Differences

I'm sure a lot of people want to know all the differences between Korea and America, but it's tough to point them out because you really only remember differences that are negative, and there's basically none.  I'll try to list the positive differences, as many as I can recall.  Well, I suppose there is one potential negative.  There are no clothes dryers.  On my porch there's a clothes rack that hangs from the ceiling and can be raised and lowered kinda like blinds, but it's not very large.  I had to buy a clothes rack from the store today.  That's what my apt looks like on laundry day, haha.  The washing machine is awesome, though.  There are way more options on it than an average American one, and you can even set it for a delay start.  When you start the washer it spins once or twice and is actually measuring the weight of the clothes.  So high tech.

As for other differences, houses are heated by the hot water pipes which run through the floor, so the floor is the first thing to warm up rather than the last.  Why did the West not think of that?  I think I've already mentioned that showers don't have curtains so you can hose down your entire bathroom every day.  So much more clean.  You take your shoes off before entering a person's house and you put on shower shoes (think crappy sandals) before entering a bathroom.  But that's not everywhere, mainly in houses and tradition restaurants.  They don't have stoves, just range-top cooking (not really a good thing, but not really bad either).  They also don't have dishwashers, but I prefer that b/c I use a dish, I wash a dish, I put it in the drainer, done.  Space is expensive here, so housing is much smaller which forces people to live a more simple life; I love it.  Their public transit is fantastic.  The necessities of life are cheap, but the extras can be just as expensive or more-so in the States.  And by necessities I mean food, shelter, clothing, alcohol.  For example, 10 of us went to lunch on Thursday and then drank from 6-11 and we didn't spend more than $75 total.  Amazing.  A cell phone plan is $20/month, and internet would be about the same.  Everyone her

e is very polite, and everyone strives to be more kind than the next person.  There are heated toilet seats!!  Anything you need is within walking distance.  So basically it's a great place.

One more thing, I went to a Chinese restaurant today which is literally right next to my house.  This is a picture of it.  I mainly put it up for you guys that have been to China.  The food was great but not what we had in our City because the food's from a different region.

Oh, and another thing.  I had some sore on my gum that I noticed Sunday or Monday after I got here, and it got progressively worse so that it hurt to eat or drink.  I started googling  and it's a mouth ulcer that is caused by a number of things, but usually stress.  So, that whole week before I left where my stomach was in knots has created a mouth ulcer.  They tend to last 7-10 days and I can already feel it healing, but I just wanted to tell everyone that leaving you caused a lot of stress and I miss you terribly.

Lots to update

I have lots to update you guys about.  First, the best experience of my life was Wednesday.  I used the restroom at the Topia building in Seoul and the toilet seat was HEATED!  Best...thing...ever.  There was a control panel next to the toilet, as well, but everything was in Korean (duh) so I couldn't figure out how to flush the toilet.  I was standing to get a look at the control panel and decided to press a button that had a picture of what looked like a handle.  When I pushed it some mechanical sounds starting going and a small tube came out of the toilet bowl.  I was thinking maybe it'd spray water into the bowl and flush it or something, but it started spraying at me!  Turns out it was a bidet.  I threw the seat cover down to get water from spraying everywhere but I couldn't figure out how to stop it.  Took me about 2 minutes to figure that out, then I saw the handle to flush the toilet behind the lid, just like every other toilet in the world.  Amazing experience.

We had a short day Thursday and it was the end of our training in Seoul so a bunch of us went out all day.  I got some  pictures (scattered throughout the blog).  The guy is Daero, the girl with longer hair (above standing next to giant-headed manakins) is Nikki.  Bo's the one sticking her tongue out, Nuri is the one that looks like a doll with her hood pulled around her heard, and Vivian's blowing kisses at me on the street (below)

Another awesome thing in Korea is their bars.  Below is some fried squid which is the equivalent

 of peanuts at a bar.  It's kinda like seafood jerky.  Also, you may notice that my beer mug is sitting inside the table.  Well, that's because that's a beer mug holder, and it's chilled to 4C!  This has got to be the best city ever.  Oh, and that giant pitcher of beer?  It's 3000 ccs.  That's right, they measure their beer in cubic centimeters, and it costs about $8.    

