Big news from the ROK

Hey family and friends! Big news coming from the Kun! Last week, we got word that Mark has been ACCEPTED to TPS (test pilot school) for the USAF!! I am so proud of my husband for this awesome accomplishment.  This means we will be heading to Wright-Patterson AFB (that's Dayton, Ohio for our non Air force peeps) in August /September time frame so Mark can attend the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT).

Did you register what I just said? .... We will be in Dayton, Ohio by this summer!!.... aka within driving distance from, Saint Louis (wooo Vahle's!!), Indianapolis (yeaaaa Shymanski's), And NJ (woop woop  Rallo's!!!) and of course we are excited to be closer to all of our wonderful friends as well.  Needless to say, we are thrilled about this awesome accomplishment, but we are also doubly as thrilled about being close to friends and family for the time being.

"Who was the best pilot I ever saw? Well, uh, you're lookin' at 'im." - a fitting quote for the occasion!

Thanks Levi for immortalizing Mark on the wall of the Gambler's bar (double down) ... 

In other news..... Korea continues to be full of surprises!! We spotted this octopus at Lotte Mart (aka the Walmart of Korea) this weekend.  Once the weather warms up, I'd love to attempt to grill one up!!!! Other than grilling it, I wouldn't know how to prepare it - any suggestions?

I also purchased some delicious baked goods on my way home from work today.  Considering I have limited skills when it comes to speaking and reading Korean, I typically point to items I want to purchase, and the outcome is often a surprise. Sometimes it's a good surprise, sometimes it's a not so good surprise. Today, luckily, it was a good surprise - I bit into what I thought was a roll, and Surprise!!! it was filled with sautéed carrots, onions, and potatoes. Yum.

Well, it's Time to figure out what to make for dinner! Peace out pea sprouts.

- the Vahle's 

Weekend Exploring

Good morning! I hope everybody had a nice weekend. Our weekend was pretty low key, especially by Korea standards, but Mark and I did get a chance to do some exploring. We found the Gunsan Public Market, which was full of interesting sights and smells. We picked up some local veggies including baby bok choy, Asian Cucumbers, Asian Pears, and a colorful local desert shown below.  I think the bite sized desserts are made from a sweetened rice dough, almost the consistency of a marshmallow, with red bean paste in the middle.

We also saw some interesting sites!! You could purchase any kind of fish you can imagine including, squid, crabs, mussels, clams, live eel, shark, sting ray (didn't know you could eat those?), big fish, small fish dried fish, salted fish...I'm starting to sound like Dr. Seuss!

There were also lots of spices, huge bags of garlic, dried herbs and peppers, and ....... Dried frogs? I had to do a double take when walking by! 

Lastly, here is a picture of Mark, outside the Market entrance, rocking his new sunglasses (thanks secret Santa!!) 

I am sure we will have more interesting experiences to post shortly! Peace out pea sprouts

Love Korean Food!

Happy Saturday! We had a delicious lunch today while exploring Gunsan - first Korean food since I've arrived!  Beef on a leaf - Nothing like fresh meat, grilled on your table, served with greens, onions, whole garlic cloves, and chili peppers! All of the ingredients are served super fresh.  We sautéed the garlic right on the open grill, until it was golden brown - so good!

Yum! 

Made it!

Hey Fam and friends!!!  Mark and I  want to say "heyyyy!" from Korea! I arrived late Tuesday night after a 14 hour flight out of LAX, followed by a 3 hour bus ride from Incheon International airport (near Seoul) to Gunsan.  I spent one day catching up on sleep and unpacking, and now I'm jumping right into a routine.  I starting observing yesterday at the Foreign Language School I will be teaching at. I start teaching on my own on Monday, ahh! 

I have not seen much yet, but when I do I will try my best to keep you all updated with posts and pictures.  Check back now and then to see what we are up to!