Much More Successful...

This weekend was far better than last weekend. We got to skype with our friends Carrie and James, and I finally got to see baby Maya up close over web cam. I had Starbucks and some of Patrick's delicious potatoes. Then it started to rain. We were not going to let it get us down. We figured; we are Oregonians and we can handle a little drizzle. No big deal. And that is what we did!! We went to Myeong Dong, which is the fashion district. It's hip and not as expensive as department stores. Department stores are filled with stores like Chanel, Chloe, Salvatore Ferragamo, etc. I'm only suppose to see those in Elle magazine. So I try to stay away, too dangerous.

We ate pizza and walked around in the drizzle. Patrick got a great shot of what he thought was very Korean. I was busy looking at a Spanish store called Zara. I don't even like gum. That was what was in the parachutes.

Another great discovery: We found out why the website we were given for bus routes wasn't working. We have been using FireFox, and apparently the website only works using Internet explorer. Wow, how much easier your life can become when all you do is switch Internet browsers!! Now we can look up exact bus lines, including transfers from all areas in Seoul.

First test of the system was finding out what bus to take to Once in a Blue Moon. This is a famous jazz club in Seoul (Apujeong), which is like a very upscale area. The menu made me laugh. 18,000 for a glass of wine. 7,000 for a 1/2 pint of Guinness; that's right 1/2 pint. We do really well during the week so that we can treat ourselves on date night. What is really funny is that a bottle of Jose Cuervo (tequila) is 250,000 won. Absolutely insane. I'm glad I don't like tequila.

The jazz band was good. They had a young band for an hour and then the big show was pretty fun. During the intermission they pulled down the projector and put a jazz dvd on. What was interesting was that it was definitely late 80's/early 90's jazz performance. Patrick and I were debating which year. I thought maybe '91, Patrick was stuck on '88. The band was wearing vests. I'm pretty sure I wore vests from 6th grade until freshman year of high school. Patrick pointed out the mullet playing the saxophone and I knew I was in trouble. I tried to recoup with a, "maybe he was still stuck on the hair-do and couldn't let it go??" I think he might have sealed the deal with that detail.

As we left the club, we caught the piano player having a smoke break. He also was the only African American in the room. There is a serious shortage of black people in Seoul. Surprised? Anyways, we told him he was great and we asked if he plays every Saturday. His response, "I have been playing here since Daddy Bush was president." I couldn't have said it better myself.

Sunday concluded of a wonderful afternoon at church and our small group. We actually have time to be in a married small group. So fun!! We are going over to our leaders house, Wontae and his wife for a day trip. They live an hour away and we actually get to have a gathering at a house. It's weird that we have to meet at coffee shops because we don't have a house. Ours would be the closest and I would feel weird having 8 people in our apartment. We would have to use the bed for seating, and that's just too outside my comfort zone.

Yesterday's topic was about how powerful our tongues are and how much damage and praise they can bring. We went around sharing positive things about each other. Someone actually had the nerve to say I was direct; I clearly state what I believe in a genuine way. Can you believe that; me, direct??? I was glad that it was followed with genuine. :) I really enjoy spending time with all three couples. It's really cool to see how God works in people from different cultures and from different countries. We have people form Argentina, Ecuador, Korean, and the U.S. all together uplifting one another.

All in all, a good weekend.