Sorry about the formatting with these pictures, btw, the process is kinda clunky and it seriously took me 20 minutes just to get them where they are.  Anyway, after drinking in Seoul I caught my bus home, but I passed out and didn't wake up at my stop.  The bus driver woke me up at the end of the line and  when I got out I was drunk and couldn't speak Korean.  I managed to ask him where Juk Jeon is and where I could get a taxi, but as I started walking I realized I was within 20 minutes of my house.  So, moral of the story is, get drunk and pass out on the 1005-1 bus b/c the end of the line is close to my house.  

Friday I actually got to observe classes being taught by my coworkers and I can't wait.  The training was next to useless so I finally got all my questions answered and whatnot.  I've got one prep class I'll be teaching phonics to, and one young low-level class, but basically everything else is either young students with high proficiency, or older students with good-to-high proficiency.  And for everyone who asked me if I need to speak Korean to teach these students, the answer  is emphatically no.  These guys are way smarter than I would have ever imagined.  And, on top of it, they want to learn, and to anyone who's a teacher you know how much that helps.

Last night after classes were done we all went out as an "end of the semester party/going away party for Luke/welcoming party for me, Daero, Bo and Vivian."  I found out that one of my coworkers' hobby is to get as smashed as he possibly can, as quickly as he possibly can.  Interesting bunch of folks, I'm gonna love them.  

Basically, the culture and atmosphere is awesome, they have heated toilet seats and chilled tables, the students are bright and enjoy learning, the girls are gorgeous.  I think I'll like it here.  You guys should come.

Training

Well, today will be my third day of training.  Thusfar it's been ok; it's a standardized training held in downtown Seoul that everyone from every campus must attend.  It's kinda hit-or-miss, like most standardized training, but I have learned some helpful things.  It's also pretty cool to see all the new teachers and get to know them, and find out which ones will be at your campus.  Speaking of which, there are four of us who will be going to the Juk Jeon campus: Daero (Darrell), Bo, Vivian and myself.  Daero is Korean but moved to London when he was 9.  Bo is korean but she grew up in Melbourne and visited Seoul regularly.  Vivian is Korean and studied in America and Canada.  Really great people, and I'm excited to be working with them.  The past two nights we've gone to dinner after training and I just love the food.  I'm so glad to have three friends with varying experience in Seoul, all from different countries, all with different accents, haha.  

We've had homework every night from the training.  First night we had to write a reflective 2-page essay on learning, and last night we had to write a sample lesson plan.  I also got my schedule yesterday and I'm teaching only 26 classes as opposed to a possible 30.  I have 2 or 3 phonics classes, and the rest are reading.  I've also got everything from low-level to high-level, and 1st grade to 6th grade.  I'm pretty excited about having the full range as that'll give me good experience.  Most, however, are higher level and older, which should make it easier to teach them, though I can also foresee some problems with them being older and smarter.  Que sera sera.

I haven't been at Java City too much this week because Paul suggested that when I want to use the internet I should go up to TOPIA so I won't feel obligated to buy a coffee.  I like the atmosphere and music, though, so I'd like to be there often but it also provides a good segue by being up in TOPIA.  They play this great song that I really like: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FDGviwiJo&feature=related>.  Anyway, gotta run and catch the bus to training.  While I'm in Seoul this week I'm gonna try to take some pictures.

It's Fa-REE-zing

It is soooo cold here, but the temperature hasn't gotten below 27F or so, which isn't too bad with a couple of layers on.  Well, I got curious and went to weather.com and it turns out that the humidity here, right now at 9am, is 91%!!!  It's only 27% in Charleston at 6pm, which is NUTS!  That explains why it feels so cold.  Any skin exposed goes numb pretty quickly, and I'm trying to time just how long it'll take my fingers to go numb while I'm typing this post sittting outside Java City.  I've got to find out when they open, and never wake up before that.

I made it to almost 2300 last night and then passed out.  I woke up around 0645 which isn't bad.  I've got a couple of hours to kill before I have to meet Paul to go to training so I think I'm about to go walking, or I may go back to my apt and read or clean.

