Redecorating

Before 

After 

Vast improvement. Free of charge. You're welcome, Yongsan. 

Unforgettable. That's What We Are.

Well, we've set a new personal best for modeling in Korea. In under three weeks, we were approached by an international modeling agency. 

Right after swim practice, as we were leaving. a woman walked up to me and said, "I know you. I know your kids. Here's my card. I want them to model for me again. I can take a picture?"

She thrust a very familiar card with an even more familiar name on it. It'd been almost 8 years and that's as much as the passages of time allowed me to recognize. 

Not, however, Ajuma. She recognized me, Roman, and even Reilly Kate (although, she did think RK was a boy). 

Koreans are incredibly focused on faces. They read faces like we in the west read palms. Being a modeling agent, she's even more in tuned to facial features. But even given all that, this is still an incredible feat of facial recognition.  

Of course, it could be that these kids just model incredibly well. 

Here's Iryna modeling some southern style BBQ. 

Yes, there's an authentic and delicious BBQ joint right in the heart of Itaewon. It's owned by the younger brother of a friend of ours. And I think Iryna wears his sauce quite well. 

Here's Reilly Kate modeling her new school.  

Please note: She will soon be a "tenacious bulldog."  How that's any different than before, I do not know. 

Then there's Kelly modeling the hell out of a Cubs shirt. And a slide. 

I wonder when I'm obligated to tell her that Kelly has extra chromosomes and, therefore, must get paid more. 

Then there's Roman, modeling his I couldn't give a shit look. 

Just because he can. 

Yeah. They're unforgettable. 

. 

You Can Never Go Back

We spent a great weekend together as a family exploring our new surroundings. And, of course, swimming. 

Kicking off the weekend with a big fat strawberry margarita. As the Koreans are fond of saying, "TGIF!"  Which really doesn't make any sense since they work on Saturdays. But. Strawberry margarita!!

Saturday was our first swim meet with the new team. It was cold and rainy, but the kids swam great!

But it wasn't too cold for ice cream. A well deserved ice cream as Iryna swam her first 200 meter IM. That is a very big event for a 7 year old to swim. 

Reilly Kate swam well and impressed the hell out of her new coaches. 

But Roman rocked the pool!!  Shining in every event he swam. 

Sunday we had to meet our realtor near a home we hope to rent. But first, we had to see if there were any good places to eat. 

We picked a winner!!

Grilled pork belly!!

With the traditional hot coals!!  And the best damn dwenjang jigae ever!

Then we walked up the hill toward our prospective new home. The home is located just a few houses up the hill from my first apartment. This little gangway leads to the front door of my old apartment. I loved that place probably because it was the only place that was all mine. Just me. I paid the rent. I lived there alone. So even though the toilet was located outside of my apartment, I loved it. And still have very fond memories of it. 

But this place is, well, much better. Let's just say, we're movin' on up. And not just up the hill. 

It's a great place with plenty of space. 

And just the right amount of outside yard. Goodbye 7 acres!!  Hello 100 square feet!!

Ahhh, classy style in my kitchen. 

Unfortunately, Pap is not King here. But we will treat him like royalty when he visits, anyway. 

Right around the corner is a beautiful shrine. 

With an amazing view. 

I don't remember this being here. But it's been there since 1917. Maybe I was just too drunk to notice it before. 

It even has a playground nearby. We met a nice Korean couple from outside Boston. 

It's a quick jaunt down to a very much changed Itaewon. 

But the 3 Alley Pub is still there. 

Although, they no longer allow smoking. Or cake. 

Seoul Pub has hardly changed. Some of the best times of my life happened in that bar. Some of the best people to cross my path did so in that bar. I left a piece of my heart there. And a big hunk of my liver. 

But now, this is our Sunday afternoon. Two beers and we are done. 

Times have changed. And even if you live right up the hill, you can never truly go back. 

New Horizons

Two weeks ago, we boarded this plane to a new horizon. New at least for these two. A return to one of our favorite places in the world for the rest of us: Seoul, Korea. 

A city full of spice and excitement. 

Surrounded by mountain peaks taller than the skyscrapers that pepper the view. 

An often overlooked history filled with beauty and tragedy and treasures to explore. 

A rich culture steeped in Asia but with its own unique flavor. 

And food!  Glorious food!!

So come back and catch glimpses of Korea through our Windows to Our Seoul.