Hello from the Other Side Part 2-Getting Settled!

Getting settled. Now that is a statement in itself! You never really realize what you need until you need it.
After arriving in Seoul, our first few weeks passed us by in a blur of paper work and countless amount of walking! (It's a good thing I had a few lbs to lose!) Our apartment is FABULOUS!!!! The hubs really did a good job on picking it out. It has 4 bedrooms and 2 spacious bathrooms. The entire place is much larger than our home at Fort Rucker! I do miss having an outside space.....but our new place over looks a fantastic mountain/nature trail and boasts several playgrounds, a badminton court, skating rink (outdoor) and a babbling mountain stream that winds through the property for the kids to play in..... so I guess beggers can't be choosers! :) As far as inside goes...Our entire apartment has great hardwood floors and quartz tile through out. The kitchen boasts fantastic black quartz counter tops and a stainless steel microwave/oven/broiler combo! Our living room has a panoramic view of the mountain with an entire wall of floor to ceiling windows. The best part is (drum roll please) our master suite! It has a huge wall to wall closet with great built-ins and a space for a tv. (Although according to my husband that will not make it into our room :/) My closet, however, is WAY BETTER! It is a walk in style with several built-in shelves and drawers for clothing and even an accessories organizer and to top it off, my closet boasts floor to ceiling run-way lighting! As great as that is, our master bathroom is the crowning jewel of the entire place! It has a glass enclosed shower AND soaking tub. The shower section of the en closer is outfitted with a rain fall shower head, and separate showering attachment, and 3 body jets. Large ceramic tile through out completes the modern look of the room. There are a few more cool things about the house that the hubs really likes. In floor heating, central vacuuming system, and built-in air purification system are a few, but the real reason he picked this house is the "smart house feature". The entire place is controlled through a central computer system and boasts not only internet controlled lighting and security features but an intercom system that can even be accessed through the bathroom! <----Pictures to follow as soon as I can get everything organized!

Living in Korea, How is it?

It is great! The Asian culture boasts the best sense of modern design and infrastructure in the world! The best part is their attention to detail. Everything from cabinets and appliances to side walks and retaining walls are calculated to perfection to meet not only practical needs but are aesthetically pleasing as well. Everywhere you look is a piece of art. It is literally like walking around in a painting. For example: The Korean highways and freeways are often enclosed tunnels to reduce the sound of traffic. These tunnels are not always just concrete but well constructed fiberglass structures that range in color from green to blue. A perfect mix of design and practicality! Another great example are the bridges and walkways. They are often lit with alternating colored LED lights in the evening giving off a great light not only to help you see but pleasing to look at as well! Form meets function at it's best!

The shopping is beyond believable! Major designers like Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Gucci are ever present and quite affordable as well as lesser known Asian designers that boast fantastic show pieces at knockdown prices. Women here embrace style and femininity with ease and seize every opportunity to dress to the nines. Although most Asian fashion is built for those with out curves so sizing is a real puzzle but fun to say the least!

The food is often questionable but for the most part delicious. More to come after I have taken the Korean food tour provided by ACS (Army Community Service) to better acquaint myself with the local fare.

The hubs and I are getting the opportunity to go out and explore sans children (Thanks Majean!!) this weekend so look for some cool pictures and interesting stories about our hi-jinks in the Soul of Asia!

Ta-Ta!