, a fridge, a sink, and a pretty woman. Our friend favored number 12. I think he visits her about three times a month.

Number 12 was cute and brought us some good snacks - celery, strawberries, chocolates, nuts, and plenty of beer, which she poured. If she had spoken English, I am sure she would have laughed at my jokes. The different hostess moved around to other groups and brought them food and drinks and chatted with them.

Eventually, it was our turn for the karaoke machine in the corner. But, this was a special place. In addition to the song that played on the big TVs, a man also accompanied the singer on a keyboard. Rie sang a Japanese song and our friend sang a bit as well. A drunk Korean man tried to join our party on the dance floor, but the hostesses took turns distracting him away from us.

After an hour or so, our friend suggested we head home. I guess he wanted some quiet time with number 12.

An American gas oven アメリカ製ガスオーブン

Finally we got an American gas oven. The gas man said I should open the window next to the oven and turn off the gas hose on the wall everytime I cook. What?! Why do I have to do extra work for cooking?

I realized why he said so when I cooked. I smelled gas a little bit from when he hooked it up. Also it is dangerous when I turn on the gas. It makes a big fire when it lights up. It could burn my hair or could have a curly or dread hair EVERYTIME I cook. According to Avram, the fire is normal size for him. It's famous that American size is much bigger than Japanese one such as hamburgers, cars, and so on. Isn't the fire an American size?

The American gas oven is in our kimchee room. It smells of kimchee a little bit even though we haven't kept kimchee there for four months. The smell stays there forever.

It's still been chilly here for Avram and me, but I have to open the window when I cook. Then Avram says it's cold to his cooking wife in the cold kimchee room and closes the doors of kimchee room and our living room.

After I cook in the COLD kimchee room, I turn off the gas hose on the wall and close the window. When I served dinner yesterday, I forgot to give him a glass of water. He said we were getting poorer and poorer. I asked him why. He answered we couldn't drink even water now. Nice! I brought a glass of water to him without saying anything. (I mean "gently".)

Even if I cooked in the COLD kimchee room, the Japanese Sukiyaki I made was warm. It made him happy and his smile made me happy.

I haven't baked since we left the U.S., so I wanted to make something for Avram. I made chocolate chip cookies. I didn't have baking soda for the baking, so I used baking powder instead. I know they work differently in baking, but they both are a kind of food. I thought it should be all right.

I opened the window and lit the fire.

If I used baking soda, the cookies would be flat and soft. But those cookies I made looked good, but didn't become flat. They looked like many small bumps.

I realized I sould have followed the recipe. I always don't follow the direction and make mistakes. I usually learn from mistakes.

Many small bumps smelled very good. When Avram came, he realized I baked that day.

Actually I don't know, but he probably has a good nose which many Japanese people are jealous of. He is good at figuring out what smell it is. Many J-people want a big nose. When I was a child, my mother used to pinch my nose and make a wish, "Be bigger. Be bigger." It didn't work at all. I just remember I couldn't breath then.

Anyway, Avram liked the cookies and said he would bring some for his coworkers who helped us to get the gas oven. The next day the cookies were even harder. I worried if his coworkers could eat. I called Avram in his office and asked if they still have their nice teeth. He checked it for me and said their nice teeth are still there. I was happy and could sleep better that night.

Living in other countries is very fun, but it's not easy to work well in the kitchens.

Today I made a pizza.

やっと我が家のオーブンが使えるようになりました。ガス屋のおじさんが言うには、「毎回ガスを使うときには窓を開けて、使い終わったらガスの元栓を閉めてね。」どういうこと？！なんでただガスを使うだけなのに他にもすることがあるの？

使ってみるとその原因がすぐにわかりました。多分接続のためだと思いますが、その時のガスのにおいがかすかにしました。しかも、点火する時、炎がぼあっっといったん燃え上がってから火がつきます。髪の毛毎回焼けちゃって、ドレッドかカーリーヘアになっちゃいそうです。アブちゃんが言うには、それぐらいの炎は普通らしいです。それって炎もアメリカンサイズなんじゃないのぉ？と思います。

そのガスオーブンはキムチ室にありますが、引っ越してから４ヶ月そこにキムチを保存したこともないのに、においがかすかにします。永遠に消えませんね、これは。こっちはまだ肌寒いのですが、料理するたび窓を開けなくちゃいけません。そしたら、アブちゃんが「寒いよぉ。」と言って、けなげに寒いキムチ室で働く妻を閉め出し、キムチ室とリビングの戸を閉めます。

