World Cup

This week the country revved up for World Cup game two against Argentina.  After winning the first game against Greece, we were all hopeful that we could give Argentina a run for their money and maybe win? I watched the game with a bunch of Holt adoptees...which was fun.  Alas, Korea lost 4-1.  It was a tough game, the competition was really talented and fast, and if the goal that went off one of the Korean players, and the two offsides goals didn't count...Korea would have tied.  LOL

At any rate, it gave everyone a chance to show their patriotism and wear red shirts, scarves with the soccer logo, horns (team name is the Red Devils) some that light up, wear face tattoos, etc.  It was great to feel the electricity in the air, experience the excitement and team spirit the whole country was wrapped up in, and sadness when they lost.  So, Korea has one more match and the possibility to go into a final round.  They will play Nigeria on Wednesday...i believe in the VERY early morning hours, so I'll probably just go to bed and hope for the best.

This weekend, I'm off to Jeju Island (Jeju-do).  It's called the Hawaii of Korea and a popular tourist destination.  It is the only place that Chinese tourists don't need a visa.  There is a dormant volcano on the island with hiking trails marked out; women dive for oysters and seaweed along the coast...called water women by some. They grow delicious little mandarins, a hybrid of tangerine and orange, and oranges.  They also grow bananas and other subtropical fruit and crops.  It's an island so there's alot of seafood (whoopie).  I'm hoping I'll be able to find some sort of other gogi (meat) and not just seafood.

There is also an orphanage on Jeju that has done only domestic adoptions.  Many of the children that live there remain until they are 20, or 22 if they attend university.  I plan on visiting the orphanage on Sunday.  My house mom loaded me up with towels, soap, and socks (given as gifts at meetings and stockpiled in their household) to take to the orphanage.  So I checked a bag instead of just taking my backpack.  I have a tour scheduled for Saturday and then the orphanage visit on Sunday, and then I fly back to Seoul on Sunday afternoon.  It's just about the beginning or the monsoon season, but I'm hoping for a miracle and for some sunshine while I am there.  Pictures and reports to come.  Everyone have a great weekend.