Korean Street Food

So, since I've got such a long wait to travel, I decided I'm going to take advantage of the extra time to better plan our trip.  One thing I REALLY want to do is go try some Korean street food.  Here is a youtube video taken in Myeong Dong or Nyamuk (I think!?!... If its not, let me know because I want to go to this same place and try this food!!!)

This blog also has some great-looking food suggestions for those in search of Korean street cuisine!
 http://www.followmefoodie.com/2010/04/korean-street-food-in-korea-2/

The birthmother

I think often about Addison reuniting with her birthmother. I send her birthmother photos, videos, and letters so she will be able to watch her grow up and know she is thriving and loved. I also want Addison to know I valued her birth mother enough to foster this communication. It's a very small thing, but I feel Addison will want this, and will want to know she has my blessing if and when she wants to meet her birthmother. I never want her to feel as though I might be upset when she desires to pursue this relationship. God has been, and continues to teach me to hold my children VERY loosely. They are gifts, not possessions. I didn't feel this way initially, but my heart has had a drastic 180 since we first started the adoption process and I began to pray for her birthmother. Prayer changes hearts.

I say all of this because I ran across a touching video that depicts a Korean adoptee reuniting with her birthmother. She explains the conflicting emotions connected with this situation. It is so personal, touching, insightful and gives me a glimpse into what may be in store for my daughter…and the prospect of sharing her with her birthmother.

Can you guess what we're doing?

??? hummm....... ???

A year ago today...

...we were given our beautiful daughter and she became ours for good! I was so overwhelmed with emotions; joy, grief, happiness, and fear.

April 1st, Seoul Korea. Addison with her wonderful foster mother.

Just left the arms of her foster mother and is on the way back to the hotel.

playing timidly at the hotel

April 2: arriving home....lots of people!

May 1st: she turns 1! The beautiful hanbok dress was a gift from her foster mother.

June - sporting a new dress (with chocolate ice cream on it)

The 4th of July

August - a gift from her foster mother!

September - at a football game

October - at the pumpkin patch

Trick-or-treating with her cousin Owem

November - sleeping soundly

December - getting our Christmas tree

We finalize!!! She is legally ours!!!

Christmas!

January - with gifts from her foster mother

February - in Daddy's shoes

March - at Great Wolf Lodge!!

My how quickly a year has gone. We are blessed beyond measure. To God be the glory.

Politcal Barriers and Adoption

Unfortunately, the number of Korean babies needing permanent homes is growing, not diminishing. Obviously, having children stay in their country of birth is best and would represent less loss for children in need of adoptive homes, but unfortunately this is not always an option. In Korea, there is still significant prejudice against adoption, which has prevented many children from finding forever families in their native country.

Unfortunately, Korean laws have restricted the amount of children who can be adopted internationally in hopes that domestic adoption will grow. Each year the number of children who are permitted to be adopted internationally is cut, and although domestic adoption has increased, it still is not enough. This article exposes the need for more people to adopt Koreans orphans, and the need for their government to think more about the babies waiting for families, than the numbers published in newspapers.

How sad that a politician can say, “I’ve reduced the number of international adoptions,” and yet have an increased number of babies languishing in foster care waiting for families who are available, but not allowed to adopt them.

Click here to read this compelling article

Random observations about Seoul

Here is the Kia headquarters building in downtown Seoul. Other major industries in Korea are Samsung and Hyundai.

Many of the toilets were quite elaborate! See the rectangular button on the left side? There were a variety of options on those buttons such as "flushing sound" and many other cleaning options! It was really funny. I didn't know what to push!

The shopping in Seoul was simply incredible!!! There were little shops like this one everywhere; on the side walk, in the subway...everywhere. They sold t-shirts, coats, tons of shoes, and many other things at these little shops. I would never make it to work on time if I lived there! (...and I'd be broke because I LOVED all the shoppping. It was amazing)

Other observations:

• The Koreans are very well-dressed people. I've never seen so many people wearing heels!
• Very, very few Koreans are overewieght.
• Korean stores always had incredible customer service!!! (amazing!!)
• The Koreans were very polite and helpful
• The city, airport, and subway were all very, very clean, but we could never find a trashcan?!
• Pop is very hard to find and when you do find it, it's expensive. (I did miss Diet Coke!)
  

A Korean stop sign near our hotel. I just thought it was interesting!

Why Korea?

Why did we choose to adopt from Korea? Well, honestly the country chose us. I know that sounds weird, but really it wasn’t out intent to start there. For many years I always wanted to adopt from a Spanish speaking country. I have my degree in Spanish and obviously speak it . I have taught in many schools where 90% of the students were native Spanish speakers and through these experiences have learned much about various cultures. I had lofty visions of teaching my daughter Spanish as she grew up, and seeing her blossom in my care.

Well, that clearly didn’t pan out! By the time we arrived at the decision to adopt, there were no such countries still open for international adoption. So clearly this door closed. We then researched China, but the waits were too long so we went back to the drawing board. We then considered the Philippines and for various reasons, that door also closed. We were too young to qualifiy for the Ethiopia program (Who knew?!) I was quite frustrated at this point so I called Holt (our agency) to explain our situation. The lady on the phone said, “Well, it looks like you fit all the criteria for the Korea program.” With that, I called my husband and we decided to go ahead with the Korea program. This is why we say we didn’t choose Korea. It chose us. Actually, I have to say, God directed us to Korea because He knew our daughter was there.