Returning Home

I have missed writing these past couple of weeks and apparently I have at least two readers who look forward to my posts each week, so it is good to be back on the blog.

Our trip to Korea was spectacular.  We really had no expectations ahead of time - we hadn't done much research because we were focused on settling in to our life in Spain, and we had no information on our roles as parents-of-the-groom; more on that in a few paragraphs... 

Our shipment from the U.S. finally arrived three days before we flew to Seoul. The delivery men were clearly annoyed by the drive up the mountain, but even they gasped when they stepped out of the van and turned towards the view.  As we started to unpack and unwrap the various crates and boxes we were surprised numerous times by the contents. We had forgotten some of what we had shipped and little things brought great delight.  But we also wondered where we would put everything as three months of living with only the basics had become a comfortable, and clutter-free norm.  

The shipment arrives four months after leaving our garage in Oregon!

Saturday we drove to Madrid, a 5-6 hour trip, and we stayed in a hotel near the airport.  Sunday we flew to Munich, then to Seoul, where we got a train to a second airport and flew on to Jeju island.  By the time we arrived, 24 hours after leaving Madrid, we were stiff and exhausted.  Minhye's family greeted us when we got to the resort and we learned that we should be ready for dinner in 45 minutes.  We quickly showered and dressed and then were taken to a raw-fish restaurant.  We walked into the dining room and realized that we would be sitting on the floor for the meal.  That hadn't occurred to me when I put on my dress for dinner, and given how stiff we were from the plane it seemed like a cruel trick, but we managed to tuck our legs under the low table and we enjoyed an amazing meal of numerous fish options.

Delicious raw fish

We were pleasantly surprised by each experience in Korea.  The landscape and weather reminded us of Oregon, the people were gentle and friendly and everything was noticeably clean.  In Seoul, a city of 10 million people, there is no trash, no graffiti and even the subway restrooms were spotless and well supplied.  Minhye's family were kind and gracious hosts.  They don't speak English but there were many smiles and bows and even a few hugs throughout the visit.

Sunset on Jeju

Touring one of the palaces in Seoul

View over Seoul

The wedding was on Friday afternoon.  We arrived at the Korea House, a venue that hosts traditional Korean weddings.  We learned that most Koreans now have Western-style weddings with white gowns and receptions, but when a Korean marries a Westerner, they frequently have a traditional Korean ceremony. Sam and I were given white gloves to wear and we were each pinned with an orchid.  We stood near Minhye's parents and greeted guests as they arrived.  Minhye's mother wore traditional hanbok - a lovely, colorful outfit. After awhile our corsages were removed and a second orchid was pinned on us and then we were told to go sit for the ceremony.  Kristen's husband, Mike, learned the day before that he would be in the wedding - he was to wear traditional clothing and he led Tom into the ceremony and also carried the wooden goose that was presented to Minhye's mother.  

Minhye and Tom

Mike and Kristen

The ceremony began with entertainers spinning plates and performing acrobatic feats and then Tom and Minhye entered.  Minhye had her arms held high with a drape that covered her face for the entire ceremony and two women led her around because she couldn't see.  Tom bowed numerous times, head all the way to the ground and we were amazed that he knew what to do and when to do it because there had not been a rehearsal.  It was all very lovely.  Following the ceremony we went to a tea room where the two sets of parents performed several traditional rituals.  Sam and I were given handfuls of chestnuts and dates and, when instructed, we threw them onto a cloth stretched between Tom and Minhye; the three dates that stayed on the cloth predict that there will be three sons for the couple.

With Minhye's parents and the bride and groom

Sunday morning we said good-bye to Kristen and Mike and then Tom and Minhye met us at the airport to bid us farewell.  We flew to Frankfurt, then to Madrid and spent another night at the hotel there before driving home on Monday.  

We wondered if we would feel like we were back home when we got to Spain, or would it feel as if this has all been a long vacation but now we really should be returning to Oregon. In Madrid everything felt comfortably familiar and we have made the drive between Madrid and Granada enough times now that we recognize many landmarks along the way.  We stopped in Lanjaron for a drink and tapas at our friend Junami's shop and, although he was closing up, he said that for us he would stay open.  Another friend, Felipe, was there and they both greeted us with warm enthusiasm.  We felt very welcomed.  As we drove up the mountain we were excited to be home.  A couple miles before our place we pass a goat farm and the goats were coming back in from their day grazing.  We turned off the car and waited for the entire herd to make their way off the hill, across the road and into their pen. It was clearly milking time and many of the does struggled to accommodate their full udders as they walked.  

When we drove down the driveway we felt almost giddy.  There was no question that this is our home now and there isn't another place we would have preferred to be.  The weather is changing and by Monday temperatures will drop below freezing overnight.  We needed to run the generator for the first time today to charge the solar batteries following two days of clouds, and we will soon light the wood stove for the first time.  The election is next week and I know that I say this every four years, but this really has been the longest and craziest election process yet.  We are so thankful for our peaceful home far away from the madding crowds.

I love our view

Back to hiking

Home sweet home!