やっと料理が終わってガスの元栓と窓を閉めて食卓につこうとすると、アブちゃんが「最近、うちはどんどん貧しくなっていくね。」と食事を見ながらしみじみ言うので、なんでかと聞けば、「だって、水さえもう飲めないんだよ。」と、水を持ってくるのを忘れた私にチクッと言います。「まったく。」と内心思います。私は何も言わずに１杯のお水を彼の前に静かに置きました。（もちろんやさしく。）

キムチ室での料理は寒いけれど、作ったすきやきは温かかったです。アブちゃんの満足げな顔に幸せを感じたひと時でした。

アメリカから引っ越してきて久々のお菓子作り。チョコレートチップクッキーを作ることにしましたが、ベーキングソーダがなかったのでベーキングパウダーを使いました。使用目的が違うのは百も承知ですが、食べ物だから、まっ、いいか、と思い使いました。

料理の前にまずは窓を開けて、オーブンに火をつけます。

ベーキングソーダだと平らにやわらかく仕上がりますが、ベーキングパウダーだと見た目はいいけど縦に膨らんでこんもりしたクッキーになります。まるで小さなたんこぶがいっぱい並んでる感じです。

やっぱり、ちゃんと説明どおり作らないとだめですねぇ。いつもわかっていながら失敗してから学びます。

ちっちゃなたんこぶたちのにおいはとてもよく、アブちゃんは帰ってくるなり私が今日はお菓子を作ったことに気づきましたた。

思うのですが、アブちゃんは何でもかぎわける（日本人があこがれる）高い鼻を持ってると思います。私も小さい時母親に鼻をつままれて「鼻が高くなれ！鼻が高くなれ！」とされました。全然効きませんでしたし、息ができなかったを覚えています。

アブちゃんはそのクッキーを気に入って、お世話になった同僚に持っていくと言いましたが、私としては彼らがちゃんと噛めるか、その硬さが心配でした。彼があげたその日に、気になって職場に電話して、「まだ彼らの歯はある？」と聞いたら、「まだあるよ。」とアブちゃんがチェックしてくれました。だから、安心してその晩はよく眠しました。

海外生活は楽しいけれど、その台所でうまく働くっていうのは慣れるのに時間がかかります。

今日はピザを作りました。

読書中毒

みなさん、ブログを見てくださったり、コメントをしてくださったり、ありがとうございます。近況報告のためにはこれが１番いい方法だと思い始めました。日本文でも書いていくので、時々お立ち寄りください。

先日、アブちゃんの大好きな図書館へ行きました。そこへ向かうときから彼の顔はほころんでいます。「やばいな。」と内心思っていました。それはアブちゃんは読書を始めると、こちらを見ないし、私の声すら聞こえないし、私がそこにいることすら思い出さないからです。彼の読書は彼にとっての幸福の時間ですが、私にとっては退屈な時間です。

図書館へつくとすぐに「このコンピューターで遊んどいて。僕は本を探してくれるから。」と言い残し、私を置いていきました。それはまるで父親と幼い娘の会話のようでした。「パパはお仕事にいってくるから、お人形と遊んでいい子にしているんだよ。」といった感じです。そういって、私のパパは走り去っていきました。

３０分後、「あとどれくらい？」と聞くと、「あと１５分。」という返事。もう娘は人形との遊びには飽きて手持ち無沙汰でした。

図書館を出るとき、アブちゃんが「本を持つ手が２本しかないなんて残念だね。」と言いました。「じゃあ、どうやって私と手をつなぐの？」と、私が尋ねると「そうだねぇ、君の手はぼくのおしりにつなげるよ。」と言うので、「いやいや、本をおしりで持って、私の手は自分の手でつないだらいいんじゃない？自転車のヘルメットの反射鏡使ったら本を読めるでしょう？」と言うと、「それじゃ、文字がかがみ移しになっちゃうよ。ああ！そうか。鏡を２つ使えばいいんだよ！」と、自分のGood ideaに興奮していたアブちゃんでしたが、私は手を彼のおしりに置いたことを想像して気分が滅入ってしましました。

彼はにやにやしながらたくさんの重い本をリュックにつめこみながら、「あーあ、本を読む時間が全然ないよね。ねえ、２人でゲームするときも本読んでていい？」と聞くので、「好きなこと聞いていいよ。私はそれをブログに書いてみんなから応援をもらうから。」と言ったら、それ以降、本の話をやめました。

