My first party in Korea

Oma, Mina, and Ji-Hye

Ji-Hye's husband, Mina, Ji-Hye, and I

Cake and table

Mina and Oma(mommy)

Mina and aunties

Me at the party

Yesterday I went to my first party in Korea. I went to Mina's first birthday. Mina is the daughter of Ji-Hye's husbands best friend. She is so adorable. In Korea the first birthday is a big thing for the family. Now it is becoming more a party to show off the family wealth then the celebration of the babies birthday, at least that is what Ji-Hye told me. At the first birthday party they have a ceremony where the baby is placed in front of a variety of objects ( stethoscope, pencil, microphone, money, thread, sweater or sweatband, and needle) whatever the baby chooses is what they will be when they get older. Stethoscope= Doctor or in the health field, Pencil= Smart/good student, Microphone= Announcer or singer, Money=Rich, Thread= They will have a long life, Sweater/ sweatband= Athlete, Needle= Seamstress or fashion industry. I thought it was a very cool tradition. Little Ms. Mina ended up choosing the microphone. It was funny because apparently her dad talks alot so everyone thinks she's gonna be a talker. She was cute but she is not the cutest little girl I've seen here. That honor goes to my best friend who is 4. Her mom is one of the teachers at my school. She is a born entertainer. She was singing and dancing the first time I met her. We played jump-rope and tossed things into buckets and we sang. Her little brother is adorable 2 but she's my favorite. The second day I saw her she came right into my office and ran over and gave me a hug. Her mom was like " As soon as she got into the elevator she pressed the button for the 5th floor and said "I want to see Ricki." She actually can sing better than little ones her age I think ) and her English is good. But it was all about Mina on Saturday. It makes me think of my little chunky butt nephew Zack. His first birthday is today and I won't be there. I miss my family and wish I could have gone to his birthday party I know my family will take a ton of pictures but it won't be the same.

I miss you and Love you Zack Happy Birthday.