Today we went to the local 5-day market with a couple other mommies and their babies. Every 5 days a local market is set up in the streets downtown. It’s a great place to find fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as fish, chicken, all sorts of spices, and various other sundries. Although this is the first time I’ve gone to the market here in Wonju, I did make it to the market last summer in Waegwan several times. The markets are always very crowded, loud, and lively. You’re sure to hear music playing, and smell a variety of different foods. We caused a large commotion wherever we went in the market with 5 little American babies in tow. I was most proud of my newly acquired language skills. I was able to easily communicate with most of the sellers, and acted almost like group spokesperson, explaining what gender and how old each baby was to everyone who asked. I also was able to understand the prices when told, which I was probably most proud of!
Meet Lyndsay and her 3-year-old daughter Emma, and 4 mo. old son Mason. They just arrived in country last week. Sterling will finally have another little boy to play with amongst all these girl babies around here when Mason gets a little bigger!
Eve having fun riding piggyback. You can see her arm is doing much better, and she’s been able to ditch the bandages, hooray!
This is a much easier way to travel with 2 babies…one in a single stroller and one on the back!
I’m not even sure what all of these herbs, roots, and barks are used for. I think they have something to do with teas, and home remedies, but don’t hold me to that.
I don’t understand how this entire country hasn’t died of food poisoning. The markets all over Korea have a variety of meats and fish for sale. The only problem with this is, these markets are held in the streets…with no refrigeration! How is it possible to eat fish that have been sitting out on the broiling streets for hours or chicken hanging in the hot sun, and not die (or wish you would)? I’m truly perplexed by this. Perhaps their stomachs and bodies are adapted to eating certain strains of bacteria, and therefore they don’t get food poisoning (think something along the lines of South American water)? Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter too much; I certainly won’t be purchasing any of these meats.
Tonight was our monthly visit to the orphanage. It was again, very moving, but this time I came away a little less heart broken. I was really excited that several of the children remembered the kids and I. They came up say “twins” in Hangul, and asking where the boy was. Sterling stayed with the nanny this evening, and Ella joined me. It’s too hard to be of any help at the orphanage when I’m running after my 2 babies (Michael had their final softball game this evening). I was so happy to see their dear faces again. Sadly, it was easy for me to recognize each child because they were all wearing the same outfits they had on last month. Both the little girls in this picture are just dolls, but the little one on the left is so cute! She’s such a little tomboy and enjoys “boxing” with the Korean soldiers who joined us, and riding piggyback on an American soldier’s back. She’s so full of energy! I’m so glad I brought my camera this time so you could see these precious children, and watch a few video clips. After the birthday celebration the children went outside to play with their new toys. Watch a group of children playing jump rope with 2 American female soldiers at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t8pG5LnPvw
This little girl is so gentle and sweet. Last time we were there I noticed how delicate she is (for lack of a better word). She’s just very calm and quiet amongst all the excited children. Most of the children want to tickle the babies, but not her. She just wants to hold and very, very gently hug Ella. When Ella was sitting in my lap, she’d just oh so gently be holding and stroking Ella’s hand. And angel couldn’t have a kinder touch. It’s still very hard to see such a loving child and know she has no parents to love her back. All the little ones would call me “omah” which means mother in Hangul. That’s very hard to hear, mostly because I wish I could take every single one of these children home with me. Tonight in the infant and toddler wing there was a 10-day-old baby. Ella kept pointing and saying “baby, baby.” I couldn’t bring myself to hold the baby…I was too afraid I would never be able to let go. See the room full of the school aged children at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBFt4-LfsSo
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