서울에 부모님 여행~

My parents aren’t much for traveling. I remember that in my entire childhood, we’ve only gone on two family trips total as an entire family. One, when I was three or so to San Francisco/LA (Disneyland, mostly)/Sacramento/Las Vegas, a trip to attend my younger cousin’s baptismal. I barely remember that trip, save for the fact that I was a brat who was afraid of all the costumed characters that kids are supposed to love in Disneyland and Universal Studios and that I heard a goat being killed in the backyard of my auntie’s house in celebration of my cousin’s baptismal that traumatized me for life.  The second whole family trip was to the motherland, to the Philippines, as required for every Filipino to return back to their homeland to show their kids how they grew up. That trip was about two or three years after the first, so again, I hardly remember much except that they misspelled my name on my birthday cake (Jhoenelle) and that I was sent to school because, well, why not let the kindergartener on her summer break go to school? (School is still in session for the Philippines in the summer time).  I apparently was a brat then, too. But I digress. This post is about my parents, so all talk about how much of a brat I was on both trips should be saved for later. 

Anyway – the point is, since then, we haven’t done family trips. There were trips in between where it would be only my mom taking vacations to California with me.  Once, my auntie bought my parents tickets to Vegas to visit my brother’s other sister as a Christmas present. They had fun, as they should’ve. It was their first vacation together in a long time. Then, my parents, brother, and I went to Kauai for a weekend to visit my dad’s friend. Most recently, my parents went to see my sister and brother-in-law in California before they moved back home to Hawaii – like, three years after they moved to California.  They barely took trips, which I think they deserved because they’re hardworking and devoted parents. But, they’d rather save up money, you know?

That’s why it surprised me when they told me around September and October, “Get ready. We’re coming to Seoul!” Wait…what?!

Again, I’d like to stress that my parents barely went on vacations. Especially to places outside of the US and the Philippines. Were they seriously coming to Seoul? Yup. Tickets booked and everything. By December, taking advantage of Black Friday sales, they’d already purchased their one-time use only winter clothes to prepare for what I’ve been telling them was the coldest weather I’d encountered. They had new luggage pieces, talked to the cell phone company about data roaming, and made all the arrangements they could back home before the big trip.

After a long wait, a way-too-short trip to Philippines for me, winter camp, and wrapping up the 2013 year with my school, I found myself on a train to Incheon International Airport, anxiously waiting for my parents. I walked back and forth between arrival gates to meet them, since there were two Hawaiian Air flights from Honolulu coming in. But when I caught sight of my mom, I just ran to her and hugged her. And then my dad. It was so nice seeing them again. It was just perfect. 

Okay, so this got too wordy too fast, so I’m gonna keep it short and not mention what we did every day of the trip. Basically, I showed them all the highlights of Seoul – from Gangnam to Insadong to Myeongdong (we spent way too much time in Myeongdong).  I showed them Namsan Tower, which was a feat for my mom because she has a hard time walking for long periods of time, but she troopered it up the hill to get to see the tower.  I also took them to sites outside of Seoul, like Nami Island. This day trip I’m particularly proud of because my mom loves her kdramas, especially Winter Sonata. Winter Sonata is one of her favorites and I figured, well, she’s in Korea, might as well take her to see where they filmed this drama, right?  It was so nice and she loved it. We went to a little gift shop that had a backdrop set like the one in the drama and her face lit up. It was like seeing me in an out of body experience as she basically fangirled over this. Needless to say, she was happy.

Of course, I didn’t leave my dad and his interests out.  I knew he wanted to go to Jeju Island, which was kind of hard since we only had 9 days together. So instead, I introduced him to the idea of going to the DMZ. The DMZ basically is the line that separates North and South Korea. So much military history – which my dad likes. So, we decided to go. Of course, mom was worried because we’d be so close to the North.  But I assured her that South Koreans wouldn’t willingly take tourists there if it wasn’t safe. But my dad admitted that he was afraid to go the night before and wanted me to cancel the trip. But, he had a lot of fun. He got to see one of the tunnels the North Koreans were digging in order to attack Seoul from below, but stopped when they got caught. My mom and I refused to go in – mom because of her condition and me because I can get pretty claustrophobic. But dad went in and loved it. He got his workout for the day. Haha. 

I also brought them to my school to meet my VP and co-teacher. The interaction between my VP and my parents was comical and awkward at the same time. But my CT was very nice to them and even served us tea. I’m glad they got to see my classroom and where I worked. 

Then, the day I dreaded since they told me they were coming came. They had to leave. And I was a complete wreck. For nine straight days, I had seen no one else but them – heard them speak Ilocano again, caught up with family things, and even drank with my dad and cooked with my mom. It was the best time. It felt like home. But they left and I was a wreck. See, I’m the baby in the family. Total mama’s girl and daddy’s girl.  Like, there’s nothing that can change that. I’m the baby. I’m the princess, dammit~ And I cried the entire day. No matter where I was, I cried. 

But, six months here went by really quick. Another six months until I see them in August will go by quickly, too, right? 

Mom and dad’s first picture in Korea. TWO COCONUTS IN KOREA~

We took pictures in Insadong as a royal family. Of course, you can guess that my parents are king and queen and I’m the princess.

My absolute favorite picture of my parents on this trip. This is at Nami Island, down the long walk between the trees. I asked them to do the heart thing. AND THEY DID!

Last picture in Korea. Literally right before they went through security.

Posted this after my parents went through security. Boy, was I a wreck.