Senses

What a day!! I was going to start to this post earlier today (I think I always have that intention) but then I got really, REALLY sick. Which blog wise, is fine since it took 3 hours for my pics to upload. Hey, that's an improvement from yesterday. If I don't get sick any more tonight, I'm very fortunate that the horror only lasted for just over an hour, but unfortunately, that was the ONE hour in this entire trip that I think I was most looking forward to...to when the adult adoptees met (without spouses or family...or in my case, the way it's been the whole trip, hahaha) and discussed adoptee things. I'm super bummed, but I suppose it all happened for a reason. Not sure what that reason is right now, but maybe it gave others a chance to talk who wouldn't have been able to had I been in there babbling.

Okay...luckily my (TOTALLY empty) stomach feels better cuz we've got lots of "food" pics today!! Started out with breakfast and I was super excited to have tater tots (good and greasy just like Sonic...heck, maybe that was it, haha). Continued to take pics of the soups that I would never eat for breakfast!

 We got on the bus at 9:30 and headed to the UN Memorial...it was amazing!!

 Did you know that 33,000+ Americans died in the Korean War? My Pop-pop was in the Korean War and I wondered where he had been in Korea. Wish I would've thought to talk to him about this while he was alive. Wonder what he thought when I was adopted, what memories it brought back. It was very emotional walking thru the grounds. All the names were listed on the wall by state and in alphabetical order. I looked up all the names of my family but didn't find any familiar surnames.

 Then we headed to the fish market. Oh man, wish I would've worn sneakers, hahaha. I was actually surprised that the smell was NOT as overwhelming as I thought it would be. Can't even imagine ever eating most of these items.

this was actually amazing!! ginger candy

 Headed to lunch (since this all built up such an appetite?) and it was delicious!! We grilled our meat right at the table. I pretty much had meat, rice and salad...not sure if this is what did it or the coffee after? (ooooh, used a coupon on the coffee!! It was so good! Maybe since we all had the same lunch and I'm the only one who got sick, it was the coffee?)

always feel bad when there's so much leftover!!!

 Headed back to hotel. I didn't know in this smiley pic what was about to go down. BLECH!!!!! Back at the hotel, I started loading pics and then took a little nap. When I got up I continued loading pics and started to feel just a bit blah. Took some pepto. And then suddenly, I knew things weren't gonna be going well. My roommate (tour director) was back at this point and I really didn't want to be sick with her in the room. So I grabbed a key and went down 10 floors to the lobby restroom. However, they didn't have a bag in the stall trashcan and I knew that wouldn't work so I went back up to the 14th floor, at this point, really hoping I'd make it. Of course, all these people were on the elevator making stops :( Got in the room, told her I was gonna be sick and asked if she'd move the adoptees talk to another room. She started calling everyone and I ...well, you know. An hour later, I was feeling fine and she came back from the talk and said it went wonderfully. Then everyone was headed out but I decided I didn't want to be stuck out somewhere (or on the bus) if I felt sick again. Super bummed about the evening, but very thankful this didn't happen on the plane. OH MY GOSH. That would've been awful!!!

Can't believe the trip is almost over. I have a lot of mixed feelings about coming home and talking about the trip. The tour director was saying this is why they recommend adoptees bring someone, so someone else can share firsthand about the trip. I have all of you, via blog, but I guess it's not quite the same thing.  I've been going over tons of ways in my head how to explain that perhaps when I return, I won't be wanting to talk about trip in detail, like I do on my blog. It seems ironic, right? That I can write and wear my heart on my sleeve, but may not want to share these thoughts face to face. I know all of you have supported and encouraged and cheered me on...I hope people can understand if I can't find the words to say or if I feel like I've shared so much already and have a hard time recounting in person...see, this is why I've had such a hard to figuring out how to explain this... it seems so selfish, but I do hope my hour by hour account of the trip, my honest feelings and the truths I've shared will show that I do appreciate all of your interest and friendship and love. Wow, that was a really long sentence.

Okay, it's almost 10pm...gonna head to the beach :)