Happy Holidays from Seoul...Christmas Style!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  This year we were blessed with a white Christmas in Seoul.  We spent the morning at home opening presents, singing Christmas carols, decorating & eating snowmen pancakes, and watching classic Christmas movies.  We then headed to church for a Christmas service.  Finally, in the evening, we headed over to the US Army base and had dinner with an embassy family- old friends of ours from Chicago!  The spread included ham, mashed potatoes, cornbread, and a fabulous homemade cheesecake topped with berries, among other delicious things.  It was such a special treat to be able to have a traditional American meal on Christmas!

By the way, if you live in Seoul and want to order a Christmas or Thanksgiving meal, you can order one from The Deli at the Dragon Hill Lodge, located on the Yongsan US Army Base.  The price is incredibly reasonable for a TON of food!  This year, it cost $109.95 for a full turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, green beans, and a pumpkin pie (enough to feed 10 people).  However, there is one catch- you have to pick up the meal from Dragon Hill.  In other words, you have to know someone who can let you on base and escort you to the Deli to pick up the meal.  Anyhow, if you are interested, here's a link to this year's info about the meal.  Also, the direct number to order the meal is: 02-6903-6716. 

For this year's holiday cards, we took photos at a park near the Han River and had a fabulous time!  Photo credit goes to Jhon Chong, an old friend of ours from college- thanks!  And for your viewing pleasure, some of the shots from our fun, though extremely cold, photoshoot:

 

 May your days be merry & bright! Happy Holidays!

Welcome to Seoul!

Our view to the east overlooking Gireum with the northern mountains as a backdrop

Near the northeast edge of the city of Seoul lies a small neighborhood called Gireum New Town, a newly renovated area that lies just north of the closest subway station.  This is where we chose to reside for our first year in South Korea.  The main street is lined with high rise apartment buildings as far as the eye can see, and our apartment was located near the top floor of one of these high rises.

Gireum's main street. Our local bus stop.

View of the street from our apt window

At street level, you can find restaurants serving anything from traditional Korean food to noodles to fresh sushi, burgers, and fried chicken- LOTS of fried chicken!  There are also bakeries and rice cake shops, fruit and vegetable stores, a butcher, stationary store, and numerous health care providers, including pharmacies, pediatricians, general practitioners, dermatologists, and dentists.

Gireum's street lined with restaurants & various shops

Our close friends recommended that we live in Gireum because we wanted to live near to each other.  However, what sealed the deal for me was the incredible variety of stores and the convenience of having everything available just an elevator ride away!  This particular set of shops shown above are actually connected to the entire set of high rises standing above it through an expansive underground parking garage.

Though the neighborhood is considered "far," sitting near the edge of the metropolitan area, it is only 5 miles to the center of Seoul.  I can't say enough about how fabulous Seoul is and am excited to share my experiences exploring this city through this blog!  I love to explore and hope to show you the best this city has to offer.  Welcome to Seoul!