Besides choosing which villa or house to live in here in Seoul and which house to buy in Georgia, we are looking at another stroller. Curt wants a three-wheeled stroller with real tires to navigate the rough terrain here in Seoul. He wants a jogging stroller, but jogging strollers have fixed front wheels which are difficult to maneuver in city environments. Most places won't ship to a stroller to an APO so we have to figure out how to get it here. I could also explore off-post and see what kind of strollers they have here, but unless they have the same brands, I won't have access to reviews. The strollers they carry at the PX are not the type and quality I am looking for.
Some things to consider:
*Adjustable height handles
*Swivel Front Wheel
*Weight Limit
*Fold
*Additional Features
*Cost
*Size
*Expandability
I believe in baby carriers, I almost never used a stroller the first 17 months of Ian's life, but now that he is 18 months, I need a stroller. I can still use the carrier, but not for for than grocery shopping, going through the airport and short trips.
Models I am considering:
Bumbleride Indie $400 weight limit 45 lbs
Mountain Buggy $430 weight limit 100lbs
Mutsy Spider $250 weight limit 55 lbs
Phil & Ted Sport $400 weight limit 88 lbs (you can add a toddler seat)
Valco Trimode $425 weight limit 45 lbs or 90 lbs with added toddler seat
I've ruled out several models already:
Bugaboo Bee $530 weight limit 37.5 lbs: This stroller is beautiful, but it has a high cost and a low weight limit.
BOB Revolution $350 weight limit is 70 lbs: It is boring looking and only $50 less than the Phil & Ted or Valco but you can't add a toddler seat. I don't need that now, but it would be nice to have the option.
Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler $150 weight limit 30 lbs: This stroller is great looking at a great price, but 30 lbs is a very low weight limit. If the weight limit were that of the Bugaboo Bee, I would get it.
Quinny Buzz $500 weight limit: 50 lbs: cost
UppaBaby Vista $600 weight limit: 45 lbs: cost
I think Curt will like the the Phil & Ted or Valco best. I like the Mutsy Spider because it is smaller and lower cost, but it isn't designed for running. I don't think we will really do much (if any) running, but it would be nice to have the option.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Real Estate Around the World
We are currently looking for both a house in Georgia (to give us a US residence, GA because my sister will live in it and take care of it while she is in med school) and a place to rent here in Seoul.
Definitions:
US
house=single family dwelling
apartment= dwelling in a multi-unit building
flat=small multi-unit building (term is not used much)
villa= large, expensive house
Cairo
flat= dwelling in a multi-unit unit building
villa= single family house with a garden
Seoul
apartment= dwelling in a building taller than 5 stories
villa= dwelling in a building 5 stories or less
house= single family dwelling
So, a villa in Seoul is a flat in Cairo and an apartment in the US. Also, in Cairo and Seoul, a yard is a garden.
We are looking at Seoul villas and houses. Though I like the idea of a house with a garden, we found an awesome flat last night. The advantages of a villa over a house are: security, maintenance, community. The building is only two years old, it is walking distance to the metro, shopping and an American housing area that has a commissary, pool, etc. It has a garden area so I will be able to walk the dog, but she won't be able to run free. Still, I think she would rather be walked than have a yard. Even if you have a yard for your dog, you should walk your dog, but we all get lazy, especially with babies.
I wish we knew more of what we could get. I don't want to lose this villa, but I want to get the best we can. One nice thing is that the government (read: American tax payers) are paying for it, so there is less stress. The housing market is a bit of a racket (isn't it, everywhere?). The realtors know how much you are allotted based on your job position and family size and that is how much whatever you choose will cost. There is a housing office which has to approve it, so there is some oversight, but still, it is very expensive!
The house we saw has a great yard, beautiful front door and lots of space, but the kitchen and bathrooms are older and not very nice. They are fine, but not great. The kitchen and bathrooms in the villa are beautiful and new. We are going to look at the villa again today so we can see it in the daylight.
Curt and Ian are napping after a hard morning spent brunching here at the Dragon Hill lodge.
