Meet the Blog

Oh, Hi there… Have we met before? Looks like there are plenty of new faces around this little ol' blog and I haven't even introduced myself yet. How rude of me!

If you've been a long time reader, then you know a little bit about my story. However, if you're new to these parts, then you're probably wondering about a few things. Like "What's up with the name of this blog?" or "Who is this Quinn girl anyway?"

Well, let's get started with a little blog history:

I started this little blog to share pictures and stories of our adventures on our honeymoon to Korea with friends and family. When we got back to the US, I kept blogging on and off to share our everyday life with family back in NC (since we moved to Alabama after the wedding). 

Then, I had kids. 

There is just something about having kids that makes you want to share all of that chubby baby goodness with the world. 

Somewhere along the way, this blog has become more than a glamorized photo album / diary. Since having my little ones, it has become more of a space for me to talk to adults (yes, I understand that I'm actually just typing on a blank screen and not chatting with a friend). Still, this is where I find my me-time and I have discovered a world of support and friendship all over the blogging world. 

So, while this blog started off as a way to document the cultural clashes of two newly weds (Kimchi = his Korean background, Sweet Tea = my Southern background in the US), it has evolved into an email update to the world about everyday happenings and struggles of a momma raising 2 multicultural little ladies. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see a lot more of you soon!

Korean 100 Day Ceebration

We not only celebrated Father's Day this weekend, but we got together to celebrate Winsley's 100th day. It sounds funny to celebrate less than 4 months here on earth, but it was a big deal back in the day in South Korea. You see, back in the day, the survival rate for children was very low and mothers would keep their newborns indoors to prevent any illnesses and increase the baby's chance of survival. On the 100th day after the child's birth, the mother would finally take her child outdoors and finally meet the neighbors, friends, and relatives. 

Traditionally, rice cake would be served to 100 people - a little superstition thought to help protect the child's life. We celebrated with rice cake, but we certainly didn't share it with 100 people. Hmmm. Maybe that's why Winsley is starting to catch a cold that I was sure was out of everyone's system last week. Back to the rice cake - I'm not a fan. It's literally cake. . . made out of rice. Rice flour, sugar, and salt. That's it. Where's the icing?! And I am certain that there is only a dash of sugar. My husband claims it is sweet, but I just taste bland rice. On the other hand, all of our Korean relatives aren't big fans of American desserts - they think they are too sweet. :)

New Year's Celebration

Our new year has had a great start.  We have moved into our very own home in Durham and we are slowly in the process of unpacking all of these boxes.

We didn't quite make it to midnight on New Year's Eve, but we made up for it by celebrating with John's family on New Year's day.  We had a very delicious meal at a little Korean restaurant in Durham and then Ellington put on her 'pretty dress' or hanbok to bow to her grandparents.

Ellington loves her 'pretty dress' and would wear it everyday if I let her.  She also loved all of the attention she got from bowing in the middle of the living room.

Maybe we will make it to midnight next year... or maybe sleep is more important when you have kids. :)

Escalators, Planes, & Automobiles

Halmoni left for South Korea over Thanksgiving weekend and we miss her bunches.  Luckily we snapped a whole lot of pictures at the airport to look at until she returns just after Christmas.

Ellington loved the airport!  Mainly because she was so excited to have so much space to walk around, but a pretty major part was due to the fact that she discovered an escalator.

She (very enthusiastically) tried several times to get Halmoni to take her closer to the mysterious moving stairs, but in the end I was the one that was assigned this task.  Down the stairs.  Up the escalator. Down the stairs.  Up the escalator. Down the stairs.  Up the escalator. You get the picture.

Ellington misses her Halmoni, but we know that she will be back soon (with lots of goodies, I'm sure).

When Pigs Fly

I apologize for the awful pictures... some day I will actually learn how to use this fancy camera.  Anywho, I finally did something to our entryway.  Now, it actually looks like somebody has lived here for more than a few weeks.  I can't promise that anything looks complete beyond the foyer, but that's life with a baby for ya.

