40th Birthday Celebration

The day was shared with the boys' graduation festivities, and that made it all the more festive.  The kids had stayed up late the night before to make these cards for me.  Oliver got some help from puppet friends in delivering his birthday greetings, Ronan's delivery was quite dramatic, and Dahin's card was very sweet. (btw, she had given me a mechanical pencil for a birthday present, which was perfect since I never seem to have a pencil when I need one.  It is now safely in my haegeum case to be used for notation markings.)

We made reservations at a buffet for the double celebration.  Jack had asked them if we got anything special for a birthday (ala Jack style) and they said 'free wine.'  We had no idea how much wine that meant...but the thought was exciting.  Turns out, Jack and I each got a glass of wine and it was perfect, although it did make me a little sleepy. The kids' favorite part of the buffet is always dessert, especially the ice cream.  While I like the food (see rant on 'seushi' below), I, too enjoy the fruit and coffee at the buffet (perhaps more than the main dishes).  They have this espresso machine that makes all kinds of espresso based drinks--it's awesome.

Ronan engages in his favorite activity: copying me.  He is quite good at it, and cute, as well.

After lunch, we decided the day was way too good to go to waste, so we picked up Tashi and headed to the park by the Han River.  This is where we go swimming in the summer, and next to the pool is a big field and a playground.  The day was the first truly spring-like warm day (I mean, really spring-like-- we didn't need coats; I'd say it was in the '70s at least) so far and it just felt perfect to play outside.  The weather and bright blue skies reminded us of Bay Area weather.  Below, you can see the north of the city on the other side of the river, with Namsan and Seoul Tower way off in the background.  For centuries, this river was at the very southern tip of the city area (the real city limits reached Namsan, or 'southern mountain'), or more like the official outskirts of the city, but now it divides Seoul in half. We live in the southern part, a part of the city that, since the 1970s, really took off and has expanded greatly.  Really, Seoul is so huge it's hard to imagine.

Tashi was a bit scared of the water.  Don't know why, but big bodies of water freak him out.  I thought dogs like water, but then again our little 'fraidy cat has his quirks.  He did, after all, get car sick and hated the car until recently.  The list goes on.  Still, you could tell he enjoyed the weather.  After three tries (between which he darted back up the stairs after I had carried him down ), he finally gave in and walked with me along the path.  I think he was relieved to know there was another hill and level below the path.

The kids had a blast playing on the playground, and Tashi and I had fun chasing birds and throwing the ball around.  He also proved himself to be relatively calm and polite around other people and dogs.  Besides freaking out one freaky little mean poodle, he got along well with other dogs and didn't act all crazy, barking, etc. (unlike the poodle) He kept his cool, which was nice.  When it came to birds, however....

We headed to Caffe Bene where Jack could fufill his fantasy of sitting at a cafe with a dog (something he saw a lot in our Oakland neighborhood).  Above, Jack demonstrates how NOT to handle a dog at a cafe.  Bad Jack.   The kids enjoyed some ice cream while we had some coffee. Tashi did really well.  I kept some water beneath my chair, and we were there a good thirty minutes without incident.

After our coffee break, we headed to Namdaemun for a bit of eye shopping.  There, I took on my other job (besides mommy and professor): pack horse. Then we headed to the 11th floor of the Lotte Department Store for some dinner.  We let Ronan choose, for some reason, and ended up at the sushi boat.  It was a good choice since you only eat as much as you want, and I was still incredibly full from the buffet.  The kids loved the shrimp sushi and rice wrapped in dried tofu. Jack was happy because he likes any kind of food as long as it's East Asian , especially Koreanized East Asian food like jjajjangmyeon and 'seushi.' (seriously--it's been a marriage-long struggle to go beyond this). Me?  Well, I had had enough sushi-type stuff from the buffet earlier that primarily consisted of semi-sushi, sashimi,  and sauce-covered sushi rolls, and salad (this is why I love the fruit; the semi-sushi, etc.  just gets old after a while). I didn't worry about the near-repeat of lunch much, though, since, as I mentioned above, I wasn't hungry from over-indulging in fruit and roast beef (my main comfort) earlier.  I love sushi, etc., just not on a regular basis.  I like variety, people. Plus, to be honest, the Korean version of sushi sucks.  Why the heck do they have to smear everything with sauces?  I asked why once and someone said, "Because it's popular in Japan to cover the rolls with sauce."  Um...I'm sorry folks, but I've been to Japan and eaten sushi, sashimi, and sushi rolls there and there was no freaking sauce.  It just ruins a good eel roll to have a blob of mayonnaise or ketchup on it.  Gross, gross, gross.

Then we headed home for birthday cake.  I had decided this year I wanted my cake from Taegukdang, Seoul's oldest consistently-running bakery.  I refuse to bake on my birthday.  The cake was super tasty, not to mention cute. I was a bit supersticious about putting four candles on my cake, since four is an unlucky number in Korea.  At the bakery, I was like, "Shouldn't we get five, for like, one to grow on?"  Jack was like, "Why?"  He didn't get it.  And, the girl behind the counter was a bit confused as well.  She kept saying, "Four?"  Like, "Really?  Seriously? "  Well, on this, I claim foreigner status.  That's my safetly net.