First day in "Seoul"

Turns out I don't live in Seoul.  I'm actually an hour south of it as the bus flies, or 20 miles as the traffic crawls.  This is a link to google maps that shows where I am in relation to Seoul: http://tinyurl.com/d7qsuk.  The picture is a little old as you can tell, since my apartment doesn't exist in the it.  I promise I don't live on dirt.  

Anyway, I'm sitting in Java City (yes, the same franchise that CSU has) again, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite places.  They play good jazz, occasional Korean music and lots of (suprisingly) decent American stuff.  I did, however, hear "My Heart Will Go On" which I thought I left in China, but Koreans love it too, I guess.  I bought a coffee (it was incredible) because I'm trying my hardest not to fall asleep, otherwise I'll be up at 4am.  I've been tired for the last few hours, and by "tired" I mean eyelids drooping, eyes red like a pothead, slow motor functions.  I'm hoping to stay up until at least 2200, but we'll see how that goes.  (Side note, four cute Koreans just walked in).  

After I woke up this morning I got my apartment in order which didn't take long because I don't have much and my apartment isn't much.  Then I needed a couple things: food, Korean money, and internet, preferably in that order.  Well, I remembered Paul talking last night about Java City having free wireless, and as I set out to find what I needed I saw the Java City sign right away since it's across the street from my apt.  I emailed Paul and told him I needed him to meet me at Java City and if he wasn't here in 30 minutes I'd call him.  I called him 30 minutes later and he told me that I can't exchange money today because it's Sunday.  I totally forgot it was Sunday.  He told me he'd give me some money to last me until I could exchange, so I told him to meet me at my apt at 1500.  Then, the thing I needed most I got last: food.  I went into some tiny restaurant and pointed at a picture of what I think was coconut popcorn shrimp.  It tasted good and cost W2500, or $1.60, which is good since all I had was W6000.

I had over 3 hours to kill before I had to meet Paul so I started walking.  Paul had mentioned some university last night, so I headed out in that direction.  The streets here are similar to China in that the shops are right on the sidewalk and you'll pass the same store 3 or 4 times before you get where you're going.  I don't know why there's the same eyeglass store every 5 blocks...I just don't know.  Anyway, the university was a little hike away, and all of it uphill which got increasingly steeper as I got closer to the university.  I was wearing my dress shoes, but as I got to the end of the campus there was a hill that promised a good view from it's top, so I climbed.  

The pictures are from that climb.  Climbed back down, headed back to Java City, made a couple of phone calls waiting for 1500 to come around, then met Paul at my place.  He took me to E-mart, which is like a 3-story Target, and I found a couple of things I'll need to buy once I get money, like an electrical converter, a space heater and a clothes horse.  We ate dinner at one of his favorite places and I had dumplings.  Not nearly as good as in China, unfortunately, but still good.  That's been my entire day.  Tomorrow I start training.

Sitting in Seoul

I'm currently sitting in Seoul, across from my apartment at a Java City.  It's actually closed, but the wireless is still available so I'm sitting outside, haha.  My apartment is so tiny, but it's all I need; I love it.  It's pretty cold but nothing I'm not prepared for.  I met Steve and Paul last night who are fellow employees.  We went out for some beers but I didn't drink any b/c it's bad for jet lag.  Cool guys.  Well, I'm pretty hungry so I'm gonna try to find some food, then I've got to exchange some money.

Tokyo Airport

I'm sitting in the Tokyo Airport at one of their internet kiosks. The 13.5 hour flight wasn't all that bad, I had a window seat and no one sitting directly next to me. I did, however, have two Japanese children behind me who enjoyed kicking my seat and jabbering incessantly in their mother tongue, pure bells and whistles to me. It's nearly 5pm here, making it 3am EDT. I didn't sleep at all the night before the flight but got some sleep on the flight from CHS to Detroit, and in the Detroit airport. I also grabbed about 3 hours of sleep on the flight, and with the sun up right now I'm not tired. I've also managed to eat even though my body is usually sleeping right now. I had some rice, japanese pickles, and miso soup. I plugged my computer into an electrical outlet at the airport after asking (in mime) whether it would blow up. It didn't blow up. I was very happy. Then a couple of others did the same, I think they were too scared to try it before someone else.

