off to Korea

Well, as the message says, greetings from Korea:
We are obviously here and going swimmingly as they say. I am here in what is called an "Internet game club," which means that I am surrounded by about 50 Korean teenagers and preteens, all with different internet games screaming in my ears. I will attempt not to be influenced by all the blood and gore which is going on around me.
Kill, kill kill!!!! oops, I'm losing it all ready.
We flew here on Singapore airlines and for anyone who has the chance, I
would highly recommend it. First of all, immediately after takeoff, they brought out hot towels for us all to wash the grime of the airport/highway off of us, then brought us our little knee-high socks so that we could take off our shoes and relax,(some of them should have left their shoes on) our toothbrushes and toothpaste
were contained in the packet as well. Full free bar followed, just to take the edge off the twelve hour flight.
The seats all had individual foot rests with different stop positions for better circulation, and each seat had individual video screen with a selection of 12 different movies, which ran continually for the entire trip. You have no idea how quickly a twelve hour flight can be when you watch four full length movies during it. If there was a part of one film you didn't understand or which you particularly liked, just wait for a couple of hours till that part is repeated and watch it again, or the whole movie if you really, really liked it.
The food was fantastic, again accompanied by full free bar, and what with a little sleep thrown in, the flight went by remarkably well. We arrived at 8:30 p.m. and just in time to get to an airport hotel and and hit the rack. It's much easier getting in at night time than trying to stay up until bed time.
I'm happy to say that I like my new daughter in law very much. She is a very upbeat person. She laughs easily, has a big smile, loves my son a ton "My Jeff" as she calls him, and generally relaxes his level of intensity. Anybody who can do that is okay in my book. Her English is fairly good, she studied at Mills College for six months, and the two of them make a really nice couple. He is very tender toward her, and that is what I really wanted to see upon my arrival.
We left at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, arrived in Seoul at 8:30 on Thurs. night, and came here to Wonju the following morning. The trip here to Wonju was quite interesting. Jeff told me that I'd be just fine. Or in his words: "Dad, you know how you drive in the parking lot at Candlestick Park, well everybody drives that way here all the time."
I've always had the feeling that to get out of the parking lot at the stick, one had to put ones front bumper in front of other cars bumper, and give the impression that you really didn't care if you got a little dent, and that the other person was more concerned about denting his than you were. It's worked well over the years, and besides a few ruffled feathers, not to mention a few ruffled fingers, has meant arriving home much earlier than otherwise would have been possible.
Well here, crowding in with one's car is a national passion, and I have
found it judicious to back off and become the passive one. I think it's
God's way of evening the score. Declining the optional insurance on the
rental car form might also have something to do with it.
Wonju is a town of about 300,000 and very lively. We went downtown this
morning (Friday) and had a feast of different tastes in the covered market. We're going down tomorrow for breakfast. My mother, who is not quite as adventuresome, is having a somewhat hard time with the Asian food, not to mention sitting on the floor to eat, but she's hanging in very well. There seems to be eating establishments every other shop, as Koreans love to socialize and what better way to do so than over food or drink. The country itself is a vibrant, colorful place. They love neon, and bright colors. The whole understated, oriental demeanor just didn't make it here.
You know all the things you see which say "Made in Korea," Well, they didn't all make it to the export counter. Some mysteriously have been showing up at the markets at ridiculously low prices. Carol and Ang drool, I simply groan.
Jeff's mother and cousin arrived this morning, and we took Jennifer, Jeff's cousin, with us as we drove an hour from here to visit a national park and Buddhist temple from the 6th century. It was a lovely drive and very interesting to get off the freeways and on to some country roads. It's really a very beautiful country. Lots of low mountains. Everything is totally green and heavily wooded.
The wedding appears to be all that we anticipated that it would be. The last two days a film crew from one of the national tv stations has been filming Jeff and his/Anjin's story. Today another channel called and wanted to do the same. Jeff is totally appalled by all this attention, but as Jennifer said today, "boy he must really love her, for Jeff of all people, to go through all this." The documentary is to appear on tv on next Thursday, and Jeff has promised to send us a copy.
Well, I've got to go. Tonight is the night we go to Anjin's parents for
dinner and then tomorrow it off to see some more of the country side.
We are healthy in spirit and body and looking forward to Sunday. I don't know If I'll be able to write before I leave on Monday, but You'll all get sick and tired of hearing me talk about it when I return.
Take care to all, unfortunately, we'll be home before we know it.

Jim and Carol