Brian and Tam O'Donnell

We had a most wonderful time with Brian and Tam O'Donnell during their visit to Seoul last week. While we didn't have that much planned, it was just so great to spend time with them. They are such great friends to us and we just wouldn't be who we are without them in our lives. For them to make the journey here (not to mention that Tam is 5 months pregnant, too!) to see us just meant the world to us.

Brian and Tam looking pretty sharp after a transcontinental journey.















Jen and Tam eating breakfast in our "nook".















Tam and Jen on the subway.
















WOW! These rollerbladers at Olympic Park are incredible! (He made it over the barricade.)





















Brian and Tam in the subway station at our favorite hike, Namhansan.
















Our picnic at the top of the hike. Jen and Tam.




















A frozen waterfall on the way down the hike.





















Brian and Tam in front of the Namdaemun gate in downtown Seoul.
















Nurabong. Or Korean karoake. In Korea, karoake is fun because you get your own room to sing your heart out.
















Brian and I getting into it. This place is litterally across the street from our house. I guess you'll have to come visit to understand the nurabong.

Phoenix Park and skiing in Korea

We had an awesome weekend up at Phoenix Park to celebrate Jen's birthday. She skied for the first time in a year and I was so proud of her. She is really quite good for basically never skiing. She can connect turns and doesn't stop the whole way down.


These aren't the Cascades or Rockies, but the rolling hills are good enough for some skiing.
















Check out the crowd coming down the slope.
















Sunday morning was crisp.




















Jen found Snow White on skis.





















There's Kristi, Jason, Becky, and Jess in front of the 'lodge'.















Starbucks...again. They really are everywhere. Of course, we got some jo.




















Kristi, Becky and Jess enduring the cold. If you don't think it looks too cold, look at the people behind them.
















Jen rockin' and rollin' down the hill. I followed her closely to ward off falling 'beached whales' (as Jen likes to call Snowboarders who are bad and take out hapless skiers).




















Kristi and Jason















Jen looking cold...but happy.




















Hugo showing us some of his skills.















Jess, Hugo, Colin, Becky, Kate, Kelly, and Jen posing at the rental shop.















Jen and Jess in the entrance to the Youth Hostel.















Friday night before the ski trip, Jen's HS and K girls cheering at the last home game.















The K girls during their half time show at the basketball game.















Here are a couple of elementary kids cruzin' during out recent skate party.

What we have been up to...

Greetings and a happy hello to everyone!

What have we been up to since getting back from Thailand.

Jen's cheer girls gave a clinic to the Kinder girls last Saturday. They loved it and I think KIS spirit is about to go through the roof! This Friday night at half time for the basketball games, the Kinder girls will perform with the cheer girls. It's the last home game of the season and both girls and boys bball are in first place, so it should be an awesome event. I'll try to take pics and post them later. At the beginning of the season when Jen ordered unifroms, the maker made a big mistake and converted centimeters to inches...and created mini uniforms...and hence the Kinder team was formed.

The girls practicing.















HS cheerleader showing how it's done.




















Jen and Jess talking to the K girls before pratice. Notice the moms hovering behind.
















On another topic, we went to a rad palace last weekend called Changbeokgung. It was cold...real cold. The palace was beautiful though and had a huge garden behind it.















This palace is in the middle of the 20 million person city of Seoul.


















Last but certainly not least-Jen's bday party with our apartment friends. From left to right - Hugo, Tommy, Jen, Susan, Kristi, Jason, and Jess.

















Susan picked up an ice cream cake for Jen.
















We are so fortunate to have found some great people to befriend in Korea. There are some really awesome people at KIS.

This weekend we are going to Phoenix Park for a skiing weekend. Should be a good time. I don't know what Korean skiing will be like, but if it's anything like the rest of Korea, it will be crowded and more crowded.

Soon Brian and Tam O'Donnell will be here. Can't wait another second...