Learning about base overseas...

Well, not our finest picture...but it was self timer in the room last night just so I could post a picture. His hair gets shorter and shorter (or less and less??) each time I see him!!

Well I've had a couple days here now, but it has mostly just been hanging out with my newly found husband and a bit of daily normal stuff. Let's see, Taylor has shown me around base a bit. And I actually found out that the Korean Air Force shares the base with them. They have their own facilities and buildings, but they are both located on base together which I found interesting. Taylor said it's never really an issue except with driving and cars because they allow anyone to obtain a license to drive on base while the US has it very restricted, so he said that gets annoying.

Everything is available on base at the BX or the Commisary. When I asked Taylor what the difference was he said the BX is comparable to Wal-Mart while the Comissary would be our Kroger. Within the BX it contains WAY more than a Wal-Mart...it is more like a VERY abbreviated mall. I found my favorite perfume there by Christian Dior (for much cheaper than usual)-what a good deal...I had to get it :) But they have a small Lancome area, Clinique, handbags, and all kinds of stuff. Then within the building it's kind of like a small mall and there are hair places, computer stores, post office, fedex, prints, and then all kinds of booths with a lot of traditional Korean items. There is also a food court there with Captain D's, Subway, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Krispy Kreme, Baskin Robbin's, etc. And while they do have all of these American things here...everything tastes just a little different over here. It's very strange, but it's just a little off. The Baked Lays, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, a lot of things are just a bit off over here!

The BX, the Commisary, the restaurants on base are all worked by Koreans, but they all know English well enough to make things very easy. You are also required to have your military ID to walk in anywhere on base. Along with your ID card you need a rations card, they almost didn't let me go in the Commisary WITH Taylor yesterday! They finally allowed me to sign in. It's such a silly rule though because I wouldn't be able to buy anything there without a ration card...so obviously I'd have to be with someone who has one in order to come in! Taylor said they do that overseas and only allow you so much per month in food from the Commisary...but for a single guy it is $500 a month!!! I have a little feeling Taylor hardly scratches 75 a month...maybe because he doesn't have a single pot or pan here...or maybe because he has 2 plates, 2 bowls, and 1 cup?? I don't know, just a guess!!!

We went to the Oriental House yesterday for lunch. It's a restaurant on base that overlooks the golf course (yes, every air base has a golf course Taylor told me) and I had my first traditional Korean meal. It was Bulgoki. Pretty much it was a very simple, thinly cut chicken dish marinated in some type of a sweet marinade, served with steamed rice. I haven't had a ton of experience, but I do think the food is similar to Chinese, in that it is a variation of rice, meat and vegetables. They have their own traditional dishes that they are known for, one being Kimchi. I'm not sure I want to try it though since the main ingredient is pickled cabbage...and then it is combined with all different things depending on how it's served!!! My dish was good though and the rice was delicious...it's that good sticky, but not wet or mushy rice that I can't ever get to work right when I attempt it!

So in my head it was going to be an easy transition to adjust my sleep schedule. After being awake for almost 24 hours and getting in at 11pm I thought I'd have a good nights sleep and then be back on track...not so much! Obviously last time I wrote I had woken up at 6:30am after my first night...well I crashed about 4pm that day. I made it up for dinner and then came home and went right back to bed. Same for Monday...I woke up at 5:30am and crashed around 5pm. Tuesday morning I did better and slept til 6:45 and I made it until about 9pm last night! This morning I slept until about 7:30am, so I'm finally getting on a normal schedule! And most of you know...morning is not my brightest hour...so it has to be a result of jet lag!!!

So things have been great so far. Taylor is now at work today til about 7 tonight. I think I'm going to head over to the gym and then get ready and go into Songtan today which is the town right outside base (literally outside the gate). Taylor and I went yesterday so he could show me around a bit...there are TONS and TONS of stores! We went into a tailor shop because Taylor is wanting to get two more suits (he has already had one made) so we went in to look at fabrics and to ask about price. $130-170 for custom made cashmere/silk suit!! They are made soo nicely it's crazy how cheap it is! Anyway, point is...I'm sure there's ton of things that I might need out there, so I'm going to browse today :) It is very Westernized since it is right outside base, it is highly catered to the military there. I have included some pictures of the area down below from when we went yesterday.

Notice the McDonalds on the left!

Anyway, there's my update. Taylor works today and Thursday and is off Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I think there is a flight BBQ on Friday that we're going to...I'm not sure about the rest of the weekend. Maybe Seoul?? We'll see! Hope everyone is doing great and that I've answered some of your questions! Ask me if you have anymore!!