その日は帰りの電車で隣同士の席がとれなくても悲しみません。なぜなら、１人だと本が好きなだけ読めるからです。ちょっとうれしそうにさえ見えました。

いつもはチャリで通勤ですが、次の日はバスで。しばらく私と離れ離れになるというのに、さらに本が読めるのでうきうきなアブちゃん。もうスキップしそうな様子です。まるで、おとぎ話の中の浮かれている妖精のようです。

彼が借りた本を早く読み終わってくれることを願う反面、またしても新たに本を借りてくることを恐れる日々です。ちょっと、もう読書中毒っぽいです。今はただ、読書がパートナーの気持ちを理解することを彼に教えてくれることを願うまでです。

追伸、彼のことをいろいろ言ってはいますが、彼は私の移民手続きのためにこの２ヶ月間よくやってくれています。ですから、心配はいりません。今のところ仲良くしています。

I want a fishing pole.

When I was a single, one senior teacher said she can introduce a doctor to me. She meant a blind date. I asked where he lives. He lived in a town which has no ocean, so I said I can't live with him.  Ocean is more important for me than a man who makes a lot of money. Fortunately, Avram makes money near the ocean now.

It was a nice day today, so I went walking to our favorite nature park, Igidae. The trail is along the coast. We can enjoy the view of the ocean the whole way. I love it.

I see many people fishing there. I like fishing. I like waiting for fish. I also like watching people fishing. I am jealous of them.

(Avram, I don't remember what I gave you for Valentine's day, but I want a fishing pole on White day. I fish and you read on the beach. We don't bother each other and can enjoy our hobbies:)

I don't need an expensive one. I don't need heels, dresses, and brand bags. But I want a cheap fishing pole. Pleeeeease... .)

Avram knows I love the ocean and fishing, so he sometimes took me fishing in Virginia. We both like nature and countryside.

One day we walked to a small pond in Japan. We saw some sitting or climbing frogs on the rock wall. We pretended to throw small stones at them. We were pretending, but I hit one frog. He was resting and sharing his time with his friends there. He was enjoying his life until I hit him. When he got hit by my small stone, he fell off the rock. Oops! I felt bad, but I didn't expect it. I thought I wouldn't hit anymore. Then I hit a few more frogs after that.

I usually don't have good aim to throw a ball, but I am good at it when I imagine I am throwing at a frog. I found my new skill on that day.

Anyway, nature is fun. We like playing in nature, but I don't mean I enjoy hitting happy frogs with my new talent. We are going fishing in the spring. I hope I can catch fish with my fishing pole, not with stones.

Iron and walk.

This morning, Avram was wearing a unironed shirt. I asked him, "Why don't you wear an ironed one?" He said "It's not a regular work day, so I wear a comfortable shirt. I think I put shirts into the closet after ironing, but it must be my way. It's not your way."  I asked him why he didn't tell me which shirt he wears today.  He asked me, "Why do you wait for ironing until a few seconds before I wear these?" I told him I've been busy for walking for a few hours everyday. I'm excited about it very much, so I have no time for house work. He laughed and said he loves me. I'm a lucky wife. I can keep doing it!

I walk for a few hours everyday these days. It makes me happy, then I can be nice to Avram too:)  Otherwise I look tired and bored at home. It makes him unhappy. So my job is going outside and having fun!

Walking is wonderful. If you go by car everywhere, it would be hard to notice the season is changing. You might miss the buds on trees, different flowers in parks, and seasonal food such as vegetables and fish. But you can notice and see them better when you walk.

I also think that thinking at walking speed is important. I was very very busy when I had a job. I couldn't notice I had more or better choices. I sometimes couldn't think of other people well because I didn't have enough time for thinking of myself. But I have a lot of time to see and understand the people and situations better. I regret my many mistakes in the past, but I also believe I can fix them and make them better from now on.

I thought about my partner to marry well, so I haven't regretted about it yet. I wouldn't have to fix it. We always try to make our relationship and life happier even if the shirts have not been ironed until he needs them.

If I walk, I get a better body shape. It should be good for him and our backpacking trips. I should ask which is better for him, living with a perfect wife or having fun with a wife who doesn't care about house work so much, but enjoys outdoor stuff. Actually I could be a better wife, if he didn't show me how much fun spending time outside is. Now it's too late.

Being Avram's wife is great! He makes money and I have fun. When I am happy, he is happy.

