The Americans are loose in Eumseong... aka Don't Talk on the Bus...

Saturdays are a chance for teachers to cut loose: wake up at 9AM, take a triple too long shower, stare at some grades, dread Monday... just kidding...

Daniel prefers to take his naps IN school. :)

Two of our "ducklings:" Andrew (left with the big cheese) and Opie (with the glasses). They go everywhere we go. Joy named them. We have a Jed, too.... but no "Granny."

We asked Esther if we could take the bus (NOT MY IDEA) to Eumseong... by ourselves. Of course, this was met with some doubts, some hesitation, some compromises: yes, we will take my Instant Korea Phrase Book, yes our name badges (with the school name and phone number), yes we will be home by dark, yes we will stay together, yes we will call if we run into trouble... don't worry! we'll be fine! :)

Americans at the bus stop.

On our way... It cost us $1.60 to go to Eumseong.

I did not "flunk" at pizza school. We used Instant Korean Phrase Book to order ourselves a stuffed crust (with Korean cheese-- it's cheese without the stretch) pizza and some coke. Success.

Obviously, Charles found my pronunciation amusing. All I can say is that, between Georgette's giant gestures and pointing (ironically not caught on film) and my phrase book, we had lunch.

documenting my success.... are we total nerds, or what?!

A friendly man took our picture. See how cute and in-total-control-of-the-situation we are?

Bobbie and the motorcycle. This man pulled up to Lotteria (yes, we stopped there) and just left his motorcycle running!! So we contemplated taking it for a spin.... we didn't. But we did make Bobbie pose awkwardly for the picture as the man came out of the door...

We have to use the bathroom, therefore we must buy Lotteria.

Instant latte from a vending machine... there were many options. Bobbie wanted an iced latte... this is her "which one has milk?" face.

We visited the French bakery... Tous Les Jours... we bought chocolate things. <3

The baker. How cute is that? You watch him make all the pastries! And they are so so so so yummy!!

Mostly we shopped and wondered... we wondered things like "why would you want a dried fish fan?"

Happy and safe and back on the bus...

Charles was cracking us up!

We were getting in trouble because we were talking and laughing on the bus. No one mentioned to us the well-known rule that NO ONE MAY SPEAK ON THE BUS. ever.

A little old Korean lady kept turning around and trying to quiet us... but of course, we had NO IDEA what she was talking about!! So we continued to talk until finally she turned around and said "SH!" to Joy with the international gesture of her fingers clamped over her lips. Ooops. :) We were mostly quiet the rest of the way home... :)

So our adventure ended as happily as it began. We came home to our 20 children, all whom wanted to share in the spoils of our day... our chocolate, our new shoes, our gigantic $2 powerades, and of course....

...our giant straw hats. :)

We decided the party couldn't end there, so Mary and Bobbie hosted us for a movie night!! Yay! We watched "A letter to three wives," a 1940's classic. It was wonderfully hilarious! We all loved it. We concluded our day with "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton;" a classic romantic comedy set in a Piggly Wiggly. Where are all good comedies should begin. Our movie night was a wonderful time of female companionship and relaxation.

It's true. We kicked Charles out. He was a little mad, but his testosterone was distracting us from the good old Hollywood kisses. :)

All this wonderful romance, of course, made us all wish that we'd brought our Jane Austin collections to Korea, too! What kind of movie weekend does not include a little Mr. Darcy? :)

So that's another Saturday in Eumseong. We're having fun, a little worse for the wear, happily snacking on Corn Flights and enjoying old Hollywood. We hope you enjoyed a little time with your family today!

With love from all the gang in Eumseong...

-elie