On the Georgia house hunt, we need to get Powers of Attorney for my sister and decide which property to make an offer on next. We are looking at 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom houses with yards and either a garage or shed because we have stuff that is in storage from before we went overseas that we are going to have delivered to this new house so we can use it before it gets completely trashed. Some things, though just need to be stored and you can't pick and choose, you have to take all of the stored goods or none.
We found a great house, but the deal didn't go through. There were a few structural issues that were identified on a previous inspection that we wanted them to fix, but they would not agree because they said it was "too hard" and "inaccessible" which I translate to mean "too expensive" to fix. Structural issues are not something we want to be dealing with when we are so far away and my sister will need to concentrate on school, she won't have time (and doesn't have the experience either).
Definitions:
US
house=single family dwelling
apartment= dwelling in a multi-unit building
flat=small multi-unit building (term is not used much)
villa= large, expensive house
Cairo
flat= dwelling in a multi-unit unit building
villa= single family house with a garden
Seoul
apartment= dwelling in a building taller than 5 stories
villa= dwelling in a building 5 stories or less
house= single family dwelling
So, a villa in Seoul is a flat in Cairo and an apartment in the US. Also, in Cairo and Seoul, a yard is a garden.
We are looking at Seoul villas and houses. Though I like the idea of a house with a garden, we found an awesome flat last night. The advantages of a villa over a house are: security, maintenance, community. The building is only two years old, it is walking distance to the metro, shopping and an American housing area that has a commissary, pool, etc. It has a garden area so I will be able to walk the dog, but she won't be able to run free. Still, I think she would rather be walked than have a yard. Even if you have a yard for your dog, you should walk your dog, but we all get lazy, especially with babies.
I wish we knew more of what we could get. I don't want to lose this villa, but I want to get the best we can. One nice thing is that the government (read: American tax payers) are paying for it, so there is less stress. The housing market is a bit of a racket (isn't it, everywhere?). The realtors know how much you are allotted based on your job position and family size and that is how much whatever you choose will cost. There is a housing office which has to approve it, so there is some oversight, but still, it is very expensive!
The house we saw has a great yard, beautiful front door and lots of space, but the kitchen and bathrooms are older and not very nice. They are fine, but not great. The kitchen and bathrooms in the villa are beautiful and new. We are going to look at the villa again today so we can see it in the daylight.
Curt and Ian are napping after a hard morning spent brunching here at the Dragon Hill lodge.
On the Georgia house hunt, we need to get Powers of Attorney for my sister and decide which property to make an offer on next. We are looking at 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom houses with yards and either a garage or shed because we have stuff that is in storage from before we went overseas that we are going to have delivered to this new house so we can use it before it gets completely trashed. Some things, though just need to be stored and you can't pick and choose, you have to take all of the stored goods or none.
We found a great house, but the deal didn't go through. There were a few structural issues that were identified on a previous inspection that we wanted them to fix, but they would not agree because they said it was "too hard" and "inaccessible" which I translate to mean "too expensive" to fix. Structural issues are not something we want to be dealing with when we are so far away and my sister will need to concentrate on school, she won't have time (and doesn't have the experience either).
Friday, March 7, 2008
Dirty Diapers for Daddy
Curt has changed very few dirty diapers in Ian's 18 months of life, partly because he was gone so much and partly because he just didn't. He does lots of other things so it doesn't bother me too much, but it is quite delightful that Ian has been expressing a preference for daddy to change his dirty diaper. Curt is just finishing changing the second dirty diaper in two days.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Mothering through Illness
Ian and I are both sick with colds, but I am much worse. He is not eating and wanting to nurse all the time. I am weak and wanting to be left alone. Curt is working so we are alone in the hotel room. I need to go see Roxxy at the kennel, but I don't know how far it is and am feeling to weak to venture out with Ian. I have a device to make the carseat into a stroller of sorts but the carseat is in the van that picked us up. I know I can't carry him that far and he isn't reliable about walking. I hope Curt comes back for lunch.
I have very limited patience and am struggling with that because Ian needs attention and cannot be expected to understand my situation. I hope to get better soon.