I think we've been perfect partners SO FAR.

I will iron his shirts later today. He would be happy about it and would love me more. It's easy to make him happy. How wonderful my life is! Thank you, Avram.

The sun is coming. I can't sit and write anymore. I'm going walking!! Today I will be happy from the exercise and would be able to be nice to Avram. 

Welcome to Rie's Fans

We sometimes have a bit of back and forth between my blog and Rie's blog and we realized that it can get confusing for the reader. So, we have decided to combine our blogs. Now, when I say something stupid, and Rie corrects me, and I respond, it will be easier for our loyal readers to follow along. Enjoy.

The Bearded Giant

They are very big on community projects and interaction where I work, so last Monday I took advantage of a wonderful opportunity to visit an orphanage. About ten or twelve of us went to the Peace Love and Hope Orphanage for Crippled Children. We split into three groups. The first group went to give the babies baths. The second group fed the toddlers. I went to the room with the 4-6 year-olds. It was snack time in there, so I fed bananas to a little girl. She was a slow eater, so that took some time.

After snack time, I told my little friend all about my life. It must have been interesting, because a few other kids came over to listen. One boy, whose legs did not work so well, dragged himself over on his elbows. Another one scooted over on his butt. The slowest to reach me was a boy who had to roll his whole body over and over in order get where he wanted to. In the end, I had a good little audience for my speech in English, but I think they were mostly just interested in touching my beard.

Next, I moved on to the next room and held another little boy in my lap until he was ready to play some catch with his plastic toy.

I think the staff at the orphanage are assigned to specific rooms of 10-15 kids. Each room has two attendants, one for the day and one for the night. She does the feeding, laundry, cleaning, and everything else for her charges. They definitely appreciate the occasional help of volunteers.

All in all, I had a great time and can't believe how quickly our two hour visit flew by.

A Wonderful Saturday

It was a nice day.  We should have enjoyed outside, so we decided to go bike riding.

We wore bike shorts for the bike ride.  It's not comfortable because it has many pads.  It feels like a diaper.  You could guess how uncomfortable it is to walk.  I thought about babies' feeling.

Avram is a professional biker in Korea, so I followed him.  His butt was sexy.  

In Busan, many people our parents' age go hiking and bike riding in professional clothes.  They really look like serious. 

 

Last year I lost my way to our hotel in the mountain as usual when I climbed Mt.Jang, 634m, by myself.   I saw an old man, around 70.  I followed him.  He didn't look he walks so fast, but he was very fast.  I had to run and jump from a rock to rock to catch him.  He looked like he was going warp speed.  I lost him and my way again after a while.  Then I realized Korean old people are in excellent shape for their age.  So I rode the bike hard to not lose the race to them during our bike ride.  I won.  Yes!

We went to a nice restaurant for a Korean pancake.  The restaurant has been open for over seventy years.  According to our guide book, it's a very famous restaurant and serves the best pancake in Korea.

It was good.  I couldn't close the button and zipper of my pants.  I make the same mistakes again and again.  Sigh.

After our bike riding, we went to a public bath.  I was surprised at a woman who was drying her pubic hair with a hair dryer.  I told it to Avram.  He said, "Why not?  It's also hair.  I think many men do that."  But before, he said he still might be able to keep some hair on his chest even if he gave one hair to each of the Koreans in the men's public bath.  It's a little famous that Koreans are not hairy.  Probably they don't need a hair dryer for their chest.  Now I wonder how many percent of people in the world dry their pubic hair by hair dryer.

That night, we went to our friend's birthday party.  He is a cool man.  His wife, too.  I mean she's a wonderful "woman."  They are very nice to people.  They have nice smiles.  Their sons are cute and interesting.  We all were glad to celebrate his birthday together.  They reminded me of a proverb, "Fortune comes in by a merry gate."  I understood it well that night.  It was a very good night.

We came home after 12:00.  We could sleep very well that night until 10:00 in the next morning.

Yuki and Konan

My younger brother, Takaaki has a daughter and a son. Her name is Yuki, 6 years old. His name is Konan, 5 years old. They love Avram.

They are comfortable to talk to foreign people in English more than other Japanese children. Actually Konan thinks he speaks English, but no one understands him. He loves to talk to Avram on the phone in English he makes up. He keeps saying, "ahhhhhhh....um.....eh....." Avram tells his stories in English. During their conversation, they don't listen to each other. They both are speaking. I can't translate for the two of them. After they talk, it's funny - both of them are satisfied. Yuki seems like she understands a little bit. She answers Avram, yes or no.

