The Roberts in Korea

Seoul, Spelling, Spectacles and Style

Yesterday the girls in the house wanted to spend the day shopping at the Coex Mall in Seoul.  So, we jumped on a bus in Daejeon and two hours later found ourselves walking through the underground Coex Mall.  It was a fun day.  We ate some Mexican food at On the Border (that was worth the entire trip).  We walked and shopped and saw some sights.  We tried on glasses (spectacles).   We read some interesting signs (spelling).  We experience the power of alliteration (style).  The shopping trip=a good memory.

Seoul Sights

The other day we took a day trip to Seoul.  Dina needed to get some official paperwork from the US Embassy as she is working on getting her drivers' license here in Korea.  Yipes.  During our trip to Seoul we took in some unique sights in the part of the city where the US Embassy is located, plus we went to the Coex Mall and had a good time.  I have included some pictures.

Loud Pro Volleyball

We are still on break so the other day we jumped in a taxi and went to a professional volleyball game here in Daejeon.  It was quite a loud and exciting experience.  The volleyball is intense, but the crowd is the real spectacle.  The fans here in Korea really get into cheering for their teams.  With all of the clappers, the music, the cheering and the drum pounding I made a metal note to bring earplugs to the next pro volleyball game that I attend.  It was a fun time.

The guys played the first match and then the women's team played next.  The mascot for the visiting ladies' team was a pink spider.  Yipes.  Here is a quick video from the men's volleyball game.

 

Christmas Fun

It was our privilege and opportunity to visit the Peace Village Orphanage for a time of Christmas fun this year.  The church we attend organized a trip to the orphanage.  Santa showed up and all of the kids at the orphanage recieved gifts.

Silver Bells 2011 by Jaeyoung

Here is a clip of our good friend singing "Silver Bells."  He has a beautiful voice, is a great guy, has a wonderful family and runs and owns an excellent Korean restaurant.

 

 

 

Snow!...finally

Up until Christmas Eve day it had been a cold and dry winter here in Daejeon, South Korea, but finally, it snowed.  Here are a couple of early morning shots from the front window and the back window of our 16th floor apartment.

Christmas Eve at Jaeyoung's

On Christmas Eve a large "Idaho" contingent gathered at Jaeyoung's restaurant for a time of great food, spirited singing and warm friendship.  The Zickefoose family, the Miller family, the Hill family (and Jennifer's parents--the Coles) and the Roberts family all spent Christmas Eve with Jaeyoung and his family at a little restaurant in the center of South Korea.  It was a time to treasure.  We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

Almost Eggnog

This will be our sixth Christmas without eggnog.  Sad isn't it?  South Korea has lots of cool things to eat, but we can't find eggnog.  You probably think from the looks of these smiling faces and glasses filled with festive drink that we found eggnog.  Nope.  This is banana milk with a little cinnamon sprinkled on top.  It almost tastes like eggnog...with a little imagination.  Merry Christmas.

Two Thanksgivings

We had a great time during our Thanksgiving Break this year.  We ended up hosting, preparing, cooking and eating two Thanksgiving feasts.  On Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) we had Laurie Miller and her children over for Thanksgiving dinner.  David and Levi were in a hospital in Seoul as Levi was in recovery from a knee surgery the day before.  The Miller kids and the Roberts kids cooked up quite a meal (and Dina and Laurie too) and then after dinner we kicked off the Christmas season with a viewing of the movie, "Elf."

On Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend we had a house full for yet another Thanksgiving feast.  This time, David Miller and his kids came over as Laurie spent the day in Seoul with Levi.  We also had three TCIS  high school dorm students join us for dinner and we were thrilled to have our friends, Jaeyoung, his wife and youngest son join us for dinner too.

We had a great time preparing the food and eating it and after the meal the evening ended with a rousing game of Uno.  What a blessed Thanksgiving it was.

Cheeja Dakgalbi

One of my (Ryan's) favorite foods here in Korea is a fried concoction of chicken, spicy sauce, cabbage, chunks of pressed rice and mozzarella cheese.  To order this delicacy I say, "cheeja dak galbi" and the culinary masterpiece begins to take shape before my very eyes.

First, an enormous pile of raw chicken, spicy sauce, raw cabbage and chunks of pressed rice are dumped onto a hot skillet in the center of the table and the cooking process begins (and my mouth begins to water).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The server stirs, mixes and prepares the food as our stomachs growl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the cooking nears completion the server adds the mozzarella cheese.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A heavy metal lid is placed over the hot plate to melt the cheese (yum).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And seconds later, "voila," the eating begins.