Finally Traveling to Changsha

It was a pretty eventful day.  You know you've been on a plane for a long time when you leave on August 21st and land on August 23rd.  In the morning, prior to our departure, we were all a little nervous.  Bags had been mostly packed for several days and we were sort of just counting down the hours until we would finally leave.  We received an outpouring of love from friends and family as we made our final preparations.  In fact, we sometimes would joke that it seemed our family was expecting to never see us again.  We assured them that 11 months would go very quickly and that we would be very safe in China.  One of the benefits of living in a less free society is the controls that are in place to prevent crime.  Certainly petty crime happens in the city of Changsha (with its 6 million people), but there isn't an excessive amount of violent crime.  So of course we had nothing to worry about. 

Anyway, we loaded two cars full of luggage and departed for the airport around 3 p.m.  Our flight didn't leave until 11:50 that night, but I wanted to leave ample time in case of vehicle problems. I also thought it would be nice to visit with my dad, Stacie's mom, and her stepdad over a nice meal in the evening.  That "nice" meal ended up being Chipotle (best fast food franchise in the world).  After eating, we found that we really didn't have anything to do and it was still five hours before our flight.  I think everyone was a little annoyed with me because I had given us too much extra time when we could have rested up a bit more in Cedar before heading out.  I may have made a very long trip unnecessarily longer, but how was I supposed to know that the cars would run great, that everyone would eat in 45 minutes and be done visiting, and that the line for security at the airport would have nobody in it!  Oh well.

Once we got on the plane, the children were noticeably excited.  Ezra, Jeanie, and Lucy had never been on a plane before, let alone an international flight.  We weren't sure if they would hear the rumble of the engines and freak out about the take-off.  But, they LOVED it all!.  In fact, there were a few times where the turbulence was so bad, we could feel the plane drop and the passengers would let out a simultaneous "Ugh."  I looked over at the little girls and they were smiling.  In their minds, the experience probably rivaled their best memories of Lagoon amusement park. 

In terms of the flight itself, it was very long (12 and a half hours).  But, the kids were all troopers.  They watched movies, played games, ate junk food, and slept (remarkably similar to their day-to-day lives--at least when we give them free time).  One unique thing happened during the flight that is worth mentioning.  Some had a serious medical complication during the flight and the flight attendants performed chest compressions on her for over an hour.  As we excited the plane after landing, we could see that she probably didn't make it.  It was very sad and I kept wondering why they didn't stop Japan to get her medical help.  I know I would have willingly added a bit more time to the flight to try to get this lady some help.  But, I don't really know the reasons for not landing and I don't want to assume that Korean Air just doesn't care about the well being of their passengers. 

Now, we are at the Incheon International Airport, just outside of Seoul, Korea.  We have a four hour layover before boarding our last flight (3 and a half hours) to Changsha in the Hunan Province.  We are all tired from sleeping irregularly on the plane.  I hope we can all stay awake once we arrive (around 11:20 a.m.) so that we can go to bed tonight at a normal time.

Packed up and ready to go!  We managed to only bring 8 checked bags, 4 carry ons, and 7 personal items.

They are so proud of themselves, but their mom had to repack all their luggage and then do it all again when they would dip into their bags and take things out. 

Last meal in America at Chipotle.

I know grandpa wanted Italian food.

At the check in counter.  We are already getting some attention.

Our version of that scene from Reservoir Dogs.

We are going to be here for a while.  Might as well make ourselves at home.

Grandma is a flight attendant, so she gets to hang out with us at the gate without a boarding pass.

My graduate student, Jay Sorensen, contemplating the reasons why he decided to come along.

Out for the count.

"Can we please watch Iron Man 3."  The answer is "no."

Bibimbop

Classic Korean dish.  Tater tots, eggs, and salsa.

Six Weeks Until We Depart to China

We are certainly feeling the pressure now.  We have our plane tickets and our passports, but we are still waiting for the Chinese Foreign Experts Bureau to issue the paperwork needed to apply for our visas.  Apparently, it's a bit complicated since I need to apply for a work visa and then later turn that work visa into a permanent resident card.  Eleven months is a long time to be in China and there is no formal visa for that length of stay.  Stacie and the children will have visas that are "under" my work visa.  I'm not sure how it all works to be honest.

These kids are surprisingly good at the fruits and vegetables.  I may have them do some shopping for me in China (not alone of course).

It was quite complicated completing the paperwork needed for their expert bureau.  They wanted Stacie and I to submit results of a physical examination, an eye examination, a chest x-ray, blood work, xerox copies of all our passports, my vitae, and a photograph of my doctoral diploma.  We have most of our shots done, but are still in need of a few last minute ones. 

