Today was our big trip to the American embassy to apply for August’s CRBA (Consular Report of Birth Abroad), social security number, and passport. It was also our first time taking a taxi to/from downtown.
The taxi ride went fine (proof that I know how to say ‘American embassy’ in Korean and that August was sleeping) and we got to the embassy early. So we went and had a chai and mocha in a coffeeshop:
Then we went to the embassy where we stood in line then took a number then turned in paperwork then paid money then sat and waited for our name to be called (they actually called August’s name -“August Zinn Niman”, to be exact – and that was kind of cool to hear) and then we had our interview and then we left. We (August and I) wanted to take our picture in front of the embassy, but certain other people in the group thought we would get arrested even if we took said photo from across the street. So there is no visual proof of this part of the trip. I guess I could take a photo of the receipt, but that would be boring.
Anyway, the weather was nice and August was still asleep so we headed north to go to Gyeongbukgung Palace. That took us right by the Korean Contemporary History Museum, which Carly pointed out is where she went into labor. So, we had to get a photo of Carly and August in front of the museum:
We crossed the street and entered the palace. After awhile August woke up and needed to be fed and changed. Here he is being fed in a palace. We figure that not many babies – American babies, at least – can claim to have been fed and changed in a palace.
August went back to sleep as I carried him around the palace. Here he is resting on a bench with the palace in the background.
As we were on our way out, we saw a practice of the changing of the guards. We watched for a few minutes and August seemed to enjoy the drums and music and fell back to sleep.
We caught a cab back home and August again slept the whole way. Thus ended our even grander day out. Tomorrow we head back to the birthing center for a check up. A bit more straightforward than today (although we might try the bus with him for the first time).
Finally, here just a couple more photos of the palace and from today for the fun of it (click on the photo to see the others):