This was just a quick fix, I hung a series of pictures from our wedding and honeymoon in South Korea.  I even made some DIY artwork.

The Art HeartWork was inspired by several pinterest finds and I LOVE it! Is was super simple too... just just use fabric for the background and cut hearts from map printouts.  I use Seoul - South Korea (where John was born), Raleigh - NC(Where I was born), Charlotte - NC (Where we met), Birmingham - AL (Where we 1st lived), and Durham - NC (Where we live now).  The word art is actually from our 1st dance song.  I love it!

This little area is definitely not finished, but I had to share the little DIY art and, of course, this little guy!  He makes me smile when I pass him on the way to the coffee pot each morning.  I thought about taking a can of spray paint to him, but I have decided that I like him just the way he is right now.

Have you made a simple change that pulled a room together lately?  Have you not put a single thing on the walls yet (even though you have lived in a space for nearly 8 months)?  I am certainly guilty of the latter.

Have a great weekend y'all!

Celebrating America's Independence with a bunch of Koreans

This weekend was spent driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway with the in-laws and John's Aunt & Uncle from Korea. It was beautiful and the semi-cool weather was a nice break to this heat lately. John's Aunt & Uncle had never been to America. So what better way to show them a good time, than a trip through North Carolina's gorgeous mountains during the 4th of July. Things didn't exactly turn out how I thought they would when we stopped to picnic at a park along the way. Many families were enjoying the weather and having a traditional American cookout, while we were eating Korean sushi and kimchi.

John's mom even packed a rice cooker because no Korean meal can go without rice.

So no hot dogs and hamburgers for this American girl on the 4th of July, but we had plenty of fun and enjoyed our freedom! We even enjoyed some gambling at the Cherokee casinos (my first time in the US & second time ever). John and I both lost our $15, but I guess it was cheaper than taking the Korean family members to Vegas for the weekend. :)

Odd Things in South Korea

'Pocari Sweat' is a popular soda in South Korea. It doesn't really sound too appetizing to me.

We saw this sign all over the highways of South Korea. They must really hate trumpets!

John really wanted me to post this picture... he thought it was hilarious. These drinks were in a few of the hotels to cure hangovers after a big night out on the town. (We did not try it!) Gross!

Ummm... I don't think that anyone has told Korea that Hitler turned the swastika into a symbol of hatred. We saw swastikas all over road signs in Korea. They are still used as religious symbols to mark temple locations here. It was very strange.

Our Last Day in Seoul

We were exhausted, but we wanted to squeeze in a few sightseeing adventures around Seoul before leaving South Korea. We tried to go shopping for all of the counterfeit items you hear about, but I didn't really see anything that looked like the real deal. Plus, it was very crowded and a little sketchy.
We also stopped by Cheonggyecheon Stream, a peaceful place to walk in the middle of a bustling city. The stream used to be a natural water source where people would go to bathe and wash clothes. As the city developed, the stream was covered with concrete and became an eyesore filled with trash and waste water. In 2005, a project was completed to restore Cheonggyecheon Stream to it's natural free flowing state. At night, the stream is lit up with colorful lights and crowds of people to see the water fountain show along the stream.

At night we visited Seoul Tower that allows you to view the entire city. It was especially beautiful with the city all lit up at night. My last stop was to see a movie at the World Cup Stadium. Yes, there is a movie theater in the stadium. It is no longer used for games or even concerts. The entire place looks like a soccer stadium, but it has turned into a retail shopping center with a 24 hour grocery store inside. I could never see something like this happening in America, but it was a very neat way to repurpose the building.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION! The video below is what John did after I went to bed. He hit the midnight food vendors with his cousin and ate live octopus! (Gag!) I know... I don't understand why he would want to do it either.

Remember the Same Rules Apply in Korea as They Do in America... Stay Out of the NORTH!

This blog title is actually a bit of advice from my older sister, Malone. :) Thanks!