At this point, as we wait for the opportunity to apply for our visas here at the Chinese embassy in Washington D.C., we are busily making lists of things we need to bring with us and practicing our Chinese.  For those of you who don't know much about Mandarin, it is an incredibly difficult language.  There are five different tones and the tone influences the meaning of the word.  I frequently find myself thinking I recognize a word and then realize that I know that word, but in a different tone.  It's really hard for me to "tune" in to the what is being said most of the time.   I do take some comfort in knowing we can get by with minimal Chinese skills as this was primarily what I did when I was in Changsha last summer, but I would really like to take the opportunity to learn more Chinese and to exercise some courage when I get over there next month.  My wife, myself, and my children are all utilizing various study aids, such as computer software (Fluenz program), flashcards, textbooks and workbooks from my Mandarin I class at SUU last year, music cds with Chinese songs, and movies with Mandarin subtitles.

It's still hard to believe that we are going to be gone for nearly a year.  This is going to be such a wonderful experience for our family.  I really hope it gives my children the opportunity to see that life is different outside of the United States and that there are wonderful and not so wonderful elements of our own culture here and also in China.

It's pretty cheap when you only need one.  Taking five children abroad certainly complicates things a bit.

Last Day in Seoul and Now Headed Home

Ok, there probably isn't much to write in terms of commentary here.  We pretty just went all over Seoul seeing the sights and taking pictures.  It's probably best just to write describe a bit of where we are and what we are doing in the captions.

An elevator takes us up to a cable car which then takes up to the top of the N Seoul Tower.  The tower sits on this peak in Seoul and supposedly has great views of the city. 

You can see the tower and the cable car the takes us up. 

I saw something similar in Zhangjiajie.  I guess the Chinese and Koreans are very romantic people.

Super hazy day.  The views were not that great.

The tower is a pretty green color at night and can be seen from many places in Seoul.

Jezreel wanted to have a donut party since there is a Dunkin' Donuts on every corner.

More food.  I can't believe how much food we are eating on this weekend.

Just a random door going nowhere.

Jee-Young at I at Gyeongbokgung Palace.  She wouldn't let me post any pictures on the blog showing her face.  So, here I am with the mysterious woman with the black visor.

The palace is a fairly large area with multiple buildings.  It was destroyed by the Japanese when they colonized and then rebuilt.  It was then partially destroyed during the Korean War and then rebuilt again.  Jezreel thought it was pretty amusing that so many Japanese tourists were roaming around the grounds with a tour guide.  We wondered what they were telling them.  Would they say: "This place used to be even more beautiful until we burned it to the ground!"

We got to see a recreation of the changing of the guards ceremony.  It was really interesting!

I love the look of the architecture here.

The king's throne.

This girl came up to me and pointed at her camera.  I thought she wanted me to take a picture of her with her friends.  But, she wanted to have her friends take a picture of her with the foreigners.

Hyunjin kept telling me: "You aren't doing it right.  Drop your knees lower."  I said: "I'm trying!!!!"

Love this shot.  Lily pads, traditional Korean building, typical looking mountain in Korea.  

I was born in the year of the rabbit.  Thought he needed an extra set of bunny ears.

I was excited to take a bite of what I thought was a Korean marshmallow.  Turns out it was a moist towelette for cleaning your hands before eating.

You see why I can't get a decent burger in Korea.  They have no clue!

This was in an older residential area in Seoul that's been preserved.  People still live in this area and the architecture looks like this.

I like this picture because you can see the old Korea with the new Korea.

Another good shot contrasting the old and new.

Jezreel and Hyunjin could not have been more hospitable.  We had such a great time! 

Standing in front of the National Assembly building.  The National Assembly is Korea's version of Congress.

I'm trying to look tough, but I can't quite pull it off.

The shot right after this is me falling, but I didn't include that one.  I like this one better.

The start of the sequence where I try Bundaegi, which is a steamed butterfly cocoon (yes, with butterfly included).  You can see my reaction if you scroll down.

I came so close to throwing up.  The taste was indescribable.  I kept burping it up during the day and even had to refrain from thinking about it.

I saw this and so badly wanted to have my kids with me.  They would have loved this park right on the Han river.

From the top of the 63 building, which used to be the tallest building in Seoul.  Wonderful views from up here.  We all thought it was crazy how far the city went in all directions.

Sign for the LDS temple in Seoul.

It was hard to get good shots at night, but we tried.

Jezreel agreed to take a picture in front of the temple with me, but kept saying "There better not be a guy waiting with pamphlets."

I didn't plan this, but a missionary from California who is working at the temple came up and asked who we were.  Really nice guy.  It was Sunday night in Korea, so the temple and vistors center were closed.

Not the best picture, but I like the spires, the moon, and Korean flag all in one shot.

I was surprised that the driveway going up to the temple was right off of this alley way.

Jezreel wanted to challenge me to a dart throwing battle.

I won!!!!  I did like this pig better, but it had a big rip in it, so I had to exchange it for another.

I sure got a great many stares on the subway ride home carry my pig with me.  The sacrifices I am willing to make for my little girl, Lucy!

Very typical scene in Korea.  They are so attached to their gadgets.  It's a little disturbing actually.

He is so jealous of my pig!

I'm taking such good care of my new friend.