Thanks to Day for picking up Jeremiah Wed at the Pitts airport and meeting us at Primanti Bros in Grove City. We enjoyed a nice lunch together. Melissa and Alan arrived safely Wed. evening. We used that time to finish getting ready. We skyped with Aaron Wed. evening and called it an early night (9:00 pm) to try to get some sleep. We were up and showered and ready to go by 2:00 am Thurs. We had to drive through massive and varied thundershowers and lightening flashes that lit up the sky as we drove. No one but trucks on the road at the time. We got safely to Charlie Brown's where we left our car and got a ride to the airport. We were at the counter registered, checked baggage and through security with plenty of time to spare for our 6:00 am departure to San Francisco. Interesting note, that one of my student's classroom teacher from two years ago was going on the same flight to San Francisco... small world anymore! Well, travel to San Francisco was uneventful. Food was a pay if you want deal so we waited until we got into the airport in San Fran to buy a filling (but expensive!) lunch for all of us! Aaron called us while we waited in San Francisco airport so we had a chance to visit with him before we left.
We checked out some of the shops in the airport area and Kelly bought a neck pillow for the LONG trip to Seoul/Incheon Airport! Then it was time to board. We were right on time. Alan, Melissa, Kelly and I had the middle section of row 55. Jeremiah was on the aisle seat of a set of 3 seats. Kelly and he shared an aisle.
The plane was a 747. Within the main compartment the seating ran: 3, 4, and 3.. and as all planes go, unless one gets fortunate enough to ride business or first class, it is always cramped and with never enough room.
We had a meal choice of vegetables and rice or beef with mushrooms. I got the veggie rice and Kelly got the beef. They came with a number of sides.
After we ate, we settled in for the long 12 hour over almost 6000 mile trip from San Francisco to S Korea.
Three movies later, a number of bathroom visits, standing up, walking around and stretching numerous times, and dozing on and off we arrived safely. We had our moments of turbulence and we thanked God for safe travels throughout the skies!
After we arrived and went through customs we got our baggage, changed some cash, and met Jeong Mi at the visitor area. Jeong Mi called Aaron and we were able to say we landed on S Korean soil!! Jeong Mi and Aaron reserved a taxi mini van to get us from the airport to our hotel/rooms. Nice to travel in one car together.. We can not believe that we are back again after only one year.
After we freshened up, we took two cabs for about a 10 min drive to the Hanbok Shop where Kelly and I were fitted for our traditional wedding garb. The workers were all so friendly and helpful! Jeong Mi's parents arrived and it was wonderful to visit with them again. They, like we, are so excited about the wedding events!
Jeong Mi (right) talking to her mom (striped shirt) and another shop worker about our hanbok choices.
We all had coffee while we went through the fitting activities.
Mission completed, we climbed into two taxi cabs and headed to the ball park. But unfortunately due to the rain they canceled the game for the evening. So we went to Aaron's favorite lamb restaurant where we cooked the lamb on skewers right at our table. We had a number of other side dishes which we all enjoyed. We toasted Aaron and Jeong Mi with this alcoholic beverage which was a mix between rubbing alcohol and paint thinner! (hahahah)
None of us enjoyed that or could drink more than a sip..
We then walked to Aaron's favorite bar, Radio, and met the owner. He will be one of Aaron's buddies carrying him in on his "wedding chair" during the wedding ceremony. We all played a game of darts and then Aaron showed us the way back to our hotel rooms. A busy and full day and we were ready for bed by then!
Here is our second set of pics!
https://picasaweb.google.com/embruckart/Korea_2011_622To624
Will continue to add links as we continue our 2011 adventure!
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