Then, I got to open a present sent from home.  Mama and Daddy (aka Bubbie and Grandfather) had sent me a surprise package. I was super surprised.  We found the delivery slip when we went home and Jack picked the package up from the management office.  The book, chocolates, yarn, blankie, and card were absolutely perfect.  The blanket is gorgeous and super warm--love it.  Thanks for making it, Mama.  Blankets take forever, I know, so I really appreciate this.  The perfect ending for a perfect day.

Little Graduates--Videos

The graduates enter the room (or try to, if certain people--not naming Jack, of course--would stop blocking them by walking in front of them).  The kids look so cute in their caps and gowns.

The kids from the 6 year-old class sing a congratulatory song for the graduates.

The graduates sing their graduation song for their teacher.  The teacher said she had no idea how they could sing such a sad song so brightly.  Man, it's true.  The song is about saying goodbye to their teacher and how the friends they met everyday in the classroom they won't see again.  Super sad (at least for the teacher and parents)

Ronan receives his "Master of Bright Greetings" award. "Sung Junmo was a model for his fellow students because he was always very cheerful, greeting his friends warmly everyday with a cute little smile.  In praise of this accomplishment, he receives this award."

Oliver receives his "Master of Cooperation" award. "Sung Hyunmo became a model for his friends as someone who, though his gallant character, knew how to work with his friends to garner a spirit of energetic cooperation.  In praise of this accomplishment, he receives this award."

The kids wanted to learn the Korean national anthem because they had heard that they would have to sing it in elementary school.  Here, they sing the first verse.

The kids sang a whole bunch of songs, including a reprise of the tear-jerker graduation song.  Here, they sing a song from their December musical about the good foods you can eat, as well as what eating bad foods will do for you (like make you fat).  Ronan's original lyrics he composed for broccoli were, "Broccoli is good for you because it makes you poop," but they revised it for the group song to "If you eat lots of broccoli you will be healthy."  Oliver contributed the lyrics about our friend the cucumber.

Little Graduates--Photos

The boys graduated from preschool on Monday, February 21st and have officially been proclaimed elementary school kids.   I can't believe that they're moving on the elementary school.  The closing of their preschool days was marked with a beautiful graduation ceremony. The boys will be back at the school for after school programs over the next three years.  So, it's not really goodbye to the school itself, but to the teacher they spent time with pretty much every day and some of their friends who are moving on to different schools. All total, there were two classes graduating from the pre-school: the Rainbow class and the Galaxy class (eunhasuban--the boys's class).

On display outside of the cafeteria, where the ceremony took place, were drawings and letters for their teacher, Kim Bomeui.  Ronan, above, wrote, "I love you Kim Bomeui seonsaengnim (teacher),"and drew a picture of a tic-tac-to game, a game he and his teacher played together often.  Oliver, below, wrote, "I love you Kim Bomheui seonsaengnim."

The graduates climb down the stairs from their classroom and head to the cafeteria for the ceremony.

The Director of the school as well as the Dean of University Life were there to offer congratulatory remarks.  The ceremony was very well done and each child was honored.

Kids in the 6 year-old class had come to sing the graduates a congratulatory song, and the graduates sung a song for their teacher.  Ronan's voice, I swear, was the biggest of the bunch.

Big sister Dahin waited patiently throughout the ceremony.  It's a new thing for her to not be the one watched--normally the brothers have to wait for her ceremonies or performances.

Then, each child was called up for an award honoring something special about their personality or accomplishments.  This made perfect sense, as the kids got more out of it than if there were just to simply receive a little diploma.   Ronan's award was the "Master of Bright Greetings," and the teacher who was emceeing read out the writing on the award that said, "Sung Junmo was a model for his fellow students because he was always very cheerful, greeting his friends warmly everyday with a cute little smile.  In praise of this accomplishment, he receives this award." (see video posting above)

Oliver's award was the following: "Master of Cooperation.  Sung Hyunmo became a model for his friends as someone who, though his gallant character, knew how to work with his friends to garner a spirit of energetic cooperation.  In praise of this accomplishment, he receives this award." (see video posting above)

Above, Dahin poses with Oliver and his award, and, below, the boys gather with their friends in their classroom one last time.

The teacher and children had prepared some songs for the parents, as well as distribution of the graduation photo albums and graduation gifts for the kids.  The teacher was tearful as she said goodbye to the kids.  The kids were funny: "Teacher, how come you're crying and laughing at the same time?"  "Teacher, your face is red!"

The kids had drawn pictures of the thing they remember best.  Oliver, above, wrote "Playing the squirrel game was the most fun."  I like how he drew the photo of his friend, this kid in the class who wore pinkish-red cglasses and always wore pajamas at school.  The girl at the top of the structure is saying, 'Hey, hurry up!"

Ronan wrote that his favorite thing was birthday parties. I like how big the table  and the decorations are.  The kids are like little ants around the table.

Above, the kids with their playground buddy and classmate Chanuk, and, below, with their girlfriend, bookworm and cookie chef extraordinnaire, Hayeong.  Her mom is a piano professor in my college.

Above, the boys pose with their teacher one last time.  Below, the boys pose outside of their school.

At home, it was present time!  The boys got some great stuff for graduation gifts.  Below, the graduation albums were just beautiful.  Biggest problem: no prints to send to relatives (ok, besides some little keychain sized photos).  I need to figure out how to scan some of these gorgeous photos and get them to Halmoni, Bubbie, and Grandfather.

Congratulations boys on this major milestone!