Seoul night
It's 5:30 am here, and Amelia has been up since 2. We've taken shifts to try to get a bit of sleep so we aren't completely haggard when we go to meet Finn later today. Amelia is too excited to sleep - she wants to go meet him NOW. She travelled really well but has only slept a about an hour on the plane and a bit on the bus ride into Seoul. She's sitting here with me and wants me to be sure to tell you she was airsick and threw up just as we landed. She was exhausted and crashed about 7 pm but was up and hungry at 2 and has been going strong ever since. We expect another crash anytime - hopefully not in the middle of the visit.
It's an incredibly long journey to get here (3 hrs. advance at the airport, 11.5 hr flight, customs, baggage, 1 hr. bus ride and finally a very long 3 block hike up to the guesthouse), but it felt great to arrive in the daylight and feel like we knew where we were going. The adoption agency here has a guesthouse that we are staying in. It's on a quiet back street in an unassuming building. We were met by the doorman, Mr. Lee who was expecting us and who we remember from our last visit. Our room is small, but at least has a little kitchen and two tiny bedrooms so we can close doors and some of us can sleep :-) Plus this computer so we can stay in touch. Last visit, we were in a tiny single room with two twin beds and nothing else - it was 5 days of intensity with baby Amelia Soo Bin with nowhere to wash bottles, heat water for formula, etc. This is MUCH better.
We've only seen a little from the bus and our epic 3 block hike with our suitcases, but Seoul is just as busy of course, and there seems to be more shops nearby and more english signs than before. People are very friendly and helpful and cope well with our non-existent Korean skills. We're looking forward to exploring the city a bit more. I definitely feel like we are more prepared this trip and not as overwhelmed with becoming parents along with all the cultural differences of being in Asia. Definitely is different when all the signs are in Hangul so you can't tell what what they say - makes it hard to know whether the store you're entering sells groceries or electronics...
We are off to the agency this morning at 9:30 - hopefully to meet Finn then but certainly later today! What an adventure!
It's an incredibly long journey to get here (3 hrs. advance at the airport, 11.5 hr flight, customs, baggage, 1 hr. bus ride and finally a very long 3 block hike up to the guesthouse), but it felt great to arrive in the daylight and feel like we knew where we were going. The adoption agency here has a guesthouse that we are staying in. It's on a quiet back street in an unassuming building. We were met by the doorman, Mr. Lee who was expecting us and who we remember from our last visit. Our room is small, but at least has a little kitchen and two tiny bedrooms so we can close doors and some of us can sleep :-) Plus this computer so we can stay in touch. Last visit, we were in a tiny single room with two twin beds and nothing else - it was 5 days of intensity with baby Amelia Soo Bin with nowhere to wash bottles, heat water for formula, etc. This is MUCH better.
We've only seen a little from the bus and our epic 3 block hike with our suitcases, but Seoul is just as busy of course, and there seems to be more shops nearby and more english signs than before. People are very friendly and helpful and cope well with our non-existent Korean skills. We're looking forward to exploring the city a bit more. I definitely feel like we are more prepared this trip and not as overwhelmed with becoming parents along with all the cultural differences of being in Asia. Definitely is different when all the signs are in Hangul so you can't tell what what they say - makes it hard to know whether the store you're entering sells groceries or electronics...
We are off to the agency this morning at 9:30 - hopefully to meet Finn then but certainly later today! What an adventure!
Comments
i am so excitted for you! It is so excitting to follow you through your journey of recieving a new baby boy. i can not wait to see your photo posts and stories once the new one comes...
We are following your stories while sitting in COuncil seaking some excitment...
good luck and may your family feel complete!
sending lots of love and thoughts...