They're interested in pictures we send. One time I sent the picture from Las Vegas. Avram likes Star Trek, so we went to the cafe and took pictures. Now Yuki and Konan believe there are aliens in the U.S., so they shouldn't go there. Yes, it's true many aliens live in the country, but it's different ones.

Kids are cute and very interesting to watch.

One day, we were tired from a long drive and got hungry. According to their mother, they had had enough snacks in the car, so they shouldn't have eaten any more. But their mother, Asako was sleeping. We all ate ice cream except Asako. It was supposed to be a secret. When we were walking to the car after eating ice cream, Takaaki said "Oops!" When we saw Konan, he had ice cream on his face and T-shirt. We couldn't keep the secret, so we bought an ice cream for Asako. She didn't punish us. Food works very well.

A few years ago, Yuki got some chocolate chip cookies from Avram's mother. She liked them very much, especially the chocolate chips. She wanted to eat only chocolate chips and found a good excuse not to eat the cookie dough. She said, "I'm sharing my cookies with ants." Then she gave the cookie crumbs to ants in the living room and ate the chocolate chips.

Konan likes to take a bath with Avram. We went to a public bath together last December. Avram and Konan went to the men's side. Asako, Yuki and I went to the women's side. Before they went into their side, Asako and I told Konan he should listen to Avram. Konan said, "Yes!" When Avram and Konan came out after the bath, Avram looked very tired and Konan looked very happy. Konan enjoyed standing on the chair, splashing, and speaking loud. He didn't listen to Avram at all. Poor Avram. We Japanese learn the manner and etiquette for bathing at home. We follow them in public baths too, so kids learn how to be nice to other people.

Avram understands Konan. He knows how much fun playing is wherever he goes and whatever he does. I hope Avram will be a good father, he not only plays with kids but also shows good things.

Yuki knows I make some accessories with beads. She says, "Sell them and make money. Then buy good food to eat. Also come back to see us." She thinks we don't have enough money. But she thinks we're very rich when we stay at a hotel for Avram's business trips. Then she often asks me, "Are you rich?" I say yes. She is relieved. Thanks to his job.

I miss them very much, so I should sell my accessories to make money and buy tickets soon.

Bookaholic

Hello everyone,

Thank you very much for visiting our blogs and giving some comments:) I'm very glad!! I learned some new English words from your comments.

Writing is a good way to tell people about myself. I can take time to write, so it's more comfortable for me than speaking English.

Yesterday we went to a library. Uh ooh, Avram looked very happy. He loves books. While he is reading books, he doesn't look at me, doesn't listen to me, and even doesn't remember that I am there. Reading is his happy time, but his reading time is my boring time.

As soon as we got to the library, he said "Play with the computer. I have to look for books." It was like a father and his daughter's conversation. "Play with your doll. I have to work." He left me at the computer and ran to books.

After thirty minutes, I asked "How long do you need more?" He said "Fifteen minutes." I was done with the computer. Just like the girl was tired of playing with her doll.

When we left the library, Avram said "That's a shame. I have only two hands to hold books."

I asked "Then how do you hold my hand?"

"Well, I can hold your hands with my butt," he answered.

I said "Why don't you hold your books with your butt and hold my hands with your hands? You can use the mirror on your bike helmet."

"Then it will be back words:( Oh, maybe I can use two mirrors for it!!" Avram got excited with his idea. I felt disgusted when I imagined that I put my hand into his bXXt.

He put his many heavy books in his backpack and carried with a smile. On the way home, "I don't have enough time to read. Can I read while we are playing games?" he asked. I told him, "Whatever you want, you can ask me. I just write them in my blog and get some help from our families and friends to let you know my situation." He stopped talking about books.

We got a train to home, but we couldn't get seats together. He's usually sad about it, but he looked all right yesterday because then he could read as much as he wanted.

Today he took a bus though he usually bikes to work. It was not for reading, but he looked definitely happy even though we have to be far from each other for a while. He was almost skipping. He looked like a skipping spirit in a fairy tale.

I hope he will finish reading all of books he got yesterday, but then he will look for more books.

It is like a holic. I wish reading helps to make people smart to think of their partners.

P.S. He has worked very hard for my immigration for two months. I thank and love him very much. Please don't worry. We've still been nice to each other:)