I have very limited patience and am struggling with that because Ian needs attention and cannot be expected to understand my situation. I hope to get better soon.
Monday, March 3, 2008
A Few Words
Hello= annyeoung haseyo
Goodbye= annyeoung-hi gaseyo (if you are leaving) annyeoung-hi gyeseyo (if you are staying)
Thank You= gamsa hamnida
Your Welcome= gwaenchan seumnida
Yes= ye/ne
No= aniyo
Goodbye= annyeoung-hi gaseyo (if you are leaving) annyeoung-hi gyeseyo (if you are staying)
Thank You= gamsa hamnida
Your Welcome= gwaenchan seumnida
Yes= ye/ne
No= aniyo
Hope These Montessori Effects Last...
Montessori philosophy teaches children to care for their environment so if they make a mess, they are to help clean it up and they clean as a regular part of the school day. Ian has discovered that he loves to clean!
Ian and I walked down the hall to the vending machine. I let him carry the quarters and then put them in the machine, get out the Diet Coke and carry it back to the room. He did very well until he saw the water on the floor by the ice machine. I had to drag him back into the room. He got a towel and tried to open the door to go back and clean up the water. If we didn't have such tiny towels at this hotel I would have let him. It is so nice that he is interested in cleaning. I know I am not!
Today at breakfast, after he dribbled water out of his cup, he cleaned it up with a napkin. He also insisted on making a breakfast burrito just like me.
I hope to find a Korean Montessori. The English-speaking one here in Seoul costs $10,000 a year. Too much for pre-school. I got a lot of ideas from the two months of school that he had in Erie. Just taking the time to let him help with daily life makes a big difference in his learning, behaviour and enjoyment. Last week, Heather and I made bread for Ian to take to school for snack. We put a chair next to the counter so he could see and he was happy, quiet and watched the whole time. We had him hold some ingredients. We should have let him measure, but we were trying to get it done quickly and he was satisfied to watch.
Ian and I walked down the hall to the vending machine. I let him carry the quarters and then put them in the machine, get out the Diet Coke and carry it back to the room. He did very well until he saw the water on the floor by the ice machine. I had to drag him back into the room. He got a towel and tried to open the door to go back and clean up the water. If we didn't have such tiny towels at this hotel I would have let him. It is so nice that he is interested in cleaning. I know I am not!
Today at breakfast, after he dribbled water out of his cup, he cleaned it up with a napkin. He also insisted on making a breakfast burrito just like me.
I hope to find a Korean Montessori. The English-speaking one here in Seoul costs $10,000 a year. Too much for pre-school. I got a lot of ideas from the two months of school that he had in Erie. Just taking the time to let him help with daily life makes a big difference in his learning, behaviour and enjoyment. Last week, Heather and I made bread for Ian to take to school for snack. We put a chair next to the counter so he could see and he was happy, quiet and watched the whole time. We had him hold some ingredients. We should have let him measure, but we were trying to get it done quickly and he was satisfied to watch.
Seoul, Man!
We made it. It was brutal trip. Head colds and Economy Plus seating. Trail of Cherrios and Late July cheese crackers from Erie to Seoul. Had to get water from the kid next to us because Ian got hysterical screaming,"Water, Water!" He pointed, he frantically signed,"Please, please!" Nursed a good portion of the trip, except when he was screaming for water and when the vegetarian next to us got served his food before us and he wanted it.
The dog got into the country.
We checked into the hotel, got some food just before the restaurant closed and tried to crash, but Ian was ready to party. We were all out of bed by 5 am because Curt had to work and Ian was finished pretending to sleep.
Apparently the "yellow sand" (pollution from China) is coming and can really get you congested. Great, as I am already very congested. I never should have slacked on the neti!
The dog got into the country.
We checked into the hotel, got some food just before the restaurant closed and tried to crash, but Ian was ready to party. We were all out of bed by 5 am because Curt had to work and Ian was finished pretending to sleep.
Apparently the "yellow sand" (pollution from China) is coming and can really get you congested. Great, as I am already very congested. I never should have slacked on the neti!
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