Weekend Wrap Up and a Monday Reprieve

We wrapped up our weekend with a late lunch/early dinner near Sookmyung Women's University.  We wandered around the streets not knowing what exactly we were looking for, but knowing that we'd stop when we found it. 

And we did. 

Budae Chigae!!!

Budae Chigae is a fiery stew chock full of so many different things that every bite is different. Heck, I've never even had the same pot twice!

It originated as a throw together meal. During the Korean War, and after it as well, food was scarce and people were starving. The American forces would hand out their extras: Spam, canned ham, hot dogs, baked beans, hamburger patties, macaroni, etc. Add water and some kochujang (spicy pepper paste) and you've got Budae Chigae, or "Army Stew" as it translates to English. 

Like I said, there are variations and add ins. We like rice cake (NO! Not the styrofoam, tasteless, diet food of the 80s rice cakes! But the chewy dumpling kind found all over Korea), ramyun, and bacon.   They cook it right there, at the table and it's eaten still boiling in the pot.  Serve it up with some purple rice, OJ, Coke, and a few beers and we are a happy, if a little gassy, family. 

The kids loved it. 

Even the Kellster got in on some of that steamy hot goodness. 

Iryna did, too, but we lack photographic evidence of that fact. You'll have to just trust me. She slurped down mounds of ramyun with chopsticks like a pro. It was an impressive sight.

After lunch, we were walking back to the hotel when I pointed out the War Memorial Museum. It was Roman's favorite place when he was 2. We would go there a couple of times a month or more if the weather was good.  He never got tired of climbing the stairs to peer into the planes and tanks. 

We detoured to explore it once again. 

Ten year old Roman was fascinated with this statue. 

So was Reilly Kate. It tells the tale of a war torn, battle weary Korea, her brave soldiers, her impoverished and desperate civilians. It's a tragic tale of victory and division and survival. 

The kids were treated to a few Korean history lessons by Professor Spiwak.

They actually paid attention, too. 

I swear, they did. Even Roman. 

Okay. Maybe Kelly didn't pay close attention. But after all that budae chigae, can you really blame him?

Roman got to climb up some airplanes, showing Iryna around. 

They even climbed up a B-52!!  Rock Lobster was playing in the background. 

No, not really. 

The grounds surrounding the museum are beautifully landscaped, with winding paths, full bushes, and leafy trees. 

Flags of all the nations that helped Korea win her freedom fly around the building. 

But, alas, it started to rain, as it often does during monsoon season. So we headed back to the hotel. 

Monday was the day Dan has scheduled Freyja's euthanasia. When we returned, we found an email from him telling us he had cancelled the appointment. She is living comfortably and can still enjoy life. He wants to give her as much time as possible. 

She still likes to go on walks and gets excited when he grabs her leash. 

But mostly, he wants to keep her around for Skadi. He says they lie together, peacefully, gently all day long. Skadi knows Freyja is in pain. She never leaves her side. She gets frantic when Dan takes Freyja out for a walk alone. 

She's not just losing her best friend, she's losing her mom, her sister, and her companion. We aren't there with her. She is lost. Scared. Alone. 

He wants her to have as much time with Freyja as she can before boarding a big, loud plane for a long flight to a strange country. 

So Freyja is still doing what she does best: She's taking care of her family. 

Bless her.