I've got about 5 hours before I get into Seoul, then probably another 2 hours before I'll be sitting in my apartment. I hope Lindsey is at the airport to meet me, that'd be so cool. I also hope that my luggage is at the airport to meet me, that'd be so cool. Well, I've only 1 minute left on my time so I've gotta cut this short.

Tummy Hurty

My stomach has been feeling weird all day, and at first I thought it was b/c I drank last night (though not much), then I thought it was b/c I was hungry.  I finally realized it's b/c I'm getting really anxious about Korea!  I've got so many people to see and so little time.  I don't have a whole lot left to do before I go, thankfully.

I went to the post office today and talked to them about my visa.  They didn't give me any money back or anything, but I did get to talk to the supervisor and he told me to call him in the morning and see if my visa's there, and he'll hold it for me to come in.  Nice guy, very thankful for his help.  On the USPS website it says the package is still at the post office, so I guess they didn't re-deliver it today, despite what the employee told me.  I'm starting to freak out...   

President's Day Hurts Me

I received a call from the Korean Embassy at 3:30pm on Friday telling me that my visa had been returned to them.  The USPS supposedly attempted to deliver it twice and was unable to.  Well, I'm pretty sure that's a lie b/c someone was at my house 24/7 for the past week, because 2 of my roommates have been sick.  Anyway, I had to send another expedited envelope to them asap, and that cost me another $35.  They probably received it Saturday, but they were closed.  They are also closed today, which means the earliest they'll get it is tomorrow, send it in the mail that afternoon or the next, and I'll receive it Wed/Thurs.  I leave out Friday.  This is cutting it close.

I was going to let my mom drive my car while I was gone but the insurance is going to cost her nearly  double what it was otherwise, and she suggested I just give the keys to the loan company.  I'm about 95% gonna do that now.  If I have that car payment for one year while I'm over there, that's over $3200 I'm wasting.  If I'm over there 18 months it comes up to over $4800.  With that extra money over 18 months I could pay off my credit card bills AND my student loans, and when I get back be debt free and not have to pay $600/month for car, insurance and fuel.  It'll hurt my credit, but I don't think I'll need credit anytime soon.  I'll never again have a car payment, I can say that with as much surety as I can anything right now.  The only other two things to have credit for is a house and some jobs, and I don't plan on buying a house soon, perhaps never.  As for a job that checks my credit, those are usually the jobs I avoid anyway.  Hopefully this won't turn around to bite me in the butt, we'll see.

Flight Itinerary

I just received my flight itinerary.  I'm flying with NWA, and judging by their baggage allowances I like them.  I get 2 free checked bags, a carry-on, and a personal item (briefcase).  That's almost twice as much luggage as I was preparing for.  What to do with all that space...hm...maybe bring a small person with me (Taylor).

Anyway, I fly out of Charleston on Feb 20th at 6am, arrive in Detroit at 8:17am, leave at 12:30pm, arrive in Tokyo (that's right, I'm flying over the north pole!) at 3:55pm the 21st (their time, it'll be 2am EDT), leave at 6:15pm and arrive at Seoul Incheon International Airport at 9:15pm, Sat 21st, 25 hours of travel time.  That'll make it 7:15am our time, and my first struggle will be to actually go to sleep.  I'll have training starting Monday, so I'm gonna need to flip my sleep quick.

I asked them to find me a flight out of Myrtle Beach since I'm leaving my car there for my mom to drive while I'm in Seoul, but they couldn't.  Looks like I'll be needing a conscripted volunteer to follow me to MB and then drive me back.

Visa Interview Went Fine

Interview was merely a formality to make sure I was me and that I'm not crazy (clearly I tricked them all). The consular was very blunt and I'm excited about experiencing that kind of bluntness all the time. The wind chill was 4F when I woke up the morning of. Next step is for TOPIA to buy my plane ticket and then for me to get on the plane. I fly out two weeks from today. That's so soon.