Well, my trip down south was cancelled - yeah! I still work long hours, as our unit is in the field, but I get to go "home" at night.

As mentioned, we received our vehicle early. One of the officers I work with, Liz, has been a great friend and she invited our family to travel with hers to the beach last weekend. As we had just picked up the minivan, we were technically able to do so. The scary part was driving off the post. Koreans just started driving about 30 years ago, so they have not learned the basics of defensive driving. They go where they want to go, and you best not get in their way, is the general attitude. Because the lanes are quite narrow, trucks are very tall, but skinny. You can see deliverymen on mopeds, with boxes tied to metallic lattice that leans against their backs. These mopeds will weave around both left and right of you any time they think they can get the edge. Very mentally exhausting. But, with less than 24 hours under our van's belt, we drive off post. As I have been here before, I take the wheel. The highway system is actually quite modern, and not so bad. The problem occured when we got off the highway and started driving the back roads to the beach. Chip would give me clearance in terms of inches from his side. But we finally made it.
Nate is the only kiddo who has been to the beach, and he was younger than Joey at the time. After the warm lake water of Lake Norman, the cold water of the Yellow Sea was a shock. Nate was the only one interested in going in past his knees, at first. Teri and Chris would only stay on the edge and feel the waves coming in and out. Joey hated the loud noise. As we stayed longer, though, the kids became used to the sounds. Teri played with Liz's younger daughter and went in to about waist depth. Nate continued playing in the waves, sitting on a tube. Chris and Joey had fun in the sand. It was amazing to see the kids' change in attitude.
Many Koreans came up to smile at Joey. As there are few non-Oriental families that come to this country, a young child with round eyes is very rare. The fact that Joey has blond hair, at least for now, only intensifies the attention he receives. Chip told me that he has approached by an agent about the possibility of the kids doing some model work - not sure where that will go. The nice thing is that the Korean society is still much like the old country village, where it is expected that the community adults will look after everyone's children. Chris fell down on the sidewalk once, and before Chip could see how he was doing, two older Korean women had already picked him up and were looking for injuries. I wonder if I will lose my skittishness at unknown people coming into what I consider is "family space."
Hope all is well back in the States. God has granted us an adventure and we will go where He leads!