Day at the Zoo

On Friday we went to Seoul Grand Park. At this park is a theme park, zoo, botanical garden, etc. we decided to go to the zoo. It was $8 to get in the park, $2 for the tram ride (round trip). And since carrying Sarah around is like carrying around a 30lb sack of potatoes, I rented a stroller. It was $20 which they gave back to me on return. So that was worth every penny! Sarah was pretty chill about the whole trip. If she saw an animal she liked, she would point and talk. But most of all, she was watching other kids, trying to talk to them. Fish are not my favorite zoo animal but they were yesterday because Sarah began to talk to a boy of about 4, it made me wonder about how isolated she feels with me now, able to understand little of what she is gabbing about. We also thought we were going to a dolphin show but it was really a dolphins story telling. The background landscape picture was oddly from Portland Maine. Oh and the show was so lame. No tricks, just the dolphins swimming around. They must be unionized or something.

Sarah napped for about an hour and a half. We got some yogurt, cheese, and a banana on the way home and she had some dinner, but really chowder the snacks umma gave her.

Because the previous night was so hard for her, I thought it would be food for an evening activity although every muscle in my body begged me not to. We went to the Banpo Bridge, or rainbow bridge. We took a can because I just couldn't carry her around much more. Well, girlfriend fell asleep in the cab because the traffic was so horrible. We saw the bridge, with lights set to music for about a 1/2 hour then headed home, where she woke up. Plan foiled.

When we got back I got her PJs on and turned down some of the lights to signal quieter times. She knew what I meant and began crying. She does not want to be comforted by me yet. I went to hold her and she pushed me away and just buried her face in the bed. I patted her back, told her it was ok. I then pulled out some of her toys and snacks and we just played on the bed. First she polished off a can of puffs, i think i have a stress eater. I laid in the bed while we played and placed her new baby doll where she should be laying. After about and hour, she crawled up to the baby, laid down, started sucking her thumb and she fell asleep. I was in shock! Pleasant shock.

Yesterday I also sent my first email to Sarah's umma. Included in her photos was a note asking us to please take care of Sarah with an email address. I emailed umma to let her know that i knew she must have been very worried about Sarah and her first night. I told them Sarah had a lot of fun, was sad to go to sleep but that we would take care of her. Sarah's oppa (older brother) replied that they were thankful to know she was ok but we're very sad now that she has left as she had brought harmony to their family.

Tears. What an amazing gift this family has given us. Knowing that this umma, appa and oppa are going to willingly endure heartbreak again to help another family amazes me. How do they do it?

I will end with some random generalizations. The zoo drove home how similar we all are. Young boys are wild on field trips, teenagers make poor choices in footware when large amounts of walking are required and everybody loves baby animals. What we have noticed that is different about us is what we have coined "dayvenning wear" Koreans think nothing of wearing a suit jacket to the zoo. Nylons and high heels? Yes! A skirt with some sequins, even better! How these women walk an entire zoo in platform sandals is beyond me.

Tomorrow is Seoul tower with other adoptive parents and a latern show for Budda's birthday on Monday.

This country and her people are amazing and am so thankful to have this experience.