Meeting President Obama

When we heard President Obama was making a stop through Korea on his post-APEC travels we decided to take the kids out of school for a few days and drive up to Seoul to attend the Meet and Greet with the President. We really wanted the chance to hear him speak, and thought it would be such a neat opportunity for the kids to see our President.

As with any Presidential event, even the small Embassy Meet and Greet was quite the logistical and security experience. We drove up the night before, and woke up super early to get all 5 of us ready to be out the door by 7:00 AM. We sat in tons of traffic to get to the hotel, and then stood in a long line to be screened by the secret service. Once we were finally in we all mingled in a large ballroom for about an hour and a half. Thankfully they had thought ahead and had some snacks for the kids and a movie showing. Finally we were ushered into the huge ballroom where the President would speak. The secret service gave a briefing about what you could and could not do (point things, shake hands while holding things, try to embrace the President, etc). I'll tell you, they are some serious guys, though they kept it light and made people laugh I know they were serious about their job. I wouldn't have even dreamed of trying to hug the President after hearing their speech!

Finally the President arrived and addressed us for about 10 minutes, speaking about Korea-US relations, thanking everyone for the work being done, telling the kids that even their work was important. The only disappointment was the section for the kids was at the very back of the room, which made it hard for them to see (hopefully they will do better for the President's next visit!). Emily was excited to see him, Tyler even took her up close at the end to get a better view. Hannah was in her own world and asked (loudly) at one point during his speech when the President was going to get there already. She looked a little sheepish when I pointed out he was there.

After he spoke he shook hands on his way out of the room. We weren't crazy enough to want to push through the crowd to shake hands, and just enjoyed the experience we did have! The whole experience was long, tons of waiting, but so worth it. Just to be in the presence of a President, and especially one I so admire was quite powerful. I told Emily later that I had to wait almost 30 years to meet a President and she only had to wait 6. She looked surprised, and asked if I really had never seen a President before. I said no and she she just shook her head. What a different world my kids are being raised in, with such neat opportunities! Just wait until she realizes just how not normal it is to see the President at age 6. . . . Emily at the ripe age of 6 is already up to one President (of the US) and two Secretary of States, and the President of East Timor. Not too bad for a first grader!

President Obama addressing the group.

Shaking hands.

At the end, the girls waiting to leave. We had to wait until 30 minutes after the President left to leave.

After the chaos died down, a family shot in front of the podium.

And just because we are never this dressed up at the same time, a family shot back at the hotel in Seoul.

Since we were already in Seoul, Tyler took the rest of the week to do some work at the Embassy. The girls and I enjoyed hanging out at the hotel, swimming in the indoor pool, playing at the Dragon Hill playground, playing at the Burger King playground, shopping at the PX and driving through our old neighborhood. We also enjoyed renting movies to watch while Maddie slept. Really it is the little things that made it fun! We also hung out with old friends from out last stay in Seoul and attended church before we piled back into the van for the drive home. It turned out to be a great mini-vacation.