The day started off with a cable car ride up Mount Seorak. This mountain is mostly for serious hikers and you can spend days hiking to the true mountain summit. We cheated a little and took the tourist side up the mountain to a mini summit. I climbed to the top after a little encouragement from a little boy who assured me that it was not that scary. Meanwhile, John stayed at the bottom of the mini summit to take pictures. That little boy lied because it was very scary, but I made it to the top!

Before heading back to Seoul, we stopped by the border of North & South Korea. Surprisingly, nobody was fearful of the North Koreans even though they shot off 4 test missiles early this morning. I think that they were aiming for Hawaii, so we were okay.

North and South Korea were separated by two simple metal fences and the "no-man's land" in between has become a thriving wildlife sanctuary. It's strange to find such peace and beauty in the land dividing 2 countries that still have unresolved conflicts after all these years. I was very surprised to learn that South Korea is still openly hopeful that one day the 2 Korea's will not only resolve their issues, but join to be one country.

South Korea has gone so far as to erect giant statues of both the Goddess of Mercy and the Virgin Mary in a bid to help with the unification process. Maybe in my lifetime we will see the fences come down and the border disappear. However, for now I will stick to my sister's advice and stay out of the North!

Who Decided to Ride a Bus up the Coast of Korea?

From serene rice fields to endless pots of kimchi baking in the sun, the perfect way to experience the traditional Korean lifestyle was Andong Hahoe Village. The village is inhabited by less than 500 people who are dedicated to preserving the history and traditions of Korea.

In the middle of the village, sits a 600 year old tree that is said to bring luck in the fertility department to those who visit the tree.
The bus ride to our hotel in Seorak was long, but entertaining. They had karaoke on the bus, but John and I did not give it a try this time. We rode the the train before finally arriving at the hotel and saw the beautiful and undisturbed coastline of northern South Korea. John even won a picture frame during the bingo game on the train.

Before heading to bed, John stopped in a small dried food store and picked up some dried fish. It smelled horrible, but I was certainly thankful that he did not choose to buy a dried stingray or dried squid. Yuck!

Sightseeing in Gyeongju

We left our hotel by the beach and headed to the Gyeongju National Museum. It was beautiful! This museum is known to have the largest selection of Silla Dynasty artifacts in Korea. Korea's largest cast iron bell sits by the museum's entrance.

The story behind the 'Emille Bell' is quite sad. It was commissioned by the Silla Dynasty King in 771. When the bell was first struck, it failed to ring. When it was recast and struck again, it cracked. After these failed attempts, the King's spiritual leader said that the first daughter born in the year of the dragon needed to be found and thrown into the molten metal before it was poured. This was done and when struck, the new bell did not crack. Yet, the sound of the bell resonated with the cry of the child for its mother ('emille' means mother in the ancient Silla language).

We also visited Cheomseongdae, the oldest astronomical observatory in all of East Asia. Next to the stone observatory, are very large mound tombs. The inhabitants of the tombs are unknown and have been left undisturbed for now.

Next, we hiked to a Buddhist temple with gorgeous stone carvings of Buddha and other deities. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take photos inside the temple. All over the grounds of the temple were stacks of rocks meant to protect your family from evil. I stacked up 3 little rocks for our new family (the third being Kogi).

We ended our day with a swan boat ride. I thought it would be relaxing after all of the walking we did today, but we ended up working pretty hard to maneuver that paddle boat around the lake.

