LAST E*MART TRIP

Today was E*Mart Monday...my last Monday here at Ilsan.  We took the ladies in the Sharon group home.  

This is AWESOME! this is truly the Korean way of drinking your soup! 

Then you can eat the noodles!

Mr. Yoo putting the lift down...

Make sure the wheel chair is locked down...

Load in Molly's groceries...and we're ready to head home! 

A VISIT TO CITY BABY HOME

Monday Molly took me to the building that used to be City Baby Home.  That was an orphanage run by Holt back in the 60's.  It's the first place I was taken to after being found abandoned in Seoul.  I visited this building with my parents during my first trip back in 1999.  However, during that trip I wasn't ready to go inside - we visited the building late in the day after quite an emotional day and I just didn't have the energy to step inside.  But today I did!! It's now a children's library - and was back in 1999.  Nothing seems to have changed much but the paint and the tree growth! 

Here is the building back in 1999:

Here's the building from today:

  

The trees have grown a tad since 1999!

The part of the building that has the red and blue trim is the original part of the building - the same since I was there in 1967.  The grey building is a new addition to the library. 

The entrance - when you walk inside...

Library room just to the right when you walk inside...

Upstairs hallway...

And then here is the room that used to be the actual nursery - where the cribs were that sometimes held several babies in each crib.  The woman behind the desk said that adoptee's come here often and take pictures of this library room.  She also told us she remembers when it was an orphanage. 

I only cried a little while I was in the room...I could just imagine all the cribs, and babies crying and not enough nurses to pick us up and hold us and feed us in a timely manner...

I'm glad I went inside this time...I took a deep breath and walked in...I looked around, took some pictures and felt good about re-connecting with a piece of my past. 

SAYING GOOD-BYE TO DR. CHO

Friday I said good-bye to Dr. Cho...she comes out to Ilsan every Friday, and since I'll be on a plane heading home early next Friday, I won't see her again...

Today I gave her a special gift I picked out for her in Insa-Dong. 

I found a Christian woman who does AMAZING work on leather.  She put a Bible verse on leather in Korean.  It's John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  Dr. Cho loved it! and I was so very glad!

SOUTH KOREA vs ARGENTINA....BOO!

Thursday night was the game against South Korea and Argentina...as you probably know, S. Korea lost 4-1.

Vendors were selling hats, shirts, towels, horns...you name it...they had it! 

I picked up a new Korea soccer shirt, a wristband with the Korean flag on it and a Korean bandana - gotta take advantage, because you can't get these things in the U.S.

We all decided to meet in the same restaurant, since it was so much fun last time.  I volunteered to go early and save seats for everyone. Koreans know how to maximize space...get this - you sit on these milk crates with cushons on them, but you take off the top and put your belongings INSIDE! very smart! 

Just a few gazillion Koreans out in Seoul for the game! The Korea Times quoted Seoul police estimating there were over 400,000 people out watching the game in Seoul.

Here is the crowd down in Pusan via Satellite! 

SBS has done an AMAZING job covering the game and the fans!! 

GAME ON!!!!

I was so ready for a win~! 

We got cheer LOUD for at least one goal! 

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING...

Martin and I have been VERY busy this past week, packing up Molly's house and getting her ready to move temporarily into the house next to hers.

She will move into it while they remodel her home...

They just finished remodeling the home next to Molly's - once Molly is back in her home, it will become a new group home for women.

And for those who have been in Molly's house before...you now realize how busy Martin and I have been? 

We found another use for an empty wheelchair! stack boxes on them and move them over to the Love Home. Their atrium area is where Molly will store all her things from her house. 

Martin found a party hat and put it on...it made Soo Hee crack-up!