A Few More Things I've Learned About Korea

1. Public restrooms have no toilet paper inside the stall...  you better not forget to grab some before you go into the stall.
2. Older Korean women DO NOT wan to be tan.  They wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, white gloves, large rimmed hats, and carry around umbrellas.  Even in 85 degree weather!
3. Just like America, Korea has a Starbucks on nearly every corner in the city.  However, wherever there is a Starbucks there is also an Outback Steakhouse.  The must come as a combo deal.
4. You cannot find decaffeinated coffee or soda anywhere!  That might be why Koreans are always full of energy!
5. Koreans may also be energetic all the time because they LOVE coffee!  They serve it at every meal whether you ordered it or not and coffee vending machines are everywhere.
6. Couples in Korea really like to match.  We have seen several couples with not only matching shirts, but also matching shorts/pants and cell phone cases.  John & I are currently searching for our couple’s outfit.  Hahaha!
7. Koreans really like cell phone charms.  Almost everyone has one and they are sold everywhere.  Don’t worry... I’ll bring plenty home for everyone to take as a souvenir.
8. Nearly every Korean has a huge GPS system in their car that can play movies & TV shows.
9. There is a moped delivery guy for almost every restaurant in the larger cities... I even saw a McDonald's delivery guy.
10. Most Korean people buy condos, not houses.  Even the country (rural) areas have several 10 story condo complexes.  Not many people live in houses anymore.

Goodbye Jeju, Hello Busan!

It’s raining again, but I’m all smiles because I had a yummy American breakfast!  We spent our last hours at a traditional Korean village before leaving Jeju.  The old way of doing things on the island does not sound too appealing.  Basically the woman works in the fields, cooks the food, cleans the house, while still taking care of the kids and her husband.  ‘What does the man do all day?’  Well, he lounges around the house and doesn’t lift a finger because he is supposed to be the king of the household.  Yeah... this is totally not happening in my household!  You got that John!

We are now in Busan, on the mainland.  I am happy to be safely on the ground.  The flight was crazy turbulent.  I really thought that we were going to have to make a water landing!  When we got to the hotel, I wanted to relieve some stress from the flight.  So... we went to the casino.  It was my first time in a casino and we decided only to spend $10.  I don’t know anything about the games, so we stuck to slots.  Luck & maybe my grandpa (he loved Las Vegas) must have been on my side because we won $35!  Yay!

Legends, Myths, & Superstitions! Oh My!

Breakfast at the hotel was the first American meal I’ve had in a week... It was quite delicious! After a hearty meal, we were off to the Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls. It was really rainy all day, but the waterfalls were beautiful. We also went to a tangerine / ginseng farm. Tangerines are grown in the winter, so we toured the ginseng part of the farm and even got to taste a little bit.

Next, we hiked what seemed like 10 million stairs to get to a cave containing a large Buddha statue and a natural mineral water stream on top of Mount Sanbang. The Jeju island people believe that by taking one sip of water from the stream, you won’t get grey hair (2 sips and you won’t get wrinkles). I drank a whole cup! Cross your fingers & Let’s hope it works!

Hiking up Mount Sanbang was seriously hard work, so we ended the day at Halim Park. It is one islanders private garden, but it’s about the size of South Park Mall. There are 2 pretty interesting lava tube caves that you can walk through. One lava tube has ‘pillar of knowledge’ that is supposed to make you smarter if you walk around one time. I’m not sure if this one will work on me... I’m already the smartest person I know (I mean - besides my husband). :-)

The Hawaii of South Korea

We are now on Jeju island and our first stop is the Natural History Museum. The island is very much like Hawaii and volcanic rocks are everywhere. On the island, they have a statue named “Dolharubang” (stone grandfather figure). He is a fertility figure and you are supposed to touch the nose for boys and the ear for girls. The Dolharubang statues are spread out all over the island, so John tried to touch as many noses as he could. I hope this superstition doesn’t hold true because I don’t think I could live with ALL boys!

After reading about the history of Jeju island, we moved on to Yongdaum (Dragon Head Rock). Legend says that this rock formation occurred when a cocky young dragon tried to leave his watery world to live in heaven. I don’t really see the dragon, but it’s a neat looking rock.

Our last stop of the day was the O’Sulloc Green Tea Museum. The fields of green tea bushes were gorgeous and the freshly cooked smell of green tea leaves inside the museum was amazing. The green tea ice cream that we tried, however, was not